25 mistakes to avoid when making art

Different materials require different paper surfaces. Alcohol markers can bleed through thin paper, while coloured pencils struggle to build layers on very smooth paper.

➽ Choosing unsuitable paper can affect colour, texture, and durability.

Heavy pressure creates grooves in the paper that are difficult to erase or draw over. It can also make shading appear harsh and limit the ability to create smooth tonal transitions.

➽ Use a lighter, more controlled pencil grip and build up tones gradually with multiple light layers rather than pressing hard. Practicing pressure control helps prevent grooves in the paper, allows easier corrections, and produces smoother, more even shading with subtle tonal transitions. Choosing a softer pencil grade (such as 2B–4B) can also create darker values without requiring excessive pressure.

Graphite and charcoal sit on the paper's surface and can easily smear. Resting your hand directly on the drawing can unintentionally blur details and make the work appear messy.

➽ Place a clean sheet of paper, tracing paper, or a drawing guard under your hand while working to prevent direct contact with the drawing surface. Work from top to bottom (or left to right if right-handed, right to left if left-handed) to reduce the chance of smudging. Applying a light coat of fixative between stages or after completion can also help secure graphite and charcoal, keeping details sharp and the artwork clean.

Constant erasing damages paper fibres, making the surface rough and less able to accept new marks. It can also leave shiny patches that affect shading.

➽ Plan and sketch lightly to minimise the need for frequent corrections. When adjustments are necessary, use a kneaded eraser to gently lift graphite instead of aggressively rubbing the paper. Erase only the required areas and avoid repeated erasing in the same spot. This helps preserve the paper's surface, prevents shiny patches, and maintains a smooth texture for further shading and detail work.

Markers can soak through paper unexpectedly. Failing to test first may ruin both the artwork and any sheets underneath.

➽ Always test markers on a scrap piece of the same paper before applying them to the final artwork. This allows you to check for bleed-through, feathering, and colour intensity. Using marker paper or placing a protective sheet underneath the drawing can also prevent damage to other pages and ensure cleaner, more controlled results.

Some inks fade significantly when exposed to sunlight. Artwork intended for display may lose colour and vibrancy if non-lightfast materials are used.

➽ Choose inks and markers that are labelled as lightfast, especially for artwork intended for display or long-term preservation. Check the manufacturer's lightfastness ratings before use and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Storing finished work in protective sleeves or framing it behind UV-protective glass can further reduce fading and help maintain the original colours over time.

Watercolour requires substantial amounts of water. Thin paper buckles, wrinkles, and warps, making controlled painting difficult and affecting the final presentation.

➽ Use heavyweight watercolour paper (typically 300 gsm/140 lb or heavier) that is designed to withstand large amounts of water. Stretching the paper before painting or securing it to a drawing board with tape can further reduce buckling and warping. This provides a stable surface, allowing for better control of washes and improving the overall appearance of the finished artwork.

Repeated brushing while paint is drying can disturb pigments and create muddy, uneven colour. Watercolour often benefits from allowing washes to settle naturally.

➽ Apply washes confidently and avoid repeatedly brushing over areas as they begin to dry. Allow each layer to dry completely before adding additional washes or details. Using a hairdryer on a low setting can speed up drying when necessary. This helps maintain clean, vibrant colours, prevents muddy mixtures, and preserves the transparency that is characteristic of watercolour painting.

Contaminated water transfers unwanted pigment into colour mixes. Bright colours can quickly become dull and grey if brushes are not cleaned properly.

➽ Use clean water containers and change the water regularly during painting sessions. Rinse brushes thoroughly before switching colours, and consider using two water pots—one for rinsing dirty brushes and another for clean water. This helps prevent unwanted colour contamination, keeps mixes bright and vibrant, and ensures greater accuracy in colour application.

Poor-quality or unsuitable brushes may not carry enough water or pigment, resulting in streaky washes and inconsistent application.

➽ Invest in good-quality watercolour brushes that are designed to hold an adequate amount of water and pigment. Select brush shapes and sizes appropriate for the task, such as larger round or mop brushes for washes and smaller round brushes for detail work. Properly clean and maintain brushes after use to preserve their shape and performance, ensuring smoother washes and more consistent paint application.

As paper absorbs water, it expands and contracts. Without stretching or taping, severe buckling can occur, making it difficult to achieve even washes.

➽ Stretch the watercolour paper before painting by soaking it and securing it to a board, or tape the edges firmly to a drawing board using masking tape or artist's tape. Alternatively, use a watercolour paper block, which is glued on all sides to minimise movement. These methods help keep the surface flat, reduce buckling, and allow for smoother, more even washes throughout the painting process.

Oil paintings should contain increasing amounts of oil in successive layers. Applying lean paint over fatty paint can cause cracking as the layers dry at different rates.

➽ Follow the "fat over lean" principle by applying paint layers with progressively higher oil content. Begin with thinner, leaner layers diluted with solvent and gradually increase the amount of oil medium in subsequent layers. This ensures that upper layers remain more flexible than the layers beneath, allowing the painting to dry evenly and reducing the risk of cracking over time.

Adding excessive oil or solvent medium can create weak paint films, wrinkling, yellowing, or unstable surfaces that deteriorate over time.

