Tip 2: From a Professional Artist to the Aspiring Teen Artist
08 July 2025
Tip 5: From a Professional Artist to the Aspiring Teen Artist
Artists Giving Advice on Things They Wish They Knew When They Were Teens
Artist: Ndumiso Nyoni: Multimedia Designer/ Illustrator
Art Links: @Ndumiso_Nyoni
Research
Someone once explained this To me as developing your "critical eye". In other words, being able to create a library of art that you can reference and analyse.
The analysis will teach you to identify what makes an art piece good or bad. To do this you need to constantly look at art. This will allow you to be able to analyse your own work and make adjustments that will take an average art piece and make it great.
Tip: I highly recommend saving the reference you find in a folder or on a board on Pinterest and remember to keep adding to it and analysing it regularly.
Building Portfolio
When I was younger, I struggled with putting work aside for my portfolio. But ever since I started sharing my work online and on social media, I found it easier to not only keep track of all my work, but it also provided a progress board where could always go back and see how my work has improved from one project to the next.
Portfolios are a great way of showing the world what you can do, and having a diverse and professional portfolio is a sure way to attract potential clients and collaborators.
Motivation
When I was younger, one of the illustrators I looked up to once told me that in order to create work that the world would love, I would need to love the work myself.
This taught me two things:
- Never put out work that you aren't proud of
- Be your own biggest fan.
Self Doubt
It's important to appreciate your own work.
Whenever you can, take a step back and look at the work you have created.
As artists, we tend to look to the world for validation, but the world looks at us as trendsetters and innovators, so we can't always expect the world to instantly appreciate our work, especially if the work explores new forms of creativity.
