Have you decided to become an artist and pursue it as a career? Or are you looking to take art as a serious hobby and hone your imaginative skills? It might seem daunting as you do not know exactly where to start and how to develop your creativity effectively.

You can become the successful artist you have always aspired to be with the right strategies and initiatives. As a beginner, it is innate to feel overwhelmed by the various scopes and genres. To make your journey to the world of art smoother, here is a compilation of effective tips for becoming a phenomenal artist.

Practice Makes Perfect

With continued effort and practice, you can improve your drawing, painting, and sketching skills. Being an artist is not easy at all. You need to draw or paint every day. With constant practice, your art style will become more refined, and your efficiency will also increase to a large extent.

Whatever art style you follow, carry a sketchbook and pencil everywhere you go. Draw as frequently as you can. A simple paper and pencil can be the perfect tool to overcome the artist block and get your creative juices flowing. Paper and pencil are easily accessible and can be carried anywhere.

You can also get some references from art-themed online sites. For instance, if you reflect with “a simple yet sophisticated” art style, you can follow an insightful minimalist art blog.

You do not necessarily have to be confined to the medium of graphite and paper. You can still get a burst of inspiration with chalk and draw on any hard or rough surface like the bark of a tree, a wall of an abandoned building, or even on the pavement. Do not forget to take pictures and keep a tab of your unconventional art prompts. By taking and browsing through the pictures, you can keep track of your progress.

Be Self-Disciplined

Regardless of the genre of the art you follow or the medium you work on, you need to practice every day regularly. Discipline is key to becoming a successful artist. Being self-disciplined and motivated is quite difficult initially, but once you establish a proper routine, you will get the hang of it after some time.

Art is also about embracing imperfections and broadening your views. Once you stop obsessing over every aspect of the art to be perfect, it will be easier to keep up with the daily regime. This will also help you stay motivated and look forward to the new masterpiece you will create on the first day.

Start slowly and take your time when you make the first art attempt. If you are struggling to find any inspiration, start with etching still life. You can practice getting the dimensions, sizing, and other features right by drawing random objects near you.

Furthermore, when you start realizing that your sketchbook is getting filled by your art attempts, it will keep you driven. You might even surprise yourself when looking back at your past artwork; it could even give you the inspiration you need for your future art pieces.

Be Realistic and Accept It’s a Lot of Work

It is no secret that being an artist is quite a struggle. It requires a lot of work. However, some people do not grasp the weight of the responsibilities of being an artist.  Simply going to an art class once a week or signing up for a daylong workshop will not just cut it. You can not expect collectors and gallery representatives shortly after participating in a few workshops.

Of course, getting supplementary aid will help and boost your work. Being enrolled in a great art class can fuel your passion.  But you still need to practice and refine your skills every day. Your goals should be aimed towards perfecting your art, not towards fame and publicity. Having clout will be of no good use; it will instead increase the risk of being distracted by the meaningless and vain features of life.

Keep a Day or Part Time Job

It would help if you also kept in mind that talented artists do not get proper support since the general public is not used to their work and has no idea what effort goes behind it. Art supplies can be costly, and so to sustain, you might want to get a day job. Having a job that pays reduces the stress and helps you continue your art.

Juggling with a job and then practicing on your sketches can be overwhelming but is manageable when you form a routine. It is good to expose it to the world to make your work known. You can have a social media account where you can upload your work.

This helps you establish a presence and will also draw in potential customers. When someone buys your masterpiece, you will be more motivated as you will feel more appreciated. It will also benefit your finances.

Consider All the Costs

It is wise to keep records of both your expenses and income. It is best to keep all the receipts so that you can keep track of all your expenditures. The number of resources and time you spend on your art piece will help you determine the right selling price.

The expenses can be balanced against the income tax when you can sell the artwork you slaved on. When determining your pricing, try to get a precise estimation of what it costs you to make and exhibit your art. You also need to assess the marketplace and see what other artists of your level are charging.

