What If You Stopped Worrying About the End Result?

The Mindset Shift: From Product to Process

You know that moment when you sit down to create, and before you even put pencil to paper, your brain whispers, What if this turns out awful? Suddenly, your excitement turns into hesitation, and next thing you know, you’re reorganizing your junk drawer instead of making art.

I’ve been there. We all have.

That little voice in your head—let’s call it The Perfectionist Gremlin—tells you that if your art isn’t going to be great, you shouldn’t even bother. It convinces you that “real” artists don’t struggle, that their work flows effortlessly, and that you are the only one questioning your abilities. But let me tell you something: every artist struggles. Every single one.

So, what if we stopped worrying so much about the final result? What if we let go of the pressure to create something “worthy” and just let ourselves play?

The Mindset Shift: From Product to Process

Think about a time when you created something and got so lost in the moment that hours flew by. That’s the magic of art. Not the finished piece. Not the approval from others. Just the act of creating.

When kids make art, they don’t stop to wonder if their drawing of a cat actually looks like a cat. They just enjoy it. Somewhere along the way, we lose that freedom. We start worrying about whether our work is “good enough,” comparing it to others, and setting expectations so high that they crush the joy right out of the process. When I watch my youngest son paint, he is so free and gestural, without a care in the world! So envious!

But here’s a little secret: art is always good enough if you learned something from making it.

The artists you admire? They didn’t get there by making only masterpieces. They got there by making a whole lot of imperfect, experimental, and even straight-up bad art. The difference is, they didn’t let those moments stop them. They used them as stepping stones.

Try This: Low-Stakes, High-Fun Practice

One of the best ways to break free from perfectionism is to give yourself permission to make bad art. Not every piece needs to be framed or shared. In fact, some of the best artistic growth comes from low-stakes exercises where the goal is just to explore. Try these:

🎨 Messy Sketches – Set a timer for five minutes and sketch without lifting your pencil. No erasing, no judgment—just movement. If it looks like a potato, congrats! You just exercised your creative muscles.

🖌️ Limited Supplies Challenge – Pick only two materials (like ink and a brush) and see what you can create with just those. Constraints often lead to the most surprising and creative results.

⏳ One-Hour Creations – Give yourself exactly one hour to make a piece, start to finish. No time to overthink—just make! If you’re feeling brave, do this once a week and see how much your skills grow.

✏️ Draw the Same Subject 10 Times – Pick something simple (like a leaf, a coffee cup, or even your own hand) and sketch it over and over without worrying about getting it “right.” Watch how your lines loosen up and your confidence builds.

The goal? Detach from the outcome and focus on the experience.

My Own Experience Letting Go

There was a time I attempted a pastel portrait of a dog, and instead of fussing over every detail, I focused on big shapes first (which, as you know, is my go-to method). Somewhere along the way, I stopped worrying about whether it would be “frame-worthy” and just had fun with the texture and colors. I layered, I experimented, and I played with different strokes.

And guess what?

It ended up being one of my favorite pieces—not because it was perfect, but because I enjoyed every moment of making it.

Some of my most successful pieces have come from the times when I let go of expectations. And some of my leastsuccessful pieces (hello, weirdly proportioned horse from 2008) have taught me the most valuable lessons.

Now It’s Your Turn

Let’s do a little thought experiment:

What’s one thing you’d create if you knew no one would see it?

Would you try an experimental style? Paint something totally weird? Scribble nonsense just for fun? Maybe you’d finally try that abstract painting you’ve been secretly curious about.

I challenge you to create something messy, imperfect, and just for you. No sharing, no self-judgment—just pure, joyful making. And if you do feel like sharing, tag me so I can celebrate your creative bravery!

Because at the end of the day, the only “bad” art is the one you were too afraid to start.

Now go make something beautifully imperfect. 💜