How Building Art Skills Can Make You More Successful in Life

Building art skills can significantly contribute to an artist’s success in other areas of life by fostering creativity, problem-solving abilities, and learning the importance of attention to detail. The process of learning and practicing art enhances critical thinking and encourages us to think outside the box when faced with challenges.

Moreover, honing artistic skills can boost self-confidence and resilience, qualities that are essential in navigating personal and professional obstacles.

Today I want to discuss all the ways that the art skills you may not even know you have can help in you in many other areas of your life. Betchu thought messing up and having to restart a painting was all a waste of time… but I’m here to tell you it wasn’t!

Things to Remember…

• Creating art isn't just about color and composition; it's about channeling your creativity in endless ways. When you practice the art of art, you're training your mind to think outside the box, a skill that's incredibly handy when you're facing real-life puzzles.

• Creating art requires the patience of a saint. You know the drill - hours, days, even weeks of refining your piece. Well, this endurance test in the studio (and the patience you were forced to show!) is a secret weapon when it comes to tackling those long-term projects in your other pursuits.

• Ever felt like tossing your canvas out the window? Creating art teaches you the importance of resilience, especially when things don't go your way. Mountainous obstacles become mere speedbumps when you learn to dust yourself off and jump back on any issues with gusto.

• Every stroke of the brush is a chance to innovate when you're constantly exploring new techniques, styles, and subjects. In other areas of life, you'll find that innovation becomes your second nature, your key to out-of-the-box solutions.

• When you're an artist, problem-solving is your daily bread. You're constantly finding creative solutions to unexpected issues in your artwork. And when it comes to life's problems, you won’t be bound by common thought, you’ll use that artistic brain to come up with ideas no one else would have.

• Artists have a keen eye for detail. You know how that one tiny brushstroke can make or break your masterpiece. In your other pursuits, this attention to detail sets you apart as a master of precision and fine-tuning.

• You don't just see things as they are; you see them as they could be. Your artistic vision translates into the ability to envision and create a better future in any arena of life.

• Art is all about taking risks - trying new techniques, experimenting with colors, and sometimes, even starting over. This fearless approach to risk-taking becomes your ambitious mentality when seizing opportunities beyond the canvas.

In conclusion, your life isn't just a linear journey; it's a grand masterpiece waiting to be painted. The skills you acquire in your art-making journey are like your brushes, the patience and perseverance you show are your colors. . Your artistic flair is your unique composition, and the world is literally your canvas.

So, keep creating, keep innovating, and watch how these artistic skills help you create success in all areas of life!

5.14.2024

I Gold Leafed a Cicada!

I am so thrilled with how today's project went down that I am about to burst! I am literally shook with how wonderfully my most recent experiment went, and you know how psyched I get when exploring different art mediums... especially when they go well!

I have had the idea of metal leafing insects, animal bones, and dried plants for a hot minute now so when Kingboom offered this collab opportunity I was soooo ready to play!

Now I have done a fair amount of gold leafing on my oil paintings and within the resin pours so that was nothing new, but trying out different colors of leafing as well as using different specimen 'substrates' definitely was. I chose a handful of colors that I thought would go well in my nature inspired 3D paintings (Champagne Gold, Champagne Silver, Rose Gold, Emerald Green, Turquoise) and today I will share the results. Spoiler alert: they're awesome!

Grab some Kingboom metal leaf here:

https://www.amazon.com/promocode/A2CA4N2PSDLA3B

And use 15Caleigh for 15% off your entire order! Let me know in the comments how you like it!

3.14.2024

What's in YOUR Studio??

Aloha artists! Today I want to hear from you!!

I am about to move to my *forever home* of Chattanooga with my fiance - yay!! - and I would love your help setting up my new art studio. Now this house will be a rental.. but hopefully it's the last one until we buy land and actually build our own home, so I wanna make this space great for the time being!

Please leave me a comment below on some of the pros and cons of your own art studio, such as: what about your setup do you love? what do you wish to change? are there any items/storage hacks that you can't live without? are there any useful things/arrangements you use to help productivity?

My goal is to get you folks sharing ideas here with me (as well as on my Instagram @caleighbirdart and newsletter) so that I can setup an awesome new studio and share y'all's best tips with each other! This could be an explosion of great ideas for us all to share!!

It will be a few weeks til I move in, and then a few more after that to setup, but I'm hoping to have a 'results' video for you in September - stay tuned!

