As a child I loudly declared to everyone that I was an artist, despite the fact that I produced absolutely nothing to support that argument.
My early works were a chaotic mess. But that didn't stop me from asking for art supplies for every birthday, Christmas – any holiday. I drew all the time. My best drawings were usually on the backs of envelopes, or scraps of paper. But give me a big drawing pad filled with fresh crisp sheets of white paper and paralysis would set in.
Because I grew up in rural poverty – and paper was expensive. I couldn't afford to mess up.
In time, my work improved, and today I publish children's books in print at Amazon and on Apple Books. Here's my advice to parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, and any adult hoping to encourage a budding artist:
- Meet them where they are. If you child likes to draw with pencils, quietly acquire a few pencil options to have around. Mechanical pencils. Soft graphite. Nothing expensive. No package of 20 pencils. No rainbow collection of 50 colors. Get two or three, unbox them, and leave them around – to be found. Don't even mention it – unless they ask, in which case, "oh, I think that's a mechanical pencil..." The delight and discovery of finding the right tool can mean the world to an artist. If your artist has a favorite artist, maybe find out what tool they use. I still research the tools used by other illustrators.
When I started drawing in Procreate on my iPad Pro I went through hundreds of brushes...
Until I found the brush set that changed everything... You may not see much difference, but I do.
- If your child doesn't have a specific focus, explore options gradually. There are two things I try to avoid – low-quality/clunky kid art supplies, and huge collections that come with unspoken expectations. A deluxe art kit is overwhelming. A jumbo set of chalks for creating a driveway mural may be better. Maybe around Halloween. It's a specific tool for a specific canvas – one that is only permanent until the next rainfall.
- Better art supplies are better. "Children's" art supplies are generally lousy. I don't know how anyone ever sold the idea that when you have tiny little hands what you really want to draw with is something like a carrot. Kid's art supplies shouldn't be made "easy to grip." A fork? Sure. Pastels? No. Likewise, cheap watercolors or markers are spiritually crippling and make your child not want to art. And don't get me started on "painting with water that reveals color." No. No. No. If your kid likes mechanical pencils? Upgrade to a better mechanical pencil: Uni Kuru Toga Standard Auto Lead Rotation Mechanical Pencil. You're raising a Jedi – not an Orc.
- Expect to spend money – but don't. There's a reason why they are called "starving artists" – the best art comes from angst, repression, frustration, want, denial, poverty or insufficiency. If your kid likes to paint in oils, they will ultimately discover that a single tube of Michael Harding Artists Oil Color - Lapis Lazuli is not only "on sale" for $457.29 – but there are 343 reviews to back it up – 316 of which are 5-star reviews. And do read the comments. Artists love to paint boats, but few own a boat, for this reason. So better – not best on earth – is what you are shooting for. And for this? Reddit is your friend. Again, search for "best professional..." not "for beginners..."
- Steal paper. I still remember fondly a former workplace over 20+ years ago that had large cardboard boxes next to printers and photocopiers where you could dump anything to recycle. Stuff usually printed – incorrectly – on one side. Some of my best work was on the backsides of these no-pressure, zero-expectations toss-offs. This is the sweet spot to aim for: better tools, cheaper medium. And if you're asking,"are all artists this riddled with this horrific anxiety?" Yes.
- Make art "a" practice and it may become a calling. Practice is work. It sounds like work. it doesn't sound fun. All artists hear a voice in their heads yelling at them constantly to be arting. It's maddening. And then some fool tells them to practice – which doesn't sound like fun. It sounds like work. Or, worse, exercise.
It was a subtle shift in mindset when I decided to art every day, but not "practice"... instead, I made it A Practice in the evenings to sit down with my iPad in my favorite chair and art for half an hour or so. Sometimes I trolled Etsy for Procreate Brushes and downloaded a few to test. Other times I tried doing simple shading exercises with 3-D ball shapes. And I drew. I made a commitment to do it every day. Didn't matter how long – just had to establish the practice. Practice doesn't make perfect. Not in art. But a practice makes everything easier. Your work improves. Ideas flow freely. And when you hit a creative slump? You're less likely to stop. Because your practice includes trolling for supplies, seeing what other people do... and that always inspires.
Today? I look forward to my daily zen of arting – and that voice in my head has stopped screaming – and that's the biggest win.
