WATCH THE TRAINING BEFORE IT EXPIRES
How to See Like an Artist:
5 Ways Drawing Can Improve Your Art
Learn to draw confidently from life, from image reference, and from your imagination
*PLEASE NOTE: The video below is so good that I don’t even have to remove the tracking controls to get you to watch the whole thing 😉
Got questions? DM me here on Instagram. Talk soon!
To the artist feeling stuck in their studio, whose work doesn’t match their vision…
What if you could live a life where creating unique art was not merely a hobby or interest… but a way of life?
You’ve got a thirst for learning all the things. And you’re already making space in your home and time for your art.
Problem is, you feel like you’re all over the place with your art. You want to make unique art that leaves a mark, that your great grandkids stumble over in the attic one day in surprise and excitement.
So you can get rid of the hole you feel inside and fully express who you are to the world through your art.
But this question of what’s next stands in your way…
5 telltale signs you have art simmering inside of you seeking a way to bust out
⇒ You yearn to create art that people instantly recognize as yours. But more often than not, you feel more like a photocopier than the artist you know you can be.
⇒ You’re a self-proclaimed starter-finisher. You step into projects lit up and excited to bring your vision to life — but along the way, you lose faith in your process and can’t quite figure out why it doesn’t quite look how you wanted it to.
⇒ You see people creating art and getting attention for it, or spot unique art on Instagram and think, “I can do what they’re doing. Why can’t that be me?”
⇒ You’ve literally made space in your home to make art, but find yourself procrastinating or even avoiding your studio. When you get in there you stare at your canvas thinking, “what’s next?”
⇒ You know deep down that art is part of who you are. But you can’t quite bring yourself to show up regularly for your art. There’s a part of you that worries, “Is this as good as I will ever be?”
If ANY of that’s true for you…
You don’t need to feel overwhelmed or relearn everything.
What you need is a guide to help you improve your skill, build a practice, and create art that’s uniquely yours.
So you can make people happy with your art. And fulfill your calling to be an artist.
Introducing…
Self-Taught to Self-Confident
The art school for self-taught artists who have been waiting to create the art they dream of making and share it with others.
I’ve taken everything I’ve learned during two decades of teaching art, creating and exhibiting my own art… and turned it into this one-stop shop for creatives ready to step into their artistic voice and begin exploring their own unique ideas for their art.
So you can stop feeling like you “want” to be an artist and loudly and proudly claim that you ARE an artist.
Get confident with your skill to start taking risks and explore new ideas with your art
No more making art that doesn’t match the picture in your mind. Now you can feel confident using assorted techniques and media to communicate your ideas.
Because I will show you a path to improving your skill in a way that’s aligned with your personal goals for your art.
Imagine having all the skill you need to create the art you picture in your mind
It’s your calling to make people happy with your art. You no longer cringe when people ask to see your work. Now you have confidence and vision: you’re working in series and exploring many ideas and materials.
You aren’t boxed in the way you thought. Instead you have the freedom to fully express yourself through your art.
Create your first series of art that comes completely from you
Ever wondered how to create original art without having to stick to one idea, one medium, or one style for your whole life? I’ll show you how.
You’ll be amazed how rich and fulfilling life gets when you know this little-practiced secret.
Turn your sporadic time in the studio, wondering what’s next for your art… into time that is meaningful, productive, and reflects your unique voice
Something still feels missing despite endless paint-like-me classes, YouTube, and Pinterest tutorials. Let’s turn that hodgepodge of learning into a clear path to becoming a practicing artist.
Because art isn’t just a hobby or profession, it’s a way of life.
I have gone through feeling like I WANT to be an artist to knowing that I AM an artist.
I have started developing the skills that help me realize my vision and create unique artwork.
I understand better how to listen to feedback and stay on the course while setting aside criticism that isn’t helpful to me as an individual.
Carrie is a valuable asset to my art practice, and I am glad she provides so many opportunities to learn from her.
“She Rises” by Tia Sunshine
Self-Taught to Self-Confident is brought to you by Carrie Brummer, Artist and Art Teacher
When my journey began, I was teaching art to high school students, wondering if my skill was limiting their art. There was no discussion around skill development. We learned techniques in college but it was like we either “had it” or “not.”
I also felt like I had nothing to say in my art. Would I ever have artwork I was proud to share with others, that reflected my unique voice and style, that made me stand out?
My ideas were all over the place and I got excited by every new shiny art supply. (I could probably still start my own art supply store – ha!) And I had no mentors, no peers and felt completely alone trying to figure out my art.
