Here are 10 effective tips to become a better artist.

As we start 2022 most of us have new things we want to do. We start off on the right track with resolutions, but as time passes what we resolve to do diminishes. For artists it’s especially important to make resolutions that will keep you on the track to creating more art which will increase your skills as an artist.

First, let’s dispel any myths that there are quick and easy ways to become a good artist. Developing art skills is an investment in time, observation and resolve.

1. Improve Time Management Skills
If you don’t have time to work on your craft, how can you get better? How efficiently you spend your working hours directly affects how much time you have to spend doing the activities you enjoy. Write to-do lists every day, tune into your most productive and energetic times of the day. Work to stay focused by avoiding the distractions that you’re prone to. Turn your phone off!

2. Appreciate More
Obviously, creating art comes from a place within. Taking time to tune into the good (and the bad) in your life is important. Observe the small things. Practice mindfulness in the moment. When you slow your critical thinking down you can tune into the fleeting moments.  Moments that you can capture what you see, feel and express on a deeper level. Everyday demands can make it a challenge to see in ‘slow motion’, however as you practice doing this you will notice the things around you in a new way.

3. Get Organized

Organization can be a challenge for a visual person. As a visual person, I like to see all the stuff on my desk that I have to work with. Reducing clutter helps with clarity. Each day I resolve to organize small sections of my workstations. We’ll see how it goes!

4. Put Time for Art on the Calendar
We only get better with practice and sometimes making the time to practice art is a challenge. Make it a priority to create new art and work on current art in 2022. Even if it’s just a few hours a week you will make progress. And don’t forget about the therapeutic benefits of lowering anxiety and stress!

5. Draw, Sketch… Draw, Sketch… Repeat!
Drawing is the foundation to all art and a skill that is based on practice and observation. As you learn how to draw, work on increasing your skills with sketching and exploration. Basic shapes, line, values, expressive lines and capturing ‘feeling’ of what you are expressing. Even the best of artists continue to draw and sketch. Take your sketchbook to work, in between meetings or wherever; get out your sketchbook and express your thoughts.

6. Take Time to Share & Encourage
As art can be a solitary activity it may be time to reach out and social media is a perfect avenue.  Visit other artists fan pages to show support and encouragement. Plan social media into your calendar and share the progress of your work.

7. Be prepared – always be ready to capture your ideas!
While out and about and inspiration strikes, be sure and capture it! Keep the sketchbook with you. Or at the very least, snap pictures of what catches your eye. Keeping an ongoing source of inspiring images that you can refer back to when needed. As your image files increase consider Dropbox or Google Drive which are great tools for storage and can be accessed at any time.

8. Practice, Practice… Practice!
As we mentioned earlier, there is not a quick and easy fix to becoming a better artist. Besides, if there was, would that be fun? The reward of being a good artist is that you have achieved a level of skill that you have worked for.

Even if it comes ‘easy’ to you, the gift of being an artist is one that never gets old or tiring. You can keep working on it and enjoying the personal satisfaction that comes from your creativity, skill and experience.

9. Teach Others
Stepping out of your comfort zone as you become a better artist to teach others can be unnerving. After all, perhaps you are your own worse critic. Does this fear of teaching hold you back? If you’ve attained any level of art skill it might be time for you to show others how you got good at your craft! YouTube videos and even in person workshops can be very rewarding. As you get better, consider teaching and encouraging other artists! Share the art love!

10. Your Mindset – Don’t Compare
As artists we are sometimes critical of our work. Comparison as it is said, “…is the thief of joy.” As you develop your own style and trust your vision your work becomes more meaningful.

In 2022, may you enjoy more time and inspiration as you create art!
– Christina Rosepapa

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I am a self-taught portrait painter. About 4 years ago, I was traveling again with my husband. Waiting in the hotel room for him to come back. There was paper and a pen in the room and suddenly I thought I can paint a portrait. It just came to me. So I started, later bought a watercolor set. Then I challenged myself to paint one portrait a day, just to see where I would be in a year or so. Experimented with coffee and red wine. The latter did not work. About a year ago, I started painting with acrylic.

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Sophia Din is our featured artist from Staffordshire, UK. Her style of work is created in watercolor and ink. According to Sophia, creating art is a meditative form for relieving stress. Her beautiful work has a melodic and botanical feel.

I am an ENT surgeon but Self taught when it comes to art. I only started drawing during the lockdown period and it became a daily exercise for me to dispel stress that came with my work. It’s been a learning journey. During the first lockdown everything slowed down and I recall hearing the birds which was not only meditative but hopeful. I’ve gravitated towards painting birds for the this reason.

