Casey Connaway Shares 6 Art Tips for Beginners

If you're new to the art world, learning how to create good art can be intimidating. With so many different types of art out there, it can be hard to figure out where to start. If you're an aspiring artist and have never taken an art class, that doesn't mean you can't develop your own personal style and learn about the various styles of art out there.

Some people are born with natural artistic abilities, while others struggle to create even a stick figure that resembles a human being. If you're an artistically-challenged individual, take heart, because there are plenty of things you can do to improve your artistic skills and make art that other people would be proud to display in their homes or office. check out these tips from Casey Connaway that will help you in your art journey.

Start with the Basic Tools

If you're starting out, don't buy everything under the sun. First, ask yourself if you even need all of those tools! Do you need three different types of brushes to paint with? No, it's better to start with a small number of tools that are high quality and learn what they can do. You will spend more money in the short run buying too many tools but save more money in your pocketbook in the long run because you won't have wasted money on things that don't get used. The starter list would include a pencil sharpener, an art knife or X-Acto knife, an eraser (or two), a kneaded eraser, and some drawing paper.

Focus on Drawing Figures

According to Casey Connaway, The human figure is an ideal place to start when you're new to drawing. Even if you don't consider yourself a people person, sketching recognizable people can be a fun challenge. Just take it slow and don't be afraid to simplify your subject. Instead of trying to draw each hair, focus on getting one blocky shape down first (just like cubists used blocks). Then add another block, and so on until you have a very simple figure that's recognizable as a person. Once you've sketched out your body, try making some quick gesture lines around it. it's totally okay if these are imprecise because they'll help to inform what comes next.

Choose Your Topic Wisely

Casey Connaway says that With any art, whether you're painting, sculpting, or making music, it's imperative to know what you want to do and why. Do you want to do it because of a deep-seated passion? For money? To be a famous rock star? Regardless of your reasoning, make sure that you're clear on why you want to pursue an art before diving in and learning how. The clearer your vision is now, the more likely it is that it will be fulfilled once you get started.         

Draw what comes to your imagination

Because you are a beginner, do not worry about drawing figures and objects that exist in real life. Instead, focus on your imagination. Draw what you see in your mind's eye. If you can recall a particular fantasy world or concept, go ahead and draw it up! Your goal as a beginner is to practice your drawing skills as often as possible. So work on getting better with every piece of art that you create do not stop until every last trace of awkwardness disappears! 

The only way to achieve perfect technique is through constant practice. Keep at it! Practice makes perfect. With enough time and effort, you will be able to draw anything with perfection including realistic human beings. Once you master realism, then you can start exploring more abstract concepts like surrealism of impressionism (which are more advanced techniques).

Connect with the right people

As an artist, your work is a direct reflection of your skill level and knowledge. It's always easier to make connections when you can demonstrate that you're knowledgeable in what you do. This can be done by staying up-to-date on industry news and trends. If you're starting out, create a small collection of examples that demonstrate your art style or technique as well as any specialties or skills. Make it easy for people to contact you by including a professional bio and links to relevant social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.

Always be sure to ask permission before using another person's artwork as inspiration for your own! Risks & Rewards: Every career has its risks, but being an artist means facing unique challenges. Most artists will tell you that one of their biggest concerns is not being able to support themselves with their art. The good news? By developing new techniques and honing new skills (like writing), you'll increase your marketability and expand the opportunities available to you in many different fields.

Keep up with the best

In art, there is a seemingly infinite amount of tips and tricks to keep up with. It isn't easy to know which ones are going to help you improve and which ones are just fluff. It's important to take advantage of your social media platforms and make sure you're listening to feedback (both positive and negative). Pay attention to what people respond best to. At its core, art is about the emotional reaction”so don't neglect that aspect as a beginner. If something has gotten a big response, then figure out why it resonated with people so well. How can you recreate that? Don't be afraid to ask fellow artists for advice on your own work. Most professionals will happily oblige if they see potential in your work.

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