Many artists, go through the awkward phase of a painting. You have an idea. All seems well. Suddenly it’s a total loss. How do you know when a painting is truly a total loss or an awkward phase?

Today I was working on a Cozy Holidays project for Redbubble. The design I was working on was all yellows, deep magenta, orange and pink. There were a few orange and red berry vines. It was a beautiful arrangement. I would share the photo, but that painting is in the trash.

My painting was about the beautiful colors I have been noticing during the fall season. The leaves, the gorgeous ceramics in Anthropologie, and the shiny and bright disco ball patterns have me calm, peaceful and loved. I have been dreaming of building a palette full of neutrals with pops of color. My flowers had lots of bright colors. I was in a good place until I wasn’t.

How do you know when it’s time to let a painting go?

Listen to the voice within. My flow of creativity became I have to do this. I wanted to finish another project. The more I painted the less it was about the glorious idea I began with. I could not let go of Suzanne Allard’s flowers.

Remember the rule, don’t judge your work with a paintbrush in your hand. As I was painting somewhere midpoint, I wasn’t allowing my ideas to flow. I was painting and judging my work. I recognize that now. That’s why I had to let the painting go. Sometimes I save it for another painting session. On this occasion, I trashed it. I will say that it is very rare when I do trash a painting.

Moving on led to finger painting! I finger-painted flowers with the leftover paint from the painting that didn’t work. If you feel like a painting project isn’t working take a break, trash it, you decide. Your best ideas come when you let them. What’s that saying? Change your thoughts. Change the world.

With Love, Mireya