Artist Top Tips: 7 Ways to Get Great Results with Minimal Hassle

Five top tips fo

The process and journey of being a Artist can be a immensely rewarding and fulfilling experience. However, at the same time, there are many challenges and difficulties that a lot of new Artists face when starting a project.

When creating my first batch of Artsmith books,  a selection of handmade bookish souvenirs, I encountered many problems and speed bumps along the way. I quickly realised that there are a lot of common mistakes made by Artists that are rarely discussed. As a result, I decided to create an effective list going through some Artist Top Tips. Especially when starting a new project.

1.) Materials matter

As basic and obvious as this sounds, it is a really good idea to start a checklist of what you need for your project and how much you need. If you need to purchase acrylic paint, what palette colours will you be using and how many tubes do you need? If you’re purchasing a brush set, does it include all brush styles you need?

Having a checklist saves time and head-scratching trips to the art-store. Giving you more time to do what you love. Painting and creating!

I made sure that i had the correct colours when i started my project for Artsmith books.

2.) Have a budget in mind.

This is especially important if you’re looking to sell your Art. But even if you aren’t, having a budget can go a long way in saving you money.

Try and tally up the cost of the art supplies you need. This figure may change once you progress in your project but it’s a good way of preventing overspending.

When creating my artsmith books. I made sure that I delayed purchasing expensive materials until later on the in the process. That way, i was able to determine if I really needed it when finishing the product.

I made sure that i kept reciepts for my purchases. I also created a tally of the cost of all my supplies and products.

3.) Research and testing is key

Buying Art supplies is tricky business especially if you not 100% sure the product your purchasing will do what it says. Asking the shop assistant can help, but there is no guarantee they will be correct. 

It’s also worth understanding that their job is to make a profit. You might be recommended a product without it being any use to you. Always do your independent research for the item your interested in.

The internet is a treasure trove of information for Artists filled with tutorials, advice and product demonstration. It’s a great way of seeing a product being used and giving you that extra piece of mind before purchasing.

However, in the unlikely case this isn’t possible. I highly recommend testing your product on a spare sheet before using it on your actual product. Better safe than sorry!

The final product turned out much different then what i had initally planned. Here's a early version of the cover for Artsmithbooks. The final version tunred out different!

4.)  Everybody needs a helping hand

More times than not, you will need some assistance with what you’ve been working on. This could be as simple as getting feedback from friends or using the service of another business like engraving.

Make sure you work out what’s best for you. You may be able to cut costs through your own handy-work but sacrifice on the quality of the finished piece. This can be very important if you are looking to sell your item.

I outsourced the spine stickers because i wanted the reflective mettalic gold. I knew this would be difficult to create on my own so had this outsourced.

5.) Time is of the essence

As an Artist it’s easy to fall into the trap of spending too much time mulling over a project or not enough. The time spent on your Art shouldn’t become a burden or a bottomless pit. At the same time, it shouldn’t end up on the back burner and completely forgotten.

Take breaks and stick to a time schedule that makes sense. If you are looking to sell your Art, understand that the more time spent painting will correlate to a higher price tag when selling.

6.) Cleaning is winning

Cleaning is a tiring but overlooked part of when creating Art. Having a clean workspace can help stop dust and debris from getting into your work. At the same time, cleaning equipment prevents contamination and reduces the risk of spoiling your project. Especially if you’re working with paints.  Having a clean and organised workstation can help you find the tools you when you need them most.

7.) Different strokes for different folks

I can’t recall how many times I’ve followed a Art tutorial online. Only to finish with my painting looking different from the one in the video. This would cause me a lot of anxiety as I would personally feel like this was a shortcoming.

It was only when I visited the Van Gogh exhibition at the national gallery that my viewpoint shifted. I was stunned to notice how different a lot of the artwork looked from pictures online. It was only then that I realised that a picture can never really capture the reality of viewing the painting.

After this realisation, I became a lot more confident in my work and Art. Art is always going to unique to the Artist and that should be celebrated rather than critiqued.

emerging Artists: How to get the best results with the least problems.

After attending the Vang Gogh: Poets and Lovers gallery i came to a realisation. Paintings can look very different in person than the photographs.

And that’s it! Most importantly, remember to have fun with what you do. Do you have any Artsit top tips you would like to share? Feel free to express your opinion in the comments below. ti

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