By Michael Bennett
Sometimes the biggest creative breakthroughs come from small changes in mindset.
This little 6×8″ oil painting is the first piece I’ve completed in a little while—and to my surprise, I finished it in a single day, which might be a first for me. The real breakthrough wasn’t just the speed, though—it was the approach I took to get there.
Reconnecting with the Creative Process
Like many artists, I’ve had my share of unfinished canvases. Sometimes it’s perfectionism, and sometimes it’s just life getting in the way, but more often than not, I quit because I’m not achieving some predetermined idea I had in mind, which is usually some sort of emulation of other artists I admire. Whatever the reason, I found myself in a rut, and that was becoming frustrating.
A New Approach to Painting
When I started this piece, I made a conscious decision: don’t obsess over the details. Don’t stress about every little highlight or tree branch. Instead, just focus on where the colours need to go. Trust instinct over precision.
This was a major shift from my usual mindset—and it made all the difference.
Something Clicked
The painting came together relatively quickly. It had energy, movement, and a certain liveliness that I hadn’t seen in my recent work. The strokes felt freer. I didn’t overthink—just painted. And best of all, I actually enjoyed the process for a change. The biggest change in my thinking was that I stopped trying to make a mountain look like a mountain, or a tree look like a tree, it was little just about colour and its value.
What I Took Away from It
I’ll definitely be using this approach going forward. I still want to free up the brush strokes even more than I did here, but for the first time in a long while, I feel like I’m heading in the right direction.
Now don’t get me wrong, this little painting is far from perfect, but letting go of perfectionism allowed me to create something more natural and expressive. This small canvas reminded me that there’s real power in simplicity. Sometimes, less truly is more.
Your Turn
If you’re an artist or creative of any kind, have you ever had a moment like this—where letting go helped you move forward? I’d love to hear about it.
Feel free to drop me a message or follow me on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes insights and new artwork.
Thanks for reading,
– Michael