Different Topics to Explore in Art if You’re a Budding Artist

Art can be a confusing discipline for many aspiring artists because there are just so many things to learn about. Some are simple and basic enough, while some are too complicated to grasp for many. So, if you ever feel confused and clueless about which lessons or artistic concepts to learn, remember to take it a step at a time, one lesson at a time.

If you make the learning process more straightforward, you’ll find it easier and more fun to learn about art. With such a method, you can develop not just your skills, but also your appreciation for beauty and a taste for exquisite artworks. While there is no proper and correct way to learn about art because it is not a one-size-fits-all solution, there are different topics to explore in the art world that will guide you throughout your creative journey, especially in the beginning phase. 

If there is one thing that we can share with you, it would be learning basic lessons first and building up to the more complex things as you improve your skills over time. You don’t have to study all the possible topics to explore art in one sitting. It should be a process, just like how learning, in general, is a continuous and lifetime process. So, if you’re a budding artist having a hard time learning art, this topic is for you. Keep on reading to learn more! 

The beginning phase of becoming an artist is oftentimes described as the most difficult one because it’s the time when you know little to nothing about art, you have to start from the beginning. But to make things easier for you, always remember this: do not try to overcomplicate things and stay as simple as possible. Keeping things easier for yourself can make a lot of difference– especially with the way you view learning.

By doing so, it can create a perspective that learning art is all about creativity, and by using your creativity, you will tend to find easier and simpler solutions. More so, you will learn that learning hard doesn’t have to be that hard. To help you become the artist you aspire to be, we will be listing the different topics to explore in art if you’re a beginner and clueless about where to begin. Have fun reading!

What are Some of the Topics to Explore in Art?

    1.  Elements of Art:

Perhaps the most basic concept every artist, regardless of their visual art form and niche, should learn about is the elements of art which are the following: line, color, shape, texture, space, form, and value. These elements are essential when creating visual art the same way ingredients are essential to cooking. So to speak, these elements are your ingredients in creating a masterpiece. It helps you create an art form because you cannot create art without the combination of any of these.

It doesn’t necessarily require you to combine all of them, you just need to use some of them to communicate what you want to portray to your audience. Moreover, understanding how to use these elements also allows you to interpret and analyze art better as well as create artworks that are visually compelling, attractive, and moving.

    2.  Principles of Design: 

Once you learn the elements of art, you also need to learn about the principles of design which are following: balance, emphasis, contrast, movement, proportion, pattern, and unity. Learning these is just as important as knowing the elements of art because these principles set the criteria of what makes an artwork truly great: the presence of these principles.

Moreover, it also helps you to critique artworks effectively by objectively studying the principles present in the artwork. In addition, the presence of these principles makes your art more visually appealing and beautiful. It helps your artworks be distinct from the other artworks. It can also benefit your image as an artist.

    3.  Color theory:

Color theory is more than just knowing the basic groups of color–primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors. It is learning that colors are not just an art, but also a science. Why? Color theory was first introduced by Sir Isaac Newton, who was a famous scientist and physicist. Broadly speaking, color theory is the art and science of using colors.

Color theory is art in such a way that it requires creativity to learn how to effectively use colors when visually communicating. On the other hand, color theory is also a science because to effectively use and combine colors, one must understand first how humans perceive colors in the first place–how colors create illusions, how they can psychologically affect a person, and how they should be effectively combined together to create a visually striking image. 

    4.  Art medium: 

Once you learn the three fundamental topics to explore in art, namely, the elements of art, principles of design, and color theory, you are on your way to becoming a better artist. But you shouldn’t just stop there, you need to improve because strictly speaking, learning those wouldn’t immediately make you an art expert, you’re still a beginner with a better understanding of art.

Now, you need to know what defines you as an artist. Which medium do you wanna be known for? An oil painter? Acrylics artist? Watercolor artist? Pastel artist? Mixed media? It is your choice and there are many more mediums to learn and explore other than those. 

The medium that you use will help you gain visibility in the art world. While not all known artists use a unique medium, the key is to be able to use it well and distinguish yourself for you to be distinct as an artist too. It doesn’t matter if you use a common medium, as long as you know how to make striking artworks with it. Oh, and don’t forget that it’s okay to use more than one medium, you can even combine different mediums if you prefer!

    5.  Anatomy:

More complex, yet falling under the basics of art, anatomy is one of the great topics to explore in art if you’re a budding artist. It provides a fundamental foundation to help you learn about the importance of composition, balance, ratio, and proportion, especially if you are inclined to make realistic artworks. This has been a norm for renaissance artists for them to achieve realism and mannerism of the human movement, hence why their artworks are considered divine– because it shows a pure form of humanity and perfection combined. 

These are just some of the topics to explore in art, but they are highly recommended for beginners. We hope this article helps you in becoming a better artist. Build your artistic knowledge in a simple, yet solid foundation.