Erika Lancaster- Artist + Online Art Teacher
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5 Tips for the (Serious) Self-Taught Artist

8/21/2019

33 Comments

 
5 Tips for the Self Taught Artist
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Do you need to go to art school to become a highly-skilled and successful artist? What experiences do art schools provide that being self-taught doesn't? As a beginner artist going down the self-taught route, what can I do to ensure steady artistic progress and get to a point at which I'll be able to actually sell my work?


Throughout the years, I've had the honor of meeting many successful artists both online and offline. Some of them did go to art school and some of them didn't. 

There are highly successful artists who didn't go to university at all and took up low-paying/low-stress jobs until they advanced their skills enough and started making an income from their art sales.

There are artists who reach success later on in life, after having completed university studies and years of working in a completely different field.

There are others who did attend art school only to realize it was a total waste of time, as they had to learn all of the techniques they were personally interested in, on their own.

There are others who did go to an amazing art school that allowed them to advance their skills immensely in an inspiring and challenging learning environment, and also created great contacts that helped them fast-forward their careers post-graduation.

Finally, I've met people who went to art school and created breathtaking work, but gave up and started on a different path after they realized that making a consistent income from art involves learning about sales and marketing, as well as being willing to push past their comfort zones.


The scenarios are really never-ending, and there is no right or wrong way to go about it.

Every artist has to forge his/her own path, depending on his/her own goals, as well as the situation they are personally in. 

You need to define what success means to you personally. 

Does it mean being able to create artwork your proud to share, but not necessarily earning an income from? Perhaps just a side-income?

Does it mean getting your artwork shown and sold by popular galleries?

Do you want to get known on an international level and sell on your own terms?

Does it mean earning enough of an income through art sales that you're able to live comfortably? If so, what does living comfortably for you actually entail?  How much of an income would you have to be making each month in order to live that way?




Today, I'll be sharing the five key things that successful self-taught artists do since the beginning of their journeys, which enable them to make faster progress in both their cold artistic skills, as well as their confidence and ability to share and speak professionally about their art. 

But first, I'd like to clarify a couple of things.

I personally did go to art school. I was lucky to be given a scholarship and was able to attend a great university through which I learned from experienced professors not only in the Graphic Design field, but also from artists teaching (very basic) drawing, painting, silk-screening and photography. 

It was through university courses that I learned about Art Fundamentals, how to talk about art, experienced what it's like to create an original project from scratch and pushed myself to see a piece through until completion, which is so, incredibly important.

I leaned about the importance of sticking to deadlines, managing multiple projects simultaneously and experienced what it's like to get my work critiqued by skilled professors who literally tore my work down in front of large groups (eeek!).


Picture
Click on image to visit original source on Unsplash.com.


​This said, in terms of painting, which is how I make the majority of my income now-a-days, I'm mostly self-taught. 

And though I'm thankful for having the opportunity to go to art school, based on my experience post-graduation, as well as what I've gathered from other artists who've I've had the chance of meeting, it's definitely not necessary to have an art degree in order to become successful. 

Especially because, in today's world, we're able to experience and learn all of these things art schools offer through the internet. More specifically, through blog posts, video tutorials, courses offered by skilled artists who are willing to share their techniques and knowledge, and online communities.


This said, having all of this information and possibilities at our fingertips can often be confusing and overwhelming, especially when we're just getting started.

Many beginners don't know where to start or skip over fundamentals, just to be disappointed with their creations or with the fact that no one is liking/buying their work after they've put very little time and effort in. 



Before getting into the tips, I want to briefly explain what being "self-taught" means to me, as there are different opinions on what this entails. 

To be perfectly honest, I don't feel there's such a thing as a 100% self-taught artist.

Reason being, whoever is serious about improving in any field, will most likely be taking it upon themselves to look for material to learn from, whether it's books, videos or classes. These resources were, of course, put together by someone else and as consumers of such content, we're getting directly or indirectly influenced by them in some shape, way or form. 

Most of us, even started drawing by copying other artists' work. In a sense, we were learning from other artists even back then, as we were replicating those shapes, lines, colors, etc.