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Winslow Homer was born February 24th, 1836 in Boston, MA. He is regarded as one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century and created 145 artworks. He produced a broad range of work in illustration, oil painting and watercolor. Many of his artworks were from places he visited. From the Civil War battlefields where he documented the war to the desolate coast of Portland Maine.

One of his most nostalgic oil paintings, Snap the Whip, was created in 1872. The portrait depicts the simplicity of rural life as a group of children play crack the whip in front of a red schoolhouse. Homer spent summers in New York’s Hudson Valley and was inspired to paint this scene by local boys playing.

The work that defined his style was not undertaken until his middle age – after the age of forty-five when he settled into a solitary life in his coastal home and studio in Prouts Neck Maine.

His artwork depicted marine scenes, the rugged coastline and tumultuous sea which was inspired by the setting in which he spent the rest of his life.

In 1910, Homer died at the age of 74 in his Prouts Neck studio. His Shooting the Rapids, Saguenay River remains unfinished, however sheds insight on his painting process.

“Look at nature, work independently, and solve your own problems.”
– Winslow Homer

Sources:
mainepreservation.org
Wikipedia.com

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New York, Hawaii, Mexico, Finland, United Kingdom, South Africa, Philippines, India and more; here are our featured artists for July and August 2020. The unique style of each artist is experienced and appreciated as you look deeper into their visual stories.

Continents near or far, art is a catalyst for bringing people together.

Every month we feature a new artist and for July and August we are featuring a series of artists who’s work makes a creative impact. Thanks to the artists below for sharing their work and a look into their worlds.

1. Faye Akassa
As a young sand painting artist I taught my self to distinguish as the different grains, sizes and shapes of sand found on the shores of my birth home in Dakar (Senegal West Africa). This Ancient art form of sand painting is rooted in ancient Kente (AKA ancient Egypt) civilizations and for 12 years my style and composition were developed around the medium. I worked at further expanding my craft introducing myself to many other techniques and widening my emerging vision.I explored the decorating of various objects to attract tourists sales in Dakar to include clay oil painting and art sculpture. I love what I do.

The work became more expensive as Akassa’s world got bigger. France and other parts in Europe, the International African Art festival in New York, Kente Royal Galerie in Harlem New York, etc. are special places that inform the narrative of Akassa and his unique approach to colors.

I can be seen in community school settings, senior centers and on the street of New York passing on my knowledge while sharing my artistic philosophy.

2. Chaverna Partida
I live in San Blas Nayarit Mexico and I have painted since I was boy. My style is in oil paint and acrylic on canvas, wood, or glass.
I paint landscapes from the place I live, ocean and fisherman scenes.

3. Bryan Mosh
Designer, illustrator, photographer; a little clueless and always with a hat.

I love to create images that convey a message to the viewer, I love to make people imagine a story in their mind.

4. Odinel Pierre Junior
I use several mediums including oil paintings, ink, charcoal and multiple collages. I was an artist that worked exclusively in graphite, charcoal, and pen and ink were my specialties. I had decided way back that this was the artist that I should be.
I am interested in creating works that highlight the strength and create a place for the audience that can relate on how each impact on their lives.

5. Badal Prasad Singh
I am a boy of 17 who has been proudly raising eyebrows with Art and Passion, have contributed his sweat, pain and hard work in Art and will continue to do it with even more pride. I am accustomed to the styles of using Water color and brushes on paper, Crayons and Pencil Sketches.

6. Janne Puharinen from Finland

7. Mansel Siddall
Unusual surreal fantasy.

8. Mack Blair
Cartoon….Pen and colored pencils

These begin as doodling and turn into cartoons… I also draw cell cartoons but enjoy just drawing one image and moving on.
Recently, I framed a few stacks of my drawings. These are fun meditations.

9. Quratul Ain
I am a self taught beginner artist doing my art initially on paper.

10. Max Akerman
I started a month ago in Art. I started producing high quality sellable art very quickly. Been using my art to heal my health. As I suffer from complex ptsd. Art has helped me to find peace and have a purpose in life.

11. Edna “Renee” Cornette
Realism and abstract.
I am an upcoming artist who is self taught. I began painting in August of 2019. I live in Long Beach, MS and have a very supportive husband of 11 years and a 10 year old daughter. Painting has become a passion for me to bring out my inner creativeness and to take away stress. My paintings are mostly beach scenes and some abstracts. I am inspired by the beach because it is peaceful and calming. Throughout my learning period I have been able to achieve a more understanding on realism and how to make it happen in my art.