You need to be impartial and realistic regarding your skill and artistry level. More established and popular artists have a costlier price tag because they have accomplished getting their work known and appreciated. They too had initially set lower and affordable rates when they started.

For easy calculation, take into account the money you spent on the materials, medium, and other resources like the electricity bill. Then add in more money that accounts for your efforts and time. The total amount with an addition of a reasonable estimated profit should be your selling price.

Final Words

Being an artist and making it your career can be challenging but not impossible. You can still have a passionate and successful art career when you can make the most out of your arts and crafts hobby, and it can be a side hustle. With a proper routine and constant practice, you can be an exceptionally talented artist one day.

Fall is a beautiful season to travel to some of the most breathtaking places in the world. When you are going to be surrounded in hues of brown and gold, and the air turns nippy, it is the perfect time to pack in the warm layers and vibrant colors for your sojourns to places unexplored.

Packing warm clothing is a tad tricky due to their bulky nature, and since you would want to keep your luggage to a minimum while travelling, choosing articles of warm clothing that are petite and would fit without any hassle in your backpack is a given. Take a look at a few of our suggestions for Petite Fall travel clothing to add some much needed glam and warmth to your trip.

1.   Levi’s Faux Leather Moto Jacket

Fall fashion means layering up to keep yourself warm and cosy. What better way to do so than donning a quintessential leather jacket! Choose this moto leather jacket from Levi’s to pair up over a simple neutral print top and dark denims and complete the uber cool look with stylish ankle boots.

The snap-down lapels and a belted waist lend a timeless appeal to the moto jacket crafted from supple but substantial faux leather. Drop in at Nordstrom to bag this jacket for $74.90 after an exciting 23% rebate on the original price of $98.00.

2. Picking Shoes

Shoes seem like a pretty easy thing to get right when building your outfit, while in reality, they are quite tricky. According to many, once you shop air jordan 5 shoes, some black Converse, or leather boots, you can forget all about picking what to wear. However, that’s not true, even for the best of shoes. Of course, you can build your outfits around your favorite pair, but you need to do it carefully. Many people make mistakes when deciding on what shoes to wear with their outfits by either sticking to one color only or picking colors with no coordination at all.

3.   INC International Concepts Animal Ombre Pashmina Scarf

Packing a scarf is a given when travelling during fall, which can be styled in multiple ways to keep yourself warm and cosy. The best part? It doesn’t take up space at all! Pick this versatile pashmina wrap with a subtle ombre palette and a beautiful animal print to pair with a basic top or dress in a neutral shade and let this scarf speak for itself!

With Macy’s New Markdown Sale, buy this scarf at a reduced price of $18.00. Avail an extra 20% discount by applying the Macy’s Coupon Code.

4.   REI Co-op Hyperaxis Fleece Pants

Perfect to dress up in for a late fall hiking trip, these Fleece Pants from REI Co-op guarantee the utmost comfort and warmth. Crafted using the Polartec Power Stretch Pro, these pants provide warmth, wick moisture and have a 4-way stretch for a comfortable range of motion. The zippered hand pockets can be used to keep trail essentials handy.

With REI’s ongoing sale, you can grab savings of 30% on these pants to buy them at a final price of $68.99. Additionally, you can also get this item delivered to you for free, thereby saving the extra bucks on delivery charges.

5.   Pine Peak Long Sleeve Thermal Tunic

This long sleeve thermal is the ideal pick to be worn underneath a jacket for those comfy layers on a  fall vacation. The lengthy tunic is perfect to be paired with leggings, and the waffle-knit shirt has just enough stretch to keep up with all of your holiday adventures.

Head on to Columbia to bag this tunic for $45.00 only after a sizeable 25% discount on the retail price of $60.00.

6.   +J Selvedge Straight Jeans

While packing denims for a trip, one may be in a dilemma as to picking the right one for your trip. Choose denims with quick drying mechanisms and stretchy comfort as offered by these +J Selvedge Straight Jeans by the popular designer Jil Sander. These jeans are produced on traditional shuttle looms to create a distinctive soft feel.

