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Are you looking for a creative outlet this year? Are you trying to figure out how to learn to be an artist? What if you think you aren’t creative and don’t know where to start?
We have good news and bad news. The good news is that this dilemma is fixable and solvable. There is even a solution that can be pretty fun. The bad news is that it will take a new perspective and the letting go of some icky and untrue beliefs. 5 Fun Ways-How To Play At Art Instead Of Making It So Hard
Let’s Establish What Art Is And What It Isn’t.
Defining what art is to and creativity mean is the first step in learning how to be an artist. First, it’s not about how much you sell or how popular your work is. Being wealthy and famous with your art has a lot of pieces to it. Some of those pieces are in your hands. Some of them are not. But “being” an artist is a choice, and no one gets to tell you that you are one or you aren’t one…but you.
Every artist (famous or not) has people who really dig their work and other observers who just don’t get it. You will be no different. Some artists (famous or not) have formal training, but many don’t. So education doesn’t make you an artist either.
If you choose to create something, it is art if you say it is. You are an artist if you made it. Art, like beauty, truly is in the eye of the beholder. No one gets to determine whether you are, in fact, an artist or not. Being an artist is a choice…your choice.
Let’s Establish What Creativity Is And Isn’t.
Now, let’s talk about creativity. Like art, creativity comes in endless forms. A perfect chicken pot pie in a seasoned cast iron skillet is a yummy creative outlet (and from this picture, you can see it can be a work of art.)
So is a beautiful garden of fresh vegetables or a poem that no one will ever read but you. For simplicity, we will use the art you hang on the wall as an example going further. However, your creative outlet could be anything you can think of. That outlet then becomes your art. Like art, creativity is not about money or education. But hang with us, and we will tell you what it IS about.
How To Learn To Be An Artist With New Perspective.
Becoming an artist is basically a 4 step process:
- Find a creative expression that feels fun, enjoyable, and inspiring.
- Play in that creativity till you make something…anything.
- If you like it and it helps express something inside of you, that’s your art.
- If you commit time to that art, you are now an artist.
We already hear you, “That’s not what I mean!” “It’s not that simple,” But…the beginning steps are precisely that simple. You start at the beginning when you learn how to be an artist. This is the beginning.
Discovering your own creativity can be a fun yellow brick road to your art. It’s only hard if you get caught up in a bunch of thoughts that aren’t true. You may have to reprogram your beliefs.
We will give you a quick hint: Often, someone else inserted these beliefs into your programming. With some clarity and practice, you can untangle and rework them. Let’s add some Enchanted Perspective to your beliefs instead of the self-doubt, fear, and judgment that might be present now.
How To Learn To Be An Artist Idea #1: Everyone Is Creative, And Yes, That Means YOU.
We could hear your self-doubt from here. How do we know you are creative? It’s because everyone is. It’s in our human DNA. Give a 4-year-old a piece of paper and a couple of fat crayons. They will begin creating the first thing that comes to their mind. They will not consider whether drawing a puppy dog or a palm tree with a purple crayon is okay. They just go with what feels right.
They will give no thought to whether anyone else likes it. All that matters is that they liked it and had fun creating it. When finished, they will gladly put their masterpiece on the fridge of anyone who offers to showcase their work.
The, “Yeah Buts…..”
So now you may be thinking, “Yeah, that’s fine for a little kid, but I want to be an artist.” That little kid is an artist. Being an artist and being creative are all about the same things. The joy of those fat crayons and a clean piece of paper is the feeling that manifests creativity. If you use that creativity, you create art, which makes you…an artist.
“Yeah, but that kid isn’t making any money!” Nope, he’s not, and neither are many artists. Remember, Van Gough died without a penny of his own. But his “Starry Starry Night” is worth almost a billion dollars if sold today. So, being creative isn’t about money from being an artist. Don’t let the lack of income from your creation change anything.
“Yeah, but that kid…is a kid…anything he does is adorable.” That kid has a fan base that loves anything he does. Some unknown artists are brilliant. There are well-known artists whose work is loved only because they are loved. Someone who doesn’t know and love them might not get their sense of creativity.
Being creative or an artist isn’t about who thinks you are good or even if your work is good. It’s about that incredible feeling with the fat crayons (paint brush, pen, or spatula) in your hand.
So, everyone is creative, and everyone who creates has it in them to be an artist. Now, whether you will have fame or fortune from it is unknown. But we can, without a doubt, say we know that you are creative. We also know you can be an artist if you take the time to practice and learn as you go.
