The 5 T’s of creating great art
Over the past year I’ve taken a number of online courses to study different art styles and mediums from people who have mastered their craft. As different as each one’s artistic medium and style is, they all have five things in common that got them to the top of their game.
I’ve categorized those things into 5 ways to (eventually) create great artwork:
Teacher: Be humble and willing to learn from artists who have mastered their craft. There are so many wonderful artists who freely share their knowledge in online classes.
Tools: The right tools are critical. I used to assume the realistic pieces I admired were created with a basic pencil and eraser. You guys, there are like 500 different pencils, erasers and special tools that artists rely on to create depth and interest in a piece. Learn what they are and how to use them, and you’ll level up.
Techniques: Learning what to do is just as important as learning HOW to do it effectively. The pressure you use with your pencil or brush, the way you hold it, the number of layers, the direction of the strokes, the order in which you apply color; it all matters.
Time: I’m one of the least patient people around. I want instant results. So taking the time to learn new skills, sucking at it for a while, and sticking with it can be absolute torture. I’m also busy. I work full time, have two young kids, dogs, goats, and chickens, so carving out creative time can be tough. I put creative time high on my priority list because creating is as necessary to my mental well-being as food, water and exercise are to my physical health.
Tenacity: Be willing to mess up, work out problems, and be ok with “bad” outcomes. All art has an awkward ugly phase that makes you want to crumple your paper and toss it in the trash. We learn from mistakes. Accept it as part of the process!
You may have noticed the big T that I omitted from this list.
Talent isn’t on here because EVERY single teacher I have learned from has said it is not a factor in creating beautiful work.
In fact, too many people use the idea that they “lack talent” as an excuse not to try.
Some people are born with talent, of course, but over the past couple of years I’ve learned that most successful artists got where they are using the 5 Ts I listed. They stick with it, because they love the process, and over time, the work improves.
Think of the creative process like learning a foreign language. You have to understand the basics and practice speaking in that language to become fluent.
As I’ve said in a previous post, it makes no sense expect to know how to draw or paint without learning how. In the same way we learn math or science, we have to learn how to create artwork!
I hope these tips help you move forward in your creative journey. Let me know if this resonates with you and save this post for when you need an inspiration boost!
