Dea_Callahan
Many people believe that you need formal training to be a professional artist. However, this isn’t always the case. There are many self-taught artists who have gone on to have successful careers in the art world.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in art, don’t let the lack of formal training hold you back. There are many ways to learn and develop your skills as an artist. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve your dream of becoming a professional artist.
1. Believe in yourself
The first and most important thing you need to do is believe in yourself. If you don’t believe that you can be a great artist, then you never will be. Believe that you have what it takes to be successful, and then go out and make it happen. May sound cliché, but this common concept is the basis of your success. Trying to become an artist without believing you will succeed will only lead you to waste valuable time. In fact, believing in yourself will lead you to make decisions and study in a focused and optimized way. Because by believing in yourself, your goals become clear, and the “how” to achieve them will be easier to figure out. So if you’re serious about becoming an artist, the first step is to believe in yourself. Everything else will follow.
2. Get involved in art groups
One of the best ways to learn and develop your skills as an artist is to get involved in the art world. There are many different ways to do this, such as attending art exhibitions, taking art classes, or joining an art group. Getting involved in the art world will help you to network with other artists and learn about new opportunities. You will have the opportunity to meet other artists and see their work. You may also find that you have the opportunity to collaborate with some of them. This can be a great way to learn about new techniques, styles and the job itself.
Hanging out with people in your environment will open doors and opportunities you would struggle to find on your own. Human relationships in this field are crucial. They can make the difference in the direction of your artistic career. Open up as many opportunities as you can.
3. Study the work of other artists
One of the best ways to learn and improve your own art is to study the work of other artists. Look at how they use color, composition, and brushwork. Analyze what you like and don’t like about their paintings. When you find an artist whose work you admire, try to emulate their style in your own work. This is a great way to learn new techniques and to find your own artistic voice. When you study other artists, you’ll be exposed to different styles and approaches to painting. You may find that you prefer one approach over another, or that you like a certain artist’s use of color. Whatever you discover, studying other artists will help you to improve your own work.
For example, many artists study “Claire Wendling” drawings, which are a combination of mastery and aesthetic, you can read more about her in this story: “Claire Wendling’s “Forget me not” will unlock your art addiction once and forever”, but it’s up to you find your favorite mentors!
4. Study technical books about drawing and painting
When it comes to learning how to paint, there are a lot of different options available to you. You can look online for free resources, such as videos and tutorials. Or, you can make a small investment and choose some books that can really help you fully understand the discipline in which you want to excel. As painters, we recommend this book by Steve Huston “Figure drawing for artists”. It continues to be a reference for anyone who wants to learn or brush up on the basics of drawing.
In it, Huston covers the foundational skills of drawing, including perspective, form, and light. He also provides helpful exercises that you can do to practice and improve your skills.
Whether you’re just getting started with painting and drawing or you’re looking to brush up on your skills, this book is a great resource. It will help you develop a strong foundation in the basics of drawing, which will in turn make you a better painter.
5. Always carry a sketchbook with you
One of the best ways to learn and develop your skills as an artist is to draw from life.
This means finding a subject, whether it’s a person, place, thing, or scene, and drawing it as it is, without any embellishments or changes. You can draw on the subway, during a queue, while sitting under a beautiful tree or having coffee with a friend, for example.
One of the benefits of drawing from life is that it helps you to develop your own style. When you’re constantly looking at photographs or paintings, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to copy someone else’s style. But when you’re drawing from life, you’re forced to look at the world in a new way and to find your own unique way of representing it.
Another benefit of drawing from life is that it helps you to understand perspective. When you’re looking at a photograph, you’re only seeing a two-dimensional image. But when you’re drawing from life, you’re seeing the world in three dimensions. This can help you to create more realistic artworks.
Finally, drawing from life can help you to connect with other artists. When you’re working on a drawing, you’re often focused on your own work and can feel isolated from the rest of the world. But when you’re drawing from life, you’re surrounded by other people who are also working on their own art. This can help you to feel part of a community and to get feedback and advice from other artists.
No matter what route you decide to take, remember that it takes hard work and dedication to become a professional artist. However, if you have the passion and the audacity, you can achieve your dream of becoming an artist. Everybody can be an artist, because before talent you need motivation and strenght.
