An artist is a person who draws illustrations for magazines, books, postcards and websites. That is why representatives of this profession are often called illustrators. In this article we will tell you how to become an artist.

Of course, in order to engage in such activities, it is necessary master the basics of drawing: composition, color theory, perspective and so on. First, draw 5 to 10 drawings on a variety of topics. Ideas can be found on the internet, magazines and books... It is also important to objectively evaluate your work. It will be quite difficult to do this on your own. It is also desirable that the assessment should not be given by friends and relatives who can praise you, fearing of offending. Therefore, the work can be posted somewhere on the Internet.

To become an artist you need master various drawing techniques... It is best to use one approach to creating drawings, as in the future customers will expect something specific from you.

Illustrations can be done not only with a pencil. You can also use colored paper, ink, watercolors. In addition, for every modern illustrator, it is necessary to have a high level of proficiency in computer programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Of course, no one forbids using mixed techniques and combine drawings on paper with computer processing... At the initial stage, it is recommended to try yourself in all the techniques to determine which one is really yours.

When creating drawings no need to copy reality... There are cameras for this task. All artists have the ability to simplify, detail and emphasize certain details. Agree that it would be much more interesting to look at the work of an artist who left prints of his hands on the canvas, rather than at a picture that is no different from a photograph.

In order to become an artist, you must learn to accept criticism. You will always receive comments on your work. When negative comments are given to you, be grateful for them., because negative reviews will make you stronger as a person, and also broaden your views. In any case, you do not need to stop in your development. And you need to develop not only in terms of drawing. Explore the world you live in. Read books, learn facts from history, watch feature films and documentaries, take up photography. Over time, you will understand that absolutely everything in this world is interconnected.

Communicate with people more... This applies not only to relatives and friends. Be sure to make new acquaintances. Communication in itself evokes a variety of emotions in us that can be used in creativity.

As for finding clients, then for this you need. It can be either printed or electronic. A portfolio is necessary so that potential clients and employers can determine your professional level for themselves. Today there are a large number of job search sites with which you can search for customers. Besides, you can upload your work to the blog or to your personal page on social networks. Thus, a large number of people will be able to learn about your activities.

Finally, it is worth talking about the personal qualities that you need to develop in yourself to become an artist. We are talking about perseverance, patience, ability to concentrate and take criticism.

As for the educational institutions in which you can master such, then these include schools and universities of culture and arts, where there is a specialty "fine and decorative arts."

A young but already renowned Russian artist shared valuable advice on how to build a career in the arts. The recommendations of the famous painter will be useful to everyone who wants not just to paint on the table, for themselves and their loved ones, but to become a real master of their craft with the acquisition of such pleasant bonuses as popularity and wealth.

So what are the steps a budding artist should take?

The path to the starry Olympus is thorny and requires a lot of dedication. We asked Alexey how he sees the work plan to achieve national recognition.

First of all, the artist says, it is necessary to systematically create new works and train in the direction that most attracts you.

Inspiration is a great stimulus for creativity, but you shouldn't forget about routine work, because skills are honed gradually.

In this regard, it is important to note a tolerant and even reaction to possible criticism from others, especially if it comes from real experts. A painstaking attitude to work, a desire to improve will certainly show themselves in practice.

For myself, from my own experience, I made an important conclusion: any artist should have a good portfolio, from which gallery owners and exhibition organizers can choose the paintings, drawings and posters they like the most. If you have something to offer to the curator or event manager, this will be a significant plus, since there is a possibility that a wealthy collector will pay attention to your works.

Your individual style in painting can also be a significant component of future success. It is necessary to put special emphasis on this aspect, because the recognizable handwriting of the artist makes the audience select a specific author from the gray faceless mass, instantly remember his name and associate this particular person with bright, outstanding works, whose names are heard by everyone.

Again, for successful art connoisseurs, your spiritedness is also a factor that tempts them to buy your painting, which brings the artist a double benefit - the name becomes a brand, and the profits from the sale of works take the creator to a new commercial level. Alexey, whose track record already includes deals with collectors from Forbes, says:

"The luck, professionalism and originality of an artist can be your lucky chance to gain fame, since every art acquisition of billionaires is widely covered by the press."

