When a Painting Isn’t Working: 7 Ways I Find My Way Back

There’s a moment in almost every painting where I think, Well… this might be the one that defeats me.

It’s not dramatic (okay, sometimes it is). But it’s real. The painting gets awkward. The colors fight. The composition feels off. And suddenly the confidence I had at the beginning disappears.

If you’ve ever created anything, whether art, writing, a project, or a home, you know that moment. The middle gets messy.

Over time, I’ve learned not to panic when a painting “isn’t working.” I’ve learned to treat it like information, not failure. So here are a few ways I find my way back when a canvas feels stuck.

1) I step back (physically and emotionally)

The simplest thing is often the most powerful: I literally step back across the room. Up close, everything feels wrong. From a distance, I can actually see what the painting needs.

And emotionally? I stop telling myself a scary story about it. A stuck painting doesn’t mean I’m stuck as an artist.

2) I name the problem in one sentence

I’ll ask: What exactly isn’t working?

• Is it the color palette?

• Is it the focal point (or lack of one)?

• Is it too busy?

• Is it too flat?

• Is it missing contrast?

When I can name it, I can solve it.

IN THE BEGINNING

3) I reduce the chaos

If a piece starts feeling loud and confusing, I simplify.

Sometimes that means:

• painting over a whole section,

• removing a color that’s hijacking the piece,

• or creating more “resting space” so the eye can breathe.

Less can be more - especially in the messy middle.

4) I push contrast on purpose

When a painting feels dull or “blah,” it often needs stronger contrast:

• light vs. dark

• warm vs. cool

• big shapes vs. small marks

• crisp edges vs. soft edges

Contrast creates energy. It brings the painting back to life.

5) I change one thing, not ten

This is a big one for me.

When I’m frustrated, I want to fix everything at once. That usually makes it worse.

Instead I choose ONE move:

• “I’m going to shift the focal area.”

• “I’m going to calm this corner.”

• “I’m going to introduce a new shape family.”

One intentional move can change everything.

6) I let it rest overnight

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought a painting was ruined… and the next day I saw it completely differently.

Rest gives clarity. And honestly, sometimes the painting needs time to “tell the truth.”

7) I remember: the ugly stage is part of the process

This is the part I want to tattoo on my paintbrush. 😄

A painting doesn’t go from blank canvas to finished beauty in a straight line. There’s a middle stage where it looks awkward, confused, too much, not enough...sometimes all in the same hour.

That stage doesn’t mean it’s failing.

It means it’s becoming.

A little studio truth

Some of my favorite paintings have had the messiest middles.

If you’re in a creative season where things feel stuck, I just want to say: you’re not alone. And it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your voice. Sometimes you’re simply in the part where the work is asking you to stay with it a little longer.

If you’d like to see what I’m working on now, or what’s currently available, visit my website and take a look around. And if a piece speaks to you, reach out. I love helping people find the right painting for their space.