Throughout our lives we've all been influenced by artists around us and were exposed to all kinds of art that were created in or before our time. And the artists who created that work were also influenced by artists around them and art that came before their time. 

We're all influenced by others, whether we want to admit it or not. This goes for people who've been to art school or haven't been to art school. 

We're all a wonderful mishmash created by the culture we've been brought up in, the people who've been around us throughout our lives, and the different kinds of art (design, music, literature, cinema, etc.) that have impacted us in the point and time we've been living. 


For the sake of this post, however, I'll explain what I would personally consider to be a self-taught artist.

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n my opinion, being a self-taught artist implies not attending art school, or any kind of academy in which a full art curriculum has been laid down for you to follow over a relatively long period of time.


A self-taught artist, for the most part, decides on his/her goals, searches for resources and learning material (whether it's books, workshops, classes, figure-drawing sessions, online courses, etc.) and goes through his/her own self-imposed "curriculum", so to speak. 

Though an artist that did attend art school still has to continue doing all of these things after having obtained his/her degree in order to continue improving (the learning never stops), a self-taught artist didn't go through that initial "formal" training. *That formal training could have been amazing, or it could have been useless. 

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In my opinion, taking a workshop a couple of times a year, or following individual tutorials online, doesn't really count as formal or in-depth training (unless one takes a very complete course through which you're able to obtain direct feedback from the instructor). 

Most likely, one-off workshops or stand-alone video tutorials will not lead to steady or significant progress unless the artist actually prioritizes his/her work enough to continue working consistently and complementing those classes or tutorials with other resources in a coherent way, depending on his/her current skill level and goals. 

Short workshops or week-long art retreats are super fun, but usually, students are basically copying the instructor's techniques and are not taught Art Fundamentals, which are what will allow them to create original, visually pleasing compositions from scratch. 

I know because I've taught those workshops. Because there's a very small amount of time, the instructor ends up giving his/her students the fish, instead of teaching them to fish for themselves. 


The instructor's goal is (usually) to give you a taste of what creating art is like, and to facilitate an experience that will enable you to have a quick art win (oftentimes something pretty that you can take home). It's not to encourage you to find your own style or give you the tools necessary for you to make significant progress in your journey on an individual level. 

Short workshops and video tutorials don't allow for adequate feedback on part of the instructor or deep conversations amongst students, which are key in order to improve at a deeper level. Oftentimes we're unable to see our own mistakes when we're just getting started. Not to mention, it's incredibly important to get used to sharing and talking about both our art, as well as art created by others. 


Next, I'll be sharing five key things you can do to ensure you're getting the most out of the resources offered by the Internet and make faster, meaningful progress as an artist.


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Tips for Self-Taught Artists
Click on image to visit original source on Unsplash.com.



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​5 Tips for Beginner, Self-Taught Artists


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1. Don't ignore Art Fundamentals


​Something I often see in beginners that fail to cover the basics, is that they're unable to create certain effects their looking to create, or end up very frustrated because their artworks don't turn out the way they see them in their heads and have no idea why this is.

Learning about Elements and Principles of Art, as well as Composition, Perspective, Anatomy Basics, etc., will enable you to create original, visually pleasing, powerful artwork on your own, without having to depend on other artists' work as inspiration. 


The successful self-taught artists I've met made it a point to learn the basics and continue improving upon fundamentals as their journey moves forward. They understand that it's important to have a solid base to jump off from. 

Learn them for free, pay for a course, do whatever you'd like, but never underestimate the importance of learning the basics. This will set you up for success and the knowledge you'll gain will permeate into everything you do and any kind of artwork you choose to create.
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*Over at my Patreon membership site, I offer not only real-time drawing/painting tutorials, direct feedback from me on your work and live Q&A's, but also full classes on Art Fundamentals which cover all the basics you need to know as a beginner just starting out and much more for only $15 a month. 

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2. Embrace exploration and enjoy the journey


​Oftentimes, beginners only give importance to the end-product and make very little time for studies and explorations. They jump straight to the canvas and/or judge their worth as an artist by how well the product turned out, ignoring the growth and self-discovery that can come throughout the creative process. 

