What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Painting
- DeElla Hoberg
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
Some days the motivation just isn’t there.
You sit down with your paints and nothing feels exciting. Everything feels like too much work. Maybe you’re tired, distracted, or just mentally worn out. It happens to all of us — beginners and experienced painters alike.
One of the biggest myths about creativity is that we have to feel inspired before we begin. In reality, inspiration often shows up after we start, not before.
But there are also days when we need a gentler approach — something simple and low-pressure that keeps us connected to our creativity without feeling overwhelming.
Here are a few quiet ways to keep painting, even on days when your energy is low.
1. Do a 10-Minute Practice
You don’t need a full painting session to make progress.
Set a timer for ten minutes and give yourself permission to stop when the timer ends. Often, just getting started is enough to wake up your creative energy, but even if it isn’t, those ten minutes still count.
Some simple practice ideas:
Paint a smooth gradient wash
Practice light-to-dark value changes
Make simple brush strokes
Paint a few loose leaves
Try mixing a range of neutrals
Small practice sessions build skill in a quiet and steady way.
2. Paint Something Simple
When energy is low, complicated paintings can feel overwhelming. This is a perfect time to return to simple subjects.
A small landscape can be especially calming to paint because it allows you to focus on water, color, and value without worrying about perfection.
Simple ideas include:
A soft sky wash with a tree line
A misty group of trees
A small mountain scene
A quiet sunset wash
One simple tree
These kinds of paintings often turn out better than we expect because we approach them with less pressure.
3. Focus on One Skill
Instead of trying to make a finished painting, try practicing just one idea.
For example:
Soft edges vs hard edges
Light and shadow
Water control
Layering washes
Mixing clean colors
When we narrow our focus, painting becomes less stressful and more manageable.
4. Let Practice Be Enough
Not every painting needs to be frame-worthy.
Some of the most important growth happens in the quiet practice paintings that no one else ever sees. These are the paintings where we learn how the brush moves, how the water behaves, and how colors interact.
These small studies are not wasted effort — they are the foundation of confident painting.
Even professional artists spend a great deal of time practicing and experimenting.
5. Stay Connected to Your Inner Artist
I often remind my students that our inner artist needs encouragement, not pressure.
On days when you feel tired or uninspired, it may be enough to simply sit down with your paints and make a few marks on paper. Creativity grows through gentle attention and steady practice, not through forcing ourselves to perform.
Progress in watercolor happens one small session at a time.
A Gentle Invitation to Practice
If you’ve been feeling stuck or unmotivated lately, consider this a gentle invitation to do something small today.
A few brush strokes.A simple wash.One small landscape.
That is enough.
And sometimes, that small beginning is exactly what brings the joy back.
Learning Together
Many of the exercises I share here come directly from the beginner and Next Steps watercolor classes that I teach. These classes focus on building skills step by step in a relaxed and supportive environment, with an emphasis on steady progress rather than perfection.
If you're looking for structured guidance and encouragement, you can learn more about upcoming classes on the Classes page of my website.
But whether you're taking a class or painting on your own, remember that every small practice session moves you forward.
Quiet progress is still progress.
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