Tips for developing your art skills as a new African artist
Painting or drawing requires passion.
You start creating art because you are passionate about telling stories through imagery.
Before you learn to develop your artistic skills, it’s important to note that art can be made with any kind of tool.
Art supplies are there to make your life easier and pictures prettier, but it all starts with the mind.
You can make a simple pen-drawn image look incredible if the message behind it is as beautiful as the picture looks. The rest is all added detail.
The materials you use to spruce up your work and make it relevant are all beautiful additions. But the result depends on you. Here are a few ways in which you can help your art ideas and skills evolve.
These tips will also teach you new things when developing your art skills.
Focus on your workspace
The space in which you work has a massive influence on your productivity, and more importantly, your creativity. You need to be inspired by the environment you’re working in, so, if you choose to work at home, make sure your space works for you. Be it a cluttered or simplistic space, you need to rearrange your space to encourage positive, creative thoughts. It is, however, recommended that you work in a clean, neat, bright environment to help motivate you. But this is completely up to you and your mood.
If you need to take the time to visit local African art galleries or museums to help guide your idea, do so. Creating art is, in essence, your job. As much as you enjoy it, you need to treat each day as a working day. Wash your paint brushes, clean and organise your production room, do your research and enjoy! This type of approach will promote efficiency and open your mind to a world of new ideas and concepts.
Start with a concept in mind
African art is commonly inspired by social or political situations, otherwise many people create concepts and ideas based on their experiences. Be it their background or something they believe strongly in, there is always a story behind each piece of artwork. Creativity is something that you cannot force. You need to have a concept in mind when you begin, and slowly it will evolve as you delve deeper into it. At first, it might start off completely different to how it ends, but that is the beauty of art and expressing how you feel in the moment. In order to improve your ideas, carry a notebook or sketchbook around with you. Your award-winning idea might not be something that stems from one specific experience but rather a variety of different moments. You need to be open to these type of events and understand how ideas take time to evolve and become grand. Teach yourself how to think creatively and zone in on different moments. Focus is always a powerful skill to have.
Study the various composition techniques
In short, this tip focuses on how you put together different visual elements to create the bigger picture. You might have plenty of ideas floating around in your mind, but the execution of how you put them all together makes the outcome or final product unique. There are a number of different composition techniques out there, so find something that works with your type of art creation and thoughts.
Learn to see the value in art
In African art, colours have a variety of different meanings. And the types of colours and shades you choose can truly make or break the meaning behind your art, so make sure you have a clear understanding before you simply go ahead and paint something inspiring. Think about the focus point of your painting or drawing and learn how to create the illusion of depth. All of these details will add value to your work as well as the value in the story people see. Creativity is unique, so show people that.
Keep your artwork simple and powerful
Do not over complicate things. A simple image can have plenty of deep meaning, so do not assume that adding clutter or more colour will add value to your work. Your artwork should include primary objects and secondary objects that do not form part of the focal area. Always remember that less is more.
Find the determination to better yourself
Any new learning curve can be frustrating at times. But, if you are passionate and determined to improve your skills and be better, you need to keep pushing. Be patient with yourself and make time to focus on your creativity. Celebrate your achievements and accept that every good thing takes time. Such determination will inspire younger artists to do the same and grow their skills as much as they can.