It really is very simple to become a great artist. All you
need to do is keep up the good work. Often, though, creative folks have a hard
time keeping their artistic drive going. It’s not as difficult as you
may think to do so, though. As long as you have the desire to create, the discipline
required to carry out your endeavors is only a few steps away.
Make creativity a part of your daily life.
To strengthen your creative muscles, you need to use them as much as you can.
Don’t let opportunities to express yourself pass you by. Any task can
become an artistic challenge if you look at it the right way. Simple things
from the way that you dress to the way you sign your name can all be means
for you to display your creative side. I personally design stationery for
paying my bills and decorate my grocery lists. The more you express yourself
creatively in everyday arenas, the more you will be able to show off your
work and receive instant feedback, and positive feedback fuels creative fires.
The more you receive, the more you will want, and thus the more you will
create.
Draw or craft or create in any way everyday.
A good creative schedule is of the utmost importance in developing a good artwork
ethic. You need to create everyday to continue to flex those creative muscles.
You can start with as simple of a task as you like: doodle every morning
while eating breakfast, knit for 30 minutes while watching the evening news,
or find one thing every day to draw. Just keep practicing, and you will notice
a difference. Your skills will improve, and your daily task will be a joy,
not a chore. Once you’ve incorporated one thing into your daily routine,
add more. Find small enjoyable tasks that you will look forward to every
day.
Set yourself an amount of time to work every day. I personally
set aside at least an hour every day for creative pursuits. This may sound
like a lot, but the time just flies by as I’m working. It doesn’t
matter what I’m working on, as long as I do something every day. Now,
if I miss my art time, my day just doesn’t feel complete.
Keep a sketchbook.
This is a piece of advice you will hear from many successful artists. My sketchbook
helps me keep a constant flow of ideas at my fingertips. There are days when
I am overflowing with ideas but don’t have the opportunity to create
them all, so I carefully store each thought in my sketchbook. Then, there
are days when I have ample time and energy to work but no ideas, but I don’t
have to look any further than my sketchbook for a creative task to work on.
The more you feed into your sketchbook, the more you will get out of it.
It is a very important tool in your artistic arsenal.
Surround yourself with inspiration.
If you see nothing but the same old things day in and day out, you will probably
start thinking the same old things day in and day out. Take the time to expand
your horizons, to see new things that will inspire you. Go see an exhibit
at your local art museum. Visit an art gallery. Find creative books at the
library. There are a million and one ways to see the work of other artists,
so take advantage of them. The more you expose yourself to new creative works,
the more creativity will flow through your mind.
If it isn’t working, stop and come back to it later.
Never sit at your desk (or sewing machine or potter’s wheel or computer)
banging your head against a brick wall. If something isn’t working, and
you don’t know how to fix it, take a break and come back to it with a
fresher mind. Your subconscious mind will continue to work through the problem,
so when you go back to it, you may be pleasantly surprised to find an obvious
solution waiting for you.
The best way to take a break is to find a simpler task to
focus on for a while. I have a number of projects at any given moment that
need some mindless busywork done to them. When I am frustrated with a project,
I will simply turn to one of these tasks to give my mind a break while my hands
continue working. Perhaps I will begin the underpainting of a digital illustration
(a matter of just coloring inside the lines) or I will cut mats for prints
(where I just measure and cut and measure and cut and measure and cut). These
are things that require my time and attention, but for which I have already
worked out all the logistics. In this way, I allow my brain to rest while I
still accomplish tasks that needed doing. Afterwards, I feel fulfilled and
ready to tackle a more difficult assignment.
Don’t go it alone.
A good group to work with is a great asset to your creative endeavors. Find
others with similar interests that will help keep you encouraged and inspired.
One great way to do this is to take a class. Many cities have community colleges
where you may take a class for a relatively small fee. These classes are
filled with interesting people and are a great way to learn something new.
You can also find groups online at such sites as Meetup.com or Yahoogroups.com.
These sites have a plethora of organizations that will continue to encourage
your artistic growth. There are also many art-oriented events in most cities.
Attend these events, and don’t be shy. You never know who you’ll
meet if you keep your mind open.
Share your work.
This is a great reason to find a group to help you work. Sharing your creative
accomplishments can be frightening at times, but it can also be immensely
rewarding. Why did you get into creating artwork if you did not want to share
your voice with the world? There’s no reason to wait until the perfect
moment to show others your work. Find a supportive group, physical, online,
or otherwise, and share what you’re doing. It is difficult to maintain
perspective about your personal progress without critique from others. Getting
feedback might be nerve-wracking at first, but you need to remember that
critique is very different from criticism. If you open yourself up to the
opinions of others, you will find that you have greater ability to hone your
skills and that your work expresses your thoughts better.
Developing a good artwork ethic is an achievable goal. Just
be honest with yourself about what you can do and what you want to do. Determine
what ambitions you have in mind for yourself and what needs to be done to reach
them. If you keep yourself focused while remembering to have fun, your goals
will reach you much faster than you think.
