Ever Heard of Investing in Yourself?

This may be an unfamiliar idea to you – investing in yourself. Maybe it even sounds selfish. After all, aren’t we supposed to invest our lives in others? Well, yes. But if we aren’t filled up, we don’t have much to give.

When it comes to building a life as an artist, it’s pretty much a solo event. We are fully responsible for what we know and learn.

Let’s talk about what the investments are that artists should make in themselves. Knowledge is the first thing. You remember the saying “Knowledge is power.” Francis Bacon said that. He developed a system for cataloging books in the 17^th century.

INVEST IN BOOKS:

Books are an excellent source of knowledge. You don’t have to buy the most expensive copies available. A good place to search for books is www.addall.com . When I see something interesting on Amazon, I go to AddAll and find the most economical copies available. Once I have it, I begin increasing my understanding by taking notes. Writing information out anchors it in our brains. I have a multitude of notebooks with information from books I have read.

INVEST IN VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

Another way to invest in yourself is to scout out art videos on YouTube. You can watch artists paint and describe all sorts of techniques – and it’s free!

INVEST IN ONLINE CLASSES

How about visiting art museums or taking a class from a local artist? Be sure to check out the art galleries in your city or when you travel abroad. Set aside some money for buying online classes. They are abundant. I am currently enrolled with Paul Foxton who lives in England. His focus is on mixing colors. He uses the Munsell method. I gathered my “invest in yourself” funds and bought the big Munsell book and the course. He has a page on Facebook for his students and presents video instruction on a regular basis.

This is a screen shot of Paul Foxton using the Munsell chip technique. Look him up on Youtube.