Studio Notes by Viviana Fine Art Back to the Canvas

Feeling stuck creatively? Viviana shares a gentle, practical way to return to painting without pressure, perfection, or forcing inspiration.

Some seasons in the studio feel like fireworks. Other seasons feel like… filing cabinets.

If you’re an artist (or honestly, if you’re human), you probably know what I mean. There are stretches where creativity flows easily, and then there are stretches where I’m doing everything around the art: updating listings, packing pieces, photographing work, emailing, pricing, shipping, social posts, planning, organizing, responding… all the things that support the art.

And sometimes I look up and think: Wait. When did I last paint?

If you’re there right now, you’re not alone. I’m writing this as a reminder to myself too: returning to the canvas doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be small. It can be quiet. It can be imperfect.

The lie that keeps me stuck

Here’s the thought that slows me down more than anything: “I need to feel inspired before I start.”

But most of the time, inspiration isn’t the entry point. It’s the result of showing up.

So instead of waiting for lightning to strike, I’ve learned to make a little “doorway” back into the studio, something so simple I can’t overthink it.

Play'in Around!

My gentle way back (no pressure allowed)

When I’m coming off a dry patch, I do three things:

1) I lower the bar on purpose. Not forever, just for the first session back. I tell myself, “Today is not for masterpieces. Today is for motion.” The goal is to move paint, not to prove anything.

2) I start with play, not performance. I’ll use scraps of paper, cardboard, a small canvas, or even an old reclaimed surface. I make marks. I scribble. I scrape. I do a few ugly layers on purpose. Play turns the fear volume down.

3) I choose one simple constraint. Too many options can freeze me. So I’ll pick one:

• only black + white + one bold color

• only big shapes (no details)

• only neutrals for the first layer

• only palette knife

• Constraints are strangely freeing.

  
  

What “progress” looks like in real life

Progress isn’t always a finished painting. Sometimes progress is:

• cleaning a corner of the studio

• pulling out three favorite older pieces and studying what I loved about them

• putting paint on a palette

• making five minutes of messy marks

I’ve learned not to insult those small steps. They count. They’re how the engine warms up.

A question I ask myself

When I’m stuck, I ask: “What do I want my paintings to feel like right now?”

Not what they should look like. Not what sells. Not what I posted last week.

Feel. Do I want them to feel bold? Calm? Playful? Clean? Wild? Tender?

That one question usually tells me what color family to start with, what kind of shapes I’m craving, and whether I need structure or freedom.

If you’re in a “pause” season

There’s a version of me that panics during quiet seasons, like I’m falling behind or losing my edge.

But another version of me (the wiser one) knows that pauses aren’t failures. They’re often where something is forming underneath the surface. Roots grow in the dark. So do ideas.

If you’re in a quiet stretch, I hope you’ll be kind to yourself. And if you want a tiny assignment, here it is:

Open your supplies. Put out one color. Make one mark. That’s enough for today.

And if you’d like to follow along with what’s happening in my studio, you can always visit my website for available work and new releases: vivfineart.com.