Where to Get Started in Art

So, you decided you want to do art. That is great! But what is “art?” Well, it is a vague term. Many things ranging from that cartoon you hate to the Renaissance painting you admire are both art. And yet, they are so different that it’s hard to imagine that they have any relation whatsoever. Then you get into music, textile art, and now cooking is an art, too???

Alright, maybe you have bitten off more than you can chew. There is so much to unpack, and it can be hard to get started. But, if you are on this page, then chances are, you decided to be a visual artist. Either it be an illustrator or a painter, deciding what type of art you wish to pursue is just the first step.

What You Need

As visual arts cover a large variety of mediums, there are plenty of tools you may need. However, if you’re starting out, you don’t need anything more than a pencil and printer paper. The humble pencil and paper are the cheapest tools you can use, which is great if you’re on a budget or don’t know if you will commit yet. The stakes are low, and they can be used for other purposes if you decide that art is not for you.

If you wish to find inspiration or references, then chances are, you likely either have a phone or a computer. While the internet is a less reliable place to find sources thanks to AI, you can find many online communities on sites like Reddit that don’t allow AI generated images to be uploaded.

But now that you have your tools and reference sources, what comes next? Well, now you actually have to draw. You can’t just let these new tools gather dust! How are you going to learn if you don’t do it?

Find What You Like

While many people may claim you have to draw cubes and shade spheres to learn and improve, that’s not necessarily the case. The skills you would be learning there, you could also be learning by just drawing what you enjoy. Now, if you enjoy learning using the more “traditional” methods, then there is no issue with it. Such methods of practice aren't enjoyable for everyone, however.

A great alternative is to use references of a particular subject you wish to learn and draw said references until you are good at the subject. This is a customizable and potentially fun method as you can add things you like or help create the art you want to make. While making fill pictures may be a slower path, it won’t be a waste of time if it’s what keeps you motivated and the activity enjoyable for you.

“How To Draw” Books and Youtube Tutorials

But it’s not just references and studies that can help you. There are many resources both free and paid that aim to guide you to improve your craft. Either it be showing you new techniques or explaining something more technical, a good lesson in art will help you grow in ways you can’t imagine.

There are tutorials for any style or direction in varying qualities. However, I would not recommend finding advice on Tiktok or Instagram Reels. Longer-form videos are better for showing off a variety of techniques and explaining them in a detailed yet concise manner.

Participate in Challenges

A great way to practice and engage with the art community is to participate in art challenges. Whether it be trying out daily exercises or drawing an illustration in your own style, there is no shortage of challenges that you can find and learn about online. Many art communities provide challenges and exercises worthy of trying, although there are some classics.

Some classic challenges are time challenges, Inktober, and drawing a character in a variety of recognizable cartoon styles. All of these challenges are great exercises that push you out of your comfort zone and help you improve. However, there are other challenges you can impose on yourself if you wish to further push yourself in creative ways.

Tracing

The most controversial thing you can do is tracing pre-existing artworks or photographs. But if you want some assistance in breaking things down to simple shapes or learning how an artist achieved something, then tracing can be a great learning tool. Plus, tracing is a common technique in portrait art and is how many classical “masters” worked.

So, while many artists online may treat tracing as an evil that should be avoided, tracing can also be invaluable depending on how you use it. So, when you are going to trace, it’s best to keep these three things in mind:

1. What do you wish to accomplish or learn from tracing?

2. What can you do to accomplish your goal while tracing?

3. Is there a different method of study that can teach you better?

Once you have an answer to these questions, then tracing is great for whatever it is you’re trying to do.

Conclusion

Art can be a daunting thing to get started in, but you don’t need fancy equipment or big projects to start out with. Printer paper and yellow pencils are perfect investments, especially if you don’t know if you will enjoy art or will stick with it. Nothing you make will be good, and that is okay.

Nobody started their craft with the skills required. In fact, most people started bad at it. Horrible, even. Being instantly good at something is a rare circumstance that is never going to happen to you. Those skills you don’t currently have are something that needs to be practiced and learned over time as you pursue your new activity.

But the biggest way to get started is to just do it. Overthinking it or putting it off is your biggest obstacle. So, it’s best to draw a stick figure today than it is to never get started at all.