Being an illustrator is one of the most effective and creative ways to convey ideas to the public. While the idea of creating beautiful or exciting pieces is appealing, getting started as an artist is a daunting task. It's incredibly overwhelming and easy to get demotivated when working on a long-term project. Here are five tips to assist any beginner artist in starting their journey in illustration:
1. Start With The Basics Of Drawing
Many times, young artists get inspired by a picture in their mind of a grand piece they would like to create, but which might be far too advanced for a beginner. The best thing to do is store this idea in memory or on paper and start with something much more straightforward. Starting with sketching basic shapes before venturing into more advanced subjects has proven useful for many people. Young artists should draw objects and figures over and over again until they are satisfied, and then move on to another subject they are interested in to continue challenging themselves. The majority of work involved in art is practicing, not creating finished pieces.
2. Use References
Many young artists feel a sense of pride when they create something without the use of a reference, although doing so almost always results in a better piece. If the art would be better using a reference, that's all that matters. The finished work is far more important than the level of difficulty it takes for the artist to get there. References are always available online, and they can lead to creating more realistic and interesting artwork.
3. Start With Realism
Many young artists are worried that their works will be too similar to other artists' and will not stand out. They want to start working on a style immediately before even learning anatomy, which leads to a misunderstanding of basic rules of art when regarding perspective and proportions. That stunts the growth of the artist, who will likely get stuck wondering why their work looks so amateur. Learning realism before implementing a style solves this issue. While this takes longer, a style develops over time naturally.
Learning anatomy and perspective is essential for most forms of illustration as a way to show maturity and experience through the work. A surprising amount of art is not just creating an attractive image, but also showing off skill and knowledge about illustration.
4. Learn A Digital Medium
The internet is a fantastic tool for an artist to share their work. Digital drawing is a medium perfected for sharing illustrations through the internet. Picking up a drawing tablet or learning editing skills gives new artists an edge when it comes to expanding their following. As the world becomes increasingly media-based, the ability and knowledge to create art directly on the computer become more valuable. This skill will eventually become almost mandatory, and it is much easier to go ahead and learn it while developing skills rather than trying to learn after having perfected another medium.
5. Do It Every Day
Being a successful artist requires unbelievable commitment. Practice is 98% of the work involved in being a successful artist. Practicing every day will help any artist discover new techniques to improve their work. If an artist can effortlessly create various elements of their work, they will work much more efficiently, and the result will be far closer to perfect. Illustration is a skill that is either practiced or lost. It's best for new artists to at least attempt to draw each day, even if they don't feel like it.
Keeping up with the hobby after starting is the hardest part. New artists are filled with motivation for a few weeks after starting and begin to fall off when they reach mental blocks. It is essential to power through these moments to continue to develop as an artist. Passion will grow along with the skill. Anyone can learn illustration. Only the most dedicated and committed will continue to be great artists in the future.