I always thought I had to push through.
Just paint all the time to make progress in my painting practice. Even when I wasn’t feeling my best.
But now I know that just isn’t true. I’ve realised that we don’t have to be busy all the time to experience artistic growth. Sometimes creativity needs space. We can slow down, enjoy the little moments, and allow ourselves that headspace. That quiet space often brings the creative inspiration we were searching for.
Last Friday, I painted for the first time in what felt like months. I had done some demos, of course, but I hadn’t really felt that spark of creative energy in the studio. It can be hard to force ourselves to paint when the inspiration isn’t there. A healthy studio practice needs energy, curiosity, and the right mindset.
What was interesting about this piece was that I left it. When I came back to it later, I loved it exactly as it was. Sometimes the hardest part of the creative process is knowing when to stop. It takes practice — and a bit of courage — to leave a painting alone.
This piece has energy and life in it, and I know that if I fiddle with it too much I might lose that feeling.
Sometimes progress in art isn’t about doing more.
Sometimes it’s about stepping back, trusting the process, and letting the work breathe.
This is true of so many things in life. And maybe that’s where the real creativity lives.
Rebecca x