​Successful artists, formally trained or not, understand that getting great at drawing or painting takes time and dedication, just like any other learned skill. They understand that there are gradual steps to follow, and that by learning certain skills first, and gaining confidence incrementally, they will be facilitating more complex tasks for themselves.


It's mind-boggling to me how many times I've had people reach out saying they're ready to draw someone's portrait in full-likeness when they haven't even taken time to learn basic facial proportions or have practiced drawing techniques that will enable them to recreate three-dimensional form and skin/hair textures. 

While it's true that we have access to an immense amount of information online, most beginners don't know where to start and get lost because they aren't aware of the sequence they should be learning topics in, or how to break complex compositions or subjects apart in order to study them separately and ensure greater success. 

*This is why I offer one-on-one, individualized classes via Skype designed around your own current skill level and goals. These classes allow me to fully focus on my students individually and I'm able to offer in-depth feedback, as well as provide specific assignments that help them stay consistent and make much faster progress. *Email me to learn about my rates and availabilities. Spots are filling up fast!



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Tips for Self-Taught Artists


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3. Join some kind of artist group or community and try to obtain (constructive) feedback from artists that are a bit farther ahead than you are


As artists, spending time around like-minded creatives is essential in order to stay motivated and consistent. There's a large part of an artist's work that gets done in isolation, but we ultimately create art to share it with the world.

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A local or online group/community will help you stay consistent, which is absolutely key if what you're looking for is meaningful progress. The Internet provides us with many different options to join art communities via membership sites, Facebook groups and online forums. 

This said, the more public these groups are, the less likely you are to gain constructive feedback and support in a timely manner. Also, the more likely you are to come across people who will be very harsh in their judgements or comments, which can be detrimental for the beginner.

If you're looking to advance your skills for free, just make sure that you're taking your time to look for communities that are positive, constructive and inspiring. 


As an email subscriber, you have free access to my closed Facebook group, Art in Harmony. This is an incredible community full of positive, engaged artists of all levels and mediums that are looking to help and inspire each other. I'm also there several times a week providing art challenges, drawing and painting tips, and inspiration. Join me and over 1,500 artists from around the world by becoming an email insider here.

Though it's very easy to share your work through social media channels and groups, and even get a few likes here and there, it's not that easy to get actual constructive feedback from artists that are further along in their journeys. 

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It's also through both obtaining and giving constructive feedback, that we improve and are able to practice our communicational skills. To become a professional and make consistent art sales in the future, we need to become better at talking about our work.

Why? Because the whole idea of "I'm letting my art talk for itself", will just get you so far. 

Your audience needs to be able to connect with you. If they don't connect with you, the artist behind the work, you'll have trouble building an audience and making consistent sales. 
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Check out my FREE Patreon-exclusive tutorial and class samples here!
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4. Stay consistent and stay focused on your goal


​Arguably, being a self-taught artist requires more discipline than being formally trained, as you need to establish deadlines and working times for yourself from the very beginning. It is entirely up to you to hold yourself accountable and stay consistent. 

It's important to understand that, as with all learned skills, becoming great requires consistency and patience. Though some artists may have been incredibly fortunate to have parents or family-members who were artists themselves and were thus able to develop certain sensibilities and skills at a very young age, none of us are born knowing how to draw or paint. 

This is actually a good thing! It means anyone can learn to draw or paint.


This said, I know how hard it can be to make time for your art as a busy adult. Even as a full-time working artist, there are tons of things that need to get done and get in the way of actually creating art. 

Whatever situation you're personally in ("regular" full-time job, kids, etc.), accept it fully, remain grateful and create practical, realistic goals for yourself. Commit to them. 

It doesn't matter if you only have a short amount of time each day to work on your art. What matters is staying consistent over time and not giving up. Even a few 20-30 minute sketches several times a week will help you make progress. 

In my blog post/YouTube video How to Make Time for Your Art as a Busy Person, I share the specific things I did to improve my artistic skills while I was still working at my last "regular", highly-demanding teaching position.