It is not superfluous to note the need to have a personal website where your work will be quickly found and appreciated by colleagues in the shop, fans and those who wish to buy them out or place an order. Alexey Zimin is sure that a modern artist is in a more privileged position than the creators of previous eras, because today you can rent a paid hosting and launch your own website.

In every profession and every art form, in no case should theory be neglected. A composer can never write a melody without learning the notes. So is the artist. No one has the right to call himself an artist if he does not possess theoretical knowledge of composition, perspective, anatomy, theory of light. Of course, you need not only to know the rules, but also to be able to correctly apply them in practice.

Don't be discouraged if something doesn't work out. Even among professional artists, there are those who are strong, for example, in drawing still lifes and architecture, but they are completely unable to draw smooth and gentle curves of the human body. And there is also vice versa, the artist will easily draw a portrait, and a landscape or still life in his performance will look clumsy and rough. Needed constantly work on your weak points... They will not disappear by themselves.

Broadening your horizons

If you like a specific direction, anime or comics, realism or other specific style, you shouldn't dwell on it only. You definitely need to broaden your horizons. Artists who work in only one direction sooner or later become hostages of established templates.

By constantly painting the same thing, an artist will never create anything new. When a person is familiar with different styles of drawing, he can mix individual directions, while creating original and unique drawing... This is much more interesting than redrawing the same characters dozens of times from different angles and angles.

Think about works

The main question that should accompany each of your drawings, why is it created... Don't limit yourself to drawing "Cool stuff" or pretty half-naked girls. Your work should say something to the world. Do you have something to say?

Do not touch only the lowest level of pleasure. Try to go deeper. Engage the viewer's intelligence and emotions. The quality and originality of the work directly depends on how much of his emotions the author has put into a painting, song or any other work of art.

Copying reality

In creative drawing, it is rarely welcomed. After all, there is a camera to convey reality. You, as an artist, have a unique ability to control the world around you. Something can be removed, something on the contrary, emphasized. To detail something, add your own, remember abstraction and surrealism. It's a shame to have so much power and not use it at all.

Sometimes even an ordinary cast of your own foot in the picture will look much more original and more pleasant than a hyperrealistic drawing that simply shows the world around you.

It is inappropriate to spend days, or even weeks, on drawing, painstakingly working on the details, when the same result can be obtained in a few minutes of working with the camera. Of course, if copying reality is your job, then that's okay. But still don't forget to leave room for creativity.

Polishing is not always in place

Of course, it's up to you to decide how scrupulous to approach the detailing of the picture. But remember: reaching the ideal is essentially a meaningless process, since it is impossible to achieve the ideal. Instead of dwelling on one thing, it's better to spend more time looking for new solutions and ideas.

Like a chef who is constantly experimenting with new ingredients, an artist must constantly think about new styles and techniques... This approach will significantly increase your creativity and tell you when and which drawing method to use is more appropriate.

What should be the practice?

Constant practice is the key to success, but thousands of sheets of the same scribble will not get you the results you want. You also need to practice wisely. Draw what you still don't know how to draw, and do not repeat a drawing hundreds of times that you can do well even with your eyes closed. Of course, on this path you cannot avoid mistakes. This is not bad, but rather good. Only absolutely necessary analyze your mistakes.

This approach will help save you from repeating mistakes in the future. Explore the outside world. After all light, shadow, shape - all this obeys the physical laws of nature. By realizing them, you can greatly improve your own drawing technique.

Moscow was not built in a day. It takes many years of practice and training to become a true professional in your field. This also applies to drawing. Having painted a few dozen paintings, you will certainly improve your skills, but to achieve great results need hundreds if not thousands of paintings... And drawn with the mind, with a thorough analysis of all the shortcomings and mistakes.

Take a close-up portrait, for example. In order to draw one head, you need to have sufficient knowledge. about the skeleton, muscles, skin... About how exactly the light falls on the surface, how the eyes display the world around them, how to convey the age and emotions of the person being painted. Drawing affects almost all branches of science: biology, physics, psychology.

An artist, like any other person, lives surrounded by people who will certainly express their impressions and comments. Lead for this and there is creativity - evoke emotions in people... Anyone who is unable to perceive criticism will not be able to become a good artist, because criticism is an integral part of creative development and formation.

