Art is a journey
Every artist is on their own path to greatness, moving at their own pace, with unique strengths and challenges along the way.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on how you are growing. The goal is simply to be a little better than you were yesterday.
Curiosity is everything in art – the process of discovery
Art is about exploration, not always about knowing the answer.
Experiment, play, and ask “What if…?” You may discover something far more exciting than what you planned.
Persevere and trust the process
Every artwork has ups and downs—moments you feel confident and moments you want to give up.
Keep going. The hurdles are part of the journey, so power on through them.
Without experimentation you’re simply a machine
Let the creativity happen!
Creativity needs risks.
If you only stick with what you know, you’re just repeating.
Take creative risks—unexpected discoveries often lead to your best work.
Mess and mistakes are progress
If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not pushing yourself.
Most artworks need to look “bad” before they look good - the early mess is just scaffolding.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the tuition fee.
Problems in your work are opportunities to rethink and create something new.
Try before asking for help
If you aren’t sure how to do something, have a go at working it out before asking for help.
Solving it yourself brings you pride and makes you more likely to remember it next time.
Don’t fear the blank canvas
The hardest step is starting.
Ignore the negative thoughts about what might go wrong - just begin and figure it out as you go.
We all have good and bad days, and that’s OK
Some days the pencil flows, other days it doesn’t - and that’s human.
However you feel, keep trying. Small steps forward are better than none.
Review and refine
Don’t slip into autopilot. Pause, look closely, and ask: “Does this need adjusting?”
Keep tweaking and correcting - it’s how good work becomes great work.
Whether you’re drawing/painting from a reference image or from life, try to look at the reference more than your work.
Compare kindly
Other people’s work often looks better than your own—but they’re probably thinking the same about yours.
Look around for inspiration, not competition.
Speak positively about your own work—putting yourself down may discourage others who admire it.
Progress is personal
Improvement doesn’t always mean a “better-looking” piece—it might mean working faster, being braver with materials, or noticing details you didn’t before.
Celebrate small wins. Every sketch, every experiment, every correction adds up.
Art is about communication, not perfection
Your artwork doesn’t need to be flawless to be meaningful.
What matters most is that it expresses something - an idea, a feeling, a story, a perspective.
Step back and see the whole picture
Sometimes you get lost in small details and forget to look at your work from a distance.
Taking breaks and stepping back often helps you notice things you didn’t see before.
Learn to truly see
Artists don’t just look - they learn to see.
Seeing means noticing shapes, proportions, shadows, colours, textures, and relationships most people overlook.
Train your eye carefully; the more you practice, the stronger your observational skills become.
Patience pays off
Rushing often leads to frustration, but being a perfectionist can slow you down to a stop. Find a good balance between.
Give your work time to grow - some pieces need hours, days, or even weeks to come together, while some need to be worked on quickly to retain their expressive qualities.
Every artist has their own style
You don’t need to copy someone else’s way of working to be “good.”
The quirks in your drawing are what make your style unique, and these ‘quirks’ can often be disguised as mistakes (it’s a matter of perspective!).
Enjoy the process, not just the product
If you only focus on finishing, you miss out on the joy of creating.
Relax, enjoy the marks you’re making, and let the artwork unfold naturally.
Trust your instincts—not everything in art has to be logical or planned. Sometimes your gut leads you to your best ideas.
A positive studio environment helps everyone grow
Encourage your classmates. Celebrate their progress as much as your own.
Share what you’ve learnt with others and support the people around you.
Break big problems into smaller ones
Don’t tackle everything at once—start with simple shapes, then lines, then tones, then details.
Big tasks only feel impossible because you’re looking at the whole thing. Take it step by step, like a jigsaw, and it will come together.
Step back and see the whole picture
Sometimes you get lost in details and can’t see how your work really looks.
Take breaks and step back often. From a distance, you’ll notice things you missed up close, helping your work improve.