How to Start Creating Art
Happy March! I’ve dubbed March as Ignite Creative Projects month. I’m aware that are a lot of barriers around the word ART. As a former art workshop facilitator, I’ve seen everything from uncertainty to downright fear when it comes to putting pen (or paint) to the page. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I wish I was more creative, I’m not an artist,” blah blah blah. Imposter Syndrome is a real thing. (And if you think I don’t get Imposter Syndrome, you’d be wrong! Trust me.)
To kick us off, we’ll be looking at how to get started with art. (There’s a series brewing on this topic, so stay tuned as more will be coming.) Since this is my first post on the topic, we’ll take it a little slow. Let's ease into it and build from there, shall we?
Here's what you need to do… Ready?
GET A SKETCHBOOK
Get your sketchbook… what you don't have one? Ok, GET ONE. Anything will do, I happen to like the spiral bound Canson Sketchbook that can be found almost anywhere, check your local Walmart. I find the 7"x10" size gives you room to work without being too bulky and it's easy to pop it in your bag on the fly. But really any size you're comfortable with works. Bonus: The paper is thick enough that it'll handle light watercolors as well. (Watercolor pencils are perfect if straight up watercolor is intimidating!)
BREAK IT IN
Raise your hand if you're a little intimidated by brand new beautiful books... yep, I'm with you. Another reason why I love this sketchbook: It's not intimidating. There's no leather or decorative embellishments looking you in the face, pleading with you, begging you, saying "you don't have anything worthy enough to put on my pages. Who do you think you are… an artist?" NOPE! We'll have none of that. This is a Plain-Jane book that goes with the flow and couldn't care less how bad you mess up.
Still intimidated? Perfect. (I was hoping you'd say that.) Take that baby outside and - bear with me - launch that Jane out into the yard. That's right. THROW IT. Get it dirty. Get it soggy. Smear it with your morning coffee grounds. Do whatever you need to - like your life depended on it - to give it the very first (intimidation removing) marks.
Did you do it? Good. I'm proud of you. (No really, go do it.)
WRITE IN IT
One of the best ways I have found to get pen to paper without any expectations is to use the first page as an "IF FOUND" page. This is simply a page with a name, phone number or email that someone can use to reach you if Jane gets lost. (Maybe you don't want your name attached to it, fine - make one up.) Dress that page up as simple or elaborate as you'd like using whatever materials you have on hand. Pouring your heART and soul into a book can be hard and no one wants to lose it. An "IF FOUND" page can be the best thing if you should forget your sketchbook somewhere. (Plus, if you keep this creative habit up I pinky promise you're going to want your old sketchbook.)
GET COMFORTABLE
Yay! You've already completed your first page. No more intimidation right? Ok, ok. That part takes time. To be clear, there are no "musts" for this art series or prompts. And there are no musts for what goes in your sketchbook. If you want to dive right in, GO FOR IT! If you want to stick with the prompts, letter by letter, that's OK too! I don't care and Jane definitely doesn't care. Write, paint, draw, collect leaves… anything goes!
Side note: Some people like to have books for specific tasks or style of artwork, while others make their sketchbooks a living breathing companion of their daily life and whatever they are into at the time. (I definitely fall into the latter, otherwise I'd have WAY too many books to carry.)
EXPERIMENT
Play! I wanted to keep this prompt low-key, so do what moves you. If you don't have any supplies (or are itching for something new), go to the store and soak in all the possibilities. If they are open, visit a thrift store and see what strikes your art fancy. Pull out some old magazines and cut them up.
Find something to love. A single item - maybe just a pretty pen - and focus on that. Draw different size lines. See how many different marks you can make with that single pretty pen. Straight up and down. Lay it on the side of the tip. Anything goes!
Art doesn't have to be all or nothing. Sit and listen to your gut and do what you feel like doing. Go with that. Just start. Your objective this time around is to complete one page. That's it, just one page. You’ve got this!
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