Starting Out

Practical guidance for people beginning their journey as artists. Articles cover confidence building, basic techniques, materials and understanding the art world.

Artwork Preparation and Equipment You May Need

Get your materials and workspace ready before starting any art project to avoid wasting supplies and ruining your work.

Building Confidence

Timid brushstrokes kill a painting, so stop overthinking and take bold risks to develop real artistic confidence.

Collage, Paper on Paper

Collage uses torn and glued paper to combine existing materials in unexpected ways, offering artists a cheap way to experiment with form and colour.

Keeping a Sketchbook

Regular sketching builds better art than waiting for inspiration to strike, so keep a sketchbook to develop ideas and track your progress over time.

'Loosening' Exercises

Try simple drawing exercises that loosen your grip on perfectionism and help you make bolder, more confident marks.

Producing a Finished Work

Know when to stop: learn why inexperienced artists finish too soon or push their work too far, and how clear objectives help.

Understanding the Art World

Starting an art career means understanding the art world runs on money, competition, and realistic goals alongside your dedication.

Ways of Viewing

How you see the world shapes your art, and there's no single right way to draw or paint what you observe.

What Is Drawing?

Drawing is marking a surface to create two-dimensional images, using tools like pencil and charcoal to record ideas and prepare for painting.

What Is Painting?

Painting is the deliberate application of paint to create images or protect surfaces, a medium defined by what it isn't rather than what it is.