How to take your decorative artwork skills to the next level
"It's never too late to take action towards what you think could make you happier & stronger. It's too important, there is no time to lose."—Martina Flor
When working on decorative artwork, there is an invisible line that is very easy to cross. If crossed, it makes the work look chaotic, disorganized, and not pleasing to the eyes.
If you take action to learn how to make decorative artwork, you'll get there much faster.
Because decorative artwork is complex, it intimidates many young and aspiring artists. It is full of details that are not so obvious at a first glance. But they are there and they contribute to the overall feeling. There is a general fear of overdoing it or messing it up with too many details. It takes time to train eyes and understand what works and what doesn't.
For years I have been jumping from one direction to another, driven by the shiny objects I see online. I used to consume the decorative artwork that inspired me. And, at some point I found myself unintentionally copying some of it. I wasn't trying to plagiarize anyone's work; in fact, I was very careful not to do that. But because I didn't understand the process of making decorative artwork, I had to mimic what I see. It took me years to find my process and understand how to make decorative artwork my way. Nowadays, I barely look at the work of others. I have my process and I trust it to lead me to the outcome I will be proud of.
Following these simple steps will help level up your skills faster. You will discover your signature style and start getting paid for it.
STEP ONE: Stock up on inspiration - Inspiration is everywhere, and it's an important part of the process. It ignites the fire in us. But if we don't know what to do with that fire or how to use it, it may cause burnout. The desired result will be hard to achieve, and disappointment may follow. Use multiple sources to avoid this.
STEP TWO: Establish hierarchy - In complex compositions, establishing hierarchy is important. Hierarchy creates cohesive visuals. Without hierarchy, visuals will end up looking very chaotic and disorganized. Start with the primary visual element, and then add decorative elements to compliment it.
STEP THREE: Find balance and order - There is a fine line between chaos and, what I like to call, organized chaos. Finding balance and order will keep you from crossing that invisible line. It will ensure your artwork is on a professional level.
STEP FOUR: Keep it editable - The best way to make decorative artwork unique to you is to play around with decorative elements. But to do that, you have to make sure you can change your mind at any point. Digital tools of today make this easy if you take advantage of the editability they are offering.
STEP FIVE: Use contrast and make it pop - "Make it pop" are the infamous words every artist or designer hates hearing from clients. The solution to this is in the colour and contrast.
STEP SIX: Stack up details - "More is more" "The more, the merrier"! That is what decorative artwork is all about. What makes decorative artwork so impressive is the plethora of details.
STEP SEVEN: Find unxepected combinations - Opposites attract, usually. This rule kind of works here too. The unexpected combinations you create will make the artwork unique to you. There's very little chance of someone else finding these combinations the same way as you.
STEP EIGHT: Fill in the gaps - White space is your friend!....or not!!!. With decorative artwork, this may not be that true. There needs to be some white space between elements. But this space also holds a lot of potential to take the artwork from good to great. Don’t be afraid to fill them in by using decorative elements with less contrast.
STEP NINE: Use tools and resources to get there faster - Time is money, am I right? It literally is when you are making a living from the art you create. The more work you do, the more money you can make. And how to create more work? By making your process faster. And how to make the process faster? By investing in tools and resources which speed up the creative process.
So that's it for the steps. But there is no need to do it all alone, we all learn from someone. That is why I created this one resource where you’ll find all you need know to start making decorative artwork.
10 Verafied Decorative Tips FREE pdf zine
Invest the time to learn how to organize decorative artwork, and start getting paid for it sooner. You will land your dream projects, and achieve your personal and professional goals. Investing in yourself will pay off very soon, and then it will be your turn to pass it on to a new generation of artists.
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