I’ve nearly finished my latest painting for my fauna collection—a kookaburra—and I’m finding myself in that hard spot where I know I’m not happy with it. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I know I need to start again. ugh! and so here I am, writing this blog in the midst of deciding to start a painting again. It’s been a rough decision to come to this morning!
It’s disheartening because I’ve been painting for hours- days in fact. I put so much time and care into it. I want to love it. And I don’t.
It’s not the first time this has happened. I’ve re-painted pieces again and again before, and in the end, it’s always worth it. But that doesn’t mean the process it’s easy. The decision to start a painting again can feel like failure, even when it’s actually just part of the process of creating something you’re happy with.
We don’t talk enough about how hard it is to start over. It can feel like all the work was for nothing. But here’s the truth:
🚶🏽♀️ You’re not going backward. You’ve learned something. That attempt moved you forward—even if it didn’t make it to the finish line.
👁️ Your eye is evolving. Noticing what’s “off” in your work is proof that you’re growing. That’s a good thing.
📈 Art isn’t linear. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get where you’re going. That’s part of being a painter, not a sign you’re doing it wrong.
The more I paint, the more I learn to trust that tiny nudge inside that says, this could be better. It’s not always fun to listen to—but it’s never led me astray.
There’s grief in letting go of something you worked so hard on. I’ve found that what makes it hard isn’t just the time or effort—it’s the hope we poured into the piece. We wanted it to become something. And starting over can feel like letting go of that dream.
😬 Frustration: “Why couldn’t I just get it right the first time?”
🫠 Doubt: “What if the next version doesn’t work either?”
😌 Relief: “Maybe now I can make it into something I truly love.”
Let yourself feel all of that. It’s okay to be disappointed. It doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you care.
This is a tricky one—and something I’m still learning myself. Sometimes I finish a painting and feel unsure. Am I being too hard on myself? Or is it genuinely not working?
Here’s how I try to tell the difference:
🫵🏽 If it’s a nagging feeling tied to insecurity, like “this isn’t good enough,” or “a real artist would have done better,” it’s usually perfectionism talking. That voice is critical, vague, and rooted in fear.
🎨 If I can name what isn’t working, like “the proportions feel off,” or “the colours don’t reflect the mood I want,” that’s creative clarity. It’s thoughtful, specific, and motivated by care for the artwork.
Try asking yourself:
☝🏽 Am I making this change out of fear, or because I want to honour the idea more fully?
The goal isn’t to chase perfection. It’s to create something you feel proud to stand behind—imperfect, maybe, but true to yourself and your work.
When I have to repaint something, I try to gently shift my mindset. Here’s what helps me:
🖍️ Change something intentionally – New reference, different colour palette, switch up the medium or paper. Make the second version feel like a fresh start.
🫶🏽 Save the “failed” painting – It wasn’t a waste. You might love it later. Or it might teach you something for your next piece. In saying that…sometimes I do rip up “failed” paintings to use as swatch paper.
☕ Follow with creating a small win – Paint something tiny and fun alongside the redo, so you don’t feel stuck in the same image.
📓 Document the journey – I like writing down what didn’t work and what I want to try differently. It turns the process into an experiment, not a failure.
👩🏽🎨 Be kind to your artist self – As a provisional psychologist, I know that self-criticism can block growth. Self-compassion is the real magic in creative improvement.
Even professional artists start again. Even the “masters” painted over their work, scrapped entire canvases, and reworked the same idea ten times. Starting again isn’t a sign of being lost—it’s often a sign that you’re closer to your voice than ever before.
When you trust your instincts enough to say, “this isn’t it,” you’re saying something powerful:
You care about your work. You believe you can do better. You’re not afraid to try.
And that’s what being an artist is all about.
Here’s how I’m moving forward with my kookaburra:
🪶 Take a short break – Sometimes stepping away for a day helps me return with clarity
🧘🏽♀️ Start fresh with intention – I’m going to adjust the colours and loosen my approach
📓 Reflect and record – I’ll document what I learned from the first version
📸 Share the process – Because even the messy middle is part of the art
And when I finally finish this kookaburra, I know it’ll mean even more—because I showed up twice for it.
Well, that’s all for this post friends. Bit of a personal one as I’m literally writing this in the moment of coming to terms with having to re-paint my kookaburra. ugh! so frustrating but, that’s just part of the artistic process sometimes.
Have you ever experienced this? I’d love to hear from you! Send me a message on social media 🌻✨🫶🏽
If you’re in the mood to keep reading and are looking for more practical tips on building your art practice, take a look at my other articles! 👩🏽🎨🤍
☼ Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406.
☼ Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. William Morrow.
☼ Sennett, R. (2008). The craftsman. Yale University Press.
☼ How do I know when to start a painting again?
☼ What should I do if I feel frustrated or disheartened with my work?
☼ How can I stay confident after scrapping a painting?
☼ How do other artists deal with redoing artwork?
☼ What mindset helps when restarting a piece of art?
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hi, i’m sarah, an australian artist head-over-heels for watercolour & creative practice- it truely is good for your soul.
& this ↑, is my girl alys.
i am completely self-taught in all the mediums i use & i am here to share everything i know with you!
i write about all things creativity, watercolour, gouache, hand-made ceramics, collecting art, & my own artistic process. I have degrees in human psychology & veterinary medicine- so you might find some sporadic related facts in my writing.
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