Terrie Studio

How to Become Better at Art

May 7th, 2012

Learning how to become better at art is a great way to transform a hobby into a rewarding profession. Taking a class is one way to learn more, and there are several options to learn more in a student-teacher relationship. Visiting a local museum and seeing masterpieces is another way for beginners to learn.

Study With The Masters

Learning from professional artists is a great way for a beginner to see how different people have approached the same issues that face all painters. Simple techniques are often effective over time, and fundamentals can be seen in any piece of art. The best thing is that it is free to learn. There are some classes that can be taken on the Internet or in a local university, but simply viewing some works is enough to stimulate a tyro towards greatness.

Whether it is painting, drawing or photograph you can find lessons somewhere.   There are even tutors for such purposes. Having an art tutor may be a large asset in honing your amateur skill levels. If you want to find a local tutor, just do a search in Google. For instance, “Seattle Tutors in Art” might be something you would type in the search query.

Photography lessons in New York can be found easily. Attending a show at a local museum is a great way to see several masters’s works in the same location. Art exhibitions are held in most large cities, and rotating works are highlighted in special events.

Practice Makes Perfect

Art is like everything else, and the more that a person performs, the better they will get. Painting, drawing and sketching as much as possible helps artists see the recurring themes and learn how to properly display spatial relationships. Practicing on a regular basis will keep skills fresh and ensure that they are well honed. Painting, sketching and drawing can be done in the convenience of home at any time. Devoting a certain portion of each day or week to learning how to become better at art is a proven approach.

Attend a Class At A Local University

Gaining a degree in art is a great way to enter this profession and learn more about techniques, materials and color placement. The Internet is one way for anyone to learn more about the classes that are offered. Taking lessons at an online university is more popular than ever. This is a convenient option that can be done at any time of the day or night. This feature makes it the perfect choice for a busy adult.

Many people wonder how to become better at art. The truth is that many artists begin with work that is far from the masterpieces that they create later in their life.

How to Get Inspiration as an Artist

April 9th, 2012


One of the best ways to get inspiration as an artist is to go to the art museum. Chances are, if you live in a downtown area, there are lots of art museums you can go to. You can visit and travel to them quite extensively. There are probably lots of day passes that will help you get in for free too. Even though the art may be very old, it can still be inspiring to see all the different art pieces from people from very long ago. They are still artists, and they are inspiring you to go out and do your own thing. Perhaps you could end up in the art museum someday too?

You can also go out to the countryside for a day trip. Even if you don’t like painting pictures of the countryside, you can still get a really good feel for nature, and you can relax. You can clear your mind and go out into the countryside and see the many facets of nature that are speaking to you in an alive-non-alive way. It is very inspiring and could get your fingers moving to the next painting. There are too many people that just don’t paint very effectively when they’re stuck in the same city day after day.

You can also go to the bookstore and pick up a big picture book on peoples’ favorite paintings. This can really get you inspired. Thumbing through the large-scale photographs on each page of peoples’ fabulous paintings by different artists like Sophie Crumb can make you inspired to go out and paint some of your own that can end up in a book someday. That is one of the most important things you can do if you are seriously considering getting some inspiration as an artist. You don’t want to be stuck in second gear with the only inspiration you’re getting coming from the TV. You want to go to the bookstore and see the books where your favorite artists have been featured. There are also a lot of magazines you can look through and determine if you belong in one of those. They might take artist submissions. This could really inspire you go out there and paint. It just might change your life.

How Artistic Gifts for Friends

March 20th, 2012


There is often nothing more personal than the gift that you give to your best friend. You already know everything about each other and are more than able to make sure that they get exactly what they have been wanting. Sometimes, however, you need to make it a little more personal. Artistic gifts for friends can be the perfect way to personalize the gift that you are giving, and in some cases the cheaper it is, the more it is appreciated. These kinds of gifts do not necessarily have to be anything spectacular, but they get right to the heart of how you are feeling.

Regardless of what you are feeling or the kind of friendship that you have, artistic gifts for your friends can say so much more than one that you bought from the store. They have to come from the heart, and this lets them know how you feel about them without you having to say a single word. There are plenty of ways to be artistic, so there is no need to worry about what you are going to make. There are ways to customize journals and even music gifts for your friends which will convey exactly how you are feeling, artistic gifts for friends can be any range of things.

How you make your gift and how long it takes you will depend on your own creativity. For those with little creativity it may take a lot of planning, but for others you may be able to finish in less time. How artistic gifts for friends affect your relationship is sure to be positive but the more personal that you make it, the happier that they are likely to be with what they receive. Whether you are looking for the perfect birthday present or something just because you want them to know how you feel does not really matter, as long as your artistic gift says what you are trying to say.

