5 Essential Skills You NEED to be a Confident Artist!
Ever start a painting and something just feels... off? Maybe you’re trying to paint a beautiful flower, but instead of blossoming on the canvas, it just looks flat or awkward. Frustrating, right?
As an aspiring artist, I’ve been there! One moment you're excited about your idea, and the next, you’re staring at a painting that doesn't look right—and you can't figure out why.
I used to feel so lost in these moments, like I had no control over my artwork. The worst part? Not knowing how to fix the mistakes. It felt like every brush stroke was a gamble, that usually led me overworking my painting and hating it. Does this sound familiar?
If it does, you’re definitely not alone!
Here’s the good news: the secret to overcoming this challenge is understanding the 5 Core Art Skills that every painter needs. Once you know these, you’ll be able to confidently identify what's going wrong in your painting and (finally!) know how to fix it.
The 5 Core Art Skills You Need
Drawing – The foundation of every painting. Without strong drawing skills, it’s tough to get your proportions, shapes, or details right. In my online mini course, Supercharge your Art in 14 days, I’ll teach you how to sketch any item you like, breaking it down into simple shapes. Check it out HERE
Value – This is all about light and shadow. Mastering value ensures your painting has depth and dimension, making it more lifelike. Learn how to add layers to your painting HERE.
Composition – Think of composition as the structure of your painting. A strong composition helps guide the viewer’s eye and creates a balanced, pleasing design.
Colour – Understanding colour theory will bring vibrancy and harmony to your work. It’s about choosing the right hues and knowing how to mix them for the best results. Pro tip: Check out this colour mixing tutorial for some extra guidance!
Painting Technique – This covers everything from brush handling to applying texture and layers. Your technique can make or break how your painting looks.
When you have all these skills in place, it gives you control over your art. You’ll know what went wrong and, more importantly, *how to fix it* — no more guessing or feeling frustrated with your canvas!
Why This Matters for Beginners
Most beginner artists think they’re learning to “paint” when really, painting is the sum of these five skills. When one is missing or underdeveloped, it’s likely that your painting won’t come together the way you want. That’s when frustration creeps in, and doubt starts to take over.
But the beauty of understanding these core skills? You’ll finally be able to take control of your artwork and approach each piece with confidence. You'll know exactly what needs adjusting, instead of blindly guessing.
Don’t worry if you feel like you’re missing a few of these skills. We’re all learning here—there’s no shame in that!
As one of my Learn to Paint with Confidence students, Liezl Anderson, shared:
“Katie systematically takes you through the critical building blocks...It has been so helpful to understand and work at these core skills in order to truly have the freedom to create unique pieces."
So, what about you? Which of these core skills do you struggle with the most? No judgment here — we’re all learning!
P.S. If you're curious about how to improve these skills, check out this video I made for you: Watch Now
P.P.S. I’m hosting a FREE LIVE WORKSHOP on 24 September 2024, where I'll dive deep into the 5 core art skills and I want YOU to join me! More details HERE.