Iâve been thinking a lot lately about something I used to strongly believe in that I realize now was holding me back for a long time, and I see it happening to other artists beginning their own journeys too.
Itâs the idea that skill development, especially those most basic skills like drawing and colour theory, just arenât that important.
In art school I had been told time and time again that realistic drawing wasnât interesting enough to help me be a professional artist. I had been told that I needed to do something else, something more unique, to really stand out. And when youâre 18, not so great at painting, and extremely to susceptible to outside influence, that sounds A LOT like permission to ignore technical development! Yay!
As I get older, wiser, and a lot more critical of myself, I have realized that there is a HUGE difference between permission to loosen and work intuitively, and ignoring skill and technique altogether. I believe strongly in intuition, play, and personal voice. Those parts of art-making are so incredibly important and they matter ENORMOUSLY! But somewhere along the way, I started to notice something.
The paintings that moved me the most werenât careless, accidental, or thrown together. They werenât just feelings chucked onto paper, a random, thoughtless compilation of a few hours of artisticâŚenergy?
The paintings that told me the best, most exciting stories were paintings that were based in skill and technique, and then the artist worked to push BEYOND the power of the medium, and really created their own intentional and utterly magical artworks.
Thatâs when it clicked: loose doesnât mean unintentional.
I am not, by any means, an abstract artist. But as someone who has been to art school and studied a fair amount of famous artworks from throughout history, I get the question a lot about why something is art when it looks like a child could do it.
And while I have a lot to say about some of those artworks, I strongly believe that good art is built on an intimate understanding of structure and the rules that exist in art and design, sometimes so intimately understood that itâs power comes from its sheer rejection of those rules.
I see so many artists just starting their artistic journey, finding their style and figuring out what they like to paint, but they ignore the techniques and the skills once theyâve learned a few tips and tricks, and jump straight into trying to sell their art. But you canât fake your way into strong skills and great art.
And hereâs the thing I wish Iâd understood sooner: learning those things didnât make my work tighter or more rigid. It made me calmer. More confident. More willing to let go.
Mastery didnât kill my style. It gave it something to stand on. It made me capable of creating those intricate and exciting images and stories I see in my head.
Thatâs the heart of why I created Watercolour Foundations: Finding Confidence in Watercolour.
This class isnât about painting perfectly or making âcorrectâ art. Itâs about building a steady, supportive foundation so you can trust yourself, whether your work is abstract, expressive, botanical, or somewhere in between. We focus on materials, colour, flow, and control in a way that feels human and practical, not rigid or intimidating.
Because confidence doesnât come from never making mistakes.
It comes from knowing what youâre doing, and knowing you can recover when things go sideways.
If youâve ever felt like you were hiding behind âstyleâ because the basics felt confusing or overwhelming, this class is for you. And if you love loose, expressive work but want it to feel more intentional and grounded, itâs for you too.
You can learn more and register here:
Don't forget to use code WATERCOLOUR2026 for your special VIP discount.
Thanks for being here, and for continuing to grow alongside me.
xoxo,
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