The One Piece of Advice That Will Completely Change the Way You Make ART

Art by Jenny Muncaster

There’s a particular kind of magic in painting when you lose track of time.

When you’re standing at the easel and something just clicks — the colours feel right, the marks feel honest, and you’re not overthinking every brushstroke. You’re simply responding.

But getting started can be the hardest part. A blank canvas has a way of making you question everything — what you should paint, what people might expect, what’s popular, what might sell. It’s so easy to drift away from your own instincts without even noticing.

I don’t have this all figured out. It’s something I’m still working on myself.

What I keep coming back to, though, is this: try not to paint for your audience. Paint for yourself.

That doesn’t mean every piece will be your absolute favourite or that you’ll love every moment of it. It means being honest. Trusting your gut about the themes that keep tugging at you. The subject matter you’re drawn to again and again. The colours that feel like home. The way you like to move paint around — loose, layered, textured, bold.

It’s about letting the process be yours.

When you allow yourself to play — to test new ideas, to follow curiosity instead of trends — something shifts. The work feels more alive. More personal. And even if it’s imperfect, it carries your energy.

That’s what people connect with.

There’s real courage in trusting what you love, especially when you’re not entirely sure where it will lead. But the more you practise listening to your own creative voice, the clearer it becomes.

So if you’re unsure where to begin with your next painting, start with what feels honest. Follow the colours you’re craving. Explore the ideas that won’t leave you alone.

Make it truly yours.

I’m right there with you — still learning, still experimenting, still trying to trust the process a little more each time I pick up a brush!