12. Ophola Siwundla
Ophola is an artist from the small town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape South Africa.

I do tribal and documentary art and specialize in oil on canvas paintings.
I am a self-taught artist who has been painting since 2001. My work is motivated by the struggles that have and are still being experienced in the rural Eastern Cape. Capturing these moments with oil paint on canvas has helped me with better dealing with these tough experiences. I paint to heal my soul and those who went through the same experiences.

13. Rhoselyn Garino
Acrylic on Canvas

For me Art is the only thing who can save us from everything that kills us inside.

For more information on how to become a Featured Artist on Art and Design Inspiration, please visit this link.

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]]> https://artanddesigninspiration.com/13-featured-artists-from-across-the-globe/feed/ 1 https://artanddesigninspiration.com/bill-traylor-southern-self-taught-artist/ https://artanddesigninspiration.com/bill-traylor-southern-self-taught-artist/#respond Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:10:28 +0000 https://artanddesigninspiration.com/?p=2463 The Art of Southern Self-Taught Artist Bill Traylor Bill Traylor was an African-American artist born into slavery in the mid-1800’s, incredibly beginning his career...

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]]> The Art of Southern Self-Taught Artist Bill Traylor

Bill Traylor was an African-American artist born into slavery in the mid-1800’s, incredibly beginning his career as a self-taught artist at the age of 85.

Some of his most notable works of art were those that depicted his memories of plantation life in Montgomery, Alabama.

Born on April 1, 1854, Traylor’s family were slaves who continued to farm after emancipation.  When Traylor was 85 years old, he slept in a back room of a funeral home after moving to Montgomery from Benton in Lowndes County.  During daylight hours, Traylor would use supplies he had found such as cardboard pieces from shirt packaging and pencil stubs to create his impression of the people he saw passing by, and of plantation life as he remembered it from his youth.  He would then exhibit his drawings by hanging them on a fence for passers-by to see.

In his 80’s Traylor produced more than 1,200 drawings!

From that point until he was close to 90, Traylor would produce more than 1,200 drawings.  While his art was simplistic, mostly delineated geometric forms and figures, Traylor’s works of art never gained attention and popularity until nearly 30 years after his death.

While his drawings were exhibited at a show organized by Victor E. D’Amico in New York in 1942, none of Traylor’s artwork sold.

It was only in the late 1970’s when Traylor’s drawings became recognized and popular with the public as well as critics.  Charles Shannon, a painter who Traylor had met in his later years and who had purchased art supplies for Traylor, had kept his friend’s drawings over the years before unveiling them to museum and art dealers and professionals.

Startlingly Modernistic

Some of the art work created by Traylor were done simply with pencil and “found” cardboard scraps, while others included poster paint, colored pencils, and crayons.  Much of his work is called “startlingly” modernistic; today, his work has become some of the most sought-after of that created by self-taught artists.

Traylor’s Art Work is Held in Numerous Public Collections

Amazingly considering the simplistic nature of his works and his elderly age when he really put his talent to use, Traylor’s art work is held in numerous public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, High Museum of Art, and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Prior to his death at a nursing home in Montgomery in 1949, the artist had traveled to Washington D.C. in 1942 where he lived with his children during World War II until 1945, when he returned to Montgomery and lived on the street once again.  Ultimately, he was urged to  move in with a daughter in the area by relief workers.

Bill Traylor’s story is one that is tragic in a way, considering he will never know the popularity of his work and impact of his talent. However, film maker Jeffrey Wolf (Director/Producer/Editor) has made the documentary Chasing Ghosts which captures the essence of Bill Traylor’s work and life.

•Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts Trailer from jeffrey wolf on Vimeo.

It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw

Today Bill Traylor is considered to be one of the most important self-taught American folk artists. Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices Award Honor, It Jes’ Happened is a lively tribute to this man who has enriched the world with more than twelve hundred warm, energetic, and often humorous pictures.

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We’re inspired not only by Dinah’s work as an Watercolor Artist (be sure to scroll on, her work is awesome!), but also by her commitment to engage and include her baby in exploring and enjoying art.

After all, why should creating art end for an artist after having a baby!?

Dinah went to work creating Torin’s Alphabet, 26 animal characters for each letter in alphabet. She embraced the unpredictable life of a newborn baby, cultivated her vision and went to work to make something that will last generations.

What we especially enjoying about Dinah’s story is seeing how she includes her son in art making and even let’s him get colorful with paint! All babies and children should play in paint!

