CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Self-learning is full of obstacles, as two pro artists reveal…

Finding resources

“We’re lucky to have numerous tutorials online,” says Irina French. “T he difficulty is in finding those that will teach you core principles, the fundamentals, so you can build from there. There are some real gems out there; a lot are for free, too.”

Staying motivated “Motivating yourself and not giving up is a major factor,” says Irina. “You just have to believe that you’ll get better with more learning and practice. It’s not always easy, especially because it’s hard to separate yourself from your creations. I’d say from a mental health point of view, there are a lot of ups and downs, but with time you find more confidence in your skill.”

Mastering new techniques “A few years ago I really wanted to paint with oils and it took me a long time to get to grips with them,” says Craww. “I definitely would have benefited from a little instruction! A lot of simple mistakes like painting on unprimed paper and the paints leaching through could’ve been avoided if someone had taught me, but then maybe I could’ve researched things a little better too. Sometimes that trial-anderror process can lead to unexpected and exciting results.”

Getting into a routine “Since you’re not physically attending a class, you have to bring structure to your day: dedicate consistent hours to learning and practising, vary the topics that you cover and note from critiques what fundamentals you need to revisit in order to improve,” Irina advises. “On the other hand, be careful not to burn out. Take regular breaks and remember to have fun when you’re painting.”