Remember there will never be a perfect time to do anything. If you want to succeed at the goals you set for yourself, it's going to be up to you to make them a priority. 



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​​5. Realize how far you've come and stay positive


​As artists, we're often our own worst critics. It's easy to forget how far we've come since we started. It's important to acknowledge every-single-piece as a step in the right direction. Even if the outcome wasn't what you expected it to be, you're still moving closer to your goal.

If you keep going, in a few months you'll be lightyears away from the version of you who never got started at all. Lightyears. 

Imagine the artist you can be a year from now if you commit and push forward. 
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I 100% believe that working on maintaining a positive mindset is an essential part of being a successful artist and being able to keep that success going over time. 

During the actual creative process, remaining positive and believing in yourself is going to make it much more likely for you to actually succeed. If you think you can't do something, you probably won't be able to do it. The mind is a very powerful thing. 

Remaining positive is also incredibly important throughout the tasks we do after or in between the creation of art, such as applying for art shows or galleries, sharing our work via social media, responding to feedback, selling our work, communicating with clients when working on commissions, etc.

​The more you're able to stay positive in these kinds of situations, the more likely you are to be seen as a professional and reach sustained success. 

A while back I shared a blog post/YouTube video in which I explain all the things I make sure to do on a weekly basis to ensure I stay healthy and productive as an artist. Read it here. 


Finally, always believe in yourself and celebrate each and every little victory. Most importantly, celebrate yourself.

Though you may not feel like it right now, you are an artist and you are capable of doing whatever you set your mind to.



Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this helpful. I wish you tons of progress and enjoyment in your journey. 

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My 5 Favorite Podcasts for Artists
Artistic Perfectionism and How to Overcome It
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33 Comments
Marie Dick
8/20/2020 11:35:07 pm

I’ve decided later in my life that I would like to take up drawing and painting again as a hobby so I need to learn the basics again.
Thanks MD

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Erika Lancaster link
8/21/2020 07:05:17 pm

Hi, Marie!
Thanks so much for checking this one out and for leaving a comment. :)
So happy to hear you're getting back into your art! Wish you tons of enjoyment and progress in your journey.

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Marcus link
9/20/2020 12:05:53 pm

Hi Erika! I enjoyed reading this a lot. I have been wanting to start drawing for a while now, and I finally pulled the trigger recently. I think I will follow your advice and submit some of my "art" in a FB group or forum :)

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
9/21/2020 11:53:47 am

Hi, Marcus!
So happy you liked this one. :)
You totally should! Community is SO important, as it helps us stay consistent, which is key to growing.
Wish you tons of enjoyment and improvement in your art journey!

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Zoe Campos link
9/20/2020 07:42:17 pm

I definitely agree that we are influenced by the art that we see around us. My parents owned a lot of books on realism and I think that served as my basis during my earlier years of painting. Still, I want to improve and learn from more modern experts, so I guess consulting an art advisor can help me develop my own style soon.

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Erika Lancaster link
9/21/2020 11:55:27 am

Hi, Zoe!
Thanks so much for checking out this post. :)
I wish you tons of progress in developing your style and lots of enjoyment as you move forward in your art journey.

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Aditi
10/19/2020 05:01:41 pm

Where should I start if I want to create an art business? If I want to start an art youtube channel, what kind of content should I make?

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Erika Lancaster link
10/23/2020 10:12:37 am

Hi, Aditi!
Thanks so much for checking this one out and for leaving your questions.

I think it's an amazing idea to start your art YouTube channel! YouTube/video is SUCH a great way to start sharing your work, your creative process, your personal perspectives, and your skills with others so that you can start growing your audience/your name.

If you'd like to know more about how I personally made the shift from working many years of "regular" full-time jobs to building my own art business, I'd recommend checking this blog post/video out: https://www.erikalancaster.com/art-blog/how-i-left-my-job-and-became-an-artistpreneur
I also have another video in which I provide tons of realistic advice for beginner artists here: https://youtu.be/n6t8VHzU3NM

It's been a long journey and, not only did I save up money before leaving those regular jobs so that I'd have a cushion and enough to invest in my website, accountant and other business expenses I'd have to make each month, but I also continued working part time for around 2 years, until I made enough of an income via my business to be able to fully sustain myself.

