Learn Art

How do you start?The start stops most people. BUT don't wait, get on with it - just get started! Then your imagination can work for you! Back in my art student days I learnt how to deal with this problem. I was in the third year of a four-year art course. One evening I arrived for his class to find I was the only person there! I wasn't happy but decided not to waste my time. Then I found the solution to that particular artistic problem. Just start!You can learn from my experience.It doesn't matter what you do at the start, as long as you do something. It can be random although that doesn't necessarily have to be the case. This book so you do something similar.BUT it will not be the same.For I had NO instructions!Also I made LOTS of mistakes.I tried many solutions to the problems I faced.Learn what I learned!Do NOT do what I did to learn it though!For then you will make the same mistakes I did! As a basis for learning about realism use photographs.Focus on learning what you can.Action with materials = technique.Practiced techniques = skill.Habitual technique + skill = style.Continue with the subject matter you want to paint really well.That way you are continuing down the correct path (for you).Your focus is on portraits, landscapes, the sea, or whatever you like.Don't just select animals focus on one (tiger, cat, horse).Then even from the start you can become a specialist.Also focus on something you are interested in.This will help maintain the necessary motivation while you learn.Understand your animal, house, landscape, or whatever you want.Over time you will develop the individual paining skills needed.You will also know how to paint your subject your way.Eventually you can focus on another subject.If it is related to your original theme you will learn much quicker.From one breed of dog to another is an example.Then from one kind of animal to another.You'll note the similarities and also the differences.You could even progress from portraits to head and shoulders studies.Later these might be full figures.Follow this pattern for long enough, and you'll be able to paint anything!People who do things well are also faster than those who don't.That applies to painting just as much as anything else.It's one of the indicators of skill.By now you should notice that repetition helps skill development.Several small paintings are better for learning.Larger ones take more time and that's how you apply what you learnt.Skill in art, sport or even medicine is the same phenomenon.It's practiced behaviour in action.Most artists don't do anywhere near enough to develop any real skill.