As artists, it’s easy to get comfortable with our usual techniques, mediums, or subject matter. While it feels great to create something that comes naturally to us, there’s real growth in stepping outside of that comfort zone! Pushing yourself in new directions not only helps you improve your skills but can also reignite your passion for your craft. If you’re looking to shake things up, here are five ways to challenge yourself as an artist:
1. Try a New Medium
If you’re used to working in one medium, like acrylics or coloured pencils, why not mix things up? Try something you’ve never explored before—watercolors, charcoal, or even digital painting. Each medium has its own unique challenges, which will help you see your work in a whole new light. Plus, the change can be incredibly refreshing! Imagine how your usual subjects (like my favorite birds!) might come to life differently with a new approach.
2. Limit Your Colour Palette
We often rely on a wide array of colours to capture the essence of a scene or subject. But what if you only had three colors to work with? Limiting your color palette forces you to focus on other elements, like composition, contrast, and texture. It’s an amazing exercise to help you think more critically about colour and how little you might actually need to convey the depth and emotion of a piece.
3. Switch Up Your Subject Matter
If you tend to stick to landscapes or portraits, try something completely different. Draw still lifes, explore abstract forms, or maybe dive into a type of subject that intimidates you a little—maybe animals, architecture, or even everyday objects. Challenging yourself to step into unfamiliar territory can unlock new ideas and creative solutions.
4. Create a Series
Instead of focusing on individual pieces, try creating a series of related works. The idea is to explore a theme or subject from different angles, experimenting with how your ideas evolve as you dive deeper. Whether it’s a series of portraits with different emotional expressions or a set of landscape studies through various seasons, creating a cohesive collection helps you push the boundaries of a concept and builds discipline.
5. Work on a Different Scale
If you’re used to working small, go bigger—way bigger…or go smaller – way smaller! Working on a larger canvas or paper can force you to think differently about space and scale. Larger works also demand more patience and planning, and they give you the chance to explore detail and movement on a whole new level. It can feel daunting at first, but once you see your vision come to life in such an expansive way, it’s incredibly rewarding.
Smaller on the other hand, really drives you to focus on detail and conveying so much more in less space, fewer lines and really getting down to which detail really is important. Miniatures can be a great palate cleanser and offer a reprieve from larger demanding pieces.
Challenging yourself as an artist is all about embracing the unknown and letting go of perfection. Whether you’re trying out a new medium or exploring an unfamiliar subject, the goal is to grow, learn, and find inspiration in the process. So, next time you feel like you’re stuck or on autopilot, pick one of these challenges and see where it takes you. You might just surprise yourself!
Also remember that this is the whole idea behind our Member Challenges – so take part – just for fun!
