When you participate in the online art contests one of the most important factors to remember is the submission of your artwork on time. All the contests will have their own deadlines and creating art on a deadline can feel stressful, but it can also be fun and exciting.
Next, set a time limit for each step. For example, if you are painting, give yourself a certain amount of time to finish the drawing, then another amount of time for painting the first layer, and so on. Setting these small-time limits will help you stay focused and stop you from spending too much time on one part of the art. If you get stuck on something, do not waste time trying to make it perfect. Move on to the next step, and you can always come back to fix things later.
When you are working on a deadline, it is easy to get distracted. There are many things that can take your attention away from your art, like your phone, TV, or music. Try to find a quiet place to work where you will not be interrupted. If you can, turn off your phone or put it in another room. The more you focus on your art, the faster you will be able to finish it without losing quality.
If your artwork uses materials that take a long time to dry, like paint, it is important to plan how to deal with that. You can choose fast-drying materials, like acrylic paint, to save time. Another trick is to work on different parts of the artwork at the same time. While one part is drying, you can work on another. This will help keep the process moving and make sure you do not waste time waiting for things to dry. If needed, you can use a hairdryer on low to help speed up drying.
When you are working with a deadline, it is important to stay calm and not panic. It can be easy to stress out, but stressing will not help. Instead, take a deep breath and remind yourself that mistakes happen, and they can be fixed. If something does not look perfect, step back and look at your artwork from a different angle.
Another way to work quickly but still create quality artwork is to use helpful shortcuts. This does not mean skipping steps or taking the easy way out, but it means using tools that can help you work faster. For example, if you are drawing, you can use a lightbox or tracing paper to make the basic shapes faster. If you are painting, you can start with a base color to cover large areas, which will save time when adding other colors.
Preparing ahead of time is also a great way to save time when you have a deadline. If you know you will have an art contest soon, try practicing or sketching out some ideas before you start the actual work. By practicing, you will become faster at using materials and techniques, which will help you create better art in less time when the deadline arrives.