everyone starts somewhere
Today I showed my students one of my watercolor paintings because we were painting in class and they were all shocked at the painting so it was good to remind them and myself…. We all start from nothing!! It took me years to get to where I’m at with watercolor!!
When I first picked up a paintbrush, my watercolor attempts were far from impressive. The colors would bleed uncontrollably, and my brush strokes lacked confidence. It felt overwhelming, and at times, I doubted if I could ever create something meaningful. But I kept at it, reminding myself of the importance of persistence. One valuable lesson I learned is that mastery in watercolor doesn't happen overnight. It requires patience, practice, and a willingness to embrace mistakes. Every flawed painting taught me something new—whether about controlling water flow, layering colors, or experimenting with textures. This trial and error process helped me grow my skills steadily. Sharing my early work with my students opened a meaningful conversation about progress. I told them that every artist begins without skill, and only by trying and continuing do beautiful results emerge. This encouragement motivated them to be patient with their own efforts and enjoy the creative journey. If I had stopped after my very first attempts, none of my current watercolor achievements would exist. Each painting, no matter how imperfect, was a building block. For anyone starting today, remember that dedication over time transforms your abilities. Celebrate the small wins and keep painting—you’ll be amazed at how far persistence can take you.