Permission to Create Bad Art

Why Your “Failed” Paintings Are Actually Your Best Teachers

I need to be honest with you about something.

The other day, I spent a couple of hours on a painting and it was absolutely awful. The colours felt completely off, the composition didn’t work, and everything about it just fell flat.

And here’s the thing – I’m totally fine with that.

Actually, I’m more than fine with it. I grabbed my phone and filmed myself talking about it because I realised something really important that I think every artist needs to hear.

The Social Media Illusion

When we scroll through Instagram or Facebook, we see these gorgeous finished paintings. We watch beautifully edited process videos where everything flows perfectly. We see artists who seem to have it all figured out, creating masterpiece after masterpiece.

But what we don’t see? The painting graveyard.

We don’t see the failed attempts, the pieces that got painted over, the canvases that ended up in the bin. We don’t see the frustration, the doubt, or the moments when nothing feels right.

It’s a bit like those perfect family day out photos on social media. You see the smiling faces, the fun moments, everyone looking happy. But you don’t see the chaos of getting everyone out the door, the arguments in the car, or the constant “are we there yet?” complaints.

Social media shows us the highlight reel, not the reality.

Even the Masters Had Bad Days

Here’s something that might surprise you – even the artists we admire most had difficult days in the studio.

There were days when Monet came to his easel and the light wasn’t right. Days when Van Gogh felt frustrated with his work. Days when nothing flowed the way they wanted it to.

The difference between them and someone who gives up? Perseverance.

They kept showing up. They kept painting through the difficult days. They understood that not every painting would be successful, and that was okay.

Why “Bad” Paintings Are Actually Valuable

After painting for over 20 years, I’ve learnt something crucial – there’s no such thing as wasted paint.

Every painting, whether it turns out beautifully or completely fails, teaches you something:

• You learn which colour combinations don’t work together
• You discover what happens when you overwork an area
• You understand more about composition by seeing what doesn’t feel balanced
• You figure out which techniques suit your style and which don’t
• You build resilience and learn to trust your creative process

That painting I created that didn’t work out? I learnt from it. I was in my creative zone, experimenting, trying things out. Even though the end result wasn’t what I hoped for, the process was valuable.

I can paint over it. I can leave it for a few days and come back with fresh eyes. Or I can simply accept it as part of my journey and move on to the next piece.

The point is, it doesn’t bother me anymore. And I want that freedom for you too.

You Have Permission

Today, I’m giving you permission to create bad art.

I’m giving you permission to experiment and fail. To try techniques that don’t work out. To mix colours that turn muddy. To create compositions that feel off.

Because that’s how you learn. That’s how you grow. That’s how you eventually create the art you dream of making.

The more you paint, the better you become. It’s really that simple. But you have to be willing to create the not-so-great pieces along the way.

Stop Comparing, Start Creating

One of the biggest struggles I see with artists is comparison.

We look at other people’s work and think we should be further along. We see someone else’s success and feel like we’re failing. We scroll through beautiful artwork and wonder why ours doesn’t look like that yet.

But here’s the truth – you’re only seeing their best work. You’re comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.

Every artist you admire has a folder full of paintings that didn’t work out. They just don’t share them very often.

Be Kind to Yourself

As creatives, we tend to be incredibly hard on ourselves.

We expect every painting to be perfect. We beat ourselves up when things don’t go to plan. We feel like we’re not good enough, not talented enough, not progressing fast enough.

But art isn’t about perfection. It’s about expression, growth, and the joy of creating something from nothing.

On the days when your painting doesn’t work out, be kind to yourself. Accept that this is part of the process. Look back at previous work and see how far you’ve come.

Keep those paintings, even the ones you don’t love. They’re markers on your creative journey. They remind you of what you’ve learnt along the way.

The Journey Continues

I’ve been painting for over two decades, and I still create pieces that don’t work out. The difference now is that I don’t let it stop me.

I understand that the journey of an artist is exactly that – a journey. It’s not about reaching a destination where every painting is perfect. It’s about continually learning, experimenting, and growing.

Some days the painting flows beautifully. Other days nothing feels right. Both are equally valuable because both teach you something.

Your Turn

I’d love to know – are you hard on yourself when paintings don’t work out? Do you compare yourself to other artists? Have you given yourself permission to create “bad” art, or does the fear of failure hold you back?

There’s no right or wrong answer. We’re all at different stages of our creative journey, and that’s perfectly okay.

The important thing is that you keep showing up. Keep painting. Keep learning. Keep growing.

Because the only way to create the art you dream of is to paint your way through the pieces that don’t quite work out yet.

Your artistic journey is waiting, and I promise you – it’s absolutely worth embracing every part of it, even the messy bits.

Just keep going.

Michelle ✨