In art, patience is the most important thing. You can’t rush a painting, because every layer needs its own time and every detail needs care. Just like in life, in painting also you have to move step by step. Growth never comes in one big jump, it always comes slowly, with time.
When I started painting again in 2020, I was full of excitement. I would look at other artists’ beautiful work and immediately want to create something just like that. Many times, I picked up very big canvases and started with the thought that I will also make something grand and perfect. The base I could manage, but when it came to the fine details, I had no clear idea how to proceed. And when the final result didn’t look the way I imagined, my motivation dropped badly.
But still, I never quit. After every disappointment, I gave myself a little time, got motivated again, and started a new project. Slowly, I realized this is what patience really means. You cannot jump straight to perfection or expect your first few paintings to look like the masters’. You need to take small steps and grow with every canvas.
Many people give up at this stage, when their work doesn’t match their expectations. But I want to say from my experience that don’t quit. Move slowly, give yourself time, and you will see clarity and progress. At the same time, if your heart tells you to try something new or something beyond your current level, go for it. Just remember, don’t focus only on perfection. Focus on the experience, the process, and the learning. That is where the real beauty of art lies.
Mistakes are a natural part of painting, and one of the most important lessons I have learned is that they should never take away the joy of creating art. In the beginning, I often felt that every painting should turn out perfect and good enough to frame. But with time, I realized that when you chase only perfection, you miss the real happiness that comes from the process itself. Painting is not about creating a flawless piece every time, it’s about enjoying the journey, playing with colors, and allowing yourself the freedom to try something new.
If you let mistakes scare you, they will stop you from experimenting. And without experiments, you cannot grow as an artist. Some of my favourite learnings have come from those so-called “wrong strokes.” They may not have created a masterpiece, but they gave me confidence and new ideas. That is why I tell myself now: not every canvas has to end up as a showpiece. Some paintings are just meant to be experiences, and that is equally valuable.
At the same time, I also learned that regular practice helps reduce mistakes. The more time you spend with your brushes, the better control you gain. Working on fundamentals like color theory, composition, and perspective makes a huge difference. I started simplifying complex subjects by breaking them into basic shapes, and suddenly they felt easier to paint. These small steps slowly improved my art without me even realizing it. So instead of worrying about mistakes, I try to see them as part of my growth. Each one teaches me something, and with practice, those mistakes become smaller while my confidence becomes stronger. In art, the goal is not perfection, it is learning, experimenting, and enjoying every moment with the canvas.
When I started painting again, I was full of energy and motivation. Every new canvas excited me, and I wanted to create more and more. But I soon realized that motivation doesn’t always stay with you. There were days when I felt lazy, tired, or simply not inspired to paint. If I had waited for the perfect mood, I would have painted very little. What helped me move forward was consistency. Even if I spent just ten or fifteen minutes with my brushes, it made a difference. Slowly, these small efforts added up, and I saw how much my art improved. Consistency is like a quiet teacher, it doesn’t feel big in the moment, but over time, it changes everything.
One of the most beautiful things I discovered is how strongly art reflects emotions. Every painting I make carries a piece of what I feel at that time. On peaceful days, my colours are soft, my strokes gentle, and the whole canvas looks calm. On restless or emotional days, my colours turn bold, my strokes stronger, and the painting feels intense. In this way, painting has become therapy for me. It helps me release my stress, understand my emotions, and express feelings that I cannot always put into words. Art connects directly with the heart, and once you experience that, you realize it is not just about making something pretty, it is about expressing your inner self. Earlier, I could not see my emotions so clearly on the canvas, but as I started feeling art more deeply and became stable and focused within myself, I noticed that every emotion found its way into my paintings naturally.
After five years of painting, the biggest truth I know is that learning never stops. No matter how many canvases I finish, every new painting teaches me something different. Sometimes it’s about colors, sometimes about technique, and sometimes about patience. Earlier, I used to think that one day I would reach a point where I could say, Now I know painting completely.” But today I understand that art doesn’t work like that. There is no final destination. The journey itself is the teacher. And honestly, that is what makes it so exciting. Knowing that there is always something new to learn keeps me curious, humble, and motivated to keep painting. Together, these lessons – consistency, emotional connection, and endless learning – have shaped my journey as an artist. They remind me that small efforts matter more than waiting for perfect inspiration, that every canvas is a reflection of the heart, and that art is a lifelong classroom. Painting is not just about brushes and colors anymore, it’s about growth, healing, and self-discovery.