At first, you shouldn't count on objective and well-reasoned criticism. It is difficult to discern minor errors behind common flaws. Therefore, most of the advice will be like "Learn the basics!" Follow these tips, improve your theoretical knowledge, learn to apply them in practice. When the ground rules are followed, it is easier to see and point out the details where the author went wrong.

General education

The world around us is not a collection of separate categories. Religion, culture, economics, sports, social relations - all of this is connected by one big, inextricable network. The more knowledge you have about the outside world, the better artist you can become.

Personal experiences are rarely of interest to strangers. It is much more pleasant and interesting for them to watch how general trends and events in the world are reflected in the heads and works of artists. Learn to form your opinion about the main events in the world and convey that opinion through the canvas.

This role is for you. Or not?

Why does someone become an artist, someone a singer, and someone an acrobat? We are all equal from birth. It's just that some people can do one thing for hours, while others can do something completely different. A person becomes an artist, when he is interested in drawing, he can spend hours working on one drawing. This means that he has perseverance and patience. If these qualities are not inherent in you, consider whether it is worth starting at all. After all, it is quite possible that at the first difficulties you just give up drawing and do something completely different.

Each of us has a different potential, and in view of the environment, upbringing and habits, each has an individual disposition towards creativity. If you just want and enjoy drawing, you don't necessarily have to be a good artist. A lot of effort, patience and perseverance must be applied to desire. Desire will only indirectly help you withstand all the tests that will stand in the way.

The main contribution to development will still come from regular practice, which will often be difficult and uninteresting. If you only have a desire, and each step is given to you with great difficulty, sooner or later you will simply begin to hate drawing. Remember, wanting to achieve something and being suitable for this role are completely different things.

Imagine a dancer who literally "Tears" dance floor. Everyone sees his success, everyone notices the ideal movements and dreams of dancing as well in the future. It seems that it is not difficult at all, because the dancer's movements are so light and relaxed. But one has only to look deeper and see many hours of daily workouts, worn-out shoes and toes worn out to calluses, the idea of \u200b\u200bbecoming a dancer immediately disappears.

It's the same with artists. Each master passed a long journey of disappointments, mistakes, sleepless nights, lack of progress, hatred of one's own occupation or of oneself in general... Only after all the hardships did they achieve what they call "Wonderful artists".

Each of us in childhood dreamed of becoming someone, but not all dreams were destined to come true. By the way, how often do you want to take a pencil and draw something extraordinary? Or is your lack of drawing skills stopping you? In this article, you will learn how to become an artist, despite your age, and fulfill your childhood dream.

Everything is possible

You can become a master of painting at any age. This does not depend at all on whether you attended art school as a child, and what grades were given to you in art lessons. Many professional artists say that everyone has a talent for drawing. But not everyone develops it and not everyone knows how. Special drawing courses, a great desire and self-confidence will help you become an artist.

The first step on the road to becoming an artist is to try to draw something yourself. Now on the Internet there are special sites on which the process of drawing an object is described in detail. You can also watch video tutorials on drawing - and try to do what the artist's hand does on the monitor. Original talents that have never comprehended other laws of drawing, of course, are found. But you will achieve more if you sign up for painting courses.

Painting courses

Usually such classes are conducted by established artists. At the same time, the age of the students here is absolutely not limited, which is an undoubted plus. You will not feel constrained, because the same adults will gather around who have not held a brush in their hands, possibly since school days.

Together with them, you will gain valuable knowledge about the fine arts. Here they will not only teach you the correct construction of the composition, but also allow you to try yourself in working with different materials - paints, pencils, pastels, and so on. In addition, the teacher often gives initial concepts about a particular style of painting, which is also very useful for beginners.

Artist courses have a huge advantage over self-study. Namely: you will be given academic knowledge from the field of painting. In addition, all material will be lined up in the desired sequence and structured.

How to become an artist in a few months? This is quite possible if a master of his craft helps you in comprehending the art of painting. You can get basic knowledge in a few lessons. And believe me - the level of your drawing abilities will increase significantly. But you need to improve further. This can be done by regularly taking courses for aspiring artists. Moreover, their cost is quite democratic. And if in the future you feel a desire to connect your life with painting, you can go to study at an art school. Many of them have special groups for adults, which take place in the evening. After graduation, the doors of vocational schools and higher institutions will open in front of you, where they teach fine arts.

