A few weeks ago, I published a post sharing tips for beginner artists. I promised to publish more tips for beginning artists.
What better time to do that than the first day of a new year?
As with the first four tips, which you can read here, these are things every artist needs to be reminded of every once in a while. But they are especially important if you’re just getting started.
4 More Tips for Beginning Artists
1. Set goals.
I didn’t have to hear this very many times before I got tired of hearing it. Sick and tired!
But you know what? It’s true! When I came to grips with that realization, I also discovered just how valuable goals can be.
And easy.
Start small. The first time I set painting goals, I decided to paint one painting a month plus two for a year. I was painting evenings and weekends then, doing art shows and horse shows when I could, so painting time was limited.
But it worked and for years, I created at least twelve paintings a year. Most of them portraits.
You might also try a time goal. Maybe 15 minutes of drawing a day. Or even just 5 or 10. Keep a small sketch pad with you and sketch in doctor’s offices, while waiting for your order at a restaurant, or wherever you happen to be. Make it a habit! Have fun with it!
2. Develop a system to monitor goals.
Goals work best when you have a way to track your progress. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, but it needs to BE.
Find a method that works for you. A calendar with a big square for each day helped me track painting time and stay on track for yeas.
A simple checklist posted on a wall also works, and with all of today’s technology, you can certainly find a digital way to track goals.
The important thing isn’t how you monitor your progress; it’s THAT you monitor your progress. Seeing how much you’ve done toward a particular goal is a great way to get or stay motivated to keep up the good work.
3. Don’t let your goals rule you.
You may be thinking this is a contradiction. It’s not.
Life happens. There will be days when, despite your best planning and intentions, you just can’t paint or draw. Don’t let it stress you out. That’s part of the reason I like weekly and monthly goals in addition to daily goals. If I miss a day, I can make it up somewhere else and the weekly or monthly goals provide the incentive to do so.
4. Have fun.
For the longest time, my art was my small business and I treated it that way. Every line I drew was for a portrait in some way. I never drew for fun or just because something interesting caught my eye and wanted to be drawn.
Don’t do that!
Whether you paint for personal pleasure or as a livelihood, have fun. For some, creating art will become like a job and will require you treat it like a job, maintaining regular hours and behaving like your own employee.
If that describes you, try not to lose sight of the joy of painting (as I did). Keep in sight the reason art drew you in the first place. Take time to nurture that, to grow it as you grow your career. You won’t regret it.
By the way, it doesn’t hurt to learn to have fun apart from your art, too. We all need down time to refresh and revitalize.
More Tips for Beginning Artists
I hope those tips help you make a good start on your art journey.
Just remember, the most important thing is to draw as often as you can and to enjoy your drawing time.
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