Q1: How do I stop simply depicting objects and start making art?
That is a very deep question, I love it! I think your āobjectsā will become āartā when your choice of subject gains meaning behind it. Itās one thing to paint a jug of milk sitting on your dining room table for example, but quite another if that jug of milk is conceptually a critique about the old fashioned notion of women being bound to role of wife/mother/provider/nurturer.
See the difference?
Base your works on something that is meaningful to you/society/your niche and even if the technical aspect remains the same, you will all of a sudden be creating art instead of rendering objects.
Personally I spent over a decade devoted to learning how to correctly portray the figure before I felt comfortable actually using my skills to get more creative and fill my works with meaning, and Iām glad I waited. It sounds like you might be hitting that point within your practice as well - how exciting!
If you would like a little help creating meaningful works or learning how to talk and write about them, check out this video I have on my YouTube channel. How to Write an Artist Statement: Motivational Step by Step!! Even if youāre not ready to sit down and write about your portfolio it could inspire your new level of art-making.
Congrats on feeling ready to move forward:)