Would you like to develop your artistic vision? Everyone can find a form of art that they enjoy and are good at, but many of us feel that we wouldn't know where to start. It's not just uncertainty about techniques; many people feel that they have no idea what they want to show in their work. Here are some ways to develop your artistic vision …
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Look around You
The first step in beginning to develop your artistic vision is to open your eyes and look at the world around you. There is inspiration everywhere if you only look. An artistic eye can see beauty in the most mundane object or unsightly building. Perhaps that ruined building you pass every day has an intriguing structure, or the way that nature is taking over makes an interesting contrast with the man-made world.
Keep a Scrapbook
It's a really valuable exercise to keep a scrapbook of photos and images that inspire you. Don't try to see where it can take you straight away, but stick it in the scrapbook and file it away for future inspiration. You might not know why you're drawn to the image, but later on will see what you can take from it and use for your art.
Don't Be Afraid
It's common to be intimidated by art, or think that you're 'no good' at it. Few people are born artistic geniuses; even the great artists needed to learn about colors, perspective and techniques. Don't let yourself be too afraid to experiment. You can learn just as much by finding out what doesn't work. Take a chance and see what happens - you might be astonished by what results.
Create, Don't Imitate
It can be useful to use someone else's work as inspiration. Slavishly copying their work, however, is unoriginal and uninspiring. It would also be wrong if you were using their work for commercial gain. Use their work as a starting point, and twist it to create something different. Take what you admire about their work, and add your own unique ideas to it.
Identify What Intrigues You
When you look at a piece of art or an object, what is it that captures your interest? It may not be an obvious aspect such as the topic. Perhaps it's the colors, or the juxtaposition of two things. Once you understand what draws you to something, you have an idea of what you can pursue. An interest in colors could manifest itself in textiles, paints or photography, for example.
Use Your Camera
Everyone has a camera on their phone these days, so use yours to document things you see. Take anything and everything - the beauty of digital photography is that you can take dozens of photos and discard the ones that don't work. Study your photos carefully and consider what you like about them.
Books
Books are an amazing resource when it comes to finding your artistic vision. There are a vast number of art, style and photography books that you can flip through and study. But don't limit yourself to art books; anything from history to language books can provide you with inspiration. The covers of novels are also excellent.
Your artistic vision will come in time; it can't be forced. Be patient and allow it to develop at its own pace. In the meantime, enjoy the journey! What artistic talent would you most like to have?
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