31 Things I Learned By 31

Birthday Cake painting from 2018

A year ago today I turned 30. It’s a big milestone that often prompts reflection, and occasionally, the eye roll inducing “30 Things I’ve Learned By 30” list. Well, I managed to stave off that urge last year, but here I am at 31, not old enough to be wise, but not young enough to have a fresh, new perspective.

In my one extra year I learned that sometimes cliches are cliches for a reason. So, I hope you enjoy and hopefully a couple of these tidbits help you as much as they’ve helped me in art as well as life.

Without further ado…

1. You should often think about your deathbed

Not to start off this list too morbidly, although adding another year will make a person consider their mortality. I’ve found that a good way to decide if a decision is really worth fighting over is whether or not it would elicit a response from a deathbed version of yourself. If it matters to this version of you it probably really matters.

2. Stop saying I’m “too old” for____. Stop saying it today and never look back 

3. Learn the subtle difference between a bad painting and a bad mindset

4. Part of being an artist is looking at your life from different perspectives

5. Take photos of your work in good lighting (and wait until morning if it’s too late)

I did a commission several years ago in winter and tried to take a photograph to send to the client around 5 pm. Because of the warm, artificial lighting, the painting skewed warmer than it was in real life. This was just a final update post to the client and I didn’t think much of the decision to send them a poorly lit photo. Big mistake. When I later sent another shot in daylight, and the painting read true to life (and cooler), the client replied by asking if I could make it look more like it did in the poorly lit photo. Long story short, I had to redo the painting. 

6. It’s better to have an understanding of color in your mind and not on a store shelf

Learn to mix many colors with a few tubes of paint instead of buying every color you need for a painting. Mastering the color wheel will save you so much time and money.

7. The parts of you that you don’t see reflected in the art world are not your weaknesses, they’re your strengths 

8. When it comes to art, input is just as important as output

9. You can never have too many brushes

10. Art is about eliciting emotions. Don’t forget that humor is an emotion

11. You don’t have to be good at drawing to be an artist

Imagine how many more of us would be willing to call ourselves artists if we learned this fact in first grade.

12. Not all opinions are created equal. An internet troll isn’t an art critic

13. Be careful where you find inspiration 

For example, the explore page is very inspiring but it’s also overwhelming at times. Seeing 50 artists on their best days all in one instance can do more harm than good. I’ve found a lot of success going for walks, looking at art books and listening to music as free painting inspiration.

14. Most art rules can be both helpful and gatekeep-y

It’s often less about the rules specifically and more how the rules are enforced.

15. Always go to the show opening (I’m looking at you, introverts ;)

16. Dang

17. I’m 

18. Only

19. Halfway

20. There

21. 31

22. Is

23. A Lot

24. Don’t be afraid to give yourself a break ⬆️

25. Being called “childish” isn’t always a bad thing

Find out if childish is an insult or a compliment. Sometimes being called childish is a fair call out because you’re being immature. And sometimes being called childish is a compliment that someone doesn’t know they’re paying you. Being told your sparkly blue eyeliner looks childish and wearing it anyway (even if you can’t quite pull it off) is the good kind of childish.

26. The trick to taking care of brushes is the same trick as taking care of the top of your head

Be careful with warm water, try not strip your bristles/hair of its natural moisture, handle gently and condition/shape.

27. The trick to prepping canvases is the same As prepping your nails for a manicure

Make sure your surface has grip, make sure your surface is dehydrated and don’t be afraid to prime.

28. I’m surprised how much fine art knowledge I learned just by being a girl

29. Be open to using creative lessons you learned in other non-fine art areas of your life

There’s a lot of lessons I’ve learned in the aisle of a Sally’s that I still use today

30. There’s as many ways to have an art career as there are ways to fill a canvas. Be creative

31. Despite what the art world may tell you, being an artist and a mom is a beautiful complement

Motherhood demands so much physical presence while art demands so much mental presence. Both strengthen your heart.

Thank you for reading 💕 If you want to learn more from me, you can become a member of Not Sorry Art School for 31% off today ONLY with code BDAY31.