How to Improve Your Art Skills
Art is a subject with no end. No artist can ever claim to know everything about the art they practice. For an artist, improvement is a process that goes on forever; there is no such thing as perfection. As an artist, one always has to keep on working and look for ways to improve his/her art skills. Here are a few ways in which you can improve your art skills:
- Consistent practice
Like they say, there is no substitute to hard work. As an artist, you should know that while practice won’t make you perfect, it can make you better and near-perfect. But just practice isn’t enough, you should indulge in focused, repetitive practice. Basically, it is more about consistent practice than anything else. Practice is not only about just doing one task manually, it is about practicing it with all your focus. It is through practice that you will discover your weaknesses and find ways to work those shortcomings away. So spare time every day to practice your art and over a period of time, you’ll find that your art skills have improved considerably.
2. Get out of your comfort zone
Nothing is more dangerous than getting comfortable with your art. The moment you feel comfortable, you have put a barrier on your growth. Trust me, no one likes to get out of their comfort zone. It is uncomfortable out there. Everyone enjoys being in a comfortable place. Yet the more you delve out of your comfort zone, the more growth you will see in your art skills. Don’t shy away from experimenting with your art form — try your hand into different styles of other artists. You can even explore a different art form altogether. Remember, art is art, irrespective of its medium.
3. Feedback
Feedback can be positive, negative or neither, but it should always be constructive. Getting constructive feedback on your art is one of the best ways to grow as an artist. Constructive feedback will not only point out your shortcomings but will also highlight your strengths. As an artist, feedback plays a subtle role in keeping you motivated. It shows you what have you done correctly till now and what are the areas where you need to improve on. Consistent practice won’t take you far enough, it needs the push of feedback. A constructive feedback will help you plan your practice sessions and work on your weaker sides.
4. Document your progress
We grow every day, but we can’t know how much we have grown today if we don’t know where we were yesterday. At a certain moment, your artwork or performance might seem the worst ever, but you need to remember it. Reminding yourself of your past artworks will either make you work harder to stop your art skills from slacking or will satisfy you as you witness the progress you’ve made. Experiencing bad situations makes the good situations sweeter. When you look at your artwork or listen to your composition some time later, you will be pleased to realize how much your skills have improved. And watching your past progress will inspire and give you a boost for your future.
5. Look around and breathe
In our quest to become better and better, we often forget to take a break. Our body is like a machine, it needs rest and care. Sometimes, the best way to get better at something is to take a break from it. Most of the writers, when hit with a writer’s block, don’t force themselves to write, but rather just read and explore. This holds true for any art form. Stop doing what you are doing and look around and observe. Listen to the noises around you, observe the various smells; feel your environment. Observing things around you can give you a new source of inspiration or new ideas for your next art piece.
6. Take inspiration from other artists
Practicing a lot is a very good thing, but an artist should supplement it with exploring the art. One should look for other works by other artists. Exploring an art is important before experimenting with it. Social media has brought people closer than ever and an artist should use this for their benefit. Look for other artists on sites like Instagram or Deviantart. Pay attention to their style. Take a look at multiple artists and expand your viewpoints. There is a subtle but important difference between taking inspiration and copying. Be mindful of that difference while looking at other works to ensure that you don’t “copy” in the name of taking inspiration.
7. See online tutorials/ attend workshops
Watching YouTube tutorial videos is a beneficial habit, especially to youngers. Experience of experienced people is valuable and can prove to be quite knowledgeable. If there are any art related workshops or exhibition around you, make it a point to visit them. Experience is the best teacher. You can polish your basic skills via tutorials. You can also consider taking courses related to art to get better. Caution needs to be exercised before learning art via a tutorial: do not copy, learn. The copycat system will not only hinder your growth as an artist but will also create serious issues in real future.
The process of growing and improving as an artist is not easy. You may feel disheartened after some time, thinking you are not growing. Art is not entirely talent, it is about the patience, determination and hard work. Hard work is what will distinguish you from other artists and help you improve your art skills.
Written By: Mallika Kelkar
