Comments on: Sketchbook Saturday: 3 Tips That Will Make You a Better Artist Today

By: Paperblanks

Paperblanks — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:41:00 +0000

In reply to Cheryl.

Hi Cheryl,

Thank you for such a thoughtful response! It really is true that it’s just as important to experience as it is to create. And setting boundaries, or at least (as you mentioned) choosing one key word is a great jumping off point. You may end up far away from where you expected, but the results are always interesting!

Last year we challenged readers to craft a story using the 2013 “Words of the Year” (http://blog.paperblanks.com/2014/01/writing-wednesday-can-you-craft-a-story-using-2013s-words-of-the-year/) – you may find that to be an interesting experiment.

All the best,
The Paperblanks^® Team

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 14:10:51 +0000

I like the ideas here, and they apply to more than just art. They can help you get out of a rut no matter what field you’re in. I’m most attracted to the first two tips — I feel like I’ve had my fill of criticism (but that may be a bruised psyche speaking). Input is as important as output. Want to be a good writer? Read great literature. Want to improve your guitar playing? Figure out how the masters do it. The tip about removing black and white from your arsenal really just comes down to setting boundaries. I’ve reached the point where I almost can’t create without self-imposed boundaries. It might be one word to fashion a story around, one technique to use on an art journal page, or one poem to inspire a photo.