Is fear preventing you from getting started?

How to start painting?

I’ve noticed that too much preparation can result in never getting started with anything. That is especially true when trying to know everything will prevent one from ever getting started, for instance, with painting.  That will cause insecurity and feeling of always missing something. Many people mention also fear, the fact that they are scared to draw on white paper or paint on blank canvas.

Children do it right

Children usually are very successful with new things. They don’t try to prepare for everything which might or might not happen. They also don’t try to collect all possible and imaginable tools and references in order to get started. That is an issue I have observed during my very long teaching career. It was the same when I was teaching German language and literature, English or Latvian, design, drawing and art.

Information flood can affect our readiness to get started

We are flooded with huge amounts of information. When we turn on TV, when we are scrolling through computer screen, and when we are checking out our phone, there is huge amount of information. This information can be related or totally unrelated, true or false, meaningless or crucial to whatever we are doing, and we are normally absorbing at least some of it. Should we? To some extent, we obviously should be aware of what’s going on and do research when we are exploring matters that are important for us, However, with so many sources and with such infinite amounts of advice, we most likely will feel rather lost.

We don’t ever know everything

This refers very directly to drawing, painting and any other creative activity. I know people who would not start drawing or painting because they assume they don’t know everything about it. They are trying to get ready for this activity by exploring techniques, mediums, tools, paint characteristics, types of brushes and features of colors and any other related matters. Many of them never get to any drawing or painting because they don’t feel they know enough and they don’t believe they have all necessary art supplies.

Choose smartly

There are millions of different techniques, styles and ways to create art. Since internet has controversial advice and sometimes even misleading suggestions, it is very hard to distinct between true help and silly recommendations. How is it possible to find out whether painting is what you want to do? It is extremely simple: just give it a try. Nobody knows everything about everything. We can follow hundreds of websites, we can watch thousands of “how to” videos and read endless articles or books about painting. There’s plenty of advice out there, and some of that is useful for us, but most of it will not help one starting out in art. Why not? We have to start doing things before we can decide if we like them or not. Only these, who dare to try, can hope to get something done.

Spring daffodils by Inese Poga
Pen and watercolor, Spring daffodils painting 12 x 12 in or 30.5 x 30.5 cm

Jumping on it without any fear

Other good thing about students who don’t have too much knowledge is that they have no fear. They are not afraid to damage paper or canvas, and they fearlessly apply courageous brushstrokes  or put down lines on paper. That results in a good or satisfactory first painting. They do not think it is some kind of superb masterpiece, but realistically evaluate it. Therefore, they can keep improving their abilities when doing the next painting. The knowledge comes through doing, and that is the only way to gain experience.

Experience is an excellent building block of mastery

This is how hands-on activities are contributing to fast development of any skill: you see it happening and you try it immediately. If something went wrong, try it again. Watching other people can give us an idea about how we should proceed, but until we haven’t tried it out for ourselves, we will never know how exactly it is done. We can learn all kinds of compositions and color theories, but when the paint dries out fast and when the brush is moving quickly, there’s no time to recall all of it.

Our personal color theory

The way we can create our own color theory is to mix colors, to use color swatches, to test multiple colors in a mix and to apply paint accordingly to how we feel about it. This might take some time until the brain remembers what hands were doing and how this was suiting our creative intentions. Eventually, we will have our own color and painting theory. That will become the base of your personal style.

Floral watercolors by Inese Poga
Rose and apple blossoms , always in great color combinations

Never stop at the first failure

The first steps are the most difficult. These, who are afraid to get wet, won’t ever learn swimming. It is interesting to compare the first art you ever created with the most recent drawings or paintings. There is always a progress. Improvement is visible immediately. Every piece of art we create allows seeing better where we want to go with our creations and what we eventually want to achieve.

Floral art by Inese Poga
Colors and shapes of flowers will blow you away

Good luck and check out links for inspiration!

Art classes: Art classes

Flower paintings: FAA flower paintings

54 Replies to “Is fear preventing you from getting started?”

  1. That is so true… When I decided to just try and see whatever I could do… I just went out to the dollar store and bought all supplies… obviously inexpensive … I’d like to buy a little better quality now.. But to start, I thought why not? I didn’t overthink it… Diane

    1. Exactly, endlessly preparing and deciding can make one think that they are not good enough yet to go for it. Your paintings are great! If you hadn’t just jumped onto this, you probably would not have any paintings!

    1. Thanks Diane! Some of these would look better if I had more time and better light for photos. It’s also so that we are only painting 2.5 full hours, therefore, some stuff is not completely finished, but like I said: it is important to get going.

    2. Either this summer or fall, I’m going to try and take just a few lessons, hopefully to learn which brushes are right for texture etc….. Diane

    3. That won’t disturb. Acrylic is tough with textures, it’s either lots of layers and plenty of paint or modelling pastes and mediums for different effects, you can see those jars sold at the art store. They are pricey, though. Some students simply damp lots of paint on canvas or use palette knife for layering. I simply cannot always afford to use that much paint on a painting, but the main drawback of acrylic is its flatness and drying noticeably darker.

  2. Oh my gosh, everything you said is so true! It’s just like dancing… repetition and just doing something repeatedly will make all the difference! Great post!!!

    1. Thanks Yovette! These thoughts came to me after exchanging some e-mails with some people who told exactly that: they were trying to get ready and they were trying to get the right materials, but they were not sure: watercolor, pencil, acrylic, etc. So on for a year or more. Basically, once one gets on this route, it’s very difficult to simply start and try and like you said: try and repeat.

  3. Why is it that with everything new we try, we feel the need to do it perfectly first time? We all have such a fear of failure, but I think that is the best way top learn. Great post – it really hit the spot.