To become a professional artist takes talent, discipline, sacrifice and effort. You need to learn how to draw, form a concept, and learn to observe directly.

Steps

Learn! Even if you have a special talent for the visual arts, you need to develop it, but you still have room to grow.

Find your weaknesses and focus fully on improving them! For example, if you are a portrait painter, but do not know how to draw feet, then you need to draw them until you learn.

Explore what you are drawing. Even imaginary objects need to be drawn based on memory and knowledge. A scientific and structural approach is the key to correctly depicting fictional objects.

Develop your style. Before you start painting, find out from which elements and how the style is created. Everything you portray must have a deliberate purpose.

Start with simple lines and sketches. In the beginning, everything should consist of simple shapes located inside the composition. Before creating the final, finished painting, you need to do some rough sketches.

Warm up! Before creating a real piece of art, you need to warm up! The first drawings will not be as good as the last ones. You need to get into the stream!

Pay close attention to the composition. The first stage of drawing rough sketches is exactly what you need. The edges of the painting should not distract attention from the main objects, and the viewer's gaze should slide as you intended.

The colors should be pretty. Read about the structure of the eye and light. Look at the photos, but do not copy them. Understand color temperature and shadow colors. Learn color theory!

Pay attention to the quality of your tools. Despite the opinion that a good artist can make a masterpiece from any material, you should buy the best and most suitable (and, unfortunately, the most expensive) accessories. After all, you want to become a professional, right? Wouldn't a professional use quality tools?

The picture should contain only the most necessary details. Any decorative elements will only distract attention. With the help of a variety of details, you can focus on one of them.

The more preparatory and rough sketches, the better the final picture will be.

If the painting is successful, people should know who painted it. If not, don't show it to anyone. In reality, professional artists create a small number of masterpieces, compared to the huge pile of failed paintings created in the process. Never throw away old or bad pictures - they will be a great motivator. Keep all the pictures neatly so you can look at them later and see your progress. This is especially helpful when you are in a bad mood. And if you cannot get out of depression yourself (which inevitably happens in creative people - this is our common complex), then you will never become a professional.

Experiment and prove yourself. An artist who sells a work of art ultimately sells a piece of himself. Let the colors mix, let the creative flow flow if you feel that way. Trust your talents and feelings.

Painting

1. Explore the tools from the basics of mixing paints, stretching canvases, creating a palette, to creating a finished piece. Framing and matting can be ordered from a professional, but this will seriously increase the cost of your work and affect the success of the sale of the painting.

   Build yourself a portfolio and constantly update it with your best work. Look for art dealers, middlemen, and people willing to exhibit your work. Libraries, restaurants, hotels and other public spaces will be happy to display your work as long as it is of the right level and matches the atmosphere of the place.

Fine arts and computer

In order to successfully work in this direction, you need to study for a long time, invest in hardware and software, and have a keen nose for the work being sold.

1. Think about what you love about the pictures you have seen.
2. Art serves intellectual needs, it must satisfy the thirst for thought.
3. Warm colors attract, while cold colors repel.
4. Before investing your time and money in creating a painting, carefully research the market and the profitability of the job.
5. In paintings, scenes with warm colors require cool shadows, while scenes with cold colors require warm shadows.
6. Look for unique ways to sell and exhibit your work.
7. Light areas protrude forward, and dark areas - back.
8. The more diverse styles, tools, and shapes you know, the more useful they are.
9. Find old books about perspective (many good old books are out of print). They store a large amount of information unknown to many artists due to their laziness.

Warnings

• Learn anatomy. People always notice anatomical errors, and the simplest reason for such errors is ignorance of anatomy.
• Know your weaknesses. Keep the contacts of people you can recommend to a client whose order you are not able to fulfill yourself.
• Don't show people your failed work! A potential customer will throw your portfolio out the window if they see a bad job.
• Learn to sketch. If you cannot draw something, then you just need to carefully consider this object.
• Learn from the best, they handle all setbacks successfully.