In terms of starting to build an audience online, and what type of content to create, I just watched a video the other day that I feel is very insightful and very honest, created by an artist/YouTuber, that you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIbD0v981DQ

For the most part, when you're just getting started with anything, whether it's blogging, videos, etc., it has to provide some type of value for people who don't know you. This value can be in the form of entertainment, education, or inspiration/motivation, but usually, people don't stay for vlog-type videos when they don't know you or you don't have enough of an audience built up.

For the most part, you'll get a faster growth, if you focus on providing content for people that they'll find helpful in some way, shape or form, as you continue growing your skills as an artist yourself. At least that's what it's been like for me. :)

Hope this helps and wish you tons of success!

Erika

Reply
stoned
11/12/2020 01:06:25 am

hi uhh i really dont know what style or medium to pick as i want to get good if not great at 5 6 mediums in drawing so what should i do and i also want to open my youtube channel but am not sure about the content,

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Erika Lancaster link
11/16/2020 09:26:59 am

Hi, there!

That's a huge question to answer and a lot of this you're going to have to find out for yourself, but I'll do my best.

I think it depends on how long you've been working on your art for and which mediums you have most experience with to date.

Do you already know how to draw using regular graphite pencils? If not, I'd recommend starting there. There's a lot that you can develop in terms of your observational skills, your knowledge of Art Fundamentals, and hand/eye/muscle memory with just simple drawing supplies.

And drawing really is the basis for all kinds of art. The better you get at drawing (and learning the fundamentals through drawing), the easier painting mediums will be. So there's no going wrong with that.

There are so many drawing mediums that you can move on to after that, including pen and ink, or even mediums that'll help you experiment and become more expressive with your work such as charcoal. It depends on what particular mediums/styles call to you. Find artwork you love and notice the mediums the artists are using, then explore them.

In terms of your YouTube channel, I would definitely limit it two one or two mediums, especially in the beginning, as this will make it easier for people to find you and your channel to grow.

If you're scattered all over the place and don't learn about titles, tags, SEO in general, and don't create content that people are actually looking for, it's very difficult to grow.

I'd recommend picking one, max two, drawing mediums that you feel you have most practice with and know a good amount of, and create helpful/inspiring content for people based on that.

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Erika

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andy link
11/20/2020 12:43:06 am

hey i am interested in painting but i don't know where I start can you please help me?

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Erika Lancaster link
12/28/2020 10:04:41 am

Hi, Andy!
Do you know how to draw? If not, I'd definitely recommend starting there. Drawing is the basis for all kinds of art and moving onto painting will be easier if you develop knowledge of Art Fundamentals such as form, perspective, value and light behaviour via drawing first.
After you've developed your observational skills, hand/eye coordination, and knowledge of at least the basics via drawing, discover which specific painting medium you'd like to get into (watercolor, gouache, acrylics, oils), and focus on beginner-friendly content on how to use supplies before moving on to painting complex pieces.
There's a ton of free content on YouTube and blogs that'll be helpful for you. If you have a budget for better guidance, then I'd definitely recommend beginner-friendly online courses or classes, which will keep you consistent and making faster progress.
Hope this helps!

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Lindsay Perry-Alves
12/19/2020 09:10:24 pm

Thank you for this! I am currently in school for Graphic Design and writing a persuasive essay, so the topic I chose discusses whether or not a degree will give you the same amount of success as being a self-taught designer. This blog just helped me with my essay because of how you made it clear that while you can make it as a self-taught artist of any medium, the basics are a must in order to achieve true success. That feedback from your peers, constructive criticism from your instructors, and sharing deep conversation and understanding with like minded creatives will really set you apart from the crowd and give that leg up in the industry. This blog has an old school approach to a new school thought process because you reminded new artists that they cannot forget that art starts with the fundamentals. So thank you again for sharing this with us! I truly appreciate this.

