10 Beginner Tips: For a Self-Taught Artist I wish I knew
Do you want to create work you are proud of, that makes you smile? Are you a beginner artist? Have you had your heart set on painting beautiful Landscapes? Stunning Wildlife? Want to take your hobby a step further?
In this 21st century we have a wealth of information at our fingertips! And because of this it is much easier and quicker to embark on a journey to learn new hobbies, new experiences whilst having fun (yes, fun!) along the way. Yet for every positive there has to be an opposite. There can quite honestly be too much information, too many guides, too many tips. We all get stuck in the ‘doom-scroll’, sliding away hours and hours when we could be using it for something a little more ‘productive’.
Start with what you are comfortable with
I decided to delve into this a little more. If you are familiar with my website, my socials or blog posts you will notice that since mid-late 2023 I decided to take my passion for creating more seriously. And after a rocky start. A very rocky start. I embarked on a journey that would begin to change my life. My way of thinking. My way of approaching problems. And here we are! This is my advice, my opinions.
So get ready for a tough, rewarding, overwhelming, exciting and powerful journey! Lets go! 💪
1 - Set a Creative Goal (be realistic)
This may be boring to some, but it is important. Do not expect results straight off the bat, but define what you want to do in the short-term. This will help keep you disciplined. We can all scroll through Social Media, see what we love and what result we want one day, and then completely give up a few months down the line.
Believe it or not, this took about 8 layers
Think techniques, crafting a colour, developing a style. Study colour theory, how different colours and pigments work with each-other. Study light and shadow - as we all know we can only see for light given by the sun, lamps, candles etc. For example, I wanted to learn Oil Painting, because, for me, mixing colours and creating a palette before I even go near paper or canvas is a thing. I love it. But at the start, I used pencils, charcoal, watercolour and pastel before because I knew colour theory and developing a style was more important.
Keep that optimism up, be excited when you create something (my first oil painting was a colour wheel and a dodgy looking robin, because I wanted to see how paints and colours mix.)
2 - Be your Own Art Critic
It was hard to suggest this as number one or number two.
We all seek validation. We all seek positive feedback. There is nothing wrong with this. But before you seek out others opinions and feedback, be. Your. Very Own. Worst. Critic. Now this may sound a bit harsh.
My paintings can take weeks or months - I would love to create like some kind of speed painter. But I know in myself, that I need that time to reflect, identify what went well, what is going wrong and how to counter it before its too late.
Identify weaknesses or areas you want to improve in. Does that tree look like a blob of cotton candy? Does that cloud look like a mountain? Even call them mistakes. Because learning from being self-critical and from our mistakes is the only way to improve.
The opposite would be that everything is amazing and perfect. Every person you speak to just agrees in order to not ‘hurt your feelings’. That is not growth. That will do far more harm than good.
3 - Learn from your Masters
A lot of people suggest to learn from the masters, some of the most famous artists that have ever lived. I tend to agree with this but with my own experiences I rather looked towards my peers who I love at the present, who worked similarly to how I wanted to work. Analysing techniques, composition and use of colour isn’t the same as copying but I find it far more interesting than looking at classic, popular historic artists. Anything to keep that spark going, and keep you motivated.
It was not until I really refined what I enjoyed and how I liked to work that I was able to really understand and ‘get’ how the Masters worked.
Learning from the Masters and not your Masters may work for you, but try not to box yourself into the way others think.
Two of my Masters: Alpay Efe (www.alpayefe.com) and Chris Guest (www.chrisguest.co.uk)
4- Keep Track of your Artistic Progress
Its a tip that has stayed with me since College! Make sure you have a few sketchbooks around you and with you when you are out and about. It will become like your art diary. Use it whenever inspiration hits, scribble down ideas, notes, doodle quick studies or just anything that is on your mind. In an age where screens take priority I take solace in bucking the trend and using these moments to just scribble.
Nothing here needs to be a work of art, its your personal sketchbook. Going back to it a few months down the line will show you how far you have come and it might even spark a new collection!
It will also help you to start noticing a trend that you may want to change - is there too much value (brightness) in what you are doing - well, now you can keep track and alter if necessary.
5 - Experiment
A couple of techniques used here
This one works twofold. To put it simply, not only experiment with how you would like to create but what you would like to create with.
Be open enough to try new techniques, I remember a whole unit at College, yes, I know! ‘Materials, Techniques and Processes’ was dedicated to the messy, experimentation using different mediums and media. Think heat guns, acetate, wax, inks, paints, paper, all sorts. It was always Louise’s kind of thing rather than mine, but now, I really begin to understand that its this experimentation that results in some absolutely amazing results.
Just think the possibilities you can find:
Painting through: Paint through a net, or a stencil. Spray, paint, flick think or thin medium onto a board or canvas, see what effects you get.
Different Medium: Try using melted waxes, use a hairdryer on cold to spread. Couple with inks to get some effects.
Secondly, try loads of subjects, people, faces, plants, flowers, sunrises, sunsets. The list goes on, you may already have an interest in something like cars, for example, but by experimenting with different techniques and subjects you may find something that’s developed from ‘just a car on a canvas’ into some kind of geometric, car, tattoo style painting. Tattoo artists are some of the best creatives! Their ideas always seem to push the limits.
