When to Let Go for the Good of the Painting

Sometimes the fastest way to improve a painting isn’t by adding more. It’s knowing what to let go of.

One of the most overlooked steps in the painting process is simplifying.

I was recently working on a piece that had a deep magenta flower I absolutely loved. I had spent hours on it. The color was rich, the detail was beautiful... but something about it felt off.

Every time I stepped back, that one flower seemed to pull all the attention. It was too bold, too strong, and it didn’t feel like it belonged with the rest of the palette.

So I did something tough. I painted over it.

I changed it to a lighter pink that blended better with the surrounding colors, and almost instantly, the entire painting shifted. It felt more peaceful. More cohesive. More intentional.

That’s the power of simplifying.

Simplifying doesn’t mean your work becomes boring or less expressive. It actually gives your subject room to breathe. It helps guide the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go.

Here’s something you can try:
Step back from your painting and squint.
What stands out too much?
What feels a little too loud?
What could be softened, toned down, or even removed?

Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the good of the whole. And that’s not always easy. But this is where real growth happens.

Inside Studio B Art Club, we talk a lot about this... how to make confident choices, trust your intuition, and create with clarity. Often, that means doing less… not more.

Letting go can be part of the creative process too.

Keep going. You’re doing great.

- Brooke
& The Studio B Team