Exploring Creative Growth For Artists and Why It's Important

Last Updated: January 26, 2025

Art is a journey, not a destination. It has the unique power to inspire, connect, and heal, which requires a consistent flow of new skills and experiences. For artists of all skill levels, the pursuit of lifelong learning in art is more than a hobby—it’s an experience involving creative growth and a desire to find happiness in the creative journey.

A staged image of a watercolor painting set in the beach against a nipa hut, mountains, and the ocean from the class The Artist in You: Exploring Watercolor Tubes Class

The Artist in You: Exploring Watercolor Tubes Class

Are you looking to develop new artistic skills and find a new art style? This guide will help you learn its benefits, some basic techniques to get you started, and tips to maintain a good pace while going through your journey. 

A video on how to find your art style as a beginner artist

Why Is It Important For Artists To Learn New Skills?

The concept of lifelong learning is a reflection of personal growth. In the context of art, it becomes a path to understanding both artistic techniques and yourself!

A photo of a handmade card colored in with Woodless Coloring Pencils featuring a bright blue flower with green leaves, and a 'happy birthday' sentiment

Woodless Coloring Pencils

Artists need to learn new skills so they don’t grow stagnant or complacent with their abilities. Art changes every day, with new ideas and techniques that can make your artwork stand out like never before. It also provides solace and feels like therapy for some, letting them enjoy a calm environment while escaping from things that cause stress. 

To summarize, art helps you: 

  • Encourage exciting ideas through innovative thinking 

  • Discover peace and comfort in your chosen medium 

  • Build essential skills like adaptability, open-mindedness, and creativity

The Joy of Beginner Art Techniques

If you find yourself asking, ‘What are some easy ways to explore new art skills?’ We have a few suggestions you might like! 

Watercolor Painting 

First up, playing with watercolors. This is an incredibly beginner-friendly activity for all ages, and if you’ve never done it before, learning some basic techniques is easy too!

An image of a watercolor painting depicting blue flowers, made from Altenew's Artists' Watercolor Tube

Artists’ Watercolor Tubes

The key to watercolor painting is learning how to deal with colors and working with water to achieve your desired result. From techniques like wet-on-dry to wet-on-wet, this activity is great for people who enjoy playing with color. Plus, there are no limits to your chosen subject as well. Do it with people, landscapes, animals, or anything else you like. 

Mixed Media 

As the name suggests, mixed media is a type of art wherein you have complete freedom over what types of media to use in your art. Whether you want a combination of stamps and watercolors or maybe some relief paste to add shimmer to your die-cuts, the sky’s the limit!

An image of a greeting card with pink and gold colors plus a 'giving thanks' sentiment, made with Altenew's Shimmer Relief Paste

Shimmer Relief Paste

Mixed media is great for artists looking to learn new art techniques because it can give you lots of creative freedom. You can also use materials or art supplies you already have at home to make your very own mixed-media masterpiece. 

Drawing/Shading 

Another beginner art technique you could try is drawing or shading. This is the simplest out of all the suggestions we have for you today since all you need is some paper, a pencil, and an eraser. Start learning how to make simple sketches to get you inspired then move your way up to more complex techniques to make detailed drawings.

A staged image of a sketched drawing of an eagle, with black, white, red, and yellow shades from Altenew's Monochrome Shading Pencils

Monochrome Shading Pencils

Pencils are best for beginners with no experience with drawing, but as you learn new skills, exploring with artist pens and markers could be a great idea too! 

How To Develop A Habit For Learning New Artistic Skills

Now that we’ve established the importance of learning new skills and some art techniques you should try, it’s time to talk about maintaining your progress! Here are some tips to help you get started: 

Set Clear Goals For Your Art Journey

Before even starting a new activity or learning a new skill, try to reflect on your goals. What exactly do you want to achieve in this learning experience? Is it to become adept at a skill like watercolor painting? Is it to join some art competitions? Or maybe it’s as simple as gifting your art to loved ones. Establishing a goal gives you a clear mindset of how to achieve it so you’re not diving into the experience blindly.

An artwork featuring a girl with blue hair wearing a blindfold while sitting on giant pumpkins and leaves

Watercolor Brush Markers Tropical Fiesta Set

Explore Mediums And Activities You're Interested In

It’s difficult to achieve your goals and find joy in art if you don’t like what you’re doing. Find an activity that speaks to you and allows you to be creative. Maybe you prefer working with mixed media supplies like shimmer relief paste or prefer making art with brush markers. Identifying what you like and don’t like to use when making art is essential to reaching your goal.

Follow A Consistent Routine

Remember that it’s so important to establish a routine and stick to it. Being hands-on with your craft is essential to becoming better and turning from a beginner to an expert! Take the time to practice by setting aside some time to make art every day. Even an hour a day is enough for you to practice and grow your skills!

an AI-generated image of an artist working on his craft at different times of the day

Find Value In Feedback

There is no progress without mistakes. Feel free to share your work with others and get their feedback on it. Sometimes you need to take a step back and see what others think about your work to get a new perspective. Take the feedback and use it to improve your work! Over time, you’ll have a better idea of what works and what doesn’t. 

Celebrate Progress And Wins, No Matter How Small

Throughout your journey of lifelong learning in art, you’ll go through a lot of roadblocks and triumphs. It’s important not to let those roadblocks get you down and to celebrate your wins every chance you get. You deserve a pat on the back for doing things you’ve never done before, so be kind to yourself and trust the journey!

An AI-generated image of a person's art room with their sketches and paintings

Experience Creative Growth For Artists With Lifelong Learning!

By embracing beginner art techniques, developing new artistic skills, and pursuing creative growth, artists of all levels can find inspiration and fulfillment. It all depends on how you choose to go about your artistic journey. 

So pick up that paintbrush, pencil, or tablet. Dive into a new medium, attend a workshop, or simply experiment with something you’ve never tried before. In the ever-expanding world of art, there’s always something new to discover. And in that discovery lies the true joy of being an artist. 

For more tips and inspiration on all things artistry, explore The Creative Corner!


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.


In This Article