How To Learn To Be An Artist Idea #2: Don’t Confuse Creativity With Talent Or Skill.
Everyone is born with creativity. But talent needs to be polished, and skill comes with practice. Talent takes time to hone, and skill can take time, effort, and commitment. Just because you are a beginner doesn’t mean you aren’t creative. It also doesn’t mean you aren’t an artist. It means you are a work in progress.
You’re born with creativity, and one who makes art is an artist. Honed talent and skill are the reward that comes later. They come from commitment, consistent effort, practice, discovering your style and what you mean to express, and…time.
How To Learn To Be An Artist Idea #3: Don’t Confuse Your Modality, Medium And Style.
Many people think they aren’t creative because their modality, medium, and style are all braided together in a tight, confusing rope. This rope then strangles their creativity. This is an art school textbook topic, but here it is in the simplest of terms:
Modality=The way you choose to express yourself. It might be painting, singing, pottery, sculpture, writing, poetry, or (that incredible pot pie Nikki made), etc., etc., 100 other things, etc., etc.
Medium = What you choose to use to work with: watercolor, oils, acrylics, clay, glass, pastels, ink, metal (chicken and dough), etc, etc, etc, 100 other things, etc., etc.
Style=This is known by formal artists’ terms like “impressionist,” “abstract,” “expressionism,” and “modernism,” among many more. It can also just mean your style of doing things. Is it fun and bold or small and elegant? What does it express in your personality and your view of the world?
Just because you don’t know which one is yours yet doesn’t mean you aren’t creative. It doesn’t mean you can’t make art or that you can’t be an artist. Yet, it is the place where most beginners get all tangled up.
Try different modalities. Try different mediums. If you try painting and don’t like it, that doesn’t mean you aren’t creative. It means maybe painting is not your modality. If every watercolor you try looks like mud, maybe acrylics are more your medium. Play! Try something! Play! Screw it up! Make mistakes! Try something else. Just keep playing.
How To Learn To Be An Artist Idea #4: Learn How To Think Like An Artist.
Once you start thinking creatively, you will see art in everything. You will notice how the light comes through the trees or how the ice reflects in your glass of sweet tea.
Creativity can express things you didn’t even know you had to say until they become part of your creation. Some have never experienced this and are afraid they never will. Again, it comes with practice and time, but will come to you.
Making art can bring out your free spirit and your expressive soul. Creativity and art can give your 7-year-old self permission to come out and play. It can also bring out your mean girl, poor me, and inner critic who can’t seem to shut up.
Don’t let those last 3 make you think you aren’t creative or you don’t know how to make art. You just have to learn how to hear what the voices are saying when they are helpful and shut them out when they are just mean and dumb. Many books are out there about managing the many voices in an artist’s head. Your Inner Critic Is A Big Jerk is one of our favorites. It’s fun, snarky, truthful, and helpful.
How to Learn to Be an Artist Belief #5: Start With Cheap Supplies and Don’t Worry About It Being Good.
Start with cheap supplies when you are new to experiencing your creativity and finding your artist space. Yes, the good stuff is better quality, but it’s…pricey. Now isn’t a time to worry about wasting supplies or the cost of starting over. This is a time to PLAY, TRY SOMETHING NEW, MESS IT UP, TRY AGAIN, EXPERIMENT AND…PLAY.
Supplies that are too cheap can cause issues. However, that sweet spot of inexpensive but good quality makes for great playing and creating. Don’t even think about how good you are. Good comes with practice. The more you practice, the “gooder” you get. You might start with one of these inexpensive supplies. They are of good quality, easy to work with and yield good results.
- Professional Artist Paint Brush Set of 12
- Amazon Basics Acrylic Paint Set Tubes for Canvas, Wood, and Ceramic, 24 Colors
- Derwent Colored Pencils
- Faber-Castell Watercolor Crayons with Brush, 15 Colors
How To Learn To Be An Artist Belief #6: Be Careful With Your New Babies.
Your babies are your new creations. Your feelings about them may be delicate. You wouldn’t hand a newborn to anyone who held out their arms and said, “Gemme…” Treat your new expressions of creativity the same way. Don’t show them to the brother-in-law who finds something wrong with everything or the sister who likes to push your buttons and pull your chain.
Only show your efforts and new results to people who will be kind and supportive. That includes you. Don’t judge what you are making if you are in an ick mood. It’s incredible how many pieces of art look like poopy doo at midnight but look really good with new morning eyes.
How To Learn To Be An Artist Idea #7: In The Beginning, Don’t Even Think About How To Make Money With Your Creativity.
