Highest ROI Activities for Artists

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 Highest ROI Activities for Artists 

If you are unfamiliar with the term ROI let me explain. ROI stands for return on investment. When the word investment is brought up, most people think of money, but it this case, time and effort are your investments. Before any responsible investor is willing to give their money (or in this case time and effort) they want to be sure that their investment will have a worthwhile return. In this article, I'll outline some activities for artists that are sure to be worthwhile in improving art skill in the long-term. 

1. Drawing

As a painter with a weak drawing base, I can honestly say that the one thing that I wish I put more time into learning is drawing. Drawing is the foundation upon which all visual arts are built. Drawing is the single most important skill for a fine artist to have. And the best part is that there are so many ways that you can improve your drawing. Still life drawings, self-portraits, and even figure sketching are all great ways to get better at drawing. You can be sure that when you are practicing drawing, you aren't wasting your time.



2. Observing other Artists

One of the easiest ways to get better at doing something is to learn from someone who is better at doing that something. This is no different in art. With YouTube being as big as it is, you can find a video and even whole channels devoted to exactly what you want to learn. Whether you want to draw better, or paint more 'painterly' or even learn to use charcoal, it's all out there. You may be thinking that just watching videos all day is a waste of time, and you'd be right. But pair watching videos with your own art experiments and now you have a recipe for improvement.



3. Using your Artist's eye

This next tip is both more impactful and even easier to do than the last. In order to work your artist's eye, all that you have to do is look and observe. Try this right now, look at something in your room, first trace the outline of the object in your mind. Imagine how you would go about drawing this object. Then, observe the colors and values that make that object up, imagine what colors you would mix to perfectly capture the different faces of the object. Just by imagining and focusing on things like shape and value, you can greatly improve your artist's eye everyday. 



4. Try New Techniques

This last tip is one that may be the most intimidating but, once you give it a try, you'll realize that it is probably the most fun tip as well. Of course, in the very beginning of your art journey, it can be important to stick to one medium or set of techniques as to not overwhelm yourself. But, at the same time, I think it can be crucially important as an artist to become at least a bit familiar with many different mediums, techniques and styles of making art. Not only will this expose you to new and possibly more efficient ways of making art, but it can also be a gateway into a world of art you may have never known existed otherwise.



Photo Credits (Unsplash)

Daria TumanovaBrooke CagleRodion KutsaievCaleb Salomons

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