7 Steps to Become a Better Artist
As a professional Artist, Teacher, Traveler and Inspirator I am exposed to a variety of people with different learning styles, different questions and different needs along their artistic path. There are a few questions that I hear more than others. They are the SAME questions I used to ask others along my career path. How do I become a better artist? How can I make a living at being an artist? How do I know what to do when I sit down at the canvas?
Great questions, that deserve some answers that seem to be a common thread among all successful artists. I love shortcuts, don't you? Is there a shortcut to becoming better? Well, the answer is yes AND no. Study these steps below for your answers. I consider Short Term less than a year, and Long Term, my lifetime possibly.
1. First, knowing what you personally Love as an artist. What are you attracted to? What makes your heart pulse or head spin? Whether it be someone else's art, a particular lighting, a particular season, an animal, What is it? Write these down, make as long of a list as you think you want to make. Then prioritize with 1,2,3 or A,B,C having a category that is better than another. (Short Term)
2. Research - Pick the top three categories from above and RESEARCH other artists that are successful at it. Don't get discouraged, but inspired. Look at Pinterest, it is a great place to find lots of images you might love. Look at our past well known artists. (Short Term)
3. Narrow Down your supplies to a specific brand, type or size. If you went to a doctor that was performing surgery with different tools everyday, would that make you comfortable? Ok. This is a biggie! Apply art on the same type of canvas everyday, with the same paint, with the same color palette, for at least a year. Until you decide you don't like it or want something better. It is hard enough to master art with the same items everyday, but adding some guesswork into it? This is difficult. For instance, do you like the pliability of canvas or stiffness of a board? Linen or cotton? do you like landscape size, squares, circles? (Short Term)
4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE - Yep. It won't happen without this step. Pick One, Two or Three subject matters, and ONLY One or Two Mentors to help you along the way. Too many mentors, means too many different opinions and too much confusion. You can always add a mentor AFTER you have mastered or outlived a mentor. And don't think you are too good for a mentor. There is always something to learn. (Long Term)
5. Push yourself with GOALS - What are your goals? write them down. Is it to become a master artist of a particular style? To get into a gallery? Sell a lot of art? One piece of art? Have a Show? Have someone say....That is a nice piece of art? Write them down. They can change, but best not change them for a year. Do a goal that is reaching, and yet achievable. You want a reward for your handwork. Don't make it an impossible goal, but after accomplishing the one goal, make new goals. Set to climb your own ladder. What would the steps (each step a new goal) say on your ladder? Maybe it is just to be able to paint One thing to your satisfaction. (Short Term)
6. Put yourself Out THERE - Depending on your goals, feedback can be daunting, but necessary step to know if you are on the right track. If you want to make a living as an artist, you MUST put what you LOVE out there to get feedback. Go to shows, sit at a corner market, paint in public, set an appointment with a gallery owner. One of two things will happen: Others will love it to, or not. Don't get your feelings hurt. If they love it, it will sell or get appreciated, but if not, it means you need to start over or question how you are presenting your art. Did you frame it? What kind of frame? Treat your art as if you yourself LOVED it. Do not take something you love, and put it in a $10 frame. This also takes RESEARCH to know how to present yourself. Read Books, ask others. Take the feedback and respond with positive change. This is where the public's opinion does matter, but maybe you need to educate them on your art. Maybe they do not understand it? Describe your process, your goal behind it, your purpose of each piece. But stay true to your nature and what you are trying to say about WHAT YOU LOVE. Just angle it differently. (Long Term)
7. DON'T GIVE UP: READ inspiring books and success stories. Read about others who never gave up. Reassess your situation. Do not judge yourself harshly. Reassess: maybe you are advertising abstracts to realist lovers. Maybe write an article or have a friend write and article about yourself and your art, keep doing! keep learning! keep loving! Look at your work a little removed from it, do not "attach" to it and love it TOO much. You have a gift, that others need, and it is finding that niche that can be a challenge but very rewarding. (Long Term)
Maybe you have heard these things. Maybe you can't get off the mark. Keep in mind, making art is not for sissies. It is a serious, technical, reinventing and deeply moving experience. Inspiration comes to those who seek it. You must believe in yourself to make things happen. Without this belief, nothing will happen.
This image is of my study of clouds and how to present them. One of the building is a problem that I am not sure I have resolved. But I have painted several cloud paintings. I am determined to have GLOWING LIGHT in my clouds (Long Term Goal).
