Permission to Make Bad Art

Starting small can be easier

Let's just be blunt: you are going to make bad paintings.

Not "maybe."

Not "if you're unlucky."

You definitely will.

And if that thought tightens your stomach a little, you are not alone.

For beginners and hobby painters, bad art can feel personal--like proof that you shouldn't have tried in the first place. Like confirmation of that quiet fear that whispers, "See? You are not creative."

But here is the truth:

Bad art isn't a failure. It's part of the process. And sometimes, it's doing far more good than you realize.

Many of us were taught that creativity should look a certain way, like neat, impressive, and worthy of approval. So when a painting turns out awkward, muddy, or nothing like we hoped, we assume we have done something wrong or aren't creative.

But learning anything new is messy, and that includes painting. You don't scold a child for wobbly handwriting, or expect to nail a recipe the first time. And think of a toddler learning to walk: he/she stumbles and falls multiple times before getting it right! And yet here we are, expecting ourselves to paint beautifully the first time. That's not fair, and it's not how growth works.

Think about this: God is creative, and we are made in His image. This means that creativity isn't something we have to earn or prove. It's something we are given. Not every act of creativity needs to result in something polished or impressive. Sometimes, the act itself--the showing up, the trying, the exploring--is what matters most. Just like faith grows through practice and trust (especially when we are going through difficult times), creativity grows through use. Even when it's clumsy, even when it's uncertain, even when it's "scary."

The painting you don't like? It might be teaching you:

How colors interact

What you don't enjoy painting

Where you need more practice

How to keep going when it's not turning out as you hoped

Every bad painting builds familiarity, which builds confidence, and confidence makes space for joy. No painting is wasted if it helped you show up and try.

Something that helped me when I first started was painting small. I bought a couple of those tiny canvases that are three and/or four inches square. I thought they were cute! And way less intimidating than a large canvas. A tiny canvas if fun to paint on just because it's small. I invite you to try that. There are even little easels you can set them on for display. Some of them I would take a Sharpie and write a message on, and set on my desk. So fun! But seriously, starting small can give you confidence to eventually move on to a larger canvas.

Here is something else to try: Buy a color of paint you really like, and try mixing other colors to see how close you can get to matching it. If you are successful, write down how you got it for future use. If not, what color did you create? You can give it a name if you want. Color mixing is best done on tear out acrylic pads, rather than on a canvas, or even on mix media paper.

So I invite you to carve out a few minutes (even just 15) every day, or every other day, or twice a week, whatever works for you, and play with your paints, brushes, and canvas. Have something in mind, or don't have something in mind. You are allowed to practice, allowed to explore, and allowed to make art that never leaves your table. (Every artist has a stack of paintings they will never show).

You will most like likely make some "bad" art, but that's not a problem. It's proof you're learning something good. And that matters!

Here's a recap: Set aside time when you will paint, start small, and try mixing colors just for fun.

Be brave with your brush.

From my canvas to yours, happy painting.

God bless,

Vicky