Learning to See

Inspiration and practical advice for aspiring realist artists

  • Home
  • About
  • The Keys to Colour
  • Learn with me
  • My Work
  • Contact me

How Regular Practice Will Make You More Creative

September 24, 2013 By: Paul11 Comments

“Without the time and effort invested in getting ready to create, you can be hit by the thunderbolt and it’ll just leave you stunned.” – Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit.

Lily, a drawing with Chinese brush and ink

There’s been a lot research into what creativity is in recent years.

Presumably it’s an attempt to understand where creativity comes from, so that we can make ourselves more creative.

I’m not a professor of an illustrious university. I’m not a researcher or a well known author.

But I think I have an idea how to help you become more creative:

Are you ready?

 

Show up and practice.

Every day.

Whether you feel like it or not.

I hope that’s not too disappointing. I also hope it doesn’t sound glib. I mean it sincerely and I really want to help you by passing on what I manage to glean from my own work in the trenches.

I really do believe that this idea will not only enhance your creativity, but rescue your artistic self esteem, help you through procrastination and eventually help you become the artist you know you have inside you, if you could only find a way to bring her out.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me.

Truth be told, I expect most people to disagree. The idea of the mysterious and unfathomable creative muse allowing us privileged glimpses into a higher realm is deeply entrenched in our cultural identity.

It would be lovely if it were true, but it’s a fairy tale.

If you’re not convinced, please watch this short video. Let me try to give you something that I think will work far more effectively for you than the traditional, Romantic idea of being touched by the muse.

Something that really will help you be more creative in everything you do.

Best wishes,

Paul

Posted: September 24th 2013

Free Value Tutorials

Subscribe: Join over 10,000 other artists and get free updates. I'll also email you THREE FREE value tutorials that will help you bring your pictures to life.

Thanks! Now check your email. Your first value exercise is on its way.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

About Paul

I'm a (mostly) self-taught artist. I paint realism in oils, mostly still life. I share my work, my evolving process and what knowledge I've gained on my own learning journey here, in the hope that it might help you along on
yours.

Comments

  1. 1

    Mirela says

    September 25, 2013 at 9:26 am

    You read my mind! Thank you for the article!:)

    Reply
  2. 2

    Judy says

    September 25, 2013 at 10:41 am

    Wonderful as usual! How do you keep all the drawings, etc, organized so well? Do you keep in a book? a box? etc?

    Reply
  3. 3

    Helga Parker says

    September 25, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    Paul, I know exactly what you are talking about and I found repeated practice is transforming and they way you see your subject.
    I love Lillis and are wonderful subjects to draw and paint. I have taken numerous photograph of them. Next time I purchase them I will definitely draw them and then we can share notes.
    Thank you for your post.
    Helga

    Reply
  4. 4

    HelenMT says

    September 25, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    The video is helpful and easy to understand. I never did regular practice or repeated drawings until recently and my work is improving immensely! I find that the study of negative spaces has helped me to put in less detail until I need it. Thanks so much for the help!

    Reply
  5. 5

    John OGradyArt says

    September 25, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Hi Paul,
    I couldn’t agree more, the Chuck Close quote comes to mind

    “Every idea occurs while you are working. If you are sitting around waiting for inspiration, you could sit there forever.”

    Good work on the Video
    Thanks

    Reply
  6. 6

    Vitória Marques says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    Good habit, good idea.Thanks for charing.

    Reply
  7. 7

    Paul says

    September 25, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    Judy, I have to admit, I don’t really keep them organised. I have them in a big stack in the corner of the room, I had to dig through them all to find these!

    Reply
  8. 8

    Paul says

    September 25, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    Love that quote John

    Reply
  9. 9

    Paul says

    September 25, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    Let’s do that Helga! I have a feeling you’ll make a lovely job of them. They’re very architectural, they lend themselves to designs very willingly.

    Reply
  10. 10

    Aras Saber says

    September 29, 2013 at 4:48 am

    Thank you Paul for sharing that video clip,its very helpful and inspiring to see your working habit.Thank you again.

    Reply
  11. 11

    Paul says

    September 29, 2013 at 8:29 am

    Thanks Aras, I’m glad it was helpful.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Affordable monthly online workshops

Learn the Fundamentals of Painting in a Community that will Help You Grow

One month free trial

Find out more

Hi, I’m Paul

I'm a (mostly) self-taught artist. I paint realism in oils, mostly still life. I share my work, my evolving process and what knowledge I've gained on my own learning journey here, in the hope that it might help you on yours.
Read More…

paul foxton logo