How to grow as an artist.
Step 1: Admit that you are an artist. That can be a difficult thing to do. It can sometimes take decades to see your artistic self. (See my previous post to learn how long it took me to honor my creative nature). If you’re not fully ready to embrace yourself as an artist, try beginning with the statement, “I enjoy making art.”
Step 2: Make time for art. A dancer dances. A singer sings. A lawyer practices law. An artist, then, must make art. Carve out time in your schedule to dedicate to making art. If you’re wondering how to fit in time for art when you already have so much going on, consider the book, Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey. There’s no one right schedule. I found the book inspiring to see how several well-known women structured their time to create their works, whether painting, sculpting, writing, poetry, etc. Mason Currey also has a book, Daily Rituals: How Artist Work, which tells the stories of how artists of all genders have structured their days in ways that support their creativity.
Step 3: Make art. Once you’ve set aside the time, use that time for creating. For me, starting small helped me to not be too overwhelmed. I even started with simply watching YouTube videos of artist to inspire me. One video showed an artist painting a small 3” x 3” watercolor every morning. That seemed very doable to me, so I started there. I found I like my acrylic inks the best. I love the fluidity of the paint. I love that the less I try to control the paint, the more the paint flows into a naturally breathtaking state, which I could never have created on my own. It’s the same in life: the less I try to control the outcome, the more I relax and enjoy the journey as it unfolds before my eyes. #artlifelesson
Step 4: Make more art. I found that I enjoyed my daily painting of my 3” x 3” square so much, that I started painting 5” x 7” works too. I also played with a different paper. My earliest works are on watercolor paper, but I’m currently working on yupo paper. I experimented and found new, mesmerizing ways to create. I used water to add even more unpredictability to the outcome. Creating art feels like a spiritual experience for me. When I create, I truly feel like I am co-creating the piece with the magic of the Universe, Spirit, God, my Higher Power, whatever you want to call It.
Step 5: Experience the breakthroughs. I had been creating nearly daily for a few weeks when I hit a new level with my painting. It blew my mind. And that’s it - that’s growth. Continue to practice the above steps and you, too, will continue to grow as an artist.
May my own growth journey as an artist, captured on this website and blog, be an inspiration to you in your journey as artist. #expressyourself
Below is the stock, sample blog that was automatically generated when building this website. It was exactly the reminder I needed as I began my blog. I leave it here as a reminder for you, too:
“Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.
“The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.
“You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.”
