Eight things I would tell my beginner artist self, all said with love and heart rocks, of course. 🙂 

1. You don’t have to like every painting you paint. It’s impossible, so chalk it up to a learning experience, and move on. Buy some cheap black paint, and gesso. Learn to use them – black paint + a few coats of gesso = brand new surface to paint on. You won’t even remember what the bad painting looked like when you’re finished. The next painting might be one you fall completely in love with. Please realize there are going to be A LOT of bad paintings…really really bad ones. The sooner you do this, the better. It’s okay that your painting stinks. You tried sooo hard. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, pat yourself on the back, and give yourself an A for effort. Keep moving forward. Your next painting just might be your favorite. 

2. When you’re using a photo as a reference, remember that a camera is a machine. You are not. Your painting is going to look like a painting, not like a photo. Stop trying to paint a photo, and concentrate on painting a painting. 

3. You don’t have to be so serious. There is no such thing as a perfect painting or a perfect you. Besides, it’s so boring to be a perfectionist. You will never be satisfied with your work if you keep thinking this way. You’ll spend all your time beating yourself up, and what fun is that? 

4. Focus. I know it’s a big art world with lots of things to learn, especially when you first start out. However, you need to focus, and stop trying to do everything. You will spread yourself too thin, and get confused. If you really want to paint, and you do, start there. Making clay pots, learning to knit, and making candles all day errryday won’t help you improve your painting skills. (haha okay, I’ve never actually made candles, but I did buy a how to book once) Fight the fear that’s keeping you from doing what you really want to do. Learning to knit isn’t scary. Calling yourself an artist, painting, and putting your work out there is absolutely terrifying, tho. Deep breath. You can do this.   

5. You don’t need every art supply known to artists. You just DON’T. You will waste a lot of money, and you’ll end up throwing or giving it all away. Buy gesso, paint, canvas, and varnish. Start there. 

6. Paint A LOT. Until you get super comfortable around paint and canvas, you’ll need to paint every single day. It will get you over the fear. It will seem impossible, at first, but start with a series of 100. When you’re done with that, start another one. Never stop. Before you know it, you’ll have painted thousands of paintings. That first series of 100 will look so small in comparison.  

7. Do something to move yourself forward every single day. If that means finishing a painting, finish it. If it means starting a new painting, start it. If that means offering a painting for sale online, do it! Stop waiting for the perfect time. The time is NOW.  

8. You will learn soon that being a successful artist boils down to one thing – painting. If you’re painting, you are successful. Period. If you stop making art, you will be miserable. All you’ll do is sit around wishing you were painting. It’s a waste of time, even if you do it for only one afternoon. Get up off the couch, turn Netflix off, and go be successful.