What I wish I knew as an aspiring artist
As an aspiring artist, I used to struggle. Hours spent painting, only to feel frustrated and stuck. Sound familiar? 🙈 But things turned around once I made six key shifts that completely transformed my art.
Here’s what made the biggest impact on my journey:
1. Understanding My Challenges
It wasn’t until I dug deep into why my paintings weren’t working that everything started to make sense. Once I identified the core issues, progress felt natural.
Tip: When a painting isn’t working, step back and ask why. Focus on one area at a time—whether it's composition, color balance, or technique. Identifying the root issue helps you grow faster.
2. Embracing Creative Freedom
Letting go of fear was an absolute game-changer. 🎨 It freed me to create without boundaries and finally allowed my true artistic voice to emerge.
Tip: Push past your fear by setting small, fearless goals. Instead of aiming for perfection, create just for fun and embrace the mistakes as part of the process. You'll unlock new ideas and techniques along the way.
3. Improving Fast
The fastest way to improve? Breaking painting into smaller, core skills. Focusing on one skill at a time—like drawing, composition, or color mixing—helped me level up quicker than I ever thought possible.
Tip: Break your practice into daily exercises focused on one skill—like drawing or color mixing. By narrowing your focus, you'll improve dramatically faster without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Finding Inspiration
Learning how to use references was a massive breakthrough. I could take inspiration from real life, simplify it, and translate it into my own unique artwork. Suddenly, creativity felt accessible.
Tip: Use your own photos for references. Choose images that spark something inside you, and simplify them by focusing on shapes and key details. This helps you create unique artwork that’s all your own.
5. Discovering My Unique Style
There’s no feeling quite like discovering your own artistic voice. 🙌 Studying artists I admired and injecting my own personality into my work helped me find a style that feels authentic.
Tip: Experiment with different techniques and mediums, even if they feel outside your comfort zone. Try combining elements from various artists you admire, then tweak them to reflect your personal preferences. This process helps you naturally develop a style that feels authentic and uniquely yours.
6. A Simple 7-Step Process
Knowing how to approach any painting without overthinking? Total. Freedom. Now, I have a reliable process to lean on that makes creating anything feel achievable.
Tip: Create a step-by-step plan before you start any painting. Outline each stage—sketching, color blocking, refining details, etc.—and follow it. This will give you a solid framework and prevent overwhelm, allowing more creative freedom.
These shifts not only transformed my art—they helped me gain the confidence I needed to create work I love. If you’re ready to break free from frustration and start painting with confidence, you’re in the right place.
My course, Learn To Paint With Confidence, walks you through all these key shifts in 6 transformative modules. Ready to start your own art journey? Click here to learn more and join today!