Read more here
Then, I found myself sitting in the basement of my sister’s house, waiting for scheduled brain surgery. Knowing it may be my last time making art I finally let go and made art straight from my heart.
Those works were selected as finalists in a US Nationwide competition that included a two year tour of galleries and included stops at The Smithsonian and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Award Winning Artwork by Carrie Brummer, exhibited at the Smithsonian
This inspired me to start researching skill development, creative process and accountability. How can I show up more for my art? What steps can I take to improve my skill so I can achieve the results I picture in my mind? How do I overcome the perfectionism that seems ingrained in me and be comfortable with the discomfort of learning and growth?
That’s when I discovered work around habit and building expertise. I finally had a clear path to reach for whatever skills I needed to make the art I feel called to create. I no longer worried if the art I made was as good as it would ever become.
And now I’m out there making original art I’m proud to share with family and friends. My definition of success includes exhibiting my art and I’ve been doing that all over the world. And this whole time I’ve also been teaching others to find their unique voice so they too can share it with others. Together we make this world a better place when we fill it with our art.
What I loved the most was your authentic and honest way of listening to my questions and giving your feedback… I feel that you care and you have helped me to stay focused.
You are amazing and a true gift for all artists!
Carrie does a wonderful job of asking questions and helping me to “see” things that I had previously missed.
I attribute a significant amount of my drawing abilities to Carrie and the feedback I received from her.
Carrie is my favorite “go to” teacher when I get stuck on a painting or it just seems off. Her critique always is spot on.
I have been able to finish several paintings I might have given up on thanks to her critique.
When you enroll in Self-Taught to Self-Confident, you’ll get access to my comprehensive system to move you through the three phases of artistic expression: Sharpen Your Skills, Developing a Creative Practice, and Creating Original Art.
This is paired with accountability measures and a supportive feedback experience to make sure you have all the tools, techniques, and confidence to become the artist you are meant to be.
What’s Inside Self-Taught to Self-Confident
Sharpen Your Skills
To build your skill, you need to know which techniques to practice.
Module 1 is an introduction to the foundational skills that will help you draw and paint what you imagine.
By the end of this module, you will be familiar with foundational drawing techniques that you can use to practice building skill.
Training Your Eyes to See
Highlights:
- The one thing most artists miss when working from photo reference
- Three common mistakes made by newer artists
- Special tricks to help you train your artist eyes
Elements of Art
Highlights:
- Why art theory helps improve your art
- Practice activities so you know how to use each element of art
- How different techniques convey different elements of art
Sharpen Your Skills
Here is when we fill the greatest of your learning gaps.
This module will introduce you to the true building blocks of making art. You will learn how to consciously use each element to make powerful art.
By the end of Module 2 you will have both the tools and the theory to start applying your newfound skill and knowledge to create stronger art.
Sharpen Your Skills
You’ll learn how to use the Principles of Art to create stronger art.
By the end of Module 3, you will understand how techniques, Elements and Principles of art work together with composition to create skillful art.
Understanding Composition
Highlights:
- Best practices for working with an image reference
- How a kind of fun and quick planning can pay big dividends for your finished work
- A method of laying out your composition invented by Renaissance masters
In Addition to the Program Content, Enjoy Weekly Check-Ins:
Not only do you enjoy weekly Zoom calls where you can get feedback on your art, you also get weekly prompts to help guide your questions, make the most of your feedback experience, and follow through with your art goals.
These never expire or require payment to renew, which means weekly access to a mentor for as long as the program is run.
(We believe in consent, being in service of the artist and the work, and honoring the need for affirmation and validation as part of the process.)
Use these coaching sessions to:
- get specific feedback for a work in progress
- get actionable next steps tailored to where YOUR skill is
- practice giving and receiving feedback to inform artistic decisions
- get questions answered about any of the program content
Still Life, Landscapes, and People
Highlights:
- The one kind of perspective artists often forget
- How a specific kind of space can transform your portraits
- Different ways to make a more compelling still life
Sharpen Your Skills
Learn the unique ways techniques apply to different subject matter.
This module will help you explore still life, landscape and people as a means to practice and further develop your skill. You will learn subject specific techniques that help you create better still lifes, landscapes and portraits.
By the end of Module 4 you will begin to connect how all of the practices inform your art. You’ll realize the power of training our eyes to see like an artist.
Develop a Practice
In this Phase you will unpack what it means to have a practice, and how you can create a practice that suits you, your life, and your goals
By the end of this module you will have set up a system to show up regularly for your art, decide what to practice in terms of skill development, and start exploring larger art projects in your preferred medium.