Thanks for contributing!!

7.23.2023

Travel Art Studio + Supplies

Do you like to bring art supplies when you travel? I love to create little works of art while on the road (or over the ocean!) to help commemorate my adventures and really cement them in my mind.

Today I want to share my compacted art supplies and how I set them up while out and about in the world, taking inspiration from all that's around me. I'm sharing what I bring, how I setup and record, and what my experience with bringing these art supplies through TSA has been.

Don't let distance from your home studio prevent you from making great art! There are only a few items that you'll be able to find or borrow wherever you land that will help complete an efficient studio space:)

My Art Supplies:

(some of these are affiliate links which help to support this channel at no extra cost to you - thank you!)

Himi Gouache

Tiny Gouache Sketchbook

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush

Da Vinci Size 2 Round Brush

Map Eraser

Washi Tape

Rechargeable Clamp Light

Phone Mount Articulating Arm

And thanks to the folks who submitted their own list of travel art supplies to be included in the video! I often ask my viewers for input thru Instagram Stories, so if you haven’t already, find me there!

7.2.2023

The Ebb + Flow of Artmaking

Does it ever seem like every other artist around you has such consistent and impeccable output, both in their studio and their social medias, while you struggle to make art on a regular basis and sometimes let your social medias go quiet for weeks or even months on end??

Don't worry.. you are not alone.

Resources:

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ebb+and+flow

https://www.irisbarzen.com/cycles-of-productivity/

https://evernote.com/blog/the-most-and-least-productive-hours-in-a-day/

Sara Tepes vid: https://youtu.be/erK8FhVOZ-U

My lovely iceberg landscapes were painted using Himi brand gouache on thick watercolor paper.

Reference Images:

https://pixabay.com/

2.5.2023

How to Support Your Favorite Artists (Besides Buying Art!)

Aloha artists and art lovers! If you are like me you love the feeling of supporting your fave artists and small creators, but sometimes we are on a tight budget (or let’s face, could never begin to afford allll the art that tickles our fancy!) and need to find other productive ways to show them we care!

Well luckily for all of us there are actually a number of ways you can show your support that cost absolutely nothing, or at least nothing more than you would have spent anyway on things you need.

7 Ways to Support Artists (other than buying art!)

1. Bring friends to our openings and exhibitions (even if it’s a small one!) to introduce then to out art in a meaningful way.

2. Talk us up if you hear of any artistic opportunities or gigs, or if you hear a friend or family member is looking for original or custom artwork.

3. Forward us artistic opportunities you happen upon or that come across your radar, even if there’s no firsthand connection.

4. Sign up for our newsletters and be active on our social media posts. The more meaningful the comments, the better :)

5. Share our work (with credit) on your socials occasionally.

6. Suggest our art, prints, or merch as gifts in conversation with others just like you would suggest a retail store if you hear someone saying they are looking for “the perfect item.”

7. Purchase products from companies that sponsor us through ads or product placement as it really helps show that we are great creators to work with who have audiences that buy.

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And if you'd like to support this small artist, here are some links to do so: Thank you so much for being so generous with your time!🎨💖

Need new art supplies? Any purchase through my Blick link helps a lot!

Find me on Instagram

Sign up for my newsletter

Here's my Skillshare link that includes a free month trial

Prints and original art is available in my Shop

👉And just sharing my YouTube vids with someone you think would like them is a ginormous help! Thank you!!

12.4.2022

[blank canvas image credit: Angela Roma from Pexels]

Audience Choice Winners :: Autumn Paintings in Gouache

Yayy I’m so excited to be sharing the Audience Choice Autumn Paintings winners with you today! Sooo many folks chimed in to vote here, through my newsletter, and on Instagram and YouTube - I was truly floored!

I have been really feeing the cozy, colorful fall vibes hard this year and I think you all chose two photos that exemplify that superbly!

So without further adieu, the winners are…

If you’re not already, subscribe to my YouTube channel while you’re up there and/or make sure you are following along on my Instagram because I will certainly be doing ‘audience choice’ artwork again since I got such a huge response from this one!

Here are the winning photos:

And here are the final paintings! Yay!

They are actually bigger here than in my sketchbook, kind of fun to see all that detail up close!

Thanks again everyone who contributed! Y’all gave a great response and I can’t wait til the next go round! Happy Autumn!

