I was asked this question, and Carrie Schmitt answered this question in her latest blog post. Here I am sharing my thoughts. Here are 8 pieces of advice that I would give to a beginner artist.

Make Art

The key to beautiful art is to just make stuff. I am going to borrow the title from Austin Kleon’s newest book,” Don’t Call it Art.” I can’t wait to read it!

Make Art For You

Why do you make the art you make? What moves you? What stimulates and nourishes your curiosity? The art you make for yourself is going to be the stuff people relate to.

You Don’t Need Fancy Stuff

Yes, I like having certain tools, but you can make lovely art with any tools you choose. Don’t stress about having the right tools. It’s more important to have the right mindset. You can give an artist crayons, and they will make something great. Be in the presence of kids making art, and you’ll know what I mean.

You Are an Artist

Ok, so I said don’t call it art, but I am saying to call yourself an artist. Art connects us and grabs our emotions. Everyone has a gift that allows them to connect with the world and make a difference. We all have a purpose. In this sense, we are all artists. Be mindful of that. You have to have confidence to make marks and keep going without fear and doubt getting in your way. It takes confidence to explore your ideas.

Pay Attention to What You Like

What colors are you drawn to? As you paint, you will notice there is a certain way you hold the brush. At first, you just want to paint, but then your style will start to reveal itself. Be in the moment. You will realize how silly it can be to ask, “How do I find my style?”

Believe in Your Art

Purpose is a higher state of mind. That has to come first! Believing in yourself is about believing in your art. Know that there is room for all of us. It is good to surround yourself with other artists. You can see the magic being created and realize that we all have our style, and so there is room for me too!

Find a Place and Trust It

Find a place where you can paint. Get a bag or a box and put your supplies in there. Store your box in a drawer. Make it a habit to show up. The more you do, the more you show up! When you do, just make stuff. There will be no mistakes. Not even happy ones. Just glorious you. Glory because painting, exploring your ideas, brings such peace.

Show Your Work

Again, I am borrowing this title from Austin Kleon’s book. I choose to include this advice because it is important to give back. We are all beginners. Yes, even the experts are beginners because there is always something new to learn, a lesson to learn. Share what you learn. Show the world your art. Talk to other artists. Have fun!

Ok, so this is my list! I am grateful for all of the ideas, tools, and resources I have picked up along the way. I am working on an ebook project called, So you want to make stuff? I think that we all want that. I always used to say, ” I am not an artist. I just like to draw. The more I create and certainly expose myself to other great-minded artists I know this is me.

If you have any ideas or if you enjoy this advice, let me know.

Thank you for being here!