    1. Thanks Chris! That’s exactly it: the fear not to have everything perfect right away, and the more we try to make it perfect, the more we make mistakes. Being relaxed is very important, I suppose kids are in that state naturally!

  4. Yes! Brilliant! Bravo…Inese…do you have a secret camera set up at my house? I just bought “not quite all” I would need to try out watercolors (of which you are a huge source of inspiration!!) Much buying…much thinking…much reading…much watching. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever begin!! I couldn’t figure out what I was afraid of. Well…my first picture was “fine.” I will explore more because I found out I like it!!! Hope all is super in your world…so good to see a post from you !! <3 <3

    1. Thanks Lorrie! It’s not only you, believe me! There are very many people who just cannot get started because they always are afraid they’ve done too less preparation. I’m glad to hear you started out and the more you’ll be doing, the less worried you will be that you don’t know everything about painting. That’s the beauty of it: nobody knows everything and that leaves us space for painting in the way we want and we feel we should. Everything is fine, just a lot of medical writing, relapsing MS this time. Should be done by tomorrow night.

    2. Thank you…it always makes things better to know that you are not alone! Your watercolors inspire me and I can only hope to make something as beautiful! <3

    3. It’s great that they inspire you. I started drawing and painting as a small kid, so it’s been a while. They could be always better, I just have very little time for painting, rarely, once a week or so, but I do it very fast. I think everybody can develop an excellent visual memory over time, and doing sketches and drawings from life is very useful since it acts extremely well on maintenance of the brain!

    4. I agree Inese! I used to think I could never paint beautiful art…but I don’t think that way any more…and I like this way better!! Good to chat dear friend! <3

    5. Thanks! It’s very nice to exchange couple of words. I always appreciate when you stop by. However, after typing for some week every single day morning till late night again, I feel like I cannot type any single word at the moment. Have to rest. These large medical jobs just keep coming in. Tomorrow night have to send out this job, oh, it’s exhausting, it would be so much better to paint!

    1. Thanks Kim! I do want to sometimes push people slightly towards what they’re getting ready for. It’s quite a lot what an absolute beginner can paint in 3 hours! Our youngest participant was 10 years old. Or maybe the boy was younger, only 9, I think, anyway, we all can paint. Creek scenes are not done by absolute beginners, but by students who are still learning.

    2. Thanks! I believe it’s the experience, I’ve been teaching for more than 30 years, and that includes not only art and design, but also German language and literature and Latvian language and literature (Latvian is my native language). My other major specialization is medical research and writing, therefore, I have also MA degree in Psychology, that definitely helps with teaching, as well as having practical drawing and painting skills. I appreciate your kind comments!

    3. Any live and real interaction is much more interesting than simply going through numerous patient records and making comparisons and decisions, however, this also has given me a large knowledge about many diseases and their causes, etc. I’m also the first one to know which new treatments work and which don’t. This information can be very upsetting, so art brings everything back in balance.

    4. I can so relate! When my son was diagnosed with diabetes at age 6, he painted his little heart out in the art room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. I still have his pieces, tucked away. 🙂

    5. That’s fantastic! I think painting or drawing has this ability to shut off the mind completely, thus, allowing to escape to another universe, even if it is only for a while. Does your son still do some art?

    6. No, but he did follow his 1st grade passion which was ‘weather,’ graduating with a Masters in Atmospheric Science. He works for the National Weather Service as a forecaster. Come to think of it, he does draw a lot of charts and graphs! Lol!

    7. I see, that’s a great passion, too, and we all are obviously benefiting from somebody’s passionate work results. I am very happy seeing anybody pick up pencil or brush, because that is such a fantastic relaxation and meditation, everything together!

    8. I have many people who have no talent initially, but who like working with paint and color, and they create beautiful art. I do realize that people like you who are already doing something creative and have all their heart into this, don’t have spare resources. Realistically, one cannot do everything. I used to write poetry and stories in my native language (Latvian) and got them published, etc., but I cannot find time for all things I love since I’m also am good with sewing and designing outfits, learned sewing when I was 12, I love gardening, and decorating, and blogging. Time is obviously the hugest problem. Well, the other is health. You are a writer and you most likely are having too less time for many other things, too. It is what it is!

    9. I love to take pictures and always say, “Someday, in another life.” But, oh how wonderful it would be if I could be an illustrator! 🙂

  5. Oh, you nailed it , Inese. It’s so funny how good our work is when we didn’t know any better. Raw , unrefined , but still, a foundation. The blank slate. Tabla Rosa (did I spell that right? 😉 ) The point is , I think about this, and never put it into words. I do find the more I know , the slower I go. Something is lost, and something is gained. We have no choice but to learn, as it leads to growth, but to be young, yes , it was nice. Hope all is well. Great work as always. Enjoy!

    1. Thanks for stopping by! I completely agree: some things are good when they are fresh and unpolished. We learn, and we have to, but I can see it like this: the instinctive and impulsive approach was actually better (before we knew anything) than the elaborated and skilled one. However, the golden middle always consists of two sides: undisturbed and unaffected approach and skilled and knowledgeable treatment. I would say that brings out the best. It can be sometimes that we get lost in all things we know about colors and values and composition, etc. and, yes, that work looks good, but it has lost the freshness. The danger is probably not in knowledge, but in us who are trying too hard to stick to it.

    2. Well said! When I comment is is more in general terms and could be painting, or poetry, music and lyrics. That said, I really just wanted to say hi, because I almost never come here , but you know I really like your stuff. Talk to you soon. 😉

    3. Thanks! Your support is very important to me and I always enjoy reading your posts on FB. I’m again not that often on FB, but still trying to catch it up. It’s “tabula rasa”, a blank sheet or tile, I had to study Latin along with other stuff. Thanks for warming up comments and taking your time to always like, comment and cheer me up.

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