11.23.2022

Ask an Artist 10 :: College Student Edition

Whether or not you're going or have been to art college, many new artists have the same general questions so today I wanted to answer three that my own students have asked me regularly over my first two years of teaching at a collegiate level. It has felt really good to be able to impart a little solid advice onto the bright young minds I have the pleasure of being around weekly, and I wanted to pass just a few gems onto you that can apply to pretty much anyone seeking a creative career path.

If you find some insight today, check out the full 'Ask an Artist' playlist for all kinds of simple yet actionable advice going all the way back to my days in Hawai'i.

Top Three Questions My College Students Ask..

1. Do I have to invest in fine art materials or is it ok to just buy the student (or big box) grade? Honestly, unless you have read really great reviews otherwise, you should avoid the cheap super low grade/ big box brand art supplies. They are so poorly made (think low pigment, scratchy chalk or charcoal/ plastic-y pencils, etc) that they literally hinder your ability to make quality artwork. And if you are able to pull something decent out of them - you would have certainly done better with better supplies. Art supplies you purchase in college or early on can sometimes last you a long time so better to spend a little bit more on some medium-low brands than than the bottom of the barrel.

2. What should I do first once I graduate? If you can possibley set up something in a creative career before having graduated, then awesome! But that certainly is not the case for all, soo.. before all else, just make sure you have a job that covers your bare bills (even if it’s not in the ‘arts field’ of your dreams yet) in no more than about 30 hours a week so you still have the time and energy to pursue artistic ventures in town and online that will put you closer to your ultimate goals. Don’t worry if a job (or even volunteer position) in the arts is too small when starting off, just do you very best and opportunities will grow!

3. What’s the best general advice for getting clients or employment as a professional artist? You need to be not only skilled as an artist, but skilled as people-person. Enthusiasm counts!! You need to show your clients that you share their vision and can’t wait to work on their commission. You need to show your boss that you are excited about the next big project and can’t wait to brainstorm ideas and show up with all your best work. And definitely, always have your work finished on time, on budget, and on point. Let the folks around you see that you are not only a highly trained artist, but are fun easy, and enjoyable to work with, and you will be practically guaranteed enough work to keep you full!

11.6.2022

Sketchbook Tour 2022

Yay I am so excited to be sharing my two latest full sketchbooks today! Sketchbook tour videos tend to be some of my most popular, and I totally understand why. I too love thumbing through other artists' personal works, sketches, attempts, and even (slight) failures.

These sketchbooks are comprised of all figure drawings, most from life but some from online figure models. I like to use Carbothello My Stabilo pastel pencils and white chalk for my drawings on Canson Mi-Tientes paper.

If you're interested in getting a one-of-a-kind custom handmade sketchbook from my Nest to yours, pop over here for all the info and ordering (these are only available once a year for about a week)

If you are seeing this video after May 22nd and would like more info on getting your own handmade-with-love toned (or white) paper sketchbook pop over here to be kept in the loop for my next sketchbook release.

Here are two videos on how I create my figure drawings: Vid 1 // Vid 2

5.15.2022

'Splendorifica' :: New 3D Oil Painting

Hooray hooray! I was finally able to finish this large oil and resin portrait! My first ever 3D portrait of a male subject! And he’s got the most insect adornments of anyone I’ve painted so far!

This model is actually a Charleston/hometown friend of mine from way back in my middle school days of mixed tapes and Airwalks, Chris, who I’ve been lucky enough to have a super deep connection with still to this day.

I love the look of wonderment and possibility captured in his face. Knowing Chris as an intellect and thoughtful person, I really wanted to bring that personality trait to the forefront of this piece in an infectious way. I want the viewer to get lost in thought with Chris’ still dynamism as he almost seems to be pondering a clear future right in front of us.

This piece is a nice large size of 14 x 18” and includes a real butterfly, a bee, a lizard, a leaf bug, a wasp, a cicada and two water bug exoskeletons, and a few reproduction butterflies along with a flurry of gold leaf and pink pinwheels the tree outside my apartment shed last fall. Add in a few dried ferns and the painted-on mushrooms and Chris really is pretty well splendidly nature-iffic!

I know most of us are used to painting and drawing the lovely ladies most of the time, but today I’m happy to show that guys can be just as inspiring too! I know I certainly plan to paint more!

4.5.2022