As a creative sometimes you can get lost on what to do in art to expand. This blog post will focus on what type of art projects to test out.

Why you should take up art projects

There are various reasons to indulge in doing art projects. Below I have listed the reasons for pursuing art projects.

Builds craft

Taking part in creating art in multiple styles and using different media; makes you grow as an artist. Experience takes time with practice. Artistic projects enable your craft to grow immensely and with more practice you become better as an artist.

Self Esteem

Doing art for a long time and practicing not only makes you better, you become confident as well. The more you get used to using acrylic, oil paint, watercolor, charcoal etc.

Stress Relief

Doing art allows you to relax. Participating in different forms of art therapy such as; joining art classes, using art coloring books etc. can allow for stress release as the final art piece isn’t a center point. The process of flowing with the art and coloring as you release stress is important in art therapy.

According to the Sage Neuroscience Center art therapy assists in offering emotional release. This is turn refers to how when you use either sketch or doodle that it allows for certain emotions to be released such as letting go of hurt or sadness as you color or create.

The website lists some other benefits of art therapy. Click here to check them out.

Art Project to Try

Below is a list of art projects to try out.

Color Based Project

Colour based projects can be portraits that are either monochrome or multicolored based. This type of art project allows for you to play with color and take advantage of experimenting and understanding harmony, balance and how to make effective use of value (lightness and darkness of color) in the art you create.

A way to encourage your creative side could be by doing Single Color Art Exploration that is detailed by What Do We Do All Day website. They suggest making use of single color collage projects being made from different materials that are accessible. Although what is listed on the site is centered towards children, their suggestions may be helpful in taking on color based art projects. Click here for more ways to do color projects.

Media experimentation

In some cases, mixing different media can help you create a new way of exploring your art style.

Gale Jamieson

Gale Jamieson is a mixed media artist who makes art with various materials. She has skills in custom architectural millwork, woodcarving and reproductive antiques. Jamieson’s sculpture “My Mom’s Dress Form” depicts a dressmaker’s form with an ornate golden gown made from straight pins, cardboard and melted beeswax.

This shows a way in which mixed media can be used to create art and tell stories.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was a dominant and influential artist of the 20th century who had invented Collage, made major contributions to Surrealism and pioneered Cubism alongside Georges Braque.

The Art of education University and Smart Art have fuller description and lists of mixed media artists.

Student Art Guide has a list of ways to experiment with media.

Abstract art

Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect.

Tate.org

Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko was an abstract artist who had a major influence on the development of color field painting in abstract expressionism. Rothko’s paintings did change from the 1930s and 1940s; moving from expressionism involving still life, landscapes and bathers to archaic symbols of humans, animals and plants.

The Daily Art Fix has more information of the art he composed.

Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock is and American painter who who influenced abstract expressionist movement in New York alongside Mark Rothko. They focused on creating art that showed emotions rather than look like a particular object. He was widely noticed for his “drip technique” of pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface, enabling him to view and paint his canvases from all angles. It was called all-over painting and action painting, since he covered the entire canvas and used the force of his whole body to paint, often in a frenetic dancing style.

The Artling and Time Out have lists and images of abstract artists work.

Conclusion

Attempting to wrap around the type of art project you want to do may be a lot to handle. Experimenting with different media and projects can assists in your artistic flow. Take a leap and try something new and expand your horizons to grow.