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Erika Lancaster link
12/28/2020 10:14:33 am

Hi Lindsay!
I'm so glad to hear that you found some helpful ideas for your essay in this post. :)
There's so much power in covering the basics and so many beginners skip over them, not knowing that the basics are what will give them tools to create pieces from scratch that are impactful, harmonious, balanced and pleasing to the eye. As well as effective in terms of proportions, perspective, light behaviour, etc.
Learning how to design visually pleasing compositions is huge, too.
And yes, if all this is covered by the self-taught artist, along with that community aspect and feedback, and mindset development, there's the same amount of success than someone who goes to art school!
Thanks so much for leaving your valuable comment. Have a lovely day!

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Santiago Figarola link
1/11/2021 11:58:01 am

Hi Erika! I found your post very helpful, and since I see you're responding to the comments, I'll tell you about my experience:
I have been drawing for some time, and I think I have made some progress. What I usually do are some quick drawings (like, for 20 minutes each one) of cat's heads, while looking at references and real pictures. I think that it's important and will help me improving to learn more about the fundamentals though. I have read about it, watch videos about it, but I'm not really sure how to start. About learning and practicing them.
Maybe you know some exercises I should do, or a page, or a book, a channel or whatever.
Your feedback would help me a lot, honestly!

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
1/19/2021 01:57:16 pm

Hi, Santiago!
Thanks so much for checking out this post and sharing about your art journey!
I'm glad to hear that you're making your artistic progress a priority and are interested in covering the fundamentals. In my opinion, it is key and makes all the difference in the world.
If you don't know how to move forward with this, I'd recommend looking up "Art Fundamentals" in Google. You'll come across many art sites that list the fundamentals for you (Elements and Principles of Art, Composition, Light Behavior, Perspective, Value, etc.). A couple of them might be different, depending on where you look, but the majority will be the same.
Create a little list of topics for yourself to look into, and then look for resources specific for each topic. Make sure that you apply the information you learn to actual art-making, though. Because it's one thing to read and understand the theory, and quite another to actually put that theory to use.
Over on Patreon, I have an entire library of classes (an assignments) on Art Fundamentals that gets added to each month, aside from my full tutorials. If you'd like to check out what I'm offering and would like more in depth guidance from me, check out my membership here: https://www.patreon.com/erika_lancaster_artist
Wish you tons of progress and enjoyment in your journey!
Take care,
Erika

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Santiago Figarola
1/26/2021 06:16:27 pm

Right, thank you so much! I'll make sure to follow your tips!

Hashir Khan
1/17/2021 09:48:37 pm

Hi Ericka!
I agree with you completely that I was complaining to my self that I can't draw basic shapes or I don't know how 3D stuffed can be created on a 2D paper but now after serious hours of hours practice from past 3 to 4 months I am seeing much improvement in me from my past self.
Thanks for creating such an encouraging post for us Artist.

Wishes you more success in your art career!!

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
1/19/2021 01:59:17 pm

Hi, Hashir!
I'm so glad to hear that you're seeing success! Creating a believable sensation of depth and 3D form on a 2D surface such as paper or canvas does, indeed, require learning and tons of practice.
Thanks so much for reading and taking time to leave a comment.
Wish you tons of enjoyment and progress as you move forward in your journey.
Stay safe!
Erika

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Studio cube link
2/10/2021 04:31:12 am

Excellent post and wonderful blog, this sort of interesting posts I really like, keep it up...

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Erika Lancaster link
2/13/2021 12:47:29 pm

Hi, there!
Thanks so much for checking this one out and taking time to comment. :)
Glad you're enjoying my content.
Have a great day and take good care.

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Andrea
2/23/2021 04:23:50 pm

Great post, Erika! I was wondering, does one need to have good drawing knowledge to do more of an abstract-expressionism-type painting?

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Erika Lancaster link
3/1/2021 04:13:28 pm

Hi, Andrea!
Great question.
I think it depends. If there's any sketch of anything under that paint (even if it's just shapes or forms), I would say yes.
Unless you're dropping paint on canvas such as Jackson Pollock's style, I think you would benefit from learning how to draw.
Knowledge of Art Fundamentals, though, goes for any kind of drawing or painting medium, and any kind of subject.
Even as an abstract painter, one needs to know about Color, Elements and Principles of Art, etc. in order to create harmonious, balanced, interesting visual compositions that keep the viewer's eyes moving, that have a focal point, etc.
Hope this helps! Thanks for reading and take good care.

