How to "Get Into" Art

Getting Into Art

As a new artist, you may find yourself wondering how all these artists developed their unique styles and how they gained so much experience. Googling reference photos can only get you so far, you think to yourself. While this is true in some ways, all types of exposure to art help you develop your passion for it.

In elementary school I had an art teacher who was amazing. She taught my classmates and I about ancient artists and newer ones too. She wore long, flowy skirts with intricate designs on them and she always wore lots of colors.

One class she was teaching us about an artist who never broke his strokes. He would paint one consistent line, never going back over or breaking the line. I couldn't seem to master this. I was frustrated with the outcome of my piece so I went back over my lines. My teacher could tell, and although those weren't the exact instructions my teacher still liked my piece. I was confused and didn't understand why she liked my piece if I didn't follow the instructions. I questioned her and she explained that I had made the piece my own and it was still a beautiful piece of art that I had created.

Studying other artists work to learn about technique or just to practice is a great way to dive further into the art world. Copying others work and calling it your own is never ok but using others art as inspiration or using it for practice is great.

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Once You're There...

Once you've found sources of inspiration and practice that works for you, all that's left is to practice and practice some more. For me personally, the more often I draw or paint the more ideas and motivation I have to keep creating.

When I was in high school I had a friend who loved to draw. She would doodle on everything. Every math test, cafeteria napkin, and receipt were covered in doodles when she was through with them.

She would draw the people around her or whatever she happened to be thinking about at the moment. We were the perfect pair because I could never think of something to draw. I couldn't draw inspiration from the world around me like she could. Once she finished a doddle she would tear it off the piece of paper she had and hand it to me. I would then color it and add little details. We now have piles and piles of tiny doodles that in a way, show our whole high school experience. I would ask her how she decided what to draw and she would tell me and explain her thought process. Each time she did, it made it a little easier for me to pick something to draw or paint the next time I picked up a pen or brush.

You can always discover new styles, techniques, tips and tricks, and new motivation or inspiration once you've become an artist. Art is ever-changing and so are artists.

This blog showcases an artists art done on interesting mediums, similar to my friends art.

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Personal Style

Something I personally struggled with as a beginner artist was finding my own style. I really thought that I needed to have my own unique drawing and painting style to make my art stand out.

While this does help differentiate artists and their art, it is not necessary. Some styles of art don't even require you to have a unique style. Lettering is specific to fonts, graphic design projects that require more designing can look very similar to projects done by other artists.

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The important thing to remember is that art is what you make it. You can draw inspiration from anywhere you like and turn that into anything you want to.