". . . a brush with nature"

Being a self-trained artist is not a bad thing. More commonly referred to as “self-taught” I prefer “self-trained” because I feel it better explains the entire learning process of creatives that fit into this category. After all, the hours can be long, the study intensive and the critique harsh. We can be our own worse critics after all.

Not every artist that feels the drive and passion to create can afford to attend classes or workshops of well-known artists they admire. Perhaps a job or family commitments stand in the way. The desire to learn and grown is certainly there, but other factors come into play. Those artists often hone their skills in other ways. Long hours of practice not being the least of these. 

Time is a great training tool. Putting in the hours, days and even years of practice understandably makes us become a better artist. The well-known phrase, “Practice makes perfect,” became familiar for a reason. It is true. We get better at anything we practice at. Although I don’t believe “perfection” is ever reached, attempting to get better with each drawing or painting is certainly a goal worth striving for . . . and one that is attainable. The hours spent practicing will show in your work. If you don’t believe that just look at some of your early works and compare them to what you are creating today.

Read voraciously. There are so many opportunities to learn the basics or advanced techniques by simply picking up books by or about other artists. Art focused magazines are another great source to learn from. Many are ripe with articles specific to teaching methods and skills while others focus on interviews with artists themselves. Often those are like having a conversation one on one with someone you admire. There is so much to learn in a chat like that and often questions are asked and answered that you might never have even thought of yourself. By reading you find out how others addressed specific challenges you might be facing in your own work.

Online courses and instructional videos are also readily available. Finding one that fits your need or piques your interest should be easy. They are offered by many reputable online outlets and feature artists from all genres. These are more reasonably priced options than attending a class in person and often can be tailored to fit your own schedule, as well.

     
                                                                                Artists Gloria Chadwick, Debbie Hughbanks
                                                                              & Lynn Gertenbach

Learning from others is always an important part of growth whether you are self-trained or not. You may not be able to attend classes, but perhaps you can join a local art group, carve out a day occasionally to paint with a friend or attend gallery openings in your own town. Surrounding yourself with positive thinking (positive is important here) like-minded people can have great educative value. (And they might learn something from you, as well.) If you become a member of an organization critiques are often offered and can be a good learning tool on how to improve your next painting.

Like any road the road of the self-trained artist can be a rough one at times. Demands pull us away from our self-discovery, time is too short and funds are too low. Self-doubt can become a terrible enemy. Stay true to the course and continue to school yourself to the best of your ability given your circumstances. Put in the hours whenever you can. Those long hours of self-instruction will teach you a great deal about the “how” of creating art simply by doing and doing again. Most probably the “why” was inside you all along. And don’t despair. Self-trained is not a bad thing at all, but something to be celebrated.