If you’re talented, creative, and passionate about art, becoming an artist is an achievable goal. You just have to take steps to turn your dream into a reality. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, and that’s 【小题1】(why, how) we’ve put together this guide to help you. We’ll walk you through something you need to know to start working towards becoming an artist.

Recognise your strengths and interest.

Once you have tried out all of the mediums (形式), decide on 【小题2】(where, what) you are strong at. Often someone who is fantastic at creating sculptures won’t take up painting.

Another important thing to keep in mind is 【小题3】(that, which) you should enjoy working with the medium you choose. However, there are exceptions to every rule. If you are a fantastic drawer but feel yourself pulled more towards sculpting, why not give this new medium a try?

Do your research and learn from others.

Learn 【小题4】(what, which) you can find out about the medium you have chosen to focus on — read books and articles, watch instructional videos, and research various methods and approaches other artists in your medium take. One of the best lessons you can learn is to study the work of others who have come before you. This is 【小题5】(which, how) you can succeed.

It is common to have difficulties sleeping during the day. Humans are born 【小题1】 to sleep best at night and be awake during the day. However, modern work schedules require some people to try to adapt to the 【小题2】 schedule of shift work (轮班) — being awake at night and sleeping during the day.

In order to make this 【小题3】 acceptable to you, you need to pay special attention to your sleep environment and your preparation for sleep. If shift work is a necessary part of your work life, here are some suggestions that may help.

Arrange to sleep in a(n) 【小题4】 condition. This means you may have to turn off your phone, hang darkening curtains on the windows or wear a sleep eye mask, and ask your family and friends to 【小题5】 you alone while you sleep.

Fit in a nap. When your daytime sleep period is too short, taking a short nap of less than 30 minutes just before work or on a break has been shown to 【小题6】 energy and enhance performance.

Develop and follow a sleep routine. It’s best if you go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Try not to 【小题7】 this too much at weekends. Your body likes routine.

Take extra care to make healthy choices. You may be 【小题8】 to reach for unhealthy foods or nicotine (尼古丁) to stay awake or alcohol to try to sleep. But in the end these choices are more harmful than helpful.

If you have tried all these things and are still having problems getting enough 【小题9】 sleep during the day, talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist. Sometimes medical treatment may be helpful and safe. In other cases, there may be a potential sleep disorder that needs to be 【小题10】 as soon as possible.

Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once.

Do you ever draw? Most of us don’t, and the reason we usually leave drawing to the artists is because we’re not very good at it. Who wants to do something they’re bad at? But maybe we should rethink this 【小题1】, especially since drawing has so many benefits, whether you are an artist or not.

We should 【小题2】 this idea: What if drawing was just a low-stakes thing we did because we enjoyed it and it helped us see the world better?

“We have missed the significance of drawing because we see it as a 【小题3】 skill instead of a personal capacity,” writes design historian D. B. Dowd in his book, “Stick Figures: Drawing as a Human Practice.” “This essential confusion has 【小题4】 our understanding of drawing and kept it from being seen as a tool for learning above all else.”

Here’s an example: You might enjoy eating at a restaurant that boasts an 【小题5】 chef, and you may also enjoy a great pasta dish you make at home. One doesn’t 【小题6】 the other; you can appreciate a meticulously assembled meal as much as a homemade one-they’re just different. The same is true for drawing.

Sitting (or standing!) with a pad and pencil, drawing something you see or imagine requires focus and a 【小题7】 quiet mind, something many of us are looking to cultivate. The first few minutes into the 【小题8】 might be a bit frustrating and distracting, but keep going. I’ve found that once I settle into it, I get better at the actual drawing part, and it’s more enjoyable. But especially if you aren’t used to drawing, you might be itching to run away and do something-anything-else at the start. To deal with your 【小题9】, give yourself a time limit. Set a timer for 20 minutes; that should give you enough time to put in a genuine effort and get to the point where your mind will quiet down. You can always keep going if you want, but that timer will at the very least allow you to take your mind off outside 【小题10】.