How to Make More Art
Highlights:
- Skip the crazy complicated planners and learn a simple 5-minute process for prioritizing art (and life!) goals
- Apply Phase 1 learnings to your preferred medium
- Walk you through the process of answering the question, “what’s next for my art?”
How to Create Your Own Art Style
Highlights:
- Uncover two methods to recognize and step into your unique artist voice
- Enjoy a clear vision for exploring all the ideas and materials you enjoy
- See how style doesn’t have to be limiting, but instead can set you free
Finding Your Voice
Phase 3 centers on the development of our artistic voice. By the end of this module you will have step-by-step methods for exploring ideas and giving voice to the inspirations that drive your work.
You will begin to recognize what makes your art uniquely yours and start working in series to convey that vision.
I’ve only been painting for a little over 5 years, and Carrie has been with me for most of that journey.
I’m adding images of paintings during my journey, early, mid & recent:
Thanks so much for your time, Carrie.
I was just telling my husband that your class has been one of the best investments we’ve made in our married life.
I think it is an excellent program. I like the topics discussed as well as the short videos.
I also favor your approach of making participants feel comfortable with their different levels of art skills.
get INSTANT ACCESS to these gamechanging bonuses!
Personalized Onboarding Experience
Have you ever signed up for an online class only to get so frustrated with sign ins and posting comments that you didn’t actually finish the program?
I host these events weekly to support new students.
You will sign in and set up everything on any device you prefer to consume the course on and make sure it all works with me at your side. This way we can troubleshoot and walk through any place you feel confused or stuck.
I refuse to let technology hold you back from having this transformation. You signed up to be part of Self-Taught to Self-Confident and I’m going to make sure you get to make the most of it.
Private Community OFF Social Media
For years I hosted a FB community that was quite engaged and active. I held one for all Artist Strong community members and one separate one for Self-Taught to Self-Confident students.
And yet, we all wanted for more. Many people didn’t want to get lost in their social media feeds and get distracted from actual studio time. And it felt like a constant hustle to check in, to make sure we didn’t miss anything, only to be distracted again and again when we did show up.
Others felt like those distractions brought them down emotionally and psychologically.
I wanted something different. Something slower, a place where we consciously spend time in a way to connect, share and keep ourselves accountable to our goals.
Personalized Practice Plan
Research by psychologist Anders Ericsson talks a lot about what it takes to become an expert in your field. His work led to the popular “10,000 hours rule.”
Here’s the thing: you don’t actually need 10,000 hours. That isn’t what his research concluded, but how it was misconstrued.
And while we may not be training to be Olympic level athletes, anyone can use his research to improve their skill in something they care about.
That is why a personalized practice plan is so important: it’s the method by which you can assess your strengths and areas for improvement and actively measure your growth.
You can SEE how much you’re improving. Now that’s motivation.
Common Mistakes Artists Make
One common mistake people make when exploring the human face for the first time is putting the eyes in their forehead rather than in the middle of their head. Our hair often covers a lot of our head and it has us misunderstand where the eyes actually are placed within our anatomy.
There are common mistakes as we train our eyes to see with greater accuracy and detail and knowing them will help you better bring your art to life.
You don’t know what you don’t know. And that’s why I created this bonus module.
Series to Sales
People assume making art is expensive. Materials are expensive, etc. And yet I know so many artists who worked with the materials they had accessible to them across art history.
Jen Stark could only afford construction paper, but that opened the door to a thriving career.
Paul Klee worked with gouache and often painted on cardboard.
For this program all you need are the supplies you already use, a pencil, paper and a way to take pictures of those exercises to get feedback from me.
But I wanted to take this one step further, and help you earn back your investment in this program.
So when someone asked me what I would do if I were getting started selling my art all over again, these are the exact steps I would use.
Anatomy of an Artwork
How do I start an artwork?
What planning should I do?
When should I get feedback?
How do I know when it’s finished?
A lot of beginners or self-taught artists seem to believe there is one right way to make a successful artwork, this guide is to prove otherwise.
Artists across history have had different approaches to all steps of creating an artwork and in this guide I will show you how they did it, and how it may inform your art.
Get curious about which process might be best for your medium and the vision you have for your art.
Self-Taught to Self-Confident
The art school for self-taught artists who are ready to make art something that’s more than a hobby or profession, but a way of life.
SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS ⇒
MODULE 1: Developing Skill
MODULE 2: Elements of Art
MODULE 3: Composition
MODULE 4: Still Life, Landscapes, and People
DEVELOP A PRACTICE ⇒
MODULE 5: How to Make More Art
FINDING YOUR VOICE ⇒
MODULE 6: How to Create Your Own Art Style
Skip the cost of art school and get all the skills, theory, and support you need to create and share your unique art with the world.
