Embrace Mistakes and Make Your Art Stronger
We’ve all been there. You start a piece, feeling inspired and excited… and then suddenly, it feels like it’s gone "wrong." The colors are muddy. The lines are weird. Your inner critic starts screaming, “You ruined it!”
But what if that “mistake” was actually a gift?
A true story from my art table
I remember one piece I started with soft pinks and gentle lines. I had this dreamy, delicate vision in mind. Halfway through, I accidentally dripped black ink right across the center. My heart sank. I thought I had destroyed it.
But something in me whispered, keep going.
Instead of throwing the piece away, I leaned into the unexpected. I started adding bold strokes of teal, scribbles in white, and big collage shapes. The piece transformed from a gentle whisper into a roaring, energetic declaration.
That "ruined" piece became one of my favorites — and it taught me one of my most powerful lessons as an artist:
Art gets stronger when we let go of control.
Why letting go is powerful
When we cling to perfection, we create timid, safe art that feels tight and lifeless. When we release control, we invite magic and possibility.
Letting go allows you to:
✔️ Build trust in your creative instincts.
✔️ Discover unexpected beauty.
✔️ Find joy in the process, not just the result.
Three ways to practice letting go in your art
1️⃣ Make intentional "mistakes"
Drip paint randomly, smudge your marks, or use your non-dominant hand for a layer. These small acts train you to welcome unpredictability.
2️⃣ Cover up something you love
It sounds scary — but it teaches you that nothing is precious or permanent. The next layer might surprise you even more.
3️⃣ Work fast and limit thinking time
Set a timer for 5 minutes per layer. Moving quickly bypasses your inner critic and invites intuitive play.
A mindset shift to take with you
Your art doesn’t have to be pretty. It doesn’t have to please anyone. It doesn’t even have to "make sense."
It’s a living, breathing expression of your bold, evolving self.
Your bold invitation
If you’re ready to transform fear into freedom, join me in my online workshops. You’ll learn how to move through “mistakes” with courage, turn them into powerful elements, and grow your creative confidence layer by layer.
💬 CTA: Click here to step into your creative power — and learn to let go with me in the next workshop.
Try this today
Start a page by making marks you “hate.” Smear, scribble, or spill. Then challenge yourself to turn it into something you love. Share your experience with me — I’d love to see your brave transformations.