Whether you’re a true artist, or looking for a way to enhance your self care routine, being creative is excellent for our mental health. The Covid-19 pandemic has given so many people the opportunity to take up a new art form. Creative hobbies such as drawing, sketching, writing and various forms of painting have become much more popular in 2020. But how do you continue to develop your creative limits post pandemic? The best advice is to fill a page a day with your artwork.
From taking breaks, indulging in thought-provoking media, and basking in eureka moments that last for nights on end, we all have our methods of training our skills in drawing, painting, sketching, and bringing our artworks to life. In fact, it’s quite hard to pin down a cookie-cutter description of how artists improve and make progress, other than abiding by principles like the golden ratio and proportion, to name a few.
However, if there’s one thing we can all agree on, to improve your art, you need to make art because skills come from hard work and not some magical potion you brew from inside your mind. And, in light of this universal truth, we think it’s high time that every artist must practice filling a page a day, whether just doodles or complete stories, to surpass their creative limits.
Why Even Bother?
Now, you’re not wrong for being indifferent. If you already have a schedule or technique that works best for your creative goals, then more power to you. But, there are also advantages to filling a page a day that can help hone your skill holistically and give you an edge against the average artist online. At first, the benefits may seem small, but they will stack up and eventually prove worthwhile over time.
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- Journal of Ideas: Let’s be real, we’ve all been through a drought in creativity, a time when nothing comes to mind and brain juices have run dry. For the hobby artist, this is perfectly fine and won’t affect them too much. But, for those that depend on art as a livelihood, this can eat into their mental state and put pressure. However, by filling a page a day, you slowly build a journal of ideas, a personal log that you can go back to when you’re not feeling your best.
- Tracks Your Progress: Filling a page a day is also an excellent method of tracking your progress and evaluating how much you’ve improved over the past months. You can even use some of the artwork you’re most proud of as welcome additions to your portfolio. And, regardless if you treat art as a hobby or job, it doesn’t hurt to know where you’re at with your artistic journey.
How To Stay Spontaneous
Likewise, some people find it difficult to make anything creative when staring at a blank page and don’t really have any concept or description to base off. So, to get you started on that daily grind of filling pages with doodles and love, here are some ways you can stay spontaneous and on your toes:
#1 Try Different Concepts
As artists, we have a tendency to stick to our comfort zones and focus on things we’re used to making, not because we don’t want to try different concepts, but because we’re more well-versed in those subjects. However, since this act of filling a page a day is for your personal gain, there’s no reason to shy away from trying something new.
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- Use Templates: From free character design templates to countless creative prompts, there are millions of launchpads readily available online that you can use. If you find it troubling to make one, then use someone else’s because there’s no harm if it’s just for fun. Plus, you can limit yourself within the boundaries of that template.
- Follow a Story: Another great way to get out of a creative rut and narrow-minded approach is by thinking up a story. Whether it’s a sci-fi samurai trapped in the future or about a modern and powerful woman’s quest for love and beauty through skin-tightening facial treatments, these concepts can inspire multiple ideas.
#2 Reference Existing Material
Many artists take pride in creating original work, but there’s also nothing wrong with exploring existing material and building off the worlds of others. There’s a reason why they’re famous, and that’s because they look beautiful, astonishing, and are well-planned out. So, why not give it your personal touch as a way to train your creative spirit?
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- Game Design: Games are a treasure trove of beautiful concept art and deeply invested lore. From the world of Half-Life with the Black Mesa incident to League of Legends and their numerous champion skins, there’s a vast world of game design for you to explore. And, with that extensive world, you can go crazy and have the freedom to give your spin.
- Natural History: Nature is the best source of inspiration, and what better place to reference than going back to natural history? Plenty of beauty can be found in the living organism found on Earth and the plants that surface every corner. So, whether it’s sketching or sculpting, the ideas are limitless.
Don’t Let Creative Blocks Get in Your Way
Look, if there’s one thing the collective art community despises, it’s those pesky creative blocks that get in your way. They strip you of your imagination and leave you feeling lifeless. So, before you toss this practice to the side, please give filling a page a day a chance, and we can guarantee you that you’ll never regret it.
A new year marks the right time to start filling a page a day with your beautiful creative artwork. It is something that can easily be incorporated into your self care routine. If you’re quarantined at home, then taking up a new art form can be a great way to pass the time and help you feel less isolated. What will you fill your page a day with?
