Tips for Budding Artists: Part 2

This is part 2 of an ongoing series on tips for budding artists. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, check it out here!

So, let’s continue…

13. Be Patient:

This is important for all budding artists- you’re not going to become an overnight success; that’s a cold hard fact. You’ll have to put in a lot of hard work and time before you get recognition… but that doesn’t mean it can’t be worth it! Don’t let impatience get the better of you and make sure you use the resources available to help yourself along the way.

14. Make Time for Yourself:

As much as we all love our art among the many other budding artists, it’s important not to neglect ourselves! Take some time out of your day every now and then just for yourself – play games, exercise, go on a walk or spend time outside! It’s easy to lose sight of what an artist needs when there are so many different things vying for attention. But without taking care of ourselves we won’t be able to take care of others and we’ll end up burning out pretty quickly…

15. Participate:

It’s important to be a part of something – whether it’s an online community or by attending fan conventions, make sure you stay connected with your fans! Make use of social media and don’t isolate yourself from the people who love your work – they’re what make the struggle worthwhile after all! It might sound like common sense (and it is!) but showing up can really make all the difference sometimes.

16. Seek Out Opportunities:

There are more opportunities for budding artists than there were before these days; keep your eyes peeled for contests, art festivals, open calls… anything that lets you get in front of new people. The worst that can happen is that you don’t get in right? Don’t be afraid to try something new or approach somebody if they look like the kind of person who might help you!

17. Visit Art Schools:

If you’re looking for ways to improve your art, finding an artist who works the way you’d like to work is often a great idea. Try visiting different art schools and campuses when they have open days or special events. Not only will this give you insights into lots of different diverse art styles, but it also provides a good opportunity to meet people with similar interests!

18. Consider Artist’s Groups:

There are lots of budding artists out there all trying to make their mark on the world – why not team up with some others to keep each other motivated? Find some people who are also trying to make it in the industry and form a group of your own. You might even find that you become friends with them or end up helping work on each other’s projects…

19. Network With Current Artists:

You never know where somebody new is going to come from! It’s always good to make yourself available for new opportunities by keeping in touch with current artists, publishers or studios. Your art isn’t going to improve if you don’t get feedback after all, so there’s no harm in asking people what they think of your latest pieces every now and then! Just be mindful of how often you contact them – nobody likes spam!

20. Make Digital Copies:

It’s always good to have a backup of every painting, drawing or sketch you do. Not only does this allow you to recover from computer problems easier but it also means that even if you lose the physical copy someone can still see your work! The more copies out there, the better. I use Giclee printing for my digital copies and they do a great job if you’re interested in getting some done yourself. I shall talk in detail about this in my next blog post.

21. Draw Every Day:

Every time you sit down with a pencil or eraser in your hand, make sure it counts! It might seem like common sense advice for any artist but practising is key – whether it’s at home or during downtime at school/college/uni… setting aside some time each day to improve yourself will go a long way towards succeeding as an artist, I promise! If inspiration strikes when you don’t have anything on hand to draw with, simply jot things down in a notepad. You’ll be surprised how many ideas you can come up with when writing things down!

22. Find Your Own Style:

Some artists are naturally good at coming out with new styles that set them apart from their peers but for others, it takes time and practice to find something unique. Whether you’re trying to emulate somebody else’s style or work in your own way there’s no right or wrong answer; nobody knows what kind of artist you want to become so make sure you don’t compare yourself too much against other people! Be patient and focus on improving your skills rather than rushing to create something that looks like someone else’s before you’ve mastered the basics. After all, every artist started somewhere!

23. Don’t Burn Out:

It’s nice to get into a regular groove of drawing or painting but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Whether you’re studying, working on your own projects or collaborating with others, there’s no need to work all the time. Make sure you take some breaks away from your desk every so often so that you don’t cause yourself any unnecessary stress. It can be hard balancing art life with everything else in life but if you want to succeed it’s worth fighting for!

24. Learn From Others:

There are tons of great artists out there just waiting to help people like us improve our art; why not learn something new from them? Find somebody who’s better than you and ask them what they know. You’d be surprised how willing people will be to share their knowledge with you if you ask nicely. If somebody is too busy to chat then I suggest that you check out some of the great tutorials on deviantART or YouTube!

25. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Advice:

Whether it’s a teacher, friend or family member who knows what they’re talking about trying to help you improve your skills or an artist from beyond who has been where you are now, make sure that when somebody offers to give you advice that you take it in and try out whatever they say. Though not all suggestions might work for your personal style make sure at least give them a chance before dismissing them! After all, nobody knew how to draw before they were taught by someone else.

26. Don’t Underestimate Yourself:

A lot of people get discouraged from even trying to get into art because they think it’s too hard or that anybody who does it must be some sort of all-knowing, super artist that has been drawing since they were a baby! The truth is though, artists have to start somewhere and there’s no shame in being a beginner – you’ll only ever improve if you keep working at it so don’t give up! Once you’ve mastered the basics you’ll find it so much easier to learn new things and create whatever you want for as long as you want. Remember; when somebody becomes an artist that doesn’t mean that they know everything – artists have to keep learning too!

27. Keep Calm and Carry On:

Sometimes taking a break from drawing/painting can be really refreshing for your mind but other times it might just seem like you’ve hit a wall that’s impossible to climb over. Whatever the case, don’t panic – take deep breaths, have a nice hot drink and go back to what you were doing later when you’re feeling more patient or refreshed. If you find yourself having a lot of trouble with a particular piece of work then maybe try working on something else for a little while before going back to it; it’ll help take off some stress and make the problem not feel as daunting as it first seemed! Also, remember that everybody gets stuck sometimes so don’t blame yourself or feel ashamed if it happens to you!

That’s all in this post. I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading through them and have taken something away from the list. Remember; every artist makes mistakes and has times when they’re unsure about what they’re doing but we’re all in this together and we can all get better with practice and patience.

If there’s anything that I didn’t cover then please let me know in the comments below and remember that sharing is caring – spread the word to anybody who wants it!

Until next time, stay safe!

You can check out my other art pieces here.

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