If you’ve been wondering how to improve your art skills but feel like you’re practicing constantly without real progress, you’re not alone. Many beginner and intermediate artists reach a point where they feel stuck. They’re watching tutorials. Finishing pieces. Trying new materials. And yet something still feels unclear. If you’ve ever asked yourself:
It’s an imbalance. After years of teaching artists around the world, I’ve found that real progress depends on strengthening three essential pillars. I recently shared a full video where I break down this framework in detail and help you identify which pillar you most need to focus on right now. You can watch it below:
If you enjoyed this video and found it helpful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video every week with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials, and mindset/productivity tips for artists. *Subscribe HERE*
1. Art Fundamentals (The Principles Behind Strong Artwork)This pillar is about understanding the theory that makes art work. We’re talking about: These are not “beginner topics” that you study once and move past. They’re core areas that we continue deepening over time. Highly skilled artists revisit and refine their understanding of these principles throughout their careers. A strong grasp of fundamentals allows you to:
If your work often feels slightly “off” and you can’t quite explain why- proportions look strange, lighting feels inconsistent, or your compositions lack balance- this is often a fundamentals gap. Without a solid foundation, technique alone isn’t enough to carry a piece. 2. Technical Skills (How to Gain Control Over Your Medium)Understanding theory is powerful. But you also need the ability to execute it. Technical skill is your ability to:
You might understand value in theory… but struggle to mix the right paint consistency, or achieve a range of values by using different pencil grades. You might know what perspective requires… but find your forms look wonky when you're drawing. If you often feel like you’re fighting your materials- or your idea looks clear in your mind but doesn’t translate onto paper- that’s not a creativity issue. It’s a technical skill that needs strengthening. And the good news? Technical skills are extremely trainable once you identify the gap. I personally experienced this in my own journey. I had strong fundamentals and creative ideas from art school, but I struggled with certain techniques because I tried to figure everything out alone. Once I invested in learning from artists who truly understood graphite and watercolor, my progress accelerated. I had to unlearn habits I’d built by guessing. Execution matters. Without it, your ideas can’t fully come to life. 3. Creative Vision (Developing Your Own Original Ideas)This is the pillar many artists overlook without realizing it. Creative vision is your ability to:
Many artists become comfortable following step-by-step tutorials. They produce beautiful results, but feel completely lost when asked to create an original art project of their own. If that sounds familiar, it doesn’t mean you’re not creative. It usually means you haven’t spent enough time practicing independent artistic decision- making and creating work from scratch. Trusting your own artistic decisions and vision is essential, and slowing down to peel back the layers so you can understand yourself more deeply- and what you truly want to say through your art- is just as important. And like any skill, this strengthens with use. Before starting new pieces, ask yourself:
When you begin practicing those questions, your work becomes more personal, more intentional, and more powerful. 
Frequently Asked Questions Why am I not improving at drawing even though I practice? Often, artists practice consistently but focus only on finished pieces instead of strengthening fundamentals, technical skills, or creative thinking. Improvement happens when practice is balanced and intentional. What should beginners focus on first: drawing or painting? Beginners benefit greatly from strengthening drawing fundamentals first, especially understanding form, perspective, and value. These skills directly impact painting quality. How do I develop my own artistic style? Artistic style develops naturally as you strengthen fundamentals, improve technical control, and begin making intentional creative decisions instead of only following tutorials. Whether you’re working on building consistency, improving your sketching and watercolor skills, or strengthening your fundamentals through structured lessons, you’ll find a tier that supports you over on my Patreon. Learn more about my membership here.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
 www.erikalancaster.com
is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. www.erikalancaster.com is a participant in the Shareasale.com Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Shareasale.com partner companies. |
RSS Feed
