5 Things I’ve Recently Learned On My Art Journey and How I’m Adjusting Accordingly
Colored pencil drawing of a Highland Cow completed in 2018 versus pastel drawing of a mountain line completed in 2023.
I grew up knowing I could draw just because people tell you that sort of thing at an early age. That’s how it works, isn’t it? Validation is what helps you to know what your strong suits are. Well, that and you figure out what comes easier for you.
Anyway, I thought I had a small measure of talent, but I didn’t think I could do great things with my art because I wasn’t as good as others my age.
So off I went to become an environmental scientist (artists don’t make money, you know!), and my art was really an afterthought. Over the years, I tried some oil painting here and there, but that was about it.
Fast forward to the beginning of my current art journey which started around 2018. I realized then that my “limited talent” thinking was faulty. I still think a knack for art is more innate in some folks compared to others, although now I believe anyone could get better at art by practicing art.
That said, only recently have I come to these latest conclusions, which starts me off with the first of five things I’ve recently learned and what I plan to do about it:
You Have to Learn and Develop Basic Drawing Skills to Get Better As An Artist
I feel sort of ridiculous for typing this one, because it seems, well, basic.
I didn’t really start to think about it until recently because I’ve been listening to artist interviews by John Middick on “The Sharpened Artist” podcast. John also records videos of the interviews that you can watch on YouTube here.
This podcast is amazing. I love to listen to the stories of talented and successful artists.
This is a colored pencil podcast, but some of the artists use different media as well. I highly recommend this podcast if you are an artist looking to improve your work, even if you aren’t a colored pencil artist.
As they say, there are many roads to Rome, so it’s interesting to find out how different people have approached their art journey.
Quite a few of the artists went to art school, which is something I did not do. Because of that, I believe I need to fill in some gaps with regard to my art knowledge and skills.
The common denominator in the artists’ stories is that most believe it’s important to have a basic understanding and skill of drawing in order to be a competent artist in any medium.
Previously, I figured I could draw well enough. I can draw freehand okay, and sometimes I use a grid to achieve a more precise representation of my subject, but I could definitely use some improvement.
Moving forward, I have decided to seek out and incorporate drawing lessons into my art practice. This will involve drawing from real life in addition to photographs. There is a difference, and I’d like to be able to do both proficiently. I’ll keep you up-to-date on what types of drawings I’m doing, especially if I can find a program that will help to advance my skills.
Now the only problem is carving out some extra time to practice!
Not Every Piece Is Going to Be A Masterpiece
Another misconception I had is that I would strive to make every piece I created frame-worthy.
This is wrong on two fronts. One is that I put a lot of pressure on myself to make every piece good. This is not realistic. I’m going to create ugly pieces. That is a fact. Art is a learning process, and as I learn I will make mistakes and they won’t be pretty.
The second reason I was wrong is related to what I wrote about in number 1- I need to devote time to just practicing. It’s okay to take half an hour to sketch something that no one will ever see. It’s okay to create a value study or play with color to see what works.
By allowing time to practice and play with the materials, I can experiment more freely and develop skills and new ideas that will help me create better pieces in the future.
I did this recently when I created a piece of a black cat on black paper using pastels. I started and finished the piece in one weekend, and I found the experience to be very rewarding. I’m not going to frame it, but I think my time was well spent.
It’s Going To Take A Long Time To Get Better- Patience Is Key
Art is definitely a journey. I don’t think I will ever get to a point where I’m totally satisfied with my progress, and I will always be learning. Also, I find that the more I learn, the more I realize how much more there is to learn, which can be overwhelming.
As a result of this realization, I decided I needed to have patience with myself as I figured out new techniques and skills.
It’s so easy to be impatient in a day and age when you can see how much further along others are on social media. A good thing to remember is that you don’t know how long those artists have been working on improving their skills.
Another way to remain positive is to keep all work (even if it’s hideous) and occasionally look back and compare pieces between now and a few years ago. You are bound to see some improvement which is very rewarding.
Here is an older piece compared to a newer one, both done in colored pencils.
An earlier commission compared to a cat tutorial I recently completed.
4. Social Media Is Exhausting
I don’t want to be too negative about social media here, but I find it tiring.
I started my Instagram account maybe five years ago as a way to share my art.
When I began thinking about how I could make money with my art, I decided to up my social media game. I researched how to increase followers. “They” tell you to post several times a week (some people post multiple times a day!).
Well, my art making is VERY slow, due to the fact that I am a realism artist and that I work with colored pencils (which take forever) and pastels (only slightly quicker). So it’s very hard to continually post progress pictures that look different from one day to the next. Especially considering I have a day job and can’t work on art all the time.
I tried to improve my IG account anyway for about nine months. I was killing myself, and my following barely moved up.
So after my last vacation, I decided to not worry about it. It’s actually quite freeing.
Moving forward, I will post if I have something to say or if I have made a lot of progress on a piece. I don’t care if it’s once a week or three times a week. I refuse to be a slave to it.
I’m also trying to alter my thinking about social media. It’s a free platform that has its pros and cons.
I’ll try and concentrate on the pros: getting inspired by other artists, having a place to share my work for free, and having a community of like-minded artists, which I have and I’m grateful for, leading me to my last point.
5. Finding Fellow Artists is Helpful
The only people who are going to “get” you as an artist are fellow artists.
Others may appreciate your work, but they might not understand some of the issues you struggle with such as: feeling inferior, wearing your heart on your sleeve as you post a snapshot of your latest piece, struggling with improving, doubting yourself, and figuring out how to make money from art.
This is why I’m grateful for social media, in spite of some of its ills. I have met some lovely artists on Instagram. We encourage each other, share top-secret art tips, and commiserate about algorithms.
I have also joined a local art group in my county. I’d like to meet fellow artists who live in the area. I hope by getting more active in my community I can connect with like-minded folks who will inspire me and share what they know.
Conclusion
In reflection, my journey in art continues to be an evolution of self-discovery and realization. From the early years when validation shaped my perception of talent to the belief that art could never be my primary pursuit, I've come a long way. I've learned that embracing the fundamentals of drawing is essential, that not every piece needs to be a masterpiece, and that patience is the key to growth. Moreover, I've found peace in stepping back from the whirlwind of social media pressures and choosing to share my art authentically and sparingly. Additionally, connecting with fellow artists, both online and locally, can provide a sense of camaraderie and support that will help my desire to continually develop as an artist. The path ahead may be long, but with newfound insights and a supportive community, I look forward to the artistic adventures yet to come.