➽ Use oil and solvent mediums sparingly and follow the manufacturer's recommended mixing ratios. Add only the amount needed to improve paint flow or transparency, avoiding excessive dilution. Testing mixtures before applying them to a finished piece can help ensure stability. Proper medium use creates strong, durable paint films and reduces the risk of wrinkling, yellowing, and long-term deterioration.

Repeatedly blending multiple pigments often creates dull, muddy mixtures. Understanding colour relationships helps maintain vibrant and clean colour.

➽ Limit the number of pigments mixed together and plan colour combinations using colour theory principles. Mix colours deliberately on the palette rather than repeatedly blending them on the canvas. Using a limited palette and understanding complementary and analogous colour relationships can help maintain clean, vibrant colours while reducing the risk of muddy or dull mixtures.

Applying fresh paint over partially dried layers can result in lifting, cracking, or muddy colour mixing.

➽ Allow each layer of paint to dry thoroughly before applying additional layers. Follow the recommended drying times for the specific oil paints and mediums being used, and work in stages rather than rushing the process. This helps prevent lifting and cracking, preserves colour clarity, and ensures a more stable and durable final painting.

Acrylic paint dries quickly and becomes permanent. Once dried in the bristles, brushes may become stiff and unusable.

➽ Clean brushes immediately after use by rinsing them thoroughly in water and washing them with mild soap. Avoid leaving brushes sitting in paint or allowing paint to dry in the bristles. Keeping a container of clean water nearby during painting sessions and cleaning brushes regularly will help maintain their shape, flexibility, and lifespan.

Although acrylic is water-soluble, too much water under binds the paint film and reduce adhesion to the surface.

➽ Use water in moderation when thinning acrylic paint. If a more fluid consistency is needed, use acrylic mediums instead of excessive water. This helps maintain the strength of the paint film, ensures proper adhesion to the surface, and reduces the risk of flaking, peeling, or weakened colour layers over time.

Acrylic paint dries rapidly. Artists unfamiliar with this property may struggle to blend colours smoothly or maintain wet edges. 

➽ Work efficiently in small sections and prepare colours in advance to accommodate acrylic paint’s fast drying time. To improve blending and maintain wet edges for longer, use an acrylic retarder or slow-drying medium according to the manufacturer's instructions. A fine mist spray bottle or a stay-wet palette can also help keep paints workable, allowing for smoother colour transitions and greater control during painting.

The internal support structure must hold the sculpture's weight. Weak armatures can bend, collapse, or distort the intended form.

➽ Design and construct a strong armature using appropriate materials such as steel wire, aluminium wire, wooden dowels, or metal rods, depending on the size and weight of the sculpture. Ensure the armature is securely anchored to a stable base and provides adequate support for all major forms and extensions. Testing the structure's stability before adding sculpting material helps prevent bending, collapsing, or distortion during construction and display.

Excessively wet clay lacks structural strength. Tall or detailed forms may slump under their own weight.

➽ Maintain the clay at a workable but firm consistency by avoiding excessive water during preparation and sculpting. Build tall or complex forms gradually, allowing sections to stiffen before adding more material. Using a strong armature and temporary supports where necessary can also help prevent slumping, ensuring the sculpture retains its intended shape and structural integrity.

Solid clay sculptures often explode during firing because trapped moisture turns into steam and cannot escape.

➽ Ensure the sculpture is thoroughly dried before firing by allowing it to reach a completely bone-dry state, which can take several days or longer depending on thickness. Build forms in uniform thickness where possible and avoid trapping air pockets or moisture inside enclosed areas. Additionally, fire the kiln slowly with a proper preheating (candling) stage so remaining moisture can escape gradually, reducing internal steam pressure and preventing explosions.

Many sculptural materials shrink during drying or firing. Failure to account for this can affect proportions and fitting components.

➽ Research the shrinkage rate of the chosen sculptural material before beginning the project and incorporate this allowance into the design. Create components slightly larger than the intended final size and test shrinkage with sample pieces if precise dimensions are required. Careful planning helps maintain accurate proportions and ensures that separate parts fit together correctly after drying or firing.

Unexpected reactions, colour shifts, or technical problems often occur when new materials are used without prior experimentation.

➽Test new materials, glazes, paints, or sculpting compounds on small sample pieces before applying them to a final artwork. Record the materials, mixing ratios, and results to build a reference for future projects. Conducting trials helps identify potential issues such as colour changes, cracking, shrinkage, or compatibility problems, reducing the risk of unexpected outcomes and improving the quality of the finished work.

Low-quality brushes often lose their shape, shed bristles, and make precise control more difficult.

➽ Invest in good-quality brushes that are suited to the chosen medium and technique. Quality brushes retain their shape, hold paint more effectively, and provide better control for both fine details and broader strokes. Regular cleaning and proper storage will also help maintain their performance and extend their lifespan, resulting in more consistent and professional outcomes.

Dirty palettes, clogged airbrushes, and poorly maintained tools reduce efficiency, affect artwork quality, and increase replacement costs.

➽ Clean and maintain all tools and equipment regularly after each use. Wash palettes thoroughly, clean airbrushes according to the manufacturer's instructions, and remove any dried paint or residue from brushes and other tools. Establishing a routine maintenance schedule helps ensure consistent performance, improves artwork quality, extends the lifespan of equipment, and reduces the need for costly replacements.