Being an artist is probably one of the most important things in your life you will want to pursue. Creating art gives you a sense of fulfillment, it can be painting, drawing, sculpture, writing poetry or music — there are no limits!
Many people start trying their hand at creating artwork later in life when they feel that they have “lost” their artistic talent. This can sometimes cause feelings of discouragement or even depression because they believe that they will never create anything beautiful again.
However, this isn’t always the case! There are many ways to get back into the swing of creating art and showing off your talents. In fact, you don’t need to be professionally trained to begin creating artwork.
All anyone really needs to do to learn how to draw is put down the tablet device and pick up a pencil or brush. Many kids who grew up watching TV shows and movies frequently got good at copying what they saw due to practicing imitation. Now apply these lessons to yourself by simply looking at lots of pictures and models of different styles of drawings and then try making some of your own!
This article will go over all of the various ways that you can show off your artistic skills and become more well-known as an artist.
Join an artist’s studio group
One of the best ways to get exposure for your art is by joining other artists’s studios as a member. This not only helps you promote yourself, but also gives you access to new materials and tools that they have so you can use them and add something to yours.
Most major museums and galleries hold membership groups or exhibitions open to members only, so being part of such a group can help you show your work and gain recognition for it.
These groups are typically focused on a specific genre or area of art (for example, painting, sculpture or illustration), which makes it easier to focus just on showing off your own style.
Finding one appropriate for you or your artwork takes time, however – most have you apply through a process including an interview.
Buy commercial quality paint and canvas
As we mentioned before, being shown as an artist is more about buying into the art community than it is about having money to spend on materials.
The thing that most people get wrong when trying to show off their artistic skills is that they believe you are only considered professional if you have expensive tools and supplies.
This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Most artists start out painting with simple brushes and palettes, and then progress onto better equipment as they gain experience.
Find an exhibition space
Finding an exhibition venue is the most important part of getting into exhibiting for artists. You will probably have to apply directly with the organizers, so it’s best to start looking early.
There are many ways to find out about upcoming art exhibitions. Talk to other artists, read reviews online, visit websites such as ArtPlant or The Artists’ Agency, search Facebook for groups that feature artwork and music, check event listings at venues like yours and others, or look through your own gallery records.
Some cities offer free events via their local arts organizations, volunteer-run networks or university departments. By registering as an exhibitor you would be given more exposure!
If there are no forthcoming events then you can add your details to waitlist services like ArtPlay or Artsify to see if anyone else drops out first. Both allow you to upload pictures and descriptions of yourself and manage all the waiting lists for different types of artist (ie those who want to exhibit in person, digital only etc).
It may also help to connect with people in similar fields to learn where they received feedback and whether anything helped them get started.
Prepare your exhibition space
Now that you have done some research into what kind of art you want to show, it is time to start preparing your exhibition space!
You will need somewhere warm, safe, and free from distractions where you can easily organize and put away all of your materials and equipment. This could be in a room or area of your house, or even if there’s a nearby studio or gallery that would work for your artist career!
Your venue should also make enough room so that people can admire your work without having to move around or get in their way. A good amount of chairs or tables can help in this respect.
Choose your exhibition space and date
Now that you have spent time practicing your craft, it is time to show off what you have done! Finding an appropriate place to showcase your work can be tricky.
There are many different ways to approach this. You could use social media to ask if anyone has free room or resources they no longer need. Your friends, family, and online communities may know of a local gallery that is looking for new artists to feature their space.
By being aware of your surroundings, you will find a way to display your art in a non-traditional setting. An outdoor festival might offer live music at night which would make a great backdrop for your artwork. A museum event or fair could invite attendees to bring their own objects to hang alongside yours.
When deciding when to exhibit your work, consider how much energy you have available. If you feel drained, perhaps choosing a more frequent showing schedule is best. Or you could choose one day every few weeks to ensure you do not overextend yourself.
Contact an art gallery
One of the best ways to get into exhibiting your work is by contacting an art gallery. Doing this can be very tricky because not every artist has a gallery they are affiliated with, so it may take some doing before you find one that would like to showcase yours!
Art galleries play an integral part in the art world. They exist to feature and show off the works and talents of other artists. Most have exhibitions where well-known artists and designers share their knowledge and materials with others who want to learn more about them.
They also tend to hold events such as music festivals or open mic nights which are free to attend for anyone interested in creative expression. These types of events are great opportunities to gain experience as an artist and connect with people who love creating things too.
There are many different types of art galleries, so do some research and see what ones seem interesting to you. Make sure to check out whether there have been any complaints about the way they run their business, these could indicate if the place isn’t going to work for you.
Tell your friends about the exhibition
After you put up your work, it’s time to tell people about it! When someone asks if there are any paintings or drawings in the gallery, show them!
You can say something like, “There are some new works I wanted to share with everyone. They are inspired by things around us and our relationships with others.”
Some artists choose to be more open, talking about their process and what influenced them. What is best for you depends on how much privacy you want to maintain as an artist.
Dress the part
After deciding that you want to be an artist, your next step will be to find ways to show off your skills as an artist! While some people feel like they are not really artists because they cannot draw or paint, there is something more important than how many brushes you have in your studio.
It’s what you do with those tools that makes you an artist. Starting off by practicing drawing, painting, or sculpting can help get you into the groove of being artistic. Once you learn how to use your toolbox, you can start experimenting with different styles, colors, and textures.
Getting into the art community is another way to showcase your talents as an artist. Joining groups on social media sites such as Instagram and YouTube is a good place to begin. You also can take some classes at local universities or art schools to gain inspiration and tips from other professionals.
