5 Ways To Be Daring in Your Artistry

Today, I’m providing suggestions and inspiration from the aA Creative Team, for busting through your fears, with 5 Ways To Be Daring in Your Artistry.

5 Ways To Be Daring in Your Artistry

 It happens to us all and more often than you think.

• Every week I get emails or messages from artists and scrapbookers.
• Some are terrified to post layouts, others want to be more daring in their art practice

They ALL share the same fear and this prevents them from achieving their goals.

Art is Live | Miki

You can change your perception of fear.

• And this can have a positive impact on your art.
• Use it as a vehicle to get you where you want to be.
• When you step outside your comfort zone, and find yourself in a place of discomfort…

This is exactly where you need to be to experience growth.

Eldorado Canyon | Ulla-May

Fear quickly dissipates when faced head on.

• Every time you step outside your comfort zone, you grow a little more as a person and artist, helping you develop both confidence and style.
• Figuring out what works, what you like, and don’t, is EXACTLY how you elevate your artistry and evolve as an artist or scrapbooker.

See below 5 Ways To Be Daring in Your Artistry suggestions to get you started.

NOLA | Anna

‘The purpose of this layout was to practice using Smart Objects and some new-to-me Filters as part of my research for a possible upcoming class.’

2) Learn New Techniques

• Try out a new technique in Adobe Photoshop or Elements to grow your artistry skills.
• Along with learning how to use new tools in Adobe Photoshop and Elements, you can experiment with different ways to use them, adding a variety of new techniques to your creative arsenal.

For example, explore one of the following in your next layout:

• Follow a tutorial
• Watch a video
• Take a class
• Be inspired by the aA Creative Team

Sam’s Gap | Lindy

“There is always something new to learn in Photoshop and the Creative Team Tutorials are a perfect place to find new tips and tricks.

• I’ve always admired Barbara’s use of curled edges to add dimension to her artsy pages, and I had never even heard of If Blending, so this Easy Curled Edges and Blend If tutorial was perfect for inspiration and learning a new creative trick.”

Ojai | Viv

“I studied two tutorials on Anna’s blog, Adryane’s Cut Out Title and Miki’s One Little Word, to learn some new effects.

• I was able to create my own Artsy Paper background by clipping Fotoblendz Overlays to each layer, and use the inverted mask method to brush in part of my image, before using a ModGrunge FotoBlendz clipping mask with a Hard Light Blending Mode to create a highly processed look.
• I also learned how to create a composite layer and to create a text look using layer masks and a drop shadow effect.”

3) Play with DigitalART Supplies

Play with different DigitalART supplies and experiment with different ways of using them.

Aim to select DigitalART supplies that you would not usually gravitate toward and look for unique ways of using them.

For example, explore one of the following in your next layout:

• Apply Blending Modes or Filters to Embellishments.
• Mask Elements to make modifications.
• Clip Transfers/Brushes/Overlays to FotoBlendz Clipping Masks

4) Use Different Colors

Deviate from your usual color and try an alternative shade or hue.

• Colors for your layouts should always be based on the the predominant colors in your photo, and not the ones that you notice first.
• These former hues tend to be neutral in nature, while the latter provide the opportunity to have a little fun in terms of embellishment.
• Take the opportunity to have fun with color be leaning towards shades and hues you would not usually select.

For example, explore one of the following in your next layout:

• Select a dark background instead of a light, or vice versa.
• Add splashes of bright colors on your pages to support those eye-catching hues.
• Work with a black and white photo to have access to a complete gamut of color options.

Night Photography | Linda

“I rarely ever use a dark background, but in this case a near black background provided better contrast with the flowers captured at a night photography class.

• I also adapted a template, recoloring the layers white and changing the Blending Modes.“

5) Challenge Yourself

Participate in Challenges to push you outside your comfort zone.

• Challenges provide inspiration, ideas and encouragement for pushing you outside your comfort zone and trying something new.
• There is one weekly AnnaLift challenge hosted by Christy, and a bi-weekly AnnaColor Challenge, organized by Adryane.
• You will also find these challenges, as well as a number of others, in The Forums at Oscraps.Earn Your Cocoa | Laura

“This layout was my ‘lift’ of a heritage design by ValeJules, where vintage photos of men in uniform were artfully arranged across the page.

• Since I don’t have a stockpile of my own heritage photos, I challenged myself to interpret the graphic feel of the page in a contemporary way (using photos of my son on a recent snowboarding trip).
• I struggle with extractions and so I also challenged myself to create a seamless flow by blending my photos together using layer masks and blending brushes instead of more traditional extraction methods.”

This is Mary | Adryane

“I did this page for the February 2018 art journaling challenge at Oscraps.

• The challenge was challenging! I played with this page for a week before posting it.”

Getting Started?

Start with just one technique, tool or challenge.

• Pick one of the 5 Ways To Be Daring in Your Artistry suggestions outlined above.
• Experiment with it, see if you like it or not.
• Possibly master it, choose to incorporate it, or not.
• Then move to a new challenge.
• Rome was not built in a day.
• One layout at a time, you will add to your repertoire of favorites, that create artistry in a way that is unique to you.

Aim to replace fear with faith.

Fear can prevent us from moving forward, but faith can most certainly get us there.