The idea is to step out of your comfort zone, you never know, you might find that ‘trademark’ that sets your work out against the rest.
6- Recharge and Refuel: Creativity needs rest too
This one I can speak of from the heart. It is so important to listen to your mind and body. Feeling anxious? Getting stressed? Can you feel your Heart Rate getting quicker? Getting tense? STOP. Take a break. 10-15 minutes away from what you are doing compared to compounding months of stress into one big burnout. It will take months off your progress, at the very least, and it may even force you to loose that passion altogether.
Taking regular breaks gives your mind a chance to reboot, to calm ready for another session. Stretch those muscles, that back, those shoulders. Go for a walk, to the gym, do the washing.
Rest your Mind: Its easy to sit there for hours and force yourself into a mindset. Its also easy when you are enjoying yourself, but fatigue can creep up on you - I have made no end of errors because I wanted to carry on when I actually needed a break. There are so many things to do, not just looking at Social Media, I am looking at previous you, Chris…
Rest your eyes: Similar to working on a screen all day. One of my principle reasons for creating ‘traditional’ art was to break away from the pixels! Still, eyes need a break, otherwise you’ll turn out like that meme, strained eyes and veins sitting in class! 😝 Any long period of focus requires rest. Here are some further ideas to help protect your vision.
Stretch your body: There are many reasons why it feels so good! To name a few, it increases the bloodflow, wakes your nervous system so your brain recognizes you are alert and awake! It releases endorphins that mood boosting chemical!
Remember that downtime is just as important as being at the easel/pad/paper. Its no race.
7- But be Consistent
Now this does not mean you have to sit there driving yourself crazy thinking if algorithms and certain Social Media channels have ‘blacklisted’ you. If you are honest, open and friendly, you’ll have no issues.
Find your own consistency, this can be an hour every two days, a full on evening every other day. People understand the need to give ourselves time and that our brains need time to rest too. There has never been a better time than now where a huge amount of the population not only advocate this, but actively share their stories.
Creatives are usually known to be great procrastinators, and that applies to me too. A lot of the time I prefer to work in the evenings so ‘waste’ time in the day thinking and wondering what I am going to be doing. But by being consistently awake in the evenings its all fine.
Find your flow, how you like to work, don’t rush, don’t take forever!
8 - Take part in Art Communities
This is a smaller point but nevertheless its not only fun, but builds upon those around you.
Take part in Art Challenges on Facebook and Instagram, they are light hearted little briefs that artists create their own version of. For example, it could be a technique; Shiny Texture or a subject; fruits. It helps keep you on track, forces you into the unknown and any and every ability can participate. Its truly a win-win situation.
See if there are any groups that are local to you that meet up, create challenges, or if they just meet up to create together. The very same groups could participate in exhibitions together, local events and/or friendly competitions. Plus it gets you away from the screen, so there is a bonus in that alone.
9 - Supplies 🎨
You really do not want to see the rest of what I have…
One thing I have learnt in life. The tools you use can make a massive difference. Like everyone else, they will suggest go out and buy the best you can afford. The most high-quality, virgin pigments from the mountains of Afghanistan, not seen or even looked at by the human eye, let alone touched.
Being silly aside, when you are starting out, having a play, and reaching for an understanding of what you want to do. And if you have followed the above. I will go against this. Buy cheaper tools! Why? Well you are learning, you are figuring things out. For example, when I learned to drive, I learned in a 6 year old car, my first car was a 13 year old car. Its far better to buy cheap, buy different brands and types to see what excites you. Not go in top end and waste time on one thing only!
Then, only then, when you get a good understanding, and when you have experienced the medium/media, can you invest in better quality. The brushes will be more durable, the paints will be packed with better pigments (and you can learn what makes your PR170s from your PR177s.) and how to make your own canvases rather than buying them in. If that is your kind of thing.
I personally prefer a softer smoother Synthetic brush rather than the traditional Hog Hair brushes. But both will always have its place. And I have to say I haven’t brought the most expensive products… yet.
10 - Believe in Yourself
Last but never least! Have. Fun. Be. Confident!
Your abilities may not quite be where you want them to be, and there will no doubt be a million different questions in your head, ranging from ‘how the earth do I paint clouds?’ to ‘how do I get a decent skin tone?’
These will come. Take your time, write a list of what is most important to you and go from there. Take a few hours to research how to make the best skin tones, what paints or pencils would you need for it? Follow others advice, try their techniques, ask questions, be social and experiment. Build a community of like minded people around you. Remember, every artist faces setbacks and challenges along the way, be resilient. Be determined. Enjoy.
Unleash that Creative Spirit
So, here we are, if you have made it this far down you are already dedicated, and that is inspirational in itself. Keep in mind, it is a journey, not a destination, each brushstroke, each pencil line, each blob of ink brings you closer to the realisation of your potential.
This post has taken a long time to create, from researching and backing up my points, to remembering what I found difficult and how I overcame them. If I read something like this at the beginning I would have been an awful lot less frustrated at the beginning. Take what you can, leave the rest.
And that leads me on to the last part. If you have any questions, queries, positives, negatives, suggestions or even advice for myself! Please leave a comment below, I will reply. I also have a myriad of different ways you can contact me, message me on here, my website, reach out on Social Media (my links are below), comment on posts, I’m always happy to connect.
