Archive for 'Habits of successful artists'
Draw thumbnails
This post falls firmly into the category of ‘reminding myself of good habits’. It’s a simple one, and one that art teachers forever try to encourage, but somehow I just forget. It’s simply this: draw thumbnails before you launch into a bigger picture.
A thumbnail, so legend has it, takes its name from the practice […]
Posted: November 7th, 2007 under Technique, Composition, Habits of successful artists.
Comments: none
Being a parent may be the perfect excuse for not finding any time to draw, but it’s certainly beneficial for the artist in one way. Artists should keep an eye open for other people’s work, including the latest trends in illustration or fine art - and there’s one place where you can’t avoid doing just […]
Posted: October 18th, 2007 under Inspiration, No time to draw, Drawing with kids, Drawing on a computer, Habits of successful artists.
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Allowing accidents to happen
Certainly, all the best artists would tell you that it’s a good thing to occasionally let accidents happen, and see where they lead you. Actually, drawing is, in a strange way, an attempt to strike a balance between being in perfect control of your media, and introducing a note of reckless abandon.
Yes, many years of […]
Posted: October 11th, 2007 under Loosening up, Drawing on a computer, Habits of successful artists.
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Drawing from life vs drawing from memory
I’ve mentioned before the idea that in order to draw well from the imagination, you have to build up a stock of knowledge by drawing from life. This might be complete rubbish, but it’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.
Certainly when it comes to drawing people, I rely on the many hours I […]
Posted: October 3rd, 2007 under Confidence, Technique, Habits of successful artists.
Comments: 4
Start a collection
Kristina’s response to this post made me think of how most people of an artistic bent seem to collect things. Maybe it’s something to do with perceiving things visually: you are drawn to possess the things you see, to line them all up at once and compare them. Or maybe it’s simpler than that - […]
Posted: October 2nd, 2007 under Habits of successful artists.
Comments: 1
Patches of colour
This is not a picture I am pleased with, nor is it a good likeness, but we were travelling back from a weekend away today, and it’s all I got a chance to draw. Moreover, it was drawn with my daughter’s substandard hard pencil crayons - I throw them out when I happen across […]
Posted: September 18th, 2007 under Technique, Drawing people, Drawing on a computer, Colour, Habits of successful artists.
Comments: none
Get an exhibition
Your artworks might not be appearing in the National Gallery any time soon, but have you ever thought of exhibiting them?
If you’re a nervous or novice artist probably not: exhibitions are the kind of thing ‘real’ artists do. But if you like your work and you are proud of it, then why not?
There are plenty […]
Posted: September 3rd, 2007 under You, Confidence, Habits of successful artists.
Comments: 2
Look at pictures in a new way
One habit that it’s useful to get into as an artist is to look at pictures slightly quizically. If you see an image you like, be it a great master’s oil painting in a gallery, or a doodle on a friend’s notepad, ask yourself a few questions.
What is it exactly that you like about this […]
Posted: August 21st, 2007 under Technique, Habits of successful artists.
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