Every great artist began their career somewhere.

Talent can be honed with practice and dedication, but it can be difficult knowing where to begin. Here we will review these ten great tips for a beginning artist.

10. Practice

As a starting artist, the biggest lesson to learn is that not all talents are gifted, but learned. This means practicing like it’s your job and accepting that it is hard work to get good at something you care about.

9. Supplies

Do not feel pressure to invest in professional, expensive art supplies as a beginning artist. Until you find your style or preferred medium get the brushes, paints, and art supplies you can afford, and only concern yourself with quality once you get your artistic foundation.

8. Find Inspiration

It is very common for beginning artists to practice their hand by copying the styles of artists they admire. Doing this will help you find your own style and refine the type of work you want to create.

7. Patience

Finding your artistic voice takes time and seemingly endless amounts of work. Hardship and self-doubt come with the territory, and it takes more than one draft to get a final product. Being able to push through the trials and errors will make you a better artist.

6. Consistency

Hopping around with styles and mediums can be helpful to finding your niche, but too much can make it harder to find your own artistic voice. Make sure you aren’t hopping between different projects because they are too difficult–consistency is key to a steady hand and confidence in your work.

5. Share with Others

Try and connect with other beginning artists, either over social media or in-person groups, and share your work together. This way, you can share tips, advice, and support while learning, all without fear of judgement by more-established artists.

4. Learn

Take advantage of all the free resources there are online for beginning artists. There are video tutorials for people at every skill level and every artistic medium.

3. Start Simple

Everyone starts somewhere. When first starting out as an artist, your work may not be ready for an exhibit, but it will be beautiful regardless, because it is yours and thus unique. Don’t hurt your own potential by setting outlandish expectations for yourself so soon. Take your time.

2. Draw everything

Draw everything; shoes, kitchen utensils, your dog, your hand, a tree. Drawing teaches you necessary skills for any creative outlet such as shading, light, and perspective.

1. Go outside the box

While many artists learn their hand through conventional lessons and practice, others learn through working outside of that comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries with your artwork.

Be patient with your work as a beginning artist, and don’t forget to practice!

by Catalogs.com Info Guru Lauren DeJesus-Glasgow