How to start drawing, painting ?

Question

I mean, I am sick in the head or...Everytime I want to start drawing or painting It's like I'm scared or something, I don't know ! And by having that state of mind my art work doesn't come out right...It's like I'm scared of the result,maybe ! Maybe I have to stop carring so much about it... What do you think ?
BTW my life depends on it, I want my carrer as a painter, as an artist.

Answer 1

There is one thing that always kicks in when you start the creative process. Judgment. It's your left brain talking and it's gonna do what it can to criticize. You are not sick in the head. Every artist - and believe me - every artist has to overcome that judgmental part of themselves that keeps them from working. I tend to organize half my house, other artists may run errands, clean, do laundry, almost any chore that's not related to art. It's almost as if we have to warm up to the idea of making art - a sort of stage fright if you will. There are lots of ways we have of getting over that hump. One of the easiest is to put on easy music - music appeals to the right (creative) side of the brain and it can relax the critic. You can also relieve the stress by making random marks on the canvas or paper to remove the block of seeing a blank canvas. You may have to start by just doing a little thing, then one more then another to work up to the project and finally jump in. Trust me, you are not alone and it may feel like you've lost your mind, but trust me, it is simply resistance and if you come at it sideways or softly it will be easier to manage.

Answer 2

1. The fact that you want a career as an artist does NOT mean that 'your life depends on it'. LOTS of people have dreams of careers that are simply not within their abilities or their circumstances and they simply find another career. They don't cease to exist.

2. You are frightened that your work is not good enough. This is why you are afraid to paint or draw. You are so involved with the notion that you MUST be an artist, you cannot accept the fact that perhaps you simply don't have the ability and this terrifies you and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: You're scared that you cant paint well, so you dont paint well.

3. If you REALLY think you HAVE to be an artist, train. Go to art school or attend classes. But personally I agree with what you said. You care too much at this point. Why not see if you have any real talent before you decide your destiny?

Answer 3

First, Acrylics are probably your best bet as a beginning medium for painting. Acrylics are fast drying, water soluble, and provide for easy clean-up and quick corrections. For painters used to working with oil, the fast drying properties of acrylics can tend to be a bit bothersome. But with experience, acrylics can be worked to create the appearance of an oil or watercolor, so in essence, you could try at least two styles (i.e. watercolor & acrylic) with the same product.

Another advantage with acrylics is the price. Although top end acrylics can be more expensive, excellent quality acrylics, such as Maimeri Brera Acrylics or Daler-Rowney Cryla Acrylics, can still be purchased for a very reasonable price.

We've put together a few sets so that you can experiment with any of the mediums without tremendous outlay. We put together the best products for the best price. Along with the sets you might want to get together a few of the following

Grumbacher Workable Fixative Spray (to stop the pencil from smearing)
a pencil (office variety) for the drawing
a couple of empty coffee cans or jars for water and washing brushes
an old white dish to use as a palette (you can buy palette pads if you like)
some old rags to wipe up.
With the suggested sets you should be well prepared to venture forth into the world of painting.

Enjoy your journey into the land of painting

Answer 4

well chuck you need self confence if you want to do ANYTHING with your life...
coping.org may help with that!

Stop carring what others will think!
and you most likely will have paintings that come out just so wrong! but ironiclly those are the ones that are selling now!
but like the classic saying YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES if you can't take critisism then this isn't your feild someone will always find something wrong with it! you will never be perfect!
ART is expression if you express what you want then it is PERFECT...
take an art class you'll see what i'm saying.. They tell you in art classes if your drawing draw dark and confenct if you screw up learn from it! and you will because it's dark and a firm line!
good luck!
don't beat yourself up! you'll get it! embrace your fear face on!

Answer 5

You need to be in a totally relaxed state to be able to get out the creative energy out. When I was painting a lot I would get into a room by myself and light candles and just relax for a bit. Sometimes I would even watch how the light from the candles formed shapes onto the ceiling and sketch out those to get my creative energy going. Once I was totally relaxed I would start my painting. I am one of those people though that cant paint on command. I can only really do it when I really feel like it but once I start a painting I will paint for hours until its done. You just have to be in the right mood I guess. But thats just me. Just try little exercises like that to turn on your creativity.

Also dont think about it too much. You just have to get that relaxed state of mind going and just let it flow out of you. Art is an expression of yourself it doesnt need to be perfect to someone elses standards. I think if you get in that state of mind you will be ok. But I was an art student so I know how much pressure there is to do it right and be perfect when you are being compared to other artists. But that is part of being an artist.

Answer 6

There are times when i don't feel like sketching directly on the canvas so i will work it out on a sheet/s of paper the size of the canvas. I'll then lay the sketch on the canvas and use carbon paper underneath to transfer it. This gives me a nice and clean drawing to work with. If the painting doesn't come out right the first time at least i now have a master copy to work from which saves me a lot of time.

Answer 7

Don't be so afraid of messing your artwork up when you start.
That's a problem for a lot of artists. I'm an artist and I know the best pieces I've done have been the ones that I took risks on and wasn't so careful with. The ones that I was scared to mess up are the ones that aren't my strongest pieces.
Truth is, you don't have to be careful at all. If you mess up, you mess up. Try again. Start another piece. Experiment with things and go all out with it. Your first attempt doesn't have to be your last. It doesn't have to turn out perfect on the first try.
By the way, there's nothing wrong with caring about it. Just don't care so much that you're afraid to take risks on pieces. Turn it into a cherished hobby, not a job that you're afraid to make mistakes on.

Answer 8

I don't think you need to stop caring. That would be the worst thing you should do. Art comes from inside you and the sooner you relax and stop stressing, the sooner your art will come to life and flow from you in such a natural way that you will probably be suprised by the outcome. To be an artist you need to love being an artist...if it caused only stress then maybe you need to re-think your career. Try closing your eyes and taking deep breaths before starting a piece of artwork. Good luck.

Answer 9

Go to Micheals art & crafts store buy a book on drawing and painting, also buy a cheat paint set , before u know it you'll see improvements.

Answer 10

Maybe your scared it won't look good. Go to the store buy a book of blank paper and GO FOR IT! You have nothing tro loose. I think I'll do the same thing. I have nothing to loose.