5 Things to Do to Pick Up a Good Skill During Lockdown

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We each have hobbies or skills we are trying to work at and develop during these days of lockdown. Personally, I am grateful for this time. For years I've been dreaming of being an artist. I've seen myself whip out my trusty sketchbook and pencil, and after I was done sketching, splash a lot of colour onto the page, and voila! - in seconds I have a master piece!

I am still a long way off from doing that. Right now I have to work a great deal on the skill of 'patience', the skills of 'hard work and practice' and the skill of telling my brain over and over again: Instant is not always good, Creature!

The Husband is, as usual, passionate about his violin; and The Fairies are busy picking up piano skills aided by The Husband with occasional two-paise inputs from this Creature.

So, here's how I have been going about developing my skill so far. And if this happens to work as good advice for you, GREAT!

Thing 1: Identify What Skill You Would Like to Pick Up


Pretty plant.

I had a few things to choose from:
  • embroidery (but that would demand a lot of time with too little to show for it)
  • gardening (hahah! Not even in my dreams! I just like looking at pretty flowers and big, green leaves)
  • paper crafts (I hate gluing things and getting my hands messy!!)
  • cooking (too sweaty)
  • baking (hate measuring)
  • a musical instrument (too complicated for me)
  • writing (Hmmm....start a blog.)
  • journalling (Hmmm....start another blog.)
  • painting (Now THAT's the one I want! -- *see dream above*)
Skill identified? - Painting.
More specifically? - Painting with watercolours.

Thing 2: Schedule Time into Your Day to Work on Your Skill

I choose mornings as soon as I am done with Quiet Time and Tea. It's a lovely time to sketch when the kids are still in bed. 

I also choose afternoons when I want to relax from anything else I have been doing. But this is not regular. I might also end up 'writing' (as I am doing now), or reading a book, or sleeping. 

Thing 3: Watch a Lot of Videos about Your Desired Skill for Inspiration

Talk about covering up mistakes!

I watch plenty of these, and have been doing so for months! A few months ago I was terrified of picking up my paintbrush because I thought I would be hopeless at painting and would just make blobs of messes on every page I touch.

Watching videos taught me that:
  • every sketch I make doesn't have to look good, leave alone be a masterpiece
  • it is okay to make a mess on a page (when showing it to your mum and sister you could just airily tell them -- "Oh. I was just experimenting with the colours. I found I don't quite like this look.")
  • it is okay to be a copy artist; in fact it is absolutely necessary for me to learn how to sketch from photographs and real life! (and if I have a favourite artist or two or three, I could copy them until I grow into my own style)
  • I could have 'good' art days and 'off' art days, and that's okay
I also learnt that:
  • colour swatches and colour theory are a necessary evil
  • when you experiment with mixing water colours you can get some incredible hues
  • all I need to do is "stop watching videos and hit the pages!" 

Thing 4: Practice Makes Perfect (and All that Cliched Stuff that Nobody Wants to Hear)

But yes. I still need to practice, practice, practice, if I want to be an amateur watercolour artist.

self-portraits to experiment with art styles


Thing 5: Check Out Online Tutorials and Classes

I am currently taking a pilot course by a dear friend who is experimenting with taking art classes on Google Classrooms during this season of lockdown. A regular class ensures that you have a routine built into your routine while picking up skills and know-hows in an orderly manner.

Here are a couple of sites you could look into for tutorials and courses:


I also watch a lot of YouTube tutorials, and I am learning to pick my favourite artists or art styles, and be inspired by them. 


How is it going so far, Creature?

Considering this is me, it's going quite well actually! I am learning a lot, and though I get bored very quickly with fixed routines, I have learnt to space out what I do so that each time I sit with my sketch book I'm ready to explore.


Remember: The Key Thing is to Learn what You Like.



Signing out until the next post,
That Creature 



Comments

  1. Unknown18 April 2020 at 18:01

    Now that you've identified your area of interest, I hope you'll hang in there. I'm waiting for a portrait gift this Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  2. boo10 May 2020 at 00:42

    The Key Thing is to Learn what You Like.

    Is it really?! I know I've been forced to cook A LOT during this lock-down, and I know it's not something I particularly like doing! ... but I learnest... *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reads Books and Leaves10 May 2020 at 09:58

      Well...in your case, then, cooking is for survival. And it's work too. But apart from working, what skill would you like to polish or hone or pick up? :D

      Delete

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