Create and Improve Your Paintings

If you have painted a few tutorials and are ready for more freedom, this is the next step in your art journey.

These pages will help you move beyond following step-by-step lessons and begin creating your own paintings with more confidence.

Learn how to plan a painting, start strong, solve common problems, work through creative blocks, and grow your own artistic style one step at a time.

If you’re brand-new start begin with the (Beginner's Guide) Learn to Paint. After you have completed a few tutorials come back here to plan and create your own art.

Create and improve your paintings with practice.

Paint the things you enjoy or admire.

Improvement comes from practice.

Create Your Own Paintings

One of the most exciting stages of learning to paint is when you begin making more of your own artistic decisions.

Maybe you want to use your own reference photo, change the colors, adjust the composition, or create something that is fully your own.

This section is here to help you do that with confidence.

Plan and Begin

Strong paintings usually begin before the brush touches the paper or canvas. Learn how to develop your idea and start with confidence.

How to Plan a Painting

Learn how to gather ideas, choose your subject, and make thoughtful decisions before you begin.

Plan a Painting

How to Start a Painting

Discover practical ways to begin well so your painting has a strong foundation.

Start a Painting

Fix Problems as You Paint

Every artist runs into mistakes. Learn how to recognize common painting problems and fix them without making things worse.

Common Painting Mistakes

See the mistakes artists make most often and learn what to do about them. These common painting mistakes apply to all types of mediums.

What are the Common Painting Mistakes?

Fix Oil Painting Mistakes

Learn how to wipe, scrape, repaint, and correct muddy or overworked oil paint.

Fix Watercolor Mistakes

Learn how to lift color, soften edges, correct washes, and save watercolor paintings.

The Fastest Way to Improve Your Paintings

If you do only one thing to improve faster - paint regularly, momentum matters.

2-4 short painting sessions per week are better than one long session.
Paint small and repeat subjects - you learn faster through repetition.
Focus on ONE skill per painting - Ex. values OR color OR composition.

Grow as an Artist

As you paint more, your confidence and artistic voice will grow. These pages will help you keep moving forward and enjoy the process.

Find Your Art Style

Develop your preferences and recognize your personal style.

Find Your Style

Painting Daily

See how a regular painting habit can help you improve faster.

Painting Daily

Encouragement for the Journey

Improving as an artist is not about perfection. It is about learning, practicing, and taking one step at a time. Every painting teaches you something.

Artist's Block

Find simple ways to move past creative frustration and start painting again.

Start Painting Again

Why Do We Paint?

A reminder of the deeper joy, meaning, and purpose behind painting.

Remember Why We Paint

Next Action:

Improvement comes from doing the basics well - often. Choose one guide above and take one small action this week.

Paint regularly, plan simply, start confidently, and let each painting teach you what to do next.

P.S. If you ever feel stuck, revisit the fundamentals (values, color, composition). They quietly improve every painting.

Use the Fundamentals to Paint Good Art

Check your paintings for the core 3 fundamentals of art - a good composition with a focal point, color, and contrasting values with my 3-point checklist for assessing your artwork.

Paint Good Art

Choose a Tutorial
(Full Library)

Ready to practice right now? Browse the full library of step-by-step oil and watercolor tutorials and pick a project that fits your time, skill level, and what you’re excited to paint.

Select a Tutorial