Tips for beginners on the path to becoming an artist

From childhood, I wanted to be an artist. But circumstances and stupid decisions led me to a different path.

I stopped sketching and painting when I was 15. For the next eight years, I was busy trying to make friends, be that dutiful daughter and meticulous employee. Eight years of chasing meaningless stuff drained me emotionally. And an epic mental breakdown pushed me to take a pencil to doodle again. And I finally reignited my passion for art in September 2019.

And today is the fourth anniversary of my new beginning // epic mental breakdown. Here are the lessons that I learned in these four years:

1. Your first artwork won’t be a masterpiece. Please take your time to accept that.

2. It's not the end goal (your completed artwork) that matters. What matters is the process that pushes you to learn new techniques and comes in handy during your next work. So, enjoy the process.

3. Your artwork will look so ugly during the process. But, keep working.

4. Invest in good art supplies.

5. Don't push yourself too hard. Creativity takes time. Creativity needs boredom!

6. When you finish an art piece, don't stare at / admire it. You might end up finding too many faults.

7. Click pictures of your process. This will help you to know where to improve and find good techniques.

8. Don't limit yourself to one type of artwork. Try a variety of stuff.

9. Keep a repository of artwork that inspires you.

10. Practice, practice, practice. If possible, practice every day.

11. Bring out the child in you - be curious, open-minded, and try something new // scary.

12. Jealousy is common when you start. But remember, there's a fine line between jealousy and admiration. It's up to you to choose.

13. Your career, family, friends, pets, and many more will act as an obstacle to doing your work. Learn to prioritize what's important. Remember Naina - Bunny's convo from YJHD: Jitna bhi try Karo, Kuch Na Kuch to chhootega hi, isliye yehi, is pal ka maza lete hai. Meaning: How much ever you try, there are some things you won’t be able to do. So, let’s enjoy this moment!

14. Start small and grow tall :)

So, what's stopping you from creating your masterpiece?

Take that pencil and sketch away!