I think it’s safe to say that we all want to grow, learn and progress as coloured pencil artists, but sometimes it can be difficult figuring out how to do that. Over the past few years, I’ve realised that there are three main things that can hold an artist back, and by introducing these things into our lives, we can start to see more development in our drawings. 

If you’re ready to take your artwork to the next level, read on to find out the three easy ways you can start growing as an artist…

Get into the Right Mindset

If you’ve listened to any of my Confidence Sessions or watched any of my tutorials, you’ll have noticed that one of the things I speak about a lot is the importance of getting into the right mindset. It’s really difficult to be creative if you keep telling yourself “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t do this”. The more we allow ourselves to let those negative thoughts take over, the more frustrated and fed up we get with our artwork, the more drawings we throw away because we think they’re not good enough, and the less we start to enjoy drawing. 

That’s why, before you pick up your pencils, it’s so important to try and get into a positive mindset. Start thinking “I can” instead of “I can’t”. Stop comparing your artwork to other people’s and simply try to do the best that you can. That way, you’re able to get more joy out of the time you spend drawing, instead of putting unnecessary pressure on yourself and feeling overwhelmed and upset.

Now, I know that this can be easier said than done. Sometimes, it’s really difficult to look on the bright side or think happy thoughts! One tip that I have for you when it comes to getting into a positive mindset is to stop worrying about what’s going to happen and just live in the moment. The way I do this is by taking a minute to stop what I’m doing, appreciate what’s going on around me, clear my head as best I can and think about all of the positive things in my life. 

Taking time to focus on those positives will put you in a better state of mind, and clearing your thoughts with the help of something like meditation will allow you to focus on what you’re doing without feeling the stress of external pressures, so you can start to enjoy the process of drawing instead of constantly thinking ahead to what that drawing may or may not look like. 

Find the Right Guidance

When people say you never stop learning, it really is true. No matter how long you’ve been drawing, there’s always something new to learn and something new to try. This is why finding the right guidance is so important. It’s hard to do it all yourself, and finding the help of a mentor or a like-minded group of people who can support and help you develop is going to really help you on your artistic journey. 

Critiques are often something that people have a negative view of. After all, it can be really scary asking someone to critique your artwork when you’ve spent so much time working on it and you’re really proud of what you’ve achieved. However, critiques aren’t something that you should be afraid of, they’re something you should welcome if you’re looking to develop your skills. 

Getting help from an artist with expertise is going to help you understand which areas you’re doing really well at, as well as point out where you can make small changes to see an improvement. With this help, you’ll have a clear plan of action for your future drawings, and you’ll know which areas to focus on if you’re looking to develop your skills. 

Surround Yourself with Supportive People

We all need someone to cheer us along from time to time, so finding a supportive and like-minded group of people who can do that is going to help you in so many ways. Often, we draw alone in our studios, offices or at the kitchen table (or wherever it is that you sit down to draw), and it can become quite isolating. Even if you’re an introvert and you thrive on time spent on your own, it’s important to have people that you can share your artwork with. 

There’s nothing like the support of people who share your passion for drawing. They have the ability to celebrate your wins, give you a boost in confidence and reassure you if your mindset starts to wobble. There’s also so much inspiration to be found from other artists. Having people you can bounce off, get inspired by and get useful hints and tips from is invaluable and will help you in both your artistic life and your daily life. 

If you need help developing your skills and gaining confidence as a coloured pencil artist, the Bonny Snowdon Academy can help you. As a member, you’ll gain access to hundreds of hours of realtime tutorials, regular live sessions, personalised critiques, my members-only Facebook group and much, much more. With the Academy’s help, you’ll be able to get into the right mindset, get expert guidance from me, as well as the support and encouragement from an amazing group of coloured pencil artists.