That moment when you have no idea what your painting needs
Oct 16, 2026
In my video, I talked about how there's a moment in a lot of my paintings where I used to find myself just standing there, not knowing what it needs. That's the exact moment where I used to reach for one more thing. For me, that was usually another color or another layer.
These days I try to ask myself questions like whether my painting needs more or less variety. I'm saying less on purpose, because in the video you mostly see me adding more.
The first painting in the video already had a lot going on. I wanted variety there, but I also wanted it to be a little bit less busy.
The second painting only had a really short process when I started painting on it in the video. I had only put down one layer.
So there were two different starting points, but the same question gave me a way to move forward in both of them.
Neither of the two paintings in the video was finished at the end, because I've learned that trying to finish a painting late in a painting session is usually when I end up messing things up. So I make the conscious decision to stop, and to look at them again with fresh eyes during my next painting session.
Because when I'm tired, things usually don't work.
Watch how I move through it in the video below.
If you recognize that moment of not knowing what your painting needs, know that I was there for a long time too.
And that's the reason I've been wishing my mentorship was more accessible to more people.
So I've decided to open a membership, for those of you who want to learn from me but can't afford the cost of the mentorship.
I'll be opening it at the end of October, so more artists have the opportunity to learn the tools needed to look at their paintings this way.
If this sounds interesting, I will definitely be sending out an invitation with more info about the price and what will be included to everyone on my email list.
And if you want something to try this week, pull out one of those paintings you're unsure about.
Before you add anything, look at what's already there. Big shapes or small. Calm or busy. Light or dark. Then ask yourself whether it needs more variety or less, and see what happens when you give yourself permission to make or remove a mark.
And remember, you don't have to solve the whole painting at once. It can happen over time.
Want to go a little deeper? My free Clarity Kit is a great place to start, and it also puts you on my email list, so you'll get the membership invitation when it opens 💗