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John MacArthur link
4/20/2021 09:35:13 am

Thank you for you article. I am one of those “self taught” folks. I think I may have a brain disorder. I don’t recall much, regardless of how many classes taken, books read or videos watched. It has always been “what feels like the next step should be”. Your sharing is a blessing

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Erika Lancaster link
4/21/2021 06:16:17 pm

Hi, John!
Thanks so much for checking this one out and for taking time to comment.
I'm glad it was helpful. Wish you tons of enjoyment as you move forward in your art journey!

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Mia Evans link
9/6/2021 09:50:04 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that we might have been influenced by the different forms of art around us and our culture. I guess I will use that for inspiration when I get myself into art class. It would be just for fun and relaxation since I get too busy at times, so I need paint and sip classes to help me divert my attention.

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Erika Lancaster link
9/8/2021 07:55:22 am

Hi, Mia!
I'm glad you found some helpful nuggets in this post. Wish you tons of enjoyment and progress in your art journey!
Erika

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Interior painter link
9/16/2021 12:37:51 am

Great article! Thank you for sharing information, It's a big help for us reading this post. Keep it up.

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
9/20/2021 07:10:32 pm

Hey, there!
Thanks so much for reading.
Glad you enjoyed it. :)
Wish you a lovely day.

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Ducky
1/12/2022 08:27:23 pm

Hi! I'm an aspiring art therapist, currently in my second semester of obtaining my liberal arts degree. I'm mostly "self taught", as the only formal classes I've had were basic art in elementary school, one art class in 8th grade, and a recently taken intro to visual arts. I suffer from aphantasia, (basically I have no imagination and I can't "see" pictures in my brain), but I'm attempting to create an art portfolio despite being in a fairly unsupportive environment. I'm not really sure where to begin when speaking about learning the basics and I can't afford any courses. Any free learning sources that u recommend other than yourself?

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Erika Lancaster link
1/15/2022 09:58:16 am

Hey, Ducky!
Hope you're having a great day.
There are so many skills that you can develop as an artist using reference photos and objects/subjects you have in front of you in real life. In fact, to learn about many essential Art Fundamentals (3D form, perspective, light behavior, anatomy, color, etc.) you need to have some sort of reference or something that you'll be drawing/painting from life.
THEN, once you have this knowledge and skills, you're able to draw/paint things from imagination if you so choose.
But learning the basics of whatever drawing or painting medium you're into, as well as learning to observe, and developing knowledge/skills on the fundamentals, in my opinion, is first and foremost.
Even though being able to visualize and come up with concepts is important in order to create original pieces, just because you're able to come up with great concepts won't necessarily lead to great artwork.
Skill with your medium and knowledge of the fundamentals in order to make your visions come to life is essential. I'd say definitely start there!
There are many courses that you can find online on the fundamentals. Lots of that is learned though drawing.
Hope this helps! Wish you tons of progress and enjoyment in your journey, and also lots of success with your art career!

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Bryan link
3/26/2022 06:59:19 pm

Im really frustrated and overwhelmed at what i should do to start learning how improve my art. Im a downright beginner so do u have any ideas on how and wht should i do to improve.

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Erika Lancaster link
3/30/2022 09:55:55 am

Hey, Bryan!
Thanks for checking this one out, and for your comment.
I'd recommend checking out my Drawing and Watercolor Mini-Courses for the Total Beginner, which you can access for free by signing up via the button in the top banner here in my blog, or via this link: https://lancaster-e85-gmail-com.ck.page/2a06aa492f
It's jam-packed of essential information to know about as a beginner, as well as exercises that'll get you started on the right foot.
I'd also highly recommend checking out these two videos that I shared over on YouTube:
The Keys to Being Able to Draw Anything https://youtu.be/Uxq0x_CVsCA
The 3 Pillars for Artistic Growth https://youtu.be/_tV-24Mgxt4
Cheers! :)

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