At first, you were all fired up to start painting with acrylics. So you learned a few techniques, bought some painting equipment. You couldn’t wait for the weekend, so you’d have time to paint your new passion. From canvas to canvas, you gained in confidence, and one painting followed another, one after the other.
In the end, they’re all a bit alike. Yes, in fact, they all look the same. And they’re not even that exceptional. You paint the same thing all the time. The same shades, the same shapes on the same types of frame.
What thrilled you in the beginning is now tiresome. Several weeks go by when you don’t get out your brushes.
📢 You’re losing your motivation to paint 😱. And you don’t like it.
Hear, hear, artists! If you’re on this page, it’s because you’re motivated… to get motivated again! Read on to recapture the enthusiasm of your early days!
Creativity: do you need a gift for painting?
We hear it everywhere!
🏅“She’s gifted from birth, that’s just the way it is, she’ll go far in art!”
🏅“So he’s a born artist, he’s had incredible gifts all his life, without taking any lessons!”
And here we are, struggling to paint, to come up with ideas for paintings and the “skills” to create them… Nothing is innate for us, it’s even tedious to get a harmonious result… We look at tutorials, buy new brushes, change paint brands, get all the colors we can find. And then you “miss” several paintings, and get annoyed at not being able to do it more quickly… It’s easy to see that art isn’t for me, it’s far from innate and I’m far from achieving convincing results.
So, in fact, some people are predisposed to transcribe their creativity more easily, on canvas for example. Others will pick up a guitar and look like they were born knowing all the chords.
What actually happens is that this type of person has a heightened sense of observation, a sharper ear. They are inwardly open to what colors and sounds create within them. They let themselves be invaded to feel them fully and translate them” through an artistic practice (drawing, painting, photography, theater, music, writing, etc.). Look at children. They’re usually very creative. Why? Because they don’t put pressure on themselves to achieve a good result. They draw without fear of judgement, they dance without worrying about the gaze of others. They have no “social” constraints. So many obstacles that we adults are familiar with.
But the good news is that it is possible to work on your creativity and help it grow!
Rediscover the pleasure of painting: tips and tricks
Remember your initial motivation for taking up acrylic painting. To keep the pleasure of painting alive, or to rekindle it, here are a few tips!
- Having time, and planning that painting time. You’re thinking of the artist who rushes home to his studio and, in an explosive frenzy, starts painting a successful picture from scratch. Forget 😜!
On the contrary, you’re going to set aside some “painting” time in your diary. It’s not a question of forcing yourself to paint on a specific date and at a specific time. It’s more a question of giving yourself a special time to paint. It’s the ideal way to avoid being distracted by outside stimuli: telephone on mute, no stress about starting the washing machine or running errands. It’s your time dedicated to your passion. There’s no better way to boost your creativity!
- Being at peace will enable you to let go of the vicissitudes of everyday life. The benefits of art are no secret. Creating is good for you, painting is relaxing. For ideas for paintingLet yourself go, listen to what’s going on inside you and dare to paint! Feeling short of inspiration? 🌳 Nature abounds with color, form and movement 🌈.
- Get yourself a little notebook. Keep it with you wherever you go, and when you see something that calls out to you ➡️ make a little sketch of it! It’s a great way to practice putting emotions and feelings down on paper; scribbling down a few shapes is just the beginning of ideas you can use in your next painting!
Nurture your creativity: practice painting
As we’ve seen, you have creative abilities within you that can be developed. It’s no scoop to say that “practice makes perfect”. It’s by dint of trying that you’ll gain in ease. You’ll progress from discovery to trial, from failure to success!
There are many ways to improve your acrylic painting skills!
- Take a course. Are you passionate about acrylic painting, but feel you need a helping hand to become more comfortable? Painting techniques can’t be invented: treat yourself to FREE painting lessons!
- Learn how to mix colors 🎨. In my opinion, this is an essential step to familiarize yourself with acrylic paint and come up with new painting ideas. What’s more, it’s very economical: all you need is 3 tubes of primary colors and some mixing practice. There’s nothing like making your own color wheel. It will help you associate complementary colors in your paintings for greater harmony.
- Give it a try. There’s no secret: “(…) try, try, even fail, that will be your success” (Jacques Brel). Never be discouraged, because there are no real failures or mistakes in acrylic painting. Rather, it’s all about trial and error, and refining your practice!
- Buying a workshop. Don’t panic, I’m not trying to get you to move house or raid Castorama to start major renovations 😂. Simply give yourself a space to paint. Find a nice little corner that you like and where you feel comfortable. Ideally, you should have a table or work surface at the right height so that you can have your materials within easy reach, avoid staining nearby objects and avoid hurting your back.
It’s a set of little things you can quite easily put in place to keep or regain the motivation and pleasure of painting!
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