Available in 3 colors and a range of sizes, you can purchase these jeans from Uniqlo at a reduced price of $59.90, which is a good deal when compared to the original price of $69.90.

7.   Mountain Sweatshirt Hoodie 3.0

For a simple, no frills, layered look, the best option is to pack in a cute hoodie. Choose to wear this Sweatshirt Hoodie 3.0 with a simple tee, fleece pants, and comfy sneakers for that laidback, casual explorer look. This sweatshirt is suitable for wearing while exploring in uncertain weather, thanks to the breathable Ventrix Insulation and water-repellent finish.

This sweatshirt is not bulky, therefore, does not take up much luggage space,  making it the preferred travel attire. Available in gentle, pastel colors in a wide range of sizes, this hoodie can be purchased from The North Face for $104.30 after a substantial discount on the original price of $149.00.

Take the trip that you have been planning for sometime now, since fall is a very beautiful time to travel. With some smart planning and packing, you can make the most of your trip without having to worry about lugging around bulky travel cases. Pick and choose your favorite fall clothing from the above curated collection, and travel in style this fall.

Is your home choc-a-bloc with junk? Your unwanted clutter could be someone else’s treasure, so why not have a clear-out and put all your surplus stuff on sale? You’ll make money as well as space that way, and selling is easy thanks to all the online markets and platforms at your fingertips. Here are a few pointers to help you gather up your unwanted possessions and turn them into budget-boosters.

What and how to select

Wander through your home and look at everything in a new light. Ask yourself whether you really need this piece of crockery or furniture, whether you really want these ornaments or those soft furnishings. Consider items you never use, such as kitchenware that’s inconveniently heavy or a chair you find too hard. Check duplicates of items you only need one of, such as fruit bowls, irons or weighing scales, and just keep the better of the two. Also look at broken, damaged and disfigured objects – perhaps they could be renovated and added to the pile. What games and pastimes have your family got bored with lately? Go through books, toys, board games, DVD and other activity items, as well as clothes, jewelry and whatever else you come across, picking out whatever’s gathering dust. Make each decision with care, and take a fresh look through your collection next morning, to avoid any regrets later.

How to present for sale

Invest in some low-cost cleaning solutions and accessories as needed, such as for wood, silver, glass and fabrics, and clean up all your collected items. You may be surprised how well the damaged ones can be improved. A non-functioning appliance may simply need a new plug, bulb or battery, for instance, and a frayed rug or drape can be invisibly stitched up. Stained wood can be sandpapered down, marks on fabrics can be lifted by soaking in hot, soapy water or a light bleach solution, and blemished paint can be touched up. Pens, pencils and other bits and pieces can be packaged attractively in sets. Make the most of every item.

Where to sell

Your best opportunities for selling are online. With browsers window-shopping all around the world every minute of the day and night, you’re sure to sell at least some of your goods, and with careful pricing to meet shoppers’ budgets as well as yours, you can count on some profit. You may not get much per item, but with a big pile of products for sale, the dollars will soon add up. If you’ve sold enough, you may think about investing your money for example to buy nft art.

Choose your selling platforms carefully and be prepared to use several different ones to suit your different items. An old dress might do well in a retro store, for instance, and craft work would look at home in a arts and craft store, such as Etsy. High-quality items will be worth auctioning, perhaps on Ebay or a similar site, and holiday souvenirs will sit well in a store dedicated to the relevant country or city. If you have a website, open a fresh page as a store of your own, or set up a new website for the purpose, linking in with social media.

You may have good off-line selling opportunities, too, in which case, make the most of them. You might be able to sell goods at work, or at your club or interest group. Flea market sales may also be profitable in your area, and if there’s a store down the road selling antiques, they can probably accommodate your retro items. Wherever you sell, be sure to set prices you’ll be pleased with afterward.

When you sell off your junk, you’ll have the great satisfaction of getting something for nothing. Then, with all that extra space and money, you’ll be able to treat yourself to something new instead.