I put a premium on repeatable process. That’s not because I’m rigid; it’s because a consistent painting process delivers consistent results. Every noted artist in art history has had one.
Study the working methods of masters and you’ll see variation, of course. Claude Monet worked serially, revisiting the same subject in shifting light to explore optics, color and atmosphere. John Singer Sargent was famous for his bravura brushwork, but beneath that flair was a disciplined structure of drawing and value control. Georgia O’Keeffe simplified and distilled her subjects through careful design and a deliberate studio practice.
They had different approaches, different temperaments and lived in different places and times, yet all were grounded in method.
The bones don’t change
Color and design principles don’t change. They’re the bones of painting. You can glaze or paint alla prima, work from life or from photos, but you cannot escape the fundamentals of color harmony, value structure, and composition.
How you get there, however, will become increasingly tailored to your own painting approach and personality as you grow and evolve. These are workflow decisions. Over time, you will discover which sequence of steps makes you clear-headed instead of flustered.
Learn a process before you break it
If you’re serious about improving your painting, find a teacher who suits your personality. That doesn’t mean someone whose finished paintings you admire, but someone whose method makes sense to your brain.
Learn and treasure that teacher’s process (and enjoy learning while you’re at it). Practice it until it is second nature. Build muscle memory around it. A structured painting process gives you something to fall back on when you’re tired, discouraged, or staring at a blank canvas.
That is how artists move from dabbling to building a body of work.
Just as with painting style, your process will evolve over time. You’ll streamline steps and discover shortcuts that don’t sacrifice quality. That evolution isn’t rebellion; it’s maturity.
Haphazard in, haphazard out
There is a pernicious myth in art that spontaneity equals authenticity. But haphazard approaches deliver haphazard paintings. Yes, there will be a few happy accidents. Chance always plays a role in creative work. Serendipity is real.
But if you rely on accident as your primary strategy, your success rate will be low. A consistent painting workflow gives you a framework. Within that framework, you can take risks. You can experiment with brushwork or color temperature or edges. You can push yourself compositionally.
Without a framework, you are reinventing the wheel every time you paint. That’s exhausting, and it makes it nearly impossible to create a cohesive portfolio or professional body of work.
Build your own normal
Adopt a repeatable art process. Follow it faithfully. Track what works. Notice where you stumble. Refine gently.
Over months and years, that method will bend toward your temperament. It will begin to reflect your visual priorities and technical strengths. Eventually, it will feel less like a borrowed system and more like your own studio rhythm.
That’s when you’ve found your normal. And from that normal—steady, disciplined, evolving—you’ll produce not just better paintings, but a happier, more confident artistic life.
Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- Advanced Plein Air Painting | Rockport, ME, July 13-17, 2026
- Sea & Sky | Acadia National Park, ME, August 2–7, 2026
- Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026
Can’t commit to a full workshop? Work online at your own pace:
