LEARN ART ON YOUR OWN - Complete Guide (no art school)

Summary

In this video, self-taught artist Mark shares his proven approach to becoming a successful artist without attending formal art school. He covers five key steps: setting clear goals, gathering and organizing learning resources, breaking down big goals into smaller tasks, sharing progress for accountability, and managing the psychological aspects of learning. Mark emphasizes the importance of focus, motivation, and consistent practice, offering practical tips to overcome challenges. He also promotes his comprehensive art education program to help aspiring artists follow a structured path to success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Set a clear, compelling goal for your art journey to stay motivated and focused on your progress.
• 😀 Visualize your goal regularly to reinforce your commitment and increase the chances of success.
• 😀 Gather all the educational content you need, including tutorials and courses, to learn effectively.
• 😀 Organize your learning path by starting with low-difficulty material and gradually increasing complexity.
• 😀 Break down big goals into smaller, achievable milestones to avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated.
• 😀 Track and document your progress consistently, whether digitally or in physical sketchbooks.
• 😀 Share your work with others for feedback, accountability, and motivation from a community of artists.
• 😀 Embrace challenges in your practice, but ensure they’re manageable to keep motivation high and avoid burnout.
• 😀 Understand that discomfort during learning is natural and part of the process of growth and improvement.
• 😀 Maximize your daily focus by dedicating specific hours to deliberate practice, limiting distractions.
• 😀 Consistency is key—stick to your learning plan, and push through the tough moments to see results.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this video?

The video focuses on how to be a successful self-taught artist, sharing strategies for learning art independently without attending a traditional art school.

Why does the speaker advocate for self-teaching rather than attending art school?

The speaker believes that self-teaching allows artists to be in full control of their learning journey, choosing exactly what they need to learn based on their specific goals, without the constraints of formal education.

What is the first step in becoming a self-taught artist, according to the speaker?

The first step is to set a clear and compelling goal. This goal should drive your learning and act as a constant reminder of what you're working towards.

How does visualization contribute to the process of self-teaching?

Visualization helps artists imagine their future success and keeps their goal fresh in their mind. This increases motivation and provides clarity on the path to achieving their artistic aspirations.

What are some of the foundational topics that the speaker recommends for self-taught artists?

The speaker recommends starting with fundamental topics like perspective, gesture drawing, construction anatomy, color theory, light theory, storytelling, composition, and design.

What should artists do after gathering educational content?

Once you've gathered educational content, the next step is to organize it into a structured curriculum, starting with lower difficulty material and gradually increasing the complexity over time.

How can artists break down their larger artistic goals into manageable steps?

By setting smaller, short-term goals that are easier to achieve, such as completing specific exercises or creating portfolio pieces within a set timeframe. This approach helps maintain motivation and ensures consistent progress.

What role does documenting and sharing progress play in the self-teaching process?

Documenting and sharing progress helps artists track their development and stay accountable. It also allows them to receive feedback from others, which is crucial for growth and improvement.

How does the psychological aspect influence the success of self-teaching?

Psychological factors like overcoming procrastination, managing stress, and maintaining focus are essential for success. Artists need to push through discomfort, as learning often activates the body's stress response system.

How should artists manage their focus and study time for optimal learning?

Artists should aim to dedicate 3-4 hours per day to focused, deliberate study. This is the maximum amount of time that our brains can effectively concentrate on new information before needing rest and recovery.