If you are a true do-it-yourselfer like I am, you probably believe that you can do just about anything you put your mind to. You might even think that you can do it just as well, or even better than the professionals. That’s the way I am, and I have to admit that this attitude has gotten me into some trouble over the years. When I moved into my first apartment I couldn’t afford any decorations, so I tried to make them all myself. Some of my projects were pretty cool and some were pretty awful. Over the years I’ve discovered what works for me and what doesn’t. One thing I’ve learned is to approach each new do-it-yourself art project in a more methodical way. Methodical art? Does that even make sense? Well I think it does. It’s not sanitized, it’s just organized. Here’s what I’m talking about. It’s my four step approach to successful do-it-yourself art.
Step 1: Research and Learn
Before diving into a new art project, you should do some research to learn how it’s done. Sometimes there are two or three simple tricks that can mean the difference between success and failure. If you’re planning a faux painting project, buy a detailed book that you can study carefully before you begin. If you’d like to paint your own oil paintings, order a DVD painting program, or follow a step-by-step painting guide on the internet. Learning to paint is a great joy, but it’s not as easy as you might think.
Step 2: Experiment and Learn
Don’t jump right into a real project that you care about. Allow yourself to make mistakes and enjoy the learning process. Start with some experimental pieces and work your way up to the real thing. If you start out expecting great results, it can be very discouraging when you fail. Take it slow and learn as you go.
Step 3: Start Small and Learn
Michelangelo didn’t start out by painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (over 10,000 square feet), and you shouldn’t start out with an overwhelming large project either. Start with something fairly small and learn as you go. The big projects will come with time.
Step 4: Just Do It (and Learn)
So far we’ve taken things slowly and learned along the way, but there comes a time when you just need to go for it. You can’t research, experiment and start small forever. When you feel fairly comfortable with what you’re doing, it’s time to Just Do It! Plan out a real project using the knowledge and skills you’ve gained during the first three steps. This is it. It’s GO Time! And remember; don’t expect your first project to be perfect. It takes time, patience, practice and more practice to become a great artist. Stick with it and keep learning.
Example Project
I recently decorated my bedroom with some awesome wall decals. The stickers I put up are beautiful artistic floral pattern wall decals with many delicate thin branches, leaves and flowers. The tiny sections were very intimidating and they threatened to turn my project into a horrid nightmare. I followed my 4 step plan to success, and the wall decals look fantastic.
Step 1: I read articles and watched videos on how to apply wall decals. I also carefully read the instructions several times.
Step 2 and 3: I took some of the small pieces and experimented with them. How well do they stick to my walls? Can they be repositioned? What happens if they get twisted? I created many small controlled disasters and learned how to recover from each.
Step 4: This is the biggie! These wall decals were intimidating and complicated. I was afraid, but the confidence I had gained during steps 1 through 3 helped me to bite the bullet and tackle the monster. Everything went smoothly and the project was a success.
What I’ve described here is not rocket science, and it’s mostly just common sense. When you try something new, don’t forget to spend some time and effort on each step of the process. If you take your time and learn as you go, your DIY art projects will turn out great.
Go ahead and express yourself …. All over the place!
