From Hobby to Skill: Turning Creativity Into Something Real.

Some of you see applied arts as a hobby. A hobby is something you do in order to relax, pass your free time, escape your daily routine. Of course, it is absolutely fine, but applied arts can give you much more. They can become a skill, a personal brand, or even your future profession. But how to turn a hobby into a skill?

First of all, the line between a hobby and a skill is quite thin. It depends on your regularity. If you tried something once, it is a hobby. If you return to this activity from time to time, it becomes a skill. It is because of the same reason. If you do something once, you don’t dig deep. If you return to this activity from time to time, you can notice more details, master your techniques, and develop your personal style. What is new to you, becomes familiar.

One of the reasons why applied arts can easily be turned into a skill, is that you have a real practice. You don’t just consume theoretical information about how to be creative. You build your creativity. You have a real practical task, which requires some skills and knowledge. In the process, you learn something new, you develop your patience, precision, problem-solving skills, etc. It means that with time you become a professional in a certain area.

The second reason is that it is easy to track your progress. In some activities, it is hard to notice your progress. In applied arts, it is easy. You see your first art pieces and compare them with your recent works. It is an incredible feeling and a great motivation for further learning.

The third reason is that there are a lot of freedoms in applied arts. You are not limited by anything. You can combine different techniques, try different materials, and experiment with ideas. You have a great space to explore what you like and what you are good at.

It is incredible how many opportunities you have when you become more experienced. You start creating gifts for your friends and family. You share your art on social media and get followers. You sell your art pieces and earn some extra money. You participate in exhibitions and competitions and get recognition.

Unfortunately, the major obstacle to start something new is your own doubt. Many of my students say that they are not talented enough, or it is too late to start. Applied arts is not about talent. It is about practice. You can do it when you start doing it.

In AppliedArtSkill, I help my students to overcome their doubts. I do not overwhelm them with theory. I provide them with steps that lead to the result. Students learn through their practice. They do, make mistakes and improve. This is the way to build a real skill.

The next important thing is the community. When you see that other students like you learn, experiment and improve, you feel more comfortable to continue. You see that you are not alone, that everybody starts from scratch and that your progress is possible. Creativity is not so scary anymore. It becomes fun.

Finally, I would like to say that turning a hobby into a skill is not about stress and pressure. It is about doing, trying and allowing yourself to grow. Applied arts provide you with this opportunity. You create, improve and build something that is a reflection of you.

And who knows? Maybe one day your hobby will turn into something bigger.