My alma mater? Today the cost for one year’s tuition is $84,000.
The cost of attending ONE year of a local community college is over $19,000 USD (and that’s if you commute).
Usually $2,200 USD but for a limited time…
6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS of
$300
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$1800
INSTANT ACCESS. 100% money-back guarantee.
Wow! Big difference in letting go of outlining and drawing value.
Pic on left was before and pic on right was after listening to Carrie’s lesson.
Carrie’s patient guidance has been so amazing! I LOVED the 10-Day challenge and am now doing Self-Taught to Self-Confident – I highly recommend it –
I can feel it unlocking that artist I’ve had locked away for so long!”
Self-Taught to Self-Confident is right for you if…
✔ You are feeling stuck, unsure of how yet another tutorial or paint-like-me class is going to help you achieve your goals.
✔ You have a strong knowing that you can be better. You’re ready to embrace the discomfort that comes with learning and growth and step into the artist you are meant to be!
✔ You know mentorship and peer support can take your work to the next level. You’ve been looking for something that you feel is missing in your work and you’re not wasting another minute doing this alone. It’s time for results.
Self-Taught to Self-Confident may NOT be right for you if…
✘ You don’t care about developing a style or creating a larger body of work.
✘ You don’t have 15 minutes a day for your art.
✘ You’re not open to trying new methods or systems to get results.
✘ You expect change overnight.
✘ You only explore non-objective abstraction and have no interest in drawing or painting with any level of realism.
Don’t you think it’s time you become the artist you are meant to be?
6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS of
$300
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$1800
INSTANT ACCESS. 100% money-back guarantee.
STUDENT WORK
Work by Elsie Gray
Work by Kevin Gilmartin
Click any one of the unmissable red buttons on this page:
You’ll get whisked to a 100% secure checkout page:
Access the course via your shiny new confirmation email:
Start making the art you’ve dreamed of making!
YES I’m ready to make art I’m proud to share with others
6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS of
$300
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$1800
INSTANT ACCESS. 100% money-back guarantee.
Backed by TWO money-back guarantees!
7 days = no questions asked
I’m SO confident you’re gonna LOVE Self-Taught to Self-Confident that this program comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
By the end of these 7 days, you’ll have received access to the first module. Meaning, you’ll have had the opportunity to:
- address your mindset,
- create a way to measure your growth, and
- be introduced to a variety of techniques
BEFORE making a final commitment.
If you don’t feel totally confident and motivated by your skill and your ability to grow, simply reach out and we’ll refund your investment… AND…
6 months = I pay YOU back
If after 6-months of showing up for the lessons and weekly check-ins you don’t see any improvement in your skill or confidence I will pay YOU back the money you’ve invested.
Because I know when you do the work, you see results.
Got Qs? I’ve got As!
How much time do I need for the course?
You have lifetime access to the program. That way, you can devise your own weekly or daily time commitment that suits the life you lead, not the one you hope to live someday. I’ve seen students make huge strides with a daily drawing commitment of 15 minutes. Other people have made weekly commitments for chunks of time.
Inside the program I walk you through 3 calendar options where you can plan how you engage with the curriculum in either 3, 6 or 12 month time periods.
What materials will I need?
In Phase 1 of the program you will need a pencil (any type, I’m not picky), A4 or letter sized paper, a printer to print out image references and a camera to take photos of your art to share and get feedback from me and your peers.
If you want, you can have an HB or 2B pencil and one 4B, 5B or 6B pencil. This is optional, but will help with your values in your drawings.
My personal practice is that the quality of material comes later. Let’s work with what we have!
In Phase 2 and 3 of the program you begin to explore the ideas you have for your art and choose the media that most excite you.
Student Work
You can check out student work and some of the lesson activities >>by clicking here.<<
What tech skills do I need?
The course is entirely hosted on platform called Teachable. You will need to log into Teachable to access your course videos, which you can download or stream.
Our community space is also provided by Teachable and is accessible by a single click.
Our Weekly Check-Ins will be hosted using Zoom and you can join with video, audio or only with chat.
In order for me (and your peers) to offer you quality feedback I will need quality photographs for you to post in our community. This means taking photos in decent light and square to the camera lens (which can be your tablet or phone). I teach how to do this inside the first modules of the program.
After enrolling in the program you will be asked to sign up for an onboarding call. On this Zoom call we will walk through signing up for the Weekly Check-Ins, how to post in the community, within the course, and anything else we need to cover to ensure your success inside the program.
