Q&A for How to Be Good at Art

Look for inspiration at museums. Study both historical and contemporary art. Also, try to have an interest in other things that are created, such as writing, cooking, and music, which can help you see things in a new way.

I would recommend not trying to lock yourself into a specific style. It's one thing to go on a journey and develop a style, but actually go on that journey. Don't try to come up with a gimmick and then stick with it. Let yourself be taken through a journey so that you're growing.

Take lessons and don't think of yourself as rubbish, rather focus on proportion and colour. Also study what you're drawing and take notes. Art is both innate and skilled; you need to focus most on the skill, developing it and improving on it. Dedication is required, while saying you're rubbish is a form of distancing yourself from fear of failure. Give it a go, often.

There is no "key". It's obviously important to have the proper tools and to learn the techniques, but being good at painting is really about time and passion and creativity as much as it is about skill and technique. You will become good at anything you put time and practice into.

Experiment with different brushes and different techniques until you find your style.

Teach yourself. Check out tutorials on YouTube and see if there are any free drawing classes offered in your area. Call community centers, libraries, and local colleges and ask. If you know of any artists living in your area, try to make contact and see if they need an apprentice/intern. If you really want to go to art school, save up money, and/or apply for scholarships, grants, and student loans.

It's possible, if you're a very good artist. See if anyone at school would be interested in paying for your drawings (or crafts, or whatever type of art you do). You can also try opening an Etsy store online with the help of a parent, or setting up a booth to sell your art outside of local businesses (getting permission from the business first, and also with the help of a parent).

It depends on your skill level, and the resources that you have available.

Hey, don't give up! Age doesn't matter. There is an 8-year-old that paints these detailed, beautiful paintings. People CROWD to see HER. An 8-year-old! You could be like her. So if people don't believe, so what? They don't know what they are talking about. Just keep working towards your dream.

Experiment with different art forms until you find your form, the one that fits you.

Look at pictures of other places on the web, or paint what you think a lake looks like. You make draw a lot of distance paintings of the desert.

The first step to improving your art is finding your art style. One way to do that is by doodling, they don't have to be good. If you aren't liking the way something looks don't get frustrated. Basically, all you need is practice and patience.

Listen to inspirational or encouraging music while surfing the internet for ideas. If you don’t have this available, just take a scrap piece of paper, start doodling, and something is bound to come up in your head. One of my own tactics is to ask a friend, “Happy or sad art?” or, “Do you want me to sketch old or young people?” I’ll often find myself wanting a certain option, but either way, I always find something to draw.

It's very difficult. Most artists have to have a day job for most, if not all, of their lives. Most artwork isn't really valuable until after the artist is dead. If you're looking to get rich, choose another profession.

Your art form can be a combination of your own likes, what you are good at, and what you have not done yet. So, you can try all of these for an extended period of time to see how your art form develops. That can clarify it for you.