Many artists find that when they are just making stuff to be making stuff, the work just flows out of them. But give them a deadline, an expectation, or a dollar amount needed, and they get…stuck.
That’s because the part of your brain that thinks about money, numbers, and crunching differs from what creates art. You can marry them, but they need a long, healthy courtship first. An artist friend told us that her husband would look over her shoulder at the dining room table (Her favorite place to work). After saying something encouraging like, “Oh…that’s gonna be a good one.” he would add something else. His next question would be, “How much can you ask for that?”
Instantly, she would feel her sense of creativity shift to something…not creative. She would move to the other side of her brain. It was the part that would weigh out what supplies cost and the rate of her time against the possible return. She had gotten used to making a good part of her income with her creativity. But that one question would mess her up every time.
Be Mindful Of What You Say To Yourself, Too.
At this point in your journey, don’t worry about anything being good, or being profitable, or sellable. Just ask yourself if you are having fun and enjoying what you are doing. Next, ask yourself, “Is this expressing what I have to say?” That’s it! “Is it good?” is not part of your protocol right now, if ever. Right now, the goal is fun, expression, and learning.
How To Learn To Be An Artist Idea #8: Don’t Get Freaked Out By Labels.
Several established artists don’t like being called artists. They do art shows and make a living with their creativity, but they don’t call themselves artists. The word “artist” freaks them out too much. For them, it implies too much expectation and responsibility.
Don’t do it if calling the things you make “art” and calling yourself an “artist” feels out of context. If it hinders how you roll, no worries. Pay no attention to “How to learn to be an artist.” Just concentrate on the joy of creating, playing, experiencing, and exploring.
Those who feel this way often refer to themselves as “Creatives.” One of our artist friends will say, “I’m not an artist.” “I just make stuff.” She is very creative, and what she makes is lovely. She gets to create her own language and her own vibe (and call it whatever she wants). Don’t get hung up on labels and titles.
Remembering How To Be An Artist:
- Think about what ART means to you.
- Think about what CREATIVITY means to you.
- Find a creative expression that feels FUN, EXPRESSIVE, and INSPIRING to you.
- PLAY in that creativity till you make something…anything.
- Remember that EVERYONE is creative, including you.
- Stay away from the “Yeah, buts…”
- Remember, you already have CREATIVITY. You will find TALENT and create SKILL.
- Don’t get tangled in MODALITY, MEDIUM, and STYLE. All three will show up for you. Give it time.
- Learn how to THINK like an artist.
- Start with cheap supplies and just PLAY.
- Don’t give the value of your creations a thought. They are worth so much in HELPING you discover your creativity, inspiration, and expression. (Plus, PLAYING in art stuff is just FUN).
- If the word art or artist messes with you, don’t use it. Just “MAKE STUFF.”
Where To Start?
Start where you are, wherever that is. If you have never made anything, start with simple things. We like paint-by-numbers, gem art (paint-by-number with little beads), or any art kit for beginners. These are fun and pretty and a great place to start.
- Starry Sky Paint by Numbers for Adults
- Colorful Cats and Butterflies Paint By Number
- Butterfly Diamond Art Painting Kit
- Heart Beach Diamond Dots Paintings for Beginners
- Scribble Stones Art Guide: Step by Step Painting Techniques and Tricks
If you want to do some discovery and not get your hands dirty until you know more, get a book like this one: How to Paint: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Watercolors, Acrylics, and Oils.
You can also take a class on projects that interest you. It’s a great way to learn the do’s and don’ts of your supplies and tools. Then get some inexpensive stuff to mess around with and just play and see what happens.
Learning to create looks like playing, having fun, messing up, trying again, having some more fun, learning something, trying it again, playing some more, and finally, “Look what I made!!!!” Remember, YOU ARE CREATIVE, and you’ve got this.
Pixi-Pebbles for How To Learn To Be An Artist…
We’ve used these little Pixi-Pebbles to move ourselves from a feeling we’re not enjoying very much…to a feeling that helps us discover our vision of intention, awareness, and direction.
They lead us to hope, possibilities, and a fire under our butt to live life by design instead of default.
In our blog, How To Learn To Be An Artist When You Think You Aren’t Creative, here is a Pixi-Pebble that came to mind…
Just a little inspiration to get you from here to there…
One of our favorite teachers is Sark. We love her for inspiring us to follow our inspirations, discover our creativity in new ways, and in general she just makes us smile.
A great place to get to know her, (if you don’t know already) is to check out her facebook page, Planet Sark.
