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It is so easy with our busy daily lives (especially if you have day job along with being artist) that you just stop challenging yourself. And challenging yourself, and pushing your own boundaries as an artist is essential to keeping your skills sharp and fresh. So here is my list of how I challenge myself everyday.
1. Never Stop Learning
With this economy, no matter what industry you in, you need to always be expanding your skillset. The more marketable skills you have, the better. This especially goes double if you are artist. So take a class, go read some books, do some tutorials. If you stop learning, you stop challenging yourself, and that’s a very easy for you to go stagnate as an artist.
2. Visit Museums and Galleries
I primarily work in graphic design and photo manipulations, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be inspired by the great painters, and sculptors of past. Although, I live in San Antonio, you wouldn’t think that we wouldn’t have a great art scene. However, San Antonio have at least three museums (my favorite being the McNay museum) and is home to a vibrant art district ,called the King William’s District, which that hosts weekly art exhibits. I am often get some of my best ideas after visiting the art district or museums. So it’s a great way to brighten your horizons.
3. Do Something New
I personally think that one of the biggest secrets to becoming a good artist is having the courage to jump in and try something new. I always try to push myself try something at least once a week. And yes, I sometimes fail, but the most important thing is that succeed or fail you will learn something new. And you have to remember, making mistakes is essential to growing as an artist.
4. Talk to Other Artists
Working as an artist of any medium be it painter or writer or even graphic designer can be a lonely business and no one knows our pain quite like other artists. If you near a major metropolitan city why not check out if they are some meetups or industry events near you? It’s a great way to network, but it’s also a good way to find a nice support system that will help keep your spirits up, especially when you have artist block.
5. Blog About It
Seriously, I know this is reductant because you are in fact reading this from a blog. However, what challenging myself the most is blogging about art. Blogging helps me keep track of my successes and my failures and what I need to improve on. However, if you too shy to blog, why not try write it down in a private journal or even an audio diary? I think almost every cell phone has a sound recording app.
So this is my list on how I challenge myself as artist, how do you challenge yourself? Also, if you like what read here, please check out my portfolio, thanks!
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