Reader lynnandjanice recently asked if I teach or hold workshops. I regularly get this question. Gifted teachers are rare. The first real art instructor I ever had when I was 13 possessed the gift. Her words imprinted themselves on me and unlocked the mysteries of drawing. I experienced something similar with a math teacher in the 9th grade. With these few exceptions, I didn’t like school. I’ve had a lot of side hustles, but luckily, I’ve avoided full-time teaching.
I don’t have plans to hold workshops, but I won’t rule them out. If enough readers are interested, it might be fun. New artists benefit from being around other artists.
Here are a few simple things for new artists to think about:
Should I go to art school?
College. If you’re asking about a degree-granting school, NO! Save your money. Is it really this simple? Yep. One exception: it might be worth it if you want to go into digital art. Some of the best contemporary art is in video games, like Elden Ring.
Atelier schools. Typically, these pay-as-you-go schools offer good value. It’s easy to switch teachers or disciplines. I attended the Art Students League in New York. I enjoyed my time there, and I recommend it. (I have no affiliation with the school other than attending it.) It offers a wide variety of workshops and longer classes. Class prices are in the $150 – $400 range. If you are contemplating a class or workshop and can’t get to New York, use the Art Students League as a metric.
Short-term workshops. Some of these workshops might be worth the price and time investment. I would avoid any that promises to transform you into a complete artist in 3 easy lessons. A workshop that provides hands-on drawing time might be worth a look. Or a workshop that covers a specific technical topic, such as an introduction to portrait photography or advanced intaglio techniques, might work for your situation.
Introductory-type workshops are rife with scam artists, so wear your detective hat and do some sleuthing. When researching schools, artists have an advantage over other fields: you can look at the quality of the instructor’s work and form a reasonable opinion about their knowledge—the chances of getting good value rise when the topic is narrowly focused.
I glossed over things that I think you will acknowledge are self-evident. Namely, everyone has a different skill and experience level, so Jane might not get value from a workshop that John thought was excellent. It amazes me how many YouTube instructors with large audiences provide little value or offer wrong and bad advice. YouTube is free, though…
I like to learn on my own; where should I start?
It’s not surprising that a career that is done by quietly working alone in a room is filled with self-learners. If you are one of those self-learners like me, here’s my advice.
Museum visits
I visit art museums weekly. Imitate me or do better. Great paintings teach something each time I visit. The world is filled with paintings by artists better than you. The best way to learn from them is to see them regularly. It’s the best way to train your eye.
Draw
To say that drawing IS art might not be entirely accurate, but it’s damn close. Draw; draw. Drawing comics is a great way to learn. Characterturing is an essential element of art that hasn’t changed since cavemen drew horses and mammoths on cave walls.
There is rekindled interest in the Academic techniques of the 19th Century, and if you want to learn to draw like Ingres, Charles Bargue’s book is excellent for self-study. Good drawing overcomes nearly all painting limitations.
Paint
Before listening to me or anyone else about painting, you should know that the first president of the British Royal Academy of Art, Sir Joshua Reynolds, complained bitterly about the lost studio traditions, and Reynolds died in 1792. Painters have been on their own since the middle of the 19th century at least. When a YouTuber explains some technique, remember that it’s probably something they made up or got from another YouTuber (who made it up).
OILS
Study oils, not acrylics. No matter what anyone tells you, they are NOT the same. Oils are better by far. Get the best oils you can afford. Use my guide for oil paint. Stick with manufacturers that produce lead whites.
MEDIUMS
Medium refers to the material used to apply the paint. The simplest medium is turpentine, or OMS (Odorless Mineral Spirits, aka paint thinner). An easy to use medium is oil:1. turpentine:1, OMS:1. Mix equal parts of these three ingredients (all are cheap) in a container and stir—no heating is required. Try to get the cleanest and clearest oil that you can afford. I don’t use this medium, but it is OK and easy to make. A lot can be said about this subject, but a beginner should know that items that enhance drying time profoundly affect how paint behaves–generally for the better.
SURFACES
Shockingly, little thought is given to this important topic. Surface quality profoundly affects art making. A poor surface limits what you can do–and who wants that? Get the best canvas that you can afford. Only use things like canvas paper for color swatches and other references. I have a lot of information about canvases on my site.
TECHNIQUE
Here’s one technique that most artists overlook, and it’s easy to learn. Paint things closer to the viewer over things farther back. Paint the apple highlight last; paint the apple’s middle tones over the dark edges; paint the apple’s dark edges over the background objects. When you use this simple ordering system throughout the painting, it strengthens the painting immensely. The eye loves aides like this.