Why Glasses are Important for Artists

February 11th, 2012

Safety gear can take a number of different forms, especially given the different ways it can protect. For artists something as innocuous as glasses. The relationship between artists and glasses is a friendly one, especially as the glasses have been part of the branding of artists since their invention. However, the glasses an artist chooses to wear do not need to merely fashionable.

The most obvious example is that of safety glasses. Artists deal with a wide variety of media, and some of them can be harmful if not treated with respect. The thickness of safety goggles can protect against most injuries while allowing the artist to see normally. They are also available in prescription, ensuring that the artist’s vision is not any more blurred than desired. As artists deal with media that can be caustic, obnoxious, or otherwise not something that they want to deal with more than they absolutely need to, safety glasses are part of more toolboxes than one would expect.

Sunglasses are another important protection device. Although they seem more like an affectation than actually useful, they can be a way to save one’s sight from glaring lights. Performing artists of all stripes have learned to appreciate the ability to ignore all but the brightest lights, be they studio lights or paparazzi cameras. They can also be used as part of a disguise, providing a protection of a different sort. They can also prevent dust and dirt from an artist’s eyes. Not only can sunglasses be used in branding an artist, they also provide a number of minor but important functions in protecting the eyesight of their wearer.

Glasses are an important part of the artist’s mystique. There is nothing that defines an artist quite as much as the glasses that he wears. Most artists tend to be very loyal to a brand or they may even buy vintage glasses for a unique flare, keeping the same glasses even as they change their looks from year to year, and even season to season. It is more than merely a matter of style; some feel that their glasses are part of what makes them who they are , and they can be lost without their glasses, even if it is just a temporary problem. It can be an undefined link, but there is no denying that a link exists.

Where Artists Congregate in the United States

January 13th, 2012

While the European nations have always held their artifacts and art close, the United States has a wealth of their own well known artists. With over a 20 million dollar endowment, the U.S. has formed a coalition leading the way for foundations such as these to support U.S. artists. The presidents of each of these foundations make up this board in the support of seasoned artists to the little known, up and coming artist.

. Ford
. Prudential
. Rasmuson grants $5,000 to $25,000 awards
. Rockefeller

These boards, working together as one entity are working tirelessly to raise money for artists and to date have raised over 50 million dollars towards preservation of U.S. artists and in support of their continued and ongoing work. Without this U.S. Fellowship many artists would otherwise go undetected. Another meeting of artists is though the New York Foundation of the Arts. Awards through this foundation can be up to $7,000. These four foundations work in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Anyone can search the artist catalog and find the artist that they most want to make a connection with and their work. One can safely say that this artist catalog is the best known source of where artists congregate altogether, describing their particular location and style of art. It is on this list that artists in the United States can connect with each other and the public. Linkism Art Directory has an extensive listing of all master artists in the United States, and is an excellent source of where artists meet.

The artist must research such areas as the U.S. Mint. Currently they are calling artists from all over the country to apply to the Artistic Infusion Program. Artistic designed will be challenged and circulated all over the U.S. Key focus in calling artists together is for a variety of interests that reflect what the American people are all about. Artists will be able to work any location that they so chose.

Smartphone Apps for Artists

December 8th, 2011

There are so many smartphone apps that there are bound to some to suit every person for any need. This includes the aspiring artist. Regardless of what your skill ability is, there is an app that is right for you that allows you to explore your artistic side.

The first app worth mentioning is called Sketchbook Mobile. It is a paint and drawing app that offers a full set of sketching tools. It is available for both the iPhone and Android devices. It is currently available for $1.99. Users of this app have claimed it helped them to discover a love for drawing. It is truly a must for anyone with a creative or artistic side.

Another cool app for those wanting to explore their cultured side would be Palettes. This allows the user to develop a color palette anytime anywhere. They can get their color inspirations from several places, including a website or a photograph. The regular version is free. However, you can upgrade to Palette Pro for only $5.99. The Pro version allows you to export and import palettes between programs.

Brushes is another neat app for artistic folks. In fact, it has been considered the best app for digital painting. One interesting fact it that it was actually used to create the cover of the New Yorker on June 1, 2009. Originally the app was developed specifically for painters so the features and a capabilities are indeed impressive. The user is given a lot of control over things like the color of the paint and the size of the paintbrush. It is available for $4.99.

With all of the apps available out there for all smartphone users to enjoy, there is a myriad to choose from to fulfill your creative outlets. Regardless of whether it is for simple enjoyment and pleasure or for specific needs, I am confident you will find what you are looking for.