Keep Learning
Keep learning is one of the things accomplished artists do that beginners skip. I’m not kidding. It’s not how much talent you do or do not have. It’s about having a path to move forward with your art and that involves keep learning.
Recently I spent 4 full days, 10 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. for 4 days learning from 12-15 accomplished artists using acrylic paint in Acrylic Live. Watch the video to see what I learned.
My recent learning experience
I attended Acrylic Live last year and learned so much that I immediately bought a ticket for Acrylic Live 2026.
I had the opportunity to watch and/or paint along with 12-15 very accomplished artists and to keep learning from how they thought and created their art. Each of them also keep learning to improve their art.
Painting isn’t about having talent oozing out of every pore. It’s about learning and putting into practice – rinse and repeat. As an artist you will never learn it all but you can shorten your learning curve by taking classes that purposefully helps you move your art forward.
Did I Love All The Art?
No. I didn’t love all the various styles of the many artists, but I learned something from each one. I learned techniques, color theory, new things I’d never thought of before and how to use some pretty unique tools.
It’s OK not to love every art form, but you can probably learn something from nearly every artist.
Play in the Paint!!!
One thing I learned last year and was reinforced this year is – I don’t play in the paint enough. I watched and then painted along with artists using some pretty interesting tools. I painted with paper towels, rubber spatula, palette knives, and other interesting tools.
I learned about new types and colors of paint. (Watch out for future videos on things I ordered from attending Acrylic Live.)
This painting was created in a one hour class taught by Nicki Heenan. It was way outside my comfort zone but I absolutely love painting this abstract landscape and I’ll be using techniques I learned here again. A LOT!
As artists we should never be afraid to try new things because we might fail. We very well may fail, but I promise we will learn things along the way that will help us improve our art.
What Professionals Do
- Professional athletes have coaches
- Professional musicians have mentors
- Professional dancers take daily classes
- Professional artists have instructors
Professionals don’t improve and get to where they want to be without coaches, mentors, and instructors. They want to get better as quickly as possible. So do I. I started painting later in life so I don’t have 40-60 years to improve my art.
I Wasted A Lot of Time
I muddled along for two years trying to go it on my own. Finally I realized if I wanted to learn to paint I needed to get some instruction. That’s when I found Jerry Yarnell teaching in Bardstown, KY. I took a one day essentials class and a two day painting class. I came home with what I thought was a beautiful painting and the confidence I could actually learn to paint.
I drove to Oklahoma to take a two day group class with Jerry and then one day of private instruction. Again I made huge progress. I bought Jerry’s books and I watched him on PBS tv for free every chance I got.
I started following Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry on their podcast Artists Helping Artists and learned things in every episode. Dreama was teaching a workshop in Carmel, Indiana so I signed up and spent 4 days in Carmel. Again, amazing breakthroughs and improved art. I couldn’t paint like Dreama, but my own style greatly improved.
Are you sensing a pattern? I wanted to improve my art, so I invested in it. That’s the part beginners often skip.
Invest in Yourself
You can learn a lot for free on YouTube. I teach on YouTube so I hope people are able to learn from the videos I post. But I also know I couldn’t have learned nearly as fast or thoroughly if I hadn’t invested time and money in the classes I’ve taken, in person and virtually. Yes! You absolutely can learn virtually.
I’ve heard people say “I can’t learn by watching videos,”. Here’s why I think it may be the best way to learn.
- You can learn on your time frame
- You can stop the video and paint what you just saw
- You can watch as many times as you want
- You don’t have to travel to get there
- You’re not intimidated by others in the class
Here’s a Path To Improved Art
- Find an artist whose style you love
- Watch their free videos
- Visit their website
- Read their blogs
- Get their free guides and ebooks
- Read reviews of their classes
- Then pull out that credit card and buy a class to see if you like their teaching style
I’d love for you to follow that path with me, but if not it’s still a valid path to take to improve your art.
Resources To Work With Me
HERE’S a link to get a plan to move your art forward.
You’re already on my blog, so look around at the many posts created especially for the beginner artist to help you on your way.
Go to my YOUTube Channel and poke around there for videos or playlists on topics that interest you.
Take a single subject painting class with me. Click HERE to learn more.
If you found all these steps helpful as a beginner it would be helpful to at least learn about my Painting With Acrylics Academy, my full blown beginner painting course. Click HERE to learn more.
Why Now?
Don’t wait like I did until I was so sick my time wasn’t really my own. If it’s on your heart that there’s an artist inside of you but life got in the way, get that free art plan listed above and start creating your own plan on how you will move your art forward in 2026.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” — Walt Disney
Let’s Paint Together Soon,
Sharon
P.S. If you;d like to view my art to see if my style is of interest to you, click HERE.