Recently I’ve been writing about the crippling problem of self-judgment—here and here, for example. Here are some exercises you can try to loosen self-judgment’s death grip on your painting.

These exercises work because they focus on the process, not the product. Your goal is to build confidence through the act of painting. You do this by letting go of the idea that you can perfectly represent anything—either the vision in your mind’s eye or the scene in front of you. (I’ve never painted anything that matched my initial vision, and yet I’ve happily surprised myself many times.)

My goal is for you to focus on the joy and curiosity of painting. The happier you are with a brush in your hand, the better you’ll get at painting.

These exercises are not a replacement for good technique, and they don’t stand in for regular learning. They’re quick ‘practice swings’ that detach your idea of self-worth from your limitations.

Paint solely from your imagination

This means no reference and no trying to match your painting to anything in front of you. It’s a chance to swish paint around and just feel what your brushes can do.

Let your memory do the work

Draw from reference (real world or photos) and then paint solely from memory. After about twenty minutes, you’ve memorized the scene anyway. Do you like the results more than slavishly copying reality?

The 20-brushstroke painting

Read how to do it here. It’s a good way to stop yourself from overworking or overthinking.

The 20-minute painting

Set a timer. Paint. When time’s up, stop. No re-dos.

The goal, like the 20-brushstroke painting, is to break the habits of overworking or overthinking.

Copy a failed painting

Take a painting you hate and paint it a second time, without belaboring the fix.

What changed the second time around? (Note: this will work for bad paint application or drawing, but never for bad design.)

Paint in monochrome

Paint a scene using in only one color. Limiting color choices frees you up to focus on value, shape and brushwork. What do you lean on when you can’t rely on color?

Paint something with no planning

While I don’t recommend a steady diet of this, painting something without preparatory drawing can free you up to use raw and expressive brushwork. How much have you been perseverating on ‘getting it right’?

Paint with the intention of tearing it up when you’re done

Think of this as an Etch-a-Sketch experiment. Knowing something is temporary frees you from perfectionism. You might be surprised how strong your work gets when you stop being attached to the outcome.

Join me for three ways to improve your painting:

Zoom classes for intermediate and advanced painters:
What I Did on My Summer Vacation: For Intermediate Painters Mondays, 8/18 – 9/29 6-9 PM, EST
What I Did on My Summer Vacation: For Advanced Painters Tuesdays, 8/19 – 9/30 6-9 PM, EST

Learn to paint in oils on your own schedule:
If you’re ready to start painting, I’ve just released Seven Protocols for Successful Oil Painters. You’ll learn seven essential protocols that every successful oil painter needs to follow. Each course focuses on one protocol, and you can take them in any order that suits you.

Reserve your spot ASAP for a workshop in 2025:

• Sea and Sky at Acadia National Park, August 3-8, 2025.
• Find Your Authentic Voice in Plein Air, Berkshires, MA, August 11-15, 2025.
• Immersive In-Person Fall Workshop, Rockport, ME, October 6-10, 2025.