Before we get into it, I just want to say—I am certainly not claiming myself to have achieved mastery in watercolour. I am completely self-taught. & also, only started my artistic journey in my late 20’s – before this I was all science & no craft.
Painting may still not be my full time job, but it surely is my full time love. Painting has brought me so much peace and joy, and I can’t get enough of it! It’s just me, my brushes, and Alys (my little studio assistant 🐶) in my home studio, learning as I go.
I’m writing about this topic because I like the psychology of it all, not because I’m claiming to be a master of watercolour. Now let’s get into developing true mastery!
Deliberate practice is more than just repeating a skill over and over—it’s structured, focused, and designed for improvement. Unlike passive practice (mindlessly sketching or playing the same song repeatedly), deliberate practice involves:
🤍 A clear goal – Instead of “I’ll practice drawing today,” it’s “I’ll practice shading techniques with three different light sources.” It’s all about the details!
🤍 Intense focus – Avoiding distractions and practicing with full engagement.
🤍 Immediate feedback – Analyzing mistakes and making adjustments in real-time.
🤍 Stretching beyond comfort – Pushing slightly beyond your boundaries and skill level, focusing on weaknesses.
Research by Anders Ericsson, a psychologist famous for his studies on expertise, shows that deliberate practice is the key factor in developing true mastery, regardless of natural talent (Ericsson et al., 1993).
The idea that mastery comes from practice isn’t new—history’s greatest artists understood this centuries ago. Many of the Old Masters spent years refining their techniques, and their dedication to practice is what made them legendary.
🤍 Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) – Famous for his relentless sketching and anatomical studies, da Vinci filled thousands of pages with practice drawings of hands, faces, and the human body. He believed that constant observation and repetition were essential to capturing realism.
🤍 Michelangelo (1475-1564) – Even at 74 years old, Michelangelo wrote, “I am still learning.” His early years were spent copying ancient sculptures and sketching from life, and he famously believed that drawing daily was the key to artistic excellence.
🤍 Rembrandt (1606-1669) – One of history’s greatest portrait artists, Rembrandt completed over 90 self-portraits, constantly analyzing light, shadow, and expression. His practice with etching and drawing from live models made his later works extraordinarily lifelike.
🤍 J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) – Turner, one of the pioneers of watercolor, was obsessed with landscape studies, often completing hundreds of small sketches before committing to a final painting. He believed in capturing the essence of nature through endless practice.
These artists didn’t rely on natural talent alone—they worked at their craft every single day. They understood what modern psychology confirms: consistent, deliberate practice is the true path to mastery.
Mastery isn’t just about repetition—it’s about how we engage with learning and improvement. Psychologists have studied expertise for decades, and here’s what we know about how people develop mastery:
🧠 Mastery requires deep focus
The brain thrives on focused, undistracted practice. Research shows that multitasking or practicing passively slows down skill acquisition. The best way to improve is to immerse yourself completely in the task at hand (Newport, 2016).
🔄 Mistakes drive learning (when used correctly)
The brain actually learns more from mistakes than from successes—but only if we take time to analyze what went wrong and adjust. This is why feedback and self-reflection are crucial in deliberate practice (Bjork & Bjork, 2011).
🚀 Growth mindset is everything
Psychologist Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset shows that people who believe they can improve through effort tend to achieve mastery, while those who believe in “fixed talent” often plateau early (Dweck, 2006).
💡 The brain physically changes with practice
Studies on neuroplasticity show that consistent, structured practice actually rewires the brain, strengthening the neural pathways needed for a skill. This is why artists, musicians, and athletes develop automatic, effortless execution over time (Fields, 2008).
⏱️ 1. Keep It simple – You don’t need to sketch for hours; even 5-10 minutes a day can make a big difference.
🎯 2. Set a goal – Try themes like “sketch one face a day” or “fill a page with quick doodles.”
🖊 3. Use different mediums – Mix it up with pencil, ink, watercolor, or markers to keep things fresh.
🎨 4. Carry a pocket sketchbook – Having one on hand makes it easier to capture ideas anytime.
🌿 5. Sketch what inspires you – Nature, people, architecture—anything that catches your eye! It’s totally up to you what you decide to sketch!
A common myth in skill development is that some people are just naturally talented, while others are not. While genetics can play a small role, research overwhelmingly shows that consistent, structured effort is what truly creates mastery.
🏆 1. Talent might give you a head start, but it won’t make you a master
Studies on expert performers—from world-class violinists to elite athletes—show that the best performers weren’t the most “naturally talented” at the start, but they were the ones who practiced the most and the smartest (Ericsson et al., 1993).
⏳ 2. The 10,000-hour rule (kind of) works
Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that 10,000 hours of practice makes you an expert, but the real takeaway is this: It’s not about the number of hours, but about the quality of those hours.
💪 3. The most successful people embrace the learning process
Mastery isn’t about being “gifted”—it’s about falling in love with learning, improving, and pushing past challenges. Every expert was once a beginner. The key is to keep going even when progress feels slow.
Mastery doesn’t happen overnight—but consistent, deliberate effort leads to real progress. Want more insights on creativity, psychology, and skill-building? Stay tuned for future blog articles! 😊🎨✨ In the meantime, you can check out my article on the benefits of daily sketching 😍 – I wish I had started a sketchbook sooner!
If you like, you can head over to amazon and buy the same sketchbook I use every single day! I love my strathmore sketchbook and I have definitely noticed a significant improvement in my artistic skills since I started using it consistently.
☼ Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (2011). Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning. Psychology and the Real World, 2, 56-64.
☼ Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
☼ 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.
☼ Fields, R. D. (2008). White matter in learning, cognition, and psychiatric disorders. Trends in Neurosciences, 31(7), 361-370.
☼ Newport, C. (2016). Deep work: Rules for focused success in a distracted world. Grand Central Publishing.
☼ What is deliberate practice, and how does it lead to mastery?
☼ How did the Old Masters practice to achieve their skill?
☼ What happens in the brain when we develop expertise?
☼ Why is consistency more important than raw talent?
☼ How can artists use structured practice to improve faster?
☼ What are practical tips for making practice more effective?
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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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