5 hacks to quickly improve your art

It doesn't matter if you have been creating art for the past 10+ years, or if you're just starting out, but definetly if you're reading this blogpost. You want to quickly improve your art! But is that even possible? And how quick means "quickly"?

One thing you should now is that developing art skills takes time, so even after reading this you probably won't suddenly turn into the next Vincent van Gogh (but just in case - if you do - please, let me know!). But if you implement these 5 hacks you will start to see your art improve drastically over a small period of time! Some of these may seem obvious, but if you don't apply them they won't work.

Let's get started!

1. Create a lot of art!

As I said before, this may seem obvious but it holds a lot of truth. If you invest a lot of time in something it will grow, this also rings true for art. But it is not only time you need to invest. Because if I spend 3 years on a single painting I will have invested a lot of time, and learned a lot about that single painting and technique. But we, as artists, tend to forget about quantity.

Why is quantity important? Because of the process. If I want to grow my bodily strength I can't just go to the gym once and stay for 5 hours. It won't make a difference. You'll have to visit the gym frequently. So the more you create, the more you'll get used to the process of creating art.

I've created over 2000 digital artworks in the past 10 years. I also finished multiple sketchbooks and have dozens of lose papers that I drew on. So my skill is frequently practiced.

Practical tip: How can you apply this in your daily life? Take at least 5 minutes a day to create something and put a time in your calendar. Sometimes a start is all you need.

2. Get rid of your eraser

But what if I mistake?! There are no mistakes in art.

But what if I'm not happy with the result? Start again (this will also help to get your quantity up).

We are so easily caught in the trap of perfection. But perfection is a lie. Even if you we're to create something perfect today, tomorrow you could end up hating it and seeing all the flaws in your work.

Perfection not only makes you erase half of your art, but it can become so frustrating that you will put down your pencil all together.

Practical tip: I work a lot on paper so I sketch with a pen. I can't erase my pens and it allows me to freely make mistakes. But if you don't work with paper, try to find your methephorical eraser and get rid of that.

3. Create the same thing 3 times

I already mentioned it briefly in the paragraph before. If you're not happy with the result, try again. But especially if you're trying something new with your art, or a new technique. Because chances are that you won't nail a new technique on the first try, and probably also not on the second or third try. But you'll find that by the time you've finished you're third try, it will be a massive improvement compared to the first try.

We tend to move on quickly if something doesn't work out immediately, or at least I do. But each time you create the same thing, you'll discover new things that you missed the first and second time.

Practical tip: creating something takes a lot of time, but it is far easier to quickly sketch out something 3 times. But it's much harder and more time consuming to for example, sew something. If your art takes a lot of time to create, try create something similar before moving on. So if you sew a skirt, before you move on to a new dress. Try sewing two other patterns for skirts, that is, if you're not happy with the initial result.

4. Switch up your medium

Sometimes we don't feel like creating, because we feel stuck in what we do. If you ever feel like that, put it down. Forcing yourself works sometimes, but you also need to rest. If you do want to create, but aren't feeling up to do what you always do. Try a new medium!

I mostly work digitally or on a paper with a pen. These medium are different, but I use them in the same way. However I don't paint a lot, nor am I great scrapbooker or fashion designer. But trying these new media, allows me to break free of my usual proces. And while I'm learning this new medium, my field of focus grows through the skills I learn from the other media.

Practical tip: Should you buy new materials to try out a new medium? Yes and no. I would recommend buying some art supplies, but there is definetly no need to break the bank. I get wanting to buy the best of the best, but the materials don't neccesarily make you a good artist. It is about how you wield the tool. So if you're new to a medium, just buy the cheap version. Because if you don't like using this new medium you'll have lost a lot of money.

5. Create a project

If you're a bit like me, you also like to think big! If you are, I'd like to recommend trying your hands on a new project. It can be anything you like. A small art collection, a new comic, a small fashion line, creating your own theatre production for your family.

Why do I recommend this? If you work on a project it forces you to think beyond just one art piece. It will help you look at your art as a whole! But it also brings you new obstacles to overcome/solve.

Because what do you mean the next best thing is to add a horse? I don't draw horses?! Well, now you will, because you need it. It will take you several tries, but eventually you'll have drawn a horse well enough.

Practical tip: It doesn't have to be grand. It can be something that just you and the people close to you enjoy. A small collection can just be 3 pieces that belong together. It doesn't have to be 20.

growing pains

I repeated it a lot of times, but in order to quickly improve your art, you have to create. But please don't burn out your creative spark, you don't have to create if you're not feeling it. Nor do you need to stick to a rigorous schedule. Beyond it all art should be a place where you get to express yourself.

The best way to see how much you've improved, is to look back and see how far you've come and to enjoy the place you're at. So please be kind to yourself. These 5 hacks to quickly improve your art are definetly not life rules, they are merely suggestions that have helped me in the past.

Enjoy your art journey!

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