If you’ve been away from painting for a while, you’re among friends. It happens to all of us.
We get into a routine and forget the self care things that used to make us feel good. We tell ourselves that life gets busy, the days slip by, and we’re not inspired… in reality we are slowly forgetting who we really are and leaving the habits that make us feel alive behind.
I used to think I was the only one who struggled with that. Before I became the artist in residence at Watercolor Painting, my paints lived in a drawer. Every time I thought about painting, I’d picture the setup — clearing space, finding paper, filling water jars — and it just felt like too much.
I loved painting, but honestly, getting started felt like a chore.
And even when I did take everything out, I’d sit there staring at the blank page… stuck.
What should I paint? A flower? A landscape? Something abstract? The choices felt endless, and instead of feeling inspired, I felt frozen.
Then there was the shadow— that quiet, familiar voice that says, “What if it doesn’t turn out?” Maybe you’ve heard it too. You see something beautiful — a vase of flowers, a photo from your garden — and your heart says yes, but your hand hesitates.
You want to paint it, but you don’t want to fail at something you love.
If that sounds like you, I get it. I’ve been there.
But here’s what I’ve learned: getting back into watercolor doesn’t have to be a big production. It doesn’t even have to be a “comeback.” You don’t need a plan or a perfect idea — you just need one small step.
Here are a few things that helped me find my way back when painting started to feel far away.
1. Start smaller than you think you should
When I hadn’t painted in a while, I used to think I needed to make something worthwhile — something that justified the effort. But that kind of pressure makes it almost impossible to start.
Now, when I feel rusty, I start tiny. A scrap of paper. A single leaf. A color wash.
I tell myself, “Just five minutes.” That’s it.
Five minutes feels doable. And once the brush is wet and the color starts to move, something shifts. The hesitation melts away, and before I know it, I’ve been painting for half an hour.
The point isn’t to make something great — it’s just to remind yourself what it feels like to paint again.
2. Make your space easy to say yes to
You don’t need a fancy studio or perfect setup. But if your supplies are buried in a drawer, painting will always feel like a project.
When I finally started keeping my paints out – in the corner of my computer desk – everything changed. I painted more often, and it felt easier to begin.
If you can, create a little “ready corner.” It could be a tray you pull out, a spot by the window, or even a travel kit you keep nearby. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s accessibility.
When your supplies are visible, they invite you to paint.
3. Paint something familiar
When you’re easing back in, pick something you already know. A flower you’ve painted before. A simple sky wash. A favorite subject that feels comforting.
There’s something grounding about painting what’s familiar. You know the shapes and colors, so you can relax and enjoy the process instead of worrying about the outcome.
Sometimes I’ll revisit an old tutorial or redo a painting I made years ago — not to compare, but to see how my hand has changed. It’s a reminder that even when we step away, we keep growing.
4. Let go of how it “should” look
This one took me a long time to learn.
I used to sit down with a clear picture in my head — and if the painting didn’t match it, I’d feel disappointed. But watercolor has its own personality. It runs, it blooms, it surprises you. That’s what makes it so alive.
Now, when I paint, I try to let the water lead. I remind myself that not every painting needs to be “good.”
Some are just meant to loosen your hand, or calm your mind, or teach you something small.
The more you let watercolor do what it does best — flow, blend, surprise — the more joy you’ll find in it.
5. Remember why you love it
When you’ve been away from painting, it helps to remember why you liked it in the first place.
For me, it’s the colors. The way time slows down when I’m mixing them. The way they flow and play together. The heaviness of my brush filled with water. That moment when water touches pigment and spreads it out with a rush. Blooming like a flower.
What is it for you?
Maybe it’s the calm. Maybe it’s the focus. Maybe it’s simply the feeling of making something with your hands.
Whatever it is, hold onto that. Let it be the reason you come back — not guilt, not pressure, just love.
Returning to watercolor after a break isn’t about catching up or making up for lost time.
It’s about inviting back something that’s always been there, waiting for you.
So if you’ve been thinking, “Maybe it’s time to paint again,” take that as your sign.
Fill your water jar. Open your palette. Cut off a small piece of watercolor paper and paint something simple — a leaf, a sky, a shape, anything.
You don’t have to be ready. You just have to begin.
And once you do, you’ll remember: watercolor doesn’t ask for perfection. It just asks for you.
Happy painting,
Mari