If you get frustrated enough to throw your art supplies through your screen after one tech bump in the road, an online course may not be a good fit for you.
If you are willing to be persistent and patient in the face of tech difficulties (while still thinking about breaking the silly computer) I’m here to help.
What if I’m completely new to drawing?
Here’s the thing: EVERYONE can benefit from this program. Self Taught to Self-Confident is designed to help anyone at any level, be better at drawing. It will help you grow, no matter what your current skill level is, and it is designed to help you continue to grow and improve in your skill for as long as you create.
Sometimes complete beginners feel intimidated by the different skill levels they observe in our Q&As and on our posts. EVERYONE has started where you are, but if that is too vulnerable for you it may be better to wait and join after you have some practice under your belt.
There is research out there that suggests surrounding yourself with people you admire (their skill or their achievements) and I assure you, there is no better group of humans to show up and share your art with than the lovely people who sign up for Self-Taught to Self-Confident.
How will this help me as an abstract artist?
The abstract artists I’ve worked with in the past have shared a similar interest and concern: they worry their limited drawing skill holds them back from making their best art.
I firmly assert that drawing foundations inform ALL art.
If you feel like learning gaps are limiting your work, let’s fill those gaps and get you back to your canvas, where you can confidently express yourself as an abstract artist.
Why not invest in another online program?
Most online art programs take the approach of “paint or draw like me.” The teachers introduce techniques they use in their specific medium and style and show you how they paint or draw.
This is a great way to learn new skills and if you feel called to take other classes go for it. Find the teachers and lessons that speak to you. But if you want a system of learning you can use and apply to all of your art, for the rest of your life, this is the course for you. You can apply these same ideas to any medium.
What if I change my mind?
Self-Taught to Self-Confident is the most comprehensive, step-by-step skill-building program for artists excited and committed to building their skill and developing their unique artist voice.
By the end of these 7-days, you’ll have received access to the first module.
Meaning, you’ll have had the opportunity to address your mindset and create a way to measure your growth (and a plan of attack) BEFORE making a final commitment.
If you don’t feel totally confident and motivated by your drawing skill (and your ability to grow), simply reach out, show us you’ve put in the work, and we’ll refund your investment.
I’m still not sure if I’m a good fit?
If you’ve read this far, something about the program resonates with you. Email me Carrie@ArtistStrong.com to talk about it.
Let’s help you get the results in your art you’ve always dreamed of!
You might be surprised to hear this:
I don’t really care if you are good at drawing or other fundamentals.
What actually concerns me is you,
confidently making the art you were put on this planet to make.
A lot of people say to me, “I don’t want to be an artist Carrie, and I have no plans to sell my art.
I just want to be able to draw a family member for a gift, or draw something in front of people and not feel embarrassed.”
Self-Taught to Self-Confident will definitely help you realize these goals. It has for others. But something else happens, too.
You realize you’ve always been an artist.
I won’t drown you in bundles of art classes that you can’t possibly finish. And I can’t promise you that this happens overnight.
But I can promise you this:
This is a transformation that moves you from a creative who “dabbles” in art or feels “all over the place” with their style to
confidently making decisions about your art and creative life as a practicing artist (whether your goal is to draw family members or make abstract art to sell).
And if all that fails, you’ve got 7-days to try out the program and hop on a Weekly Check-In while you are still covered by my 100% money-back guarantee.
So what’ve you really got to lose?
Remember: proudly call yourself an artist.
Together we are Artist Strong.
Carrie
Self-Taught to Self-Confident
The art school for self-taught artists who are ready to make art something that’s more than a hobby or profession, but a way of life.
SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS ⇒
MODULE 1: Developing Skill
MODULE 2: Elements of Art
MODULE 3: Composition
MODULE 4: Still Life, Landscapes, and People
DEVELOP A PRACTICE ⇒
MODULE 5: How to Make More Art
FINDING YOUR VOICE ⇒
MODULE 6: How to Create Your Own Art Style
Skip the cost of art school and get all the skills, theory, and support you need to create and share your unique art with the world.
My alma mater? Today the cost for one year’s tuition is $84,000.
The cost of attending ONE year of a local community college is over $19,000 USD (and that’s if you commute).
Usually $2,200 USD but for a limited time…
6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS of
$300
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$1800
INSTANT ACCESS. 100% money-back guarantee.
STUDENT WINS
I noticeably improved my drawing skills and I built up a habit of drawing almost every day. I gained confidence that has allowed me to begin doing field sketching in public.
I highly recommend this course for all artists!