Art Takes Practice
So the other day I was talking to one of my
artist friends about coming up with drawing ideas. This is definitely
an issue I think every artist has come across and one of the many things
that scares people away from art.
Often times people assume artists are constantly imagining and creating amazing things. They think that if you ask that artist to draw something, they will produce something spectacular within minutes. But that is rarely the case...
Good ideas come from practice, good art comes from practice and being able to draw comes from practice. Learning how to be a good artist and how to draw is just like learning how to do anything else. It takes practice.
As silly as it sounds I didn't always understand this concept. For many years I felt that when ever my pencil touched the paper I needed to draw a masterpiece. When I drew I felt that it needed to be good enough to one day be framed in a museum... or least on my moms fridge.
I underestimated the idea of practice and drawing "everyday things". I never saw the value of drawing just a hand or just a lamp sitting on the table. It never crossed my mind that if I truly wanted to be a good artist and make a living from my art, then I should probably learn how to draw everything. I never understood that by practicing to draw everyday things, I would then learn how to create new ideas on my own. I needed to learn how to relax and just do it.
This is where a sketchbook comes in. A sketchbook is a place to practice. It is used to think out an artist's ideas and test out different techniques. While I do believe that sharing your work is a really important part of the creative process, you shouldn't share everything. It's so freeing to have a place where you can make art just for you and experiment without worrying about someone else's opinion. Your sketchbook can be a private place where you experiment without fear.
So if you are thinking about being an artist, I say just practice and always carry your sketchbook with you! You never know when or where an inspiration might find you. After a while your sketchbook will become your biggest source of inspiration. Occasionally going through its pages will bring the memories of all the great projects you have been working on. You will also notice the mistakes you have made earlier, and will come up with the perfect solutions to improve your art.
Nothing motivates more than seeing how far you’ve gone and how much better you’ve become! Your sketchbook is your best motivation and inspiration! - Dominic Glover
Often times people assume artists are constantly imagining and creating amazing things. They think that if you ask that artist to draw something, they will produce something spectacular within minutes. But that is rarely the case...
Good ideas come from practice, good art comes from practice and being able to draw comes from practice. Learning how to be a good artist and how to draw is just like learning how to do anything else. It takes practice.
As silly as it sounds I didn't always understand this concept. For many years I felt that when ever my pencil touched the paper I needed to draw a masterpiece. When I drew I felt that it needed to be good enough to one day be framed in a museum... or least on my moms fridge.
I underestimated the idea of practice and drawing "everyday things". I never saw the value of drawing just a hand or just a lamp sitting on the table. It never crossed my mind that if I truly wanted to be a good artist and make a living from my art, then I should probably learn how to draw everything. I never understood that by practicing to draw everyday things, I would then learn how to create new ideas on my own. I needed to learn how to relax and just do it.
This is where a sketchbook comes in. A sketchbook is a place to practice. It is used to think out an artist's ideas and test out different techniques. While I do believe that sharing your work is a really important part of the creative process, you shouldn't share everything. It's so freeing to have a place where you can make art just for you and experiment without worrying about someone else's opinion. Your sketchbook can be a private place where you experiment without fear.
So if you are thinking about being an artist, I say just practice and always carry your sketchbook with you! You never know when or where an inspiration might find you. After a while your sketchbook will become your biggest source of inspiration. Occasionally going through its pages will bring the memories of all the great projects you have been working on. You will also notice the mistakes you have made earlier, and will come up with the perfect solutions to improve your art.
Nothing motivates more than seeing how far you’ve gone and how much better you’ve become! Your sketchbook is your best motivation and inspiration! - Dominic Glover
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