The Hobby Handbook – 6 Tips For Picking Up a Creative Passtime as an Adult

So you’ve decided to get creative with life and have chosen to pick up an artistic hobby, good for you! It’s never too late or too early to try to learn something. The arts are a hard thing to pick up but fortunately there are places that are willing to teach you. There are many drama schools and painting or drawing classes you can go to. If you are trying to pick up an instrument, you can walk into a great Melbourne music shop where they can help you find whatever you need to help you get started.

If you are serious about getting creative as an adult, but aren’t really sure where to start, get abstract! I mean, get creative! Here are some tips for you to channel your inner artist as an adult.

Research

Whatever creative passion you have found yourself stuck in you are going to want to do some research on it. If you are musician research different instruments, learn how to read sheet music, find out which brands are the best.

For artists such as painting or drawing you’ll want to learn a bit more about what colours work together, what paints go on what materials, what different types of mediums you can use. There is so much to learn about the arts so if you are willing to learn, you will have loads of fun researching and trying new things out.

Get passionate

The arts is something you really want to lose yourself in, if you’re not committed or passionate about it, it probably won’t interest you that much and you may find yourself losing interest pretty quickly. Find something that really sparks a fire inside you and roll with it.

Classes

No matter where you live, there are tonnes of classes in any of the arts everywhere, if you look hard enough you may even find free workshops to go to. Attend as many classes as you can or want to so you can learn firsthand how to do something and so you can ask as many questions as you need. If you don’t have the money or time to attend classes, you can find heaps of free videos on the internet which will give you tips and tutorials.

Practise

It’s an annoying phrase but practice definitely does make perfect, especially with the arts.

If you put your head down and really try your hardest with whichever creative path you have chosen you will start to pick things up. Learn your own style and experiment with new things; nothing is wrong or right when it comes to art so feel free to mess around until you find something you like.

Don’t give up

As an adult you may get a lot of people telling you to give up or laughing at you, don’t listen to them. You are never too old to pick something up and start learning, if it makes you happy, do it. Those within the creative community will welcome you with open arms.

Don’t be shy

Don’t be shy with it, be proud! If you’re given the opportunity, show your friends and family what you have learnt or what you have created, they may love it or even have some constructive criticism that will help you down the track.

The arts have always, and probably will always be, challenging.

If you’re starting anything for the first time it’s not always going to be easy. Take your time, get inspired, and remember to just go with the flow of what makes you happy.