Yesterday’s blog post talked about life being lived thoughtfully. Today I will take those same points, and apply them to making art. /
1. Think about your strengths. What aspects of art do you do particularly well? Set aside time to practice and concentrate on your strengths so that they really shine. /
2. Think about your weaknesses. Trying to improve in these areas is a good plan, but also be aware that you can likely create art that minimizes the impact of your weaknesses. For example: if line work is not your strength, concentrate on making paintings that are filled with dynamic shapes and colours. /
3. Think about art that you really admire. Identify as precisely as you can what aspects of that art you love, and then apply this learning to your own work. We all stand on the shoulders of the great creative minds that have gone before us. /
4. Expose yourself to a variety of art. This can happen at galleries, art clubs, in books, online, or in art class. Learn to appreciate diverse approaches to art that are different than your own. /
5. Put in your alone time. Nothing can replace the time you put in practicing your art. In the case of painters, that would mean time alone painting. It makes no difference if you are working in a fancy studio or on a card table in the corner of your bedroom – practice lots. You need to create a lot of art to have a hope of creating some truly great art eventually. Even the greats were beginners once. /
I hope that this list will encourage you on your artistic journey. Your comments are welcome. What would you add to this list that I have missed?