Can Painting Daily Improve Your Art?

Yes, painting every day or as often as possible, will put your art into overdrive!

Painting regularly will improve your skills and creativity. There is a current craze among the art community to complete a small painting every day. 

Actually, this is not a new concept. Artists over the centuries painted nearly every day. The time they spent painting is what made them accomplished artists.

Vincent van Gogh did a painting about every week for over 2,000 paintings. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa over several years while working on other artwork.

Daily painting speeds-up our art journey.

Daily painting speeds-up our art journey.

Who Wants to Learn to Paint?

Artists everywhere (including myself) want to learn more about painting. There is always more to learn!

As long as we keep painting, we are learning.

People often ask, "How long does it take to learn to paint - to become an artist?"

Well, I did my first painting in high school art class, back in the 1960s. Painting has been my intermittent hobby ever since. So how many years has that been?

Painting is such a joy! I find the more we paint, the more we learn and the better we get.

How Do We Learn to Paint?

Celebrate our paintings

Learning to paint takes practice, lots of practice.

Professionals work at their trade often, many times daily. Repetition is what makes them excellent at what they do.

The hardest step is getting started. Once we get started, it seems like time just flies by because we are so engrossed in the process of painting.

Striving for perfection can be a stumbling block. So, tell yourself that we can't expect to paint a masterpiece every time.

Trying to be perfect takes the joy out of painting.

Instead, relax, enjoy each step of learning, and celebrate your victories.

Painting Daily

We don't have to paint every day, just more often. Nix the excuses.

Rose practice

Not painting: Everyone has different time restraints.

Getting started was my stumbling block. I would put off painting, waiting for a large block of time.

How often does that happen?  Sigh!

The answer: We don't have to have a large block of time to paint. Even an hour can be a great painting session.

Perfection: Every painting does not have to turn out perfect.

The answer: Just paint - instead of painting for perfection - call it practice.

What Do We Need for Painting?

First, a place to paint.

The ideal place is where we can have our painting supplies ready to go each day. If we can leave them out and ready to use, it makes more time for painting.

Some people put their painting stuff on a roll-away cart that is tucked out of sight when not in use. Get more tips on setting up your art space.

Clean the brushes after painting, so they're ready for the next day. Time spent on cleaning before we can paint, tends to dampen our painting enthusiasm.

Second, a supply of paint.

Nothing can be more frustrating than running out of paint in the middle of a painting.

Art supplies are so easy to order over the internet nowadays. We can even have them shipped directly to our house. Oil painting supplies or Watercolor supplies

Third, what size will we paint?

Many daily painters paint small; 3x3, 4x4, 3x6, 5x7, and 6x8 are popular sizes.

You may want to paint larger, 11x14, 16x20 or 18x24.  It will be finished before you know it, when you paint often.

Fourth, have a subject.

Paint things you see.

It's wonderful when we can go out and paint on location. But most of us paint at home.

So, we need a supply of things to paint; flowers, fruit, still life objects, photographs, our dog, children or whatever subjects are available.

Fifth, set a routine.

Set a time for painting each day and hold to the commitment.

It could be 20-30 minutes or an hour. It's not how long you paint; it's the commitment and dedication for painting that counts.

If you want more ways to improve your paintings, go back to the main guide and choose the next skill to work on.

Sometimes It's Hard to Get Started

Artist blocks are temporary.

Sometimes it's hard to get into painting.

You have all your supplies and want to do a painting, but then you wonder what to paint?

Maybe you were working on a painting, and then something didn't look right and you can't seem to get started painting again.

Every artist runs into road blocks at some time or other. Look at practical ways to prevent them and how to get through an artists block.

As an affiliate I earn from Amazon sales with no extra cost to you. Learn More

Painting Daily Takes Child-like Faith

Aspiring artists practice painting on their way to becoming a master artist.

This was a two-day painting.

Painting every day may not be your habit. But painting often will significantly speed-up your art journey!

This Monarch Butterfly painting is on an 8x8 panel.

A 6x6 or 8x8 size makes it easy to complete a painting in a day or two.

Daily Painting by Carol Marine is an excellent read and full of encouragement.

It is full of examples with lots of helpful tips for painting small and painting often.

Keep Painting and Enjoy Your Art Journey!