How To Become A Better Visual Artist: My Top 10 Tips
By Lea Byrnes Art
Becoming a better visual artist is something that happens naturally, over time, and the speed at which you notice the improvement correlates directly to practice and belief. Art is no different than any other skill; the more effort and time you put in, the more results you will see. However, it is also important to remember that art at every stage and ability is beautiful and worthy of being created. Becoming a better visual artist happens when you push yourself to create your dream artwork. Let’s delve into 10 tips to becoming a better visual artist!
Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh | Adobe Stock
Gather inspiration from your favorite artists.
Getting inspired by other artists is the fastest way to become an artist yourself. I wanted to become an artist because my mom is an artist. As I got older, I continued to be inspired by different painters and digital artists I saw online. When you begin to create art based on styles that inspire you, you learn to eventually develop your own true style.
Try many different mediums.
How will you ever know what you are capable of if you don’t try as many mediums as possible? For a long time, I was afraid to try painting on a canvas or with acrylic paint, but all it took was a little practice and I figured it out! Start with the medium that sounds the most fun to you or will help you create art that inspires you. Mediums include: graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, and sculpture. Then explore and focus on the mediums that challenge you. You may be surprised at which you end up liking the most!
Use a reference photo.
Photo by neko92vl | Adobe Stock
Having a life-inspired reference photo or drawing is essential to achieving realism in your work. Reference photos are a convenient way to ensure that you are painting or drawing something lifelike and relatable to others. I have found that if you are using a phone or iPad, it helps to zoom your reference picture in/out in order to make it as close as possible to the same size of your drawing. This makes it much easier to copy and helps to develop your hand/eye coordination.
Practice graphite drawing and shading.
Drawing with only a pencil and paper is a great way to refine your overall drawing skills. It helps you focus on proportions, shading, and accuracy. When I was studying fine arts in college, I had to create many realistic graphite drawings including portraits of people, self-portraits, drawings of buildings, and plant and animal studies. Although they were tedious at the time, they taught me a lot and are very impressive. It is a great idea to practice these things in order for your skills to grow. Remember, blending is your friend with graphite! I like to use a paper towel, my finger, or a special blending tool called a tortillon. It is also important to have a nice eraser nearby to add in highlights.
Design by Lea Byrnes | Contagion Media
Keep an art journal.
Keeping an “art journal” has been life-changing for me over the past year, thanks to a suggestion by a friend. An art journal consists of anything you want it to: drawings, sketches, scrapbooking materials, stickers, mementos, glitter, and everything else in your creative dreams. I really enjoy collaging in my art journal with magazines such as National Geographic. The art journal helps me to stay creative and imaginative, with less pressure on the final outcome and more focus on the process of creating and having fun. It also becomes a sort of “mood board” and visual diary, great as a creative outlet and self-care activity.
Use a white gel pen for highlights in your drawings or watercolor paintings.
Design by Lea Byrnes | Contagion Media
The white gel pen was also a life-changing discovery for me. I love to use them in my watercolor and ink mixed-media paintings! White acrylic paint or paint markers are also good options. Adding white highlights such as glints in the eyes, light shining through clouds, and other luminous features is essential to bring a painting to life. The gel pen is convenient and comes with many thin to thick-sized point tips. I recommend the Sakura Jelly Roll brand pens.
Good art takes time: Use lots of LAYERS!
There’s an old but true saying, “You must trust the process.” Sometimes artwork goes through a beautiful metamorphosis and not every stage is going to look good, but that is how we learn and grow. For example, for my watercolor and ink paintings, I first outline my drawing in ink, then watercolor it, then ink it again. The reason I add a second layer of ink is because it makes the final product crisp and perfect. After that, I add the layer of highlights and finishing touches.
Use different sizes and types of brushes.
Whether you Are working with acrylic, watercolor, or oil paint, you are going to want to have at least 5 brushes in varying sizes in order to be able to create to your full potential. It’s good to have one tiny detail brush, a flat wide brush, a medium round brush, and a few more just in case. Michael’s art supply store, among others, has a great selection of high quality brushes to build your collection.
Photography By I_love_life | Adobe Stock
Stay inspired and open to new ideas!
Being an artist is a journey, not a destination. You are a work in progress, just like your art! The evolution of our work is beautiful and is a reflection of how we have changed over time, both creatively and personally. Don’t be afraid to embrace new mediums and try creating artwork that you never thought you would enjoy.
Believe in yourself.
Most importantly, believe that you are already an artist and that you will become even better if you continue to pursue it. By focusing on creating what our hearts truly desire, we naturally improve our skills.
The most important thing is to never stop creating and expressing ourselves through true, authentic passion. If you want to improve as a visual artist, you must; embrace the process, draw inspiration from experienced artists, and give yourself artistic freedom! Best of luck on your journey!
Edited by Jan Crystal on May 6, 2024
