Hi artist,

One of the key principles my recent art retreat was built on is on making a critical mindset shift from prioritizing outside input to learning to look within ourselves for what we need from our art practice.

I think we tend to come to painting with all kinds of expectations. It’s easy to focus on our desire to build skill, refine technique, or strive toward excellence. And it's not wrong to want those things. But sometimes the demands placed by those expectations can become limiting.

Instead of finding our voice and feeling free to paint in the way we need to, we begin to shrink ourselves to fit what we think our paintings should be.

I’ve been learning that the growth I want isn’t going to happen overnight. And yet, I can still create a beautiful painting. I can still have a rewarding art practice while I’m growing, learning and figuring things out.

I think there’s a mindset shift here that’s really important: recognizing that our art practice can speak into our lives in a healing, exciting and satisfying way.

Because ultimately, art is a place where we can ask for and offer to ourselves exactly what we most need.

We live in a world where we have needs, and we can often find ourselves waiting for someone else to offer us the permission, acceptance, grace and love we crave.

What my art practice has taught me is that the things I’m waiting for, I actually already have. So much of what I’m learning through painting is not dependent on how skilled I am.

This mirrors my faith in Jesus: I'm the recipient of love and acceptance that was never dependent on my good behaviour. It makes sense to me that watercolour offers me spiritual parallels that bring me back to what matters most.

It’s beautiful even when I’m not having a good painting day. Even when I make bad watercolour choices, when I don’t have perfect foresight into what to do next, or when I’ve failed at what I set out to accomplish.

Beauty still shows up.

And ultimately, this frees me. It gives me a space to breathe, a stillness where I’m not trying to prove myself or earn something.

I’m thankful for the reminder that maybe what I’m chasing is already there. Something I’ve already been offered.

So as you paint today, consider this: What might your art practice be offering you that you feel you’re lacking?

What if, instead of positioning yourself primarily as the creator and giver, you allowed yourself to become the recipient? How would that change your art practice, and help you feel more free?

Exploring freedom with you,

Angela

These principles that I keep coming back to are the truths I've needed to hear, and they are at the heart of what I teach inside The Heart-Led Artist Journey. It's just $15 a month. (Find out more and join here.)