Emma Kocher, Staff Writer
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: What can you do to further your passion?
No matter what, it is important to stay true to your passion. The best way to do so is to stay motivated, but the current pandemic has made it difficult, especially for artists of all kinds. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced artist, here are a few tips to stay motivated and find inspiration.
We are our own worst critics, and as a result, a lot of artists struggle with confidence in their work. It is important to not harshly criticize yourself. You may not always love what you create, but you should at least be able to accept it as your work, and yours alone, irreplaceable. By the same token, never let anyone else’s criticism stop you from doing what you are passionate about. Even if your art does not impress you, chances are it will impress at least one person, and if it can inspire some feeling from that person, you have achieved your goal as an artist.
If you want to get more experience, it is important to challenge yourself. If there is anything that seems too difficult to achieve, try it anyway. Always try something new, even when it seems unattainable. This tried-and-true method of improvement has been used successfully by artist Lola Gil, who stated in an interview with ‘SkillShare.blog’ that the best way she could do her best was to work with her oil paints blindly and learn from her mistakes.
Another great way to hone your skills is to practice a lot. Practicing should be an everyday task, even if it’s something quick and easy to do. A warmup that could be helpful for visual artists is to simply look around the room and draw something that you see. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but just enough to put in the practice. For dramatic artists, memorise a few lines of an upcoming performance, or practice your characters. For the musically inclined, it’s beneficial to practice a new song, a little a day. Writers might benefit from trying out poetry, or a few words about something around you.
You should always be proud of your work and stay confident in yourself. The fun thing about art is that there are no mistakes, you go with whatever you do. As Bob Ross once said, artists “don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” Keep practicing, stay confident, don’t take criticism too harshly, and, most importantly, love what you create.