How to Overcome the Fear of Making a Bad Painting

Fear of "getting it wrong" can cripple an artist. The best way to get over it is to lean right into that fear. What's the worst that can happen? What is it that you are so afraid of? Making a bad painting? OK ... set an INTENTION to make a bad painting ... the ugliest painting you are capable of making. Now there's nothing left to worry about :)
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[@susanstern6303]

Not fair that what you consider still ugly I think is a finished work of art! And just like that you did it…. I feel the energy of your paintings thru the screen while my own are lifeless…. Sad Sue.

[@jenniferhines8533]

This was just what i needed to hear.. The fear of making an ugly painting is constantly holding me back from letting myself paint how I truly feel, even tho the emotions are screaming to be let out..

[@ThisPaintingLife]

so now hopefully you can go and make the worst thing possible!

[@brendaross84]

Even your ugly work is good. Love the stream of consciousness. Very instructional.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I'm glad it helped Brenda!

[@melkerart1793]

Watching your videos as they come up in my feed and haven't yet stumbled across one that didn't provide great inspiration plus some healthy advice 🤍

[@judyjohnson4745]

I am soooo loving watching your process...I am so on the edge of going bigger and bolder Right now I don’t have a studio because of a fire so your videos are keeping my artistic voice stirred

[@millymay0025]

I love this lesson, thank you. If your afraid, something important may be about to happen....that’s magic!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad to help!

[@ArtyAntics]

You have got me thinking, fear has always been about threat for me. It was a legitimate concern for most of my life but recently I have been wondering about fear of unmasking and being myself. I think that part of fear I’ve been processing in my paintings.

[@violameyer2656]

That was incredible helpful! Just what I needed right now. Thank you so much!

[@ellenridenour9603]

you were almost there with your original.I would hang that in my house on a white wall. I like your over do too.

[@staceygrimes4107]

She can not make a bad painting ♥️

[@anitasmith404]

You’re amazing. I love what you do! I’m so inspired …for the first time in years! Many years. Thank you 🙏

[@oliviajeanette1065]

Thank you for this!

[@AinoShperber]

Great video!! Love your energy!

[@janewalker9403]

have had a few weeks break from painting after exhibition so watching your videos to get me going again. So inspirational! Getting bolder all the time...Thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

you're welcome!

[@SoJoSte]

You are a very generous person. Thank you.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you for your kind words! ♥

[@johnkelly1833]

very educational thank you.

[@Sundayjean]

Thank you for that reminder! I think my best pieces have come out of my willingness to create ugly paintings. And I like you feel deeply and love learning how bring that to the canvas.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

its's the trying that gets in our way xx

[@charlottehosker8078]

This video really resonates with me. You are very inspiring, Louise.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sherrystone3307]

I really really enjoyed this video Louise !!! This is definitely what I am having problems with . Fear of putting my feelings and emotions on canvas. I loved the course last year and did ok with painting with feeling in the exercise on the third try. I realize now I've just got to let go more than I've been doing and just Cowboy Up as they say in nevada .

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You got this! Are you joining in with my free course? It's just what you need! www.louisefletchercourses.com/wait-list-fyj-2022

[@leonordelatorre7986]

It really hit me , because I was just listening and I looked at the end it struck me as a gorgeous paint!!!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you for your kind words! ♥

[@pineconemediadesign]

Great process! Thanks from Santa Fe

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@kathleenmay4204]

Everything thats pissing me off 😅then chucks the black on with real anger and 🤣🤣 love it xx

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed xx

[@emoryjoan6305]

Louise Fletcher ❤Yes Please make it YOUR Mission to help us Feel & paint it out! I need that very deeply!🙏 Being sexual abused by my Bio-mom & dad starting at a year old, feeling is a tuff one for me. After years of therapy & at 73 I’m still working out/on letting Feelings Out❣️ Thank You Gratefully, PS who was Seth Golden You referred to ❓

[@leonordelatorre7986]

Even if you try your to paint ugly you can’t! You are such a talented artist!,,

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Awww thank you so much for your kind words! ♥

[@jeanedwards1857]

Very helpful.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you think so!

[@sjmsutherland]

I really liked the first painting, tho the over paint was better!! I'm known to do the same thing at times!! Thanks for a great video!!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@tandanielle3875]

Wow...I really love how the sanded parts look. It adds so much dimension and make the painting more interesting. Thanks for sharing. You've inspired me to finally open that large canvas from the package. I very much want to work large but have been I guess too fearful thinking I am not worthy of the larger canvas. Silly right? Anyway, thank you:)

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes have fun with it!

[@lordoftheflings]

very nice video. thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you liked it

[@DrummerGrrrl]

I'm not so afraid of making a bad/hideous painting as much as I am afraid of ruining a canvas. I'm on a limited income and I am uneasy about repainting a canvas more than three times. I can't afford a lot of canvases at one time.

[@tracymccabe9620]

Try painting on giant pieces of trashpicked cardboard. Doing so really helped me loosen up.

[@berniceseigel6482]

I'm definitely going to do this excercise and let you know how it goes.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Have fun!

[@mehere337]

Soooooo...how did it go?

[@claudiachappel3350]

Hi again, What kind of brushes do you use? They look like hardware store brushes. Are they? BTW, I am LOVING your videos. Haven't left my chair all day watching. Thank you for inspiring me to try abstract painting! I am so in need to try something new and this excites me!!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

They are! I just buy whatever I can find as I don't tend to look after my brishes very well xx

[@robfuzz]

Is it important to complete a painting in one sitting or is it ok to do it in stages over time?

[@olgamuljawko1435]

Super!!!!!🙋‍♀️✌👏👍🌹🍀💐🌺☘🌷🌻❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ArtfulCreative]

Which of Seth Godin's books do you recommend? I noticed you mention him here, but don't say which of his books you're referring to. I haven't got any of his books yet, and was wondering which one to start with. Would love a recommendation. I'm slowly getting through most of the books you recommend on Art Juice! :)

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I love this last one The Practice x

[@ArtfulCreative]

@@ThisPaintingLife Thank you! Got myself a copy now!

[@tijo2524]

thr book .... Dancing with Fear !!!! who is the wrote the book ?? L'écrivain ?? i think I need to read it .. thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Seth Godin said this - he has written lots of books - they are all good - start with The Practice

[@Strongasmeat]

I would have hung the original on my wall. :(

[@ellenridenour9603]

I agree

[@mehere337]

​@@ellenridenour9603 I do, too.

[@quirky4512]

We’re you using your intuition??!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I always do!

[@quirky4512]

@@ThisPaintingLife thank you so much !!😊

[@marciabradley7660]

I tell my clients they have to be willing to “ruin” their painting.

[@guidohirschhaeuser]

People feel different about „ugly“.... for me it doesn‘t look ugly anyway... sorry 😁

[@ThisPaintingLife]

But that's the point - trying to make something ugly, usually results in something that is interesting

[@ritazita1111]

You are babbling away while you work, but I suggest you turn up the volume, some of us can't hear what you are saying.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

haha - I see you've never made a video. It's tougher than you think. made this video 3 years ago when I didn't have the technology that I have now. I prefer to think of it as speaking rather than babbling but each to his own lol