How to Master a New Art Medium
Have you ever wondered how to go from novice to master as quickly as possible (specifically with an art medium)? I've been there too, but after a few years of art school, teaching for 10 years and more art supplies than I can count—I've got 3 tips (plus a sneaky bonus tip that I threw in at the last minute!) for you to help you on your way to becoming an experienced artist in whatever new medium you venture to master!
Tip 1: Have Resources to “Burn”
I genuinely believe that THE BEST thing that you can do to help you on your journey to mastering type of art (whether style or medium) is to explore and experiment—free from pressure, deadlines or expectations! So I want you to purchase a large chunk of supplies (or set aside some time if you are working with something digital) that is as good as trash in your mind. You’re not going to think about what they cost, how hard it was to get or put it on a pedestal.
These supplies are going to help you to get over the biggest hurdle of starting a new medium: getting past the overwhelm and learning the personality and quirks of the media itself.
Do you think I have a single page of the first pad of watercolor paper I ever blew through? You better believe that I DON’T (okay, I might have one or two things, but they are deep in the archives and may never see the light of day again, so pretty much as good as trash)! Not because it was wasted time or I didn’t like anything at the time, but because I was learning! I made mistakes, I tested new ideas, I GREW!
Your artistic journey with any medium is like a road trip.
The goal in that first day of a long trip is to cover as much ground as possible. You may end up sight seeing or exploring more after the first day, but you want to get as close to your goal as possible in the early days, right? The good news is that any time where you put pen to paper, brush to pigment, stylise to screen, clay to wheel, you are putting in MILES. If it turns out terrible… you’ve still learned something. Even if you can’t express it in words, your hands are a little stronger, those muscles are a little more confident. You’re one step closer.
Tip 2: Focus
Okay stick with me on this one!
As artists, it can be very tempting to chase after a different subject, artistic style or new idea every waking moment. Even after years of focusing on one aesthetic and goal, I find myself drawn to the latest trend over and over again. It’s so hard not to! But…
by sticking to a single subject you will grow quickly in your abilities and understanding of the medium because you aren’t as distracted by the subject matter
Jumping around can create a “miles wide, inches deep” problem, where you’ve tried everything but you aren’t very good at any of them. We want the opposite! The goal is to become miles deep in that one little subject so that when you transition to another subject, you are building off of what you have already learned about the medium and are able to grow that much faster! Will there be a small learning curve all over again? Sure! But it will become less and less as you slowly migrate through different subjects.
So while you are in these earliest stages of learning a new medium, I’m going to challenge you to stick with one subject. Flowers (that’s what I did!), birds, landscapes, portraits, farm animals etc. It doesn’t have to be painfully specific like “cats” or “roses”—feel free to branch out a little bit!
Tip 3: Slooooow Down
If you’re anything like me, you have an idyllic viewpoint as you approach a new medium. Surely this media will make all of the difference and be SO much faster than the old media! It all makes sense in your head and now your hands just need to follow suit. Unfortunately, a new medium isn’t a magic spell, it’s just a different technique.
And a new medium typically takes just as much time (if not more) than the “old” one!
Slow down and allow yourself to get a feel for the new experience, reminding yourself that quality takes TIME! Whether you’re working with colored pencils or watercolors, there is time and experience that plays into every great piece that you see and admire. Be patient with yourself, with the process and with the details. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride!
BONUS:
For my own recent journey with a new medium (digital drawing in Procreate), I decided to dive back into my own mini course! Yes, I went back through each video of the Flower Drawing Challenge and walked through each step of the process—practicing, growing stronger and reminding myself of the tips and tricks that I already know but left behind in the excitement! Seriously, I was almost embarassed when I realized that I had slipped back into “insecurity drawing” and actually needed my own advice on Day 3!
If you think you would benefit from some loose instruction and prompts as you explore your new media, feel free to sign up for my (free!) Flower Drawing Challenge.
DIGITAL DRAWING SUPPLIES:*
iPad Pro: https://amzn.to/3s49R93
Apple Pencil: https://amzn.to/3s2nLsb
Procreate: https://procreate.art/
*As an Amazon associate, I receive a small commission on some of the links above if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you!