Dinah’s Story

Just over a year ago I found out that I was expecting in January 2017. Expecting not only a child but expecting to lose my sense of identity as an Artist. The sudden inability to just lose myself for hours in my art ate at my core. My sister was an artist, then two kids happened…

At that time, my art consisted of intricate Commissions and Abstracts in Acrylic, Oil, or Illustrations. Each creation may take upwards of a month or two to complete. And I loved it. I loved my H-Frame Easel, my paint-stained rug, my collection of paint brushes and excess canvases.

Last July, I was invited to be a guest teacher at the International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens. There were four other Artists in various media who were invited for the Visual Arts Week. I was honored. I was the Painting instructor. Acrylic was no trouble. I could teach that in my sleep… But Watercolor? Hey. I had never liked nor enjoyed (but most likely never understood) Watercolor. And I had to teach it to a group of Middle Schoolers followed by Adults?

I signed myself up for an ONE DAY Watercolor lesson founded by BreckCreate in Colorado. The three-hour lesson focused a full hour on color theory and the direction of the sun… And then we painted aspens.

Two weeks later, I was in the middle of nowhere teaching what I had learned. I painted two watercolors during the week. One was a beautiful passion flower. The other was a Heron.

And then that “Baby Curveball” kept coming my way… I grew to love the idea of being a Mom. To be able to pass on a love and appreciation for art. To cultivate Creativity.

Cultivation of creativity and Motherhood became my new obsession! It wasn’t until after my son was born that I picked up the Heron and thought… Hey, this is pretty good! I bet this would look darling in his Nursery!

And thus began my attempt to paint 25 more animals, in profile, for Torin’s Alphabet, a nursery decor painting in watercolor, an amazing media characterized by fast dry-times, patience, layering of colors, and luck…

Here, you may see these fun and regal portraits that have proved very meaningful and able to be completed within the unpredictable life of a newborn baby!

Creativity is one of the most important skills anyone can possess, whether innate or trained.

Shown Are a Few Illustrations From Torin’s Alphabet

B Is For Baboon

C Is For Chameleon

D Is For Duck

E Is For Elephant

F Is For Fox

G Is For Giraffe

H Is For Heron

If you enjoyed this article, be sure and share the inspiration. Follow Dinah on Instagram to see more of her work.

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It’s one of the most exciting and anticipated times in life when an artist finally goes pro. Having your work displayed in a gallery (or galleries) is the ultimate dream of most artists! However, it’s important that you write an artists’ statement if you really want to reach your ultimate level of success. When people look at and admire your work, they’re curious about the “real” person who’s behind it. Those who love art know that those who create these works are talented and creative – but they want to know more.

So, what is an artist’s statement? In a nutshell, it is a brief, relevant, compelling statement that offers answers to the questions those who admire your art likely have, such as your philosophy, what materials you use when creating your artistic works, how you learned to oil paint, craft charcoal drawings, or whether your talent comes naturally, etc.

Briefly reveal your passion for art, what inspires you, what your artistic works mean to you.

How to make your Artist Statement effective?

As an artist, you may adhere to the belief that you don’t need an artist’s statement, that those who look at your art will develop their own ideas about who you are, will take away their own experiences. While this is true, people want facts.

Think of it this way: If you were at the gallery 24/7, every time someone admired your work or considered buying it, they would be excited and filled with questions to ask you.

An effective artist statement provides answers to questions those browsing your paintings, pictures, or other works would otherwise ask you if you were present. If your work is part of a series you will want to identify this. If your work expresses ideas, culture, relevant topics, you will want to briefly introduce these. Avoid being too wordy and try to use adjectives.

Always keep in mind to use simple language that is easy to understand for a reader on any level. Use everyday, ordinary language, not fancy art terms that no one but you and other artists would understand. You don’t have to be a prolific writer. Three – Four paragraphs with three to five sentences each will usually suffice; and when it comes to the information, don’t spell out every detail – shorter entices the reader to want to learn more. Oh – and always write your artist’s statement in first person, infusing it with your own individual perspective.

For instance:
Paragraph one: 2 sentences about who you are;
Paragraph two: Overview of your artistic style, vision or dream;
Paragraph three: Specifics about the type of work that you are showing. You may also want a sentence or so about your process
Summary: Engage your audience with a personalized message or a thank you for viewing your work.

Other than an artist’s statement being required to showcase your creative works in most galleries, think of it as a bridge between yourself and potential customers.

When people have a clear understanding of what inspires you, your passion for your work, and how you became interested in learning or expanding your talent, it simply gives them that many more reasons to crave those beautiful, distinctive, or even odd works of art that are uniquely yours!

