When I first started painting, I felt a deep pull towards it, even though I didn't fully understand how to bring it into reality. I remember visiting exhibitions when I was younger, looking at the artwork, and thinking, "I can do that." There was a sense of power in my hands, a belief that I could create something beautiful, but at the time, I didn’t know the way.
In the beginning, I had the wrong approach, believing that I needed to create the “perfect” piece. I would pour countless hours into a single artwork, trying to make it flawless. But this obsession with perfection didn’t lead to significant improvement. Instead, it led to frustration. At that time, I was focused on creating only realistic work, which, although limiting in scope, helped me develop much of the technique I carry with me today. The discipline of rendering reality with precision honed my skills in a way that laid the foundation for everything that came after.
But as I spent more time painting, I started to realize something wasn’t quite right. The way I was working wasn’t yielding the kind of results I had hoped for. I began to wonder: What was missing? I felt I had the technique but lacked something deeper. It was at this point that I started to question my approach and think about what truly made an artist evolve.
There are many factors that contribute to an artist’s progress. Experimentation is one. Being open-minded enough to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things is essential for growth. But perhaps one of the most crucial aspects is adopting a humble attitude—understanding that there’s always more to learn and that the process of making art is not always linear. It’s important to surrender to the fact that some days things won’t go right. But in those moments, it’s also important to accept it, step back, and trust that even setbacks are part of the journey.
However, above all, what has helped me the most is consistency. It’s not about making huge leaps every day, but rather making steady, small steps.
It’s about showing up each day, even when the inspiration doesn’t seem to come easily, and doing the work. I’ve learned that consistency is key, not only to improving technique but also to nurturing creativity. It’s only through this regular practice that real growth can happen.
In my case, I’ve made a habit of painting at least three hours a day. Of course, there are days when I spend much more time, but the important thing is that even on the days I don’t feel like it or when it seems like nothing is working, I still show up and paint. This commitment to consistency keeps me grounded and forces me to keep moving forward, even if I’m not in the best creative mood. It helps me push through the rough patches, even when I feel blocked or uninspired.
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that creativity should come naturally or spontaneously, but I’ve learned that it’s a discipline. Creativity thrives on structure. Just like any other skill, painting improves when you dedicate time and effort to it every day. Even when things don’t go as planned, when the paint doesn’t cooperate or when the idea isn’t coming together, the act of showing up and working consistently is what ultimately nurtures the process.
I’ve learned that growth comes from pushing yourself to work through the challenges, no matter how small or large.
As I reflect on my journey as an artist, I can see how much progress I’ve made through consistency and perseverance. I’ve learned that growth comes from pushing yourself to work through the challenges, no matter how small or large. But above all, I’ve learned that consistency is what leads to improvement. It’s the habit of showing up every day, of painting even when you don’t feel like it, that makes all the difference.
If you want to grow as an artist, you have to be willing to make the commitment to do the work. It’s not always glamorous, and there will be days when you question if it’s worth it. But in the long run, consistency will get you to places you never imagined. Creativity, like any other skill, is something you nurture with practice. And as you continue to show up, no matter how difficult it may seem, you’ll find that the work becomes easier, the ideas flow more freely, and your growth becomes evident in everything you create.
For me, the journey of painting is an ongoing process. There are still many things I don’t know, many techniques I want to explore, and many challenges I will face. But I trust in the process, and I trust that as long as I stay consistent, my work will continue to improve. And so will yours, if you make the commitment to show up every day, to experiment, to fail, to learn, and most importantly, to never give up.
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