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Some say artists have their head in the clouds.

Do artists have their heads in the clouds? Yes, and it’s a world that never gets boring. However to the outsider, artists may not seem to be paying attention, but artists are very aware (hyper aware in fact) of everything – innuendos, and how things look, taste, sound, feel and smell. Often analyzing or noticing shapes, patterns, colors, expressions and more, artists have a strong appreciate for aesthetics and heightened senses and intuition.

High Expectations

The artist personality types have strong feelings about ‘what’s right’, personal values and strive to consistently meet the expectations they set for ourselves; often these expectations are high and unattainable which can make artists frustrated or depressed.

Personal and Creative Space

Artist types need more personal space than other types. They can often be seen as reserved and difficult to know, however at heart they are very sensitive and loyal to those they let in. Not only is personal needed, an inspiring creative space for creating work is essential. Even if the space is a small corner in a room, it can be motivating. Take a look at our article on how to create the ideal art space.

Because they absorb so much of the world around them, they may appear standoffish. But they are not, they are just somewhere else.

The challenge for the artist is to have ‘thinking and creating’ space. When artists don’t get enough personal space they become scattered, unproductive and moody.

Meaning Seekers

Artists tend to take life very seriously. Sure there are carefree and lighthearted days but overall life is serious business. They seek meaning in even the most mundane tasks. If an artist can’t find meaning or inspiration in anything in their life, sometimes this can result in depression.

Artists are like explorers, constantly gathering specific information and shifting it through their value systems, in search for clarification and underlying meaning.

Critical

The Achille’s heel of the artist is personal criticism. The artists worst enemy is himself. Their strong value systems can lead them to be intensely perfectionist, and cause them to judge themselves with unnecessary harshness. This personal criticism leads to more anxiety, more criticism and it becomes a vicious circle. They don’t give themselves enough credit for what they do well.

The artist type can find more peace and fulfillment if they can come to the understanding and acceptance that not everything they create has to be perfect. To take on the motto “good enough” can be freeing.

Challenges

Life is not likely to be extremely easy for the artist types of people in the world. Because they can tend to take life seriously and they deal with personal criticism and insecurities. Some artist types struggle with depression, anxiety, addictions and more.

Strengths

As thinkers and vision seekers with visionary and intuition gifts, artists can solve problems in creative ways. Though they might not be the most vocal one on a work related team, they will be the doer on the team. Most artistic people are highly disciplined and gifted with superior powers of concentration – almost to the point of obsessiveness. Because of this level of concentration they are capable of producing great quantities of high quality work; however they also enjoy frequent periods of recreation and inactivity. To those they care deeply about they are loyal to the end and also generous. They are also very sympathetic and can be idealists on one hand trying to fix the woes of the world. They have a strong desire to please and show their love through actions rather than words.

Artists are interested in contributing to people’s sense of well-being and happiness, and will put a great deal of effort and energy into tasks which they believe in.

Wired differently?

A study has found that artists have structurally different brains compared with non-artists. Participants’ brain scans revealed that artists had increased neural matter in areas relating to fine motor movements and visual imagery. This study* suggests that structural brain differences in relation to expertise have been demonstrated in visual perception, spatial navigation, complex motor skills and musical ability. Bottom line, practice makes perfect and changes the structure of your brain.

Understanding Artists

Out of all the personality types, most artists are not people manipulators and are not the sales type of people and they don’t like superficial things. In their world there is a drive to create and express non-verbally, find daily meaning, have independence and personal space and contribute to the things they believe deeply in.

Sources
Artists have different brains compared with non-artists according to this study.

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Meet Featured Artist Nini who began drawing in Kindergarten. A self-taught artist, she expresses that “drawing is part of her personality and who she is”.

I remember my first drawing. It was the first day of my Kindergarten. We took a walk in the park and then sat drawing. I draw a tree with huge yellow leaves, between the half-naked brunches cloudless sky as was it that day. I got scolded. The teacher had this distorted view of a sky being a thin blue line at the top of the paper. I deviated from ‘kid drawing’ norms I filled the space between the leaves and branches and grass. I told the teacher she was wrong about the sky, that sky was not a line. That sky had no limit, I believe nor does our dreams.

I have always dreamed of being an artist. Drawing has always being something mine, my defining characteristic, part of my personality. I have never had a lesson in art, I don’t even know if I am holding the pencil correctly, If I am using the right paint or creating the right composition… But I believe there is no right or wrong…There is no frame for art, there is no limit…

Enjoy the expression in her work. She works in Charcoal and Acrylic.

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