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# How to Get Better at Painting
- URL: https://craftedbyrobert.com/how-to-get-better-at-painting-no-secret/
- Published: 2026-11-12T21:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-12T21:00:00.000Z
- Description: Looking for the one secret to better painting? There isn’t one. Show up, make ugly paintings, find your own way, and layer over your rejects.
- Author: Robert Joyner
- Tags: Mixed Media, Free Lessons

You clicked hoping for the one secret that would change your painting forever. Sorry, there isn’t one. But here’s what actually works.

### There are no secrets

No magic brushes. No one little trick. No secret formula that has you painting beautiful flowers by noon.

The truth is the miles. You have to show up when you don’t feel like showing up.

### What actually works

- **Show up.** Get in the studio and get slapped around by your paint.
- **Make mud.** Mix a giant pile when you thought you had the perfect yellow.
- **Make ugly paintings.** Get rejected. Fail hundreds of times.
- **Come back tomorrow** and do it again.

For more on this, see [how to paint loose takes practice](https://craftedbyrobert.com/how-to-paint-loose-takes-practice/).

[![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ee/ee/eeee3f8a-028a-4efa-99e3-5af9bc505602/content/images/2026/10/learn-mixed-media-painting-4.webp)](https://craftedbyrobert.com/learn-mixed-media/) 

****Want to Create Loose Mixed Media Art, Slacker?** Learn the fundamentals, experiment with collage and layers, and develop your own expressive style.

[👉 Learn Mixed Media With Me ](https://craftedbyrobert.com/learn-mixed-media/) 

### Stop trying to be perfect

Maybe stop trying to paint complicated landscapes just to impress somebody. Stop copying every social media artist you admire. There’s nothing wrong with inspiration, but sooner or later you have to find your own way.

That’s the part nobody wants to hear, because now it’s on you. You have to experiment, take risks, make your own decisions, and figure out what excites you. When you find your way, it’s yours. Start with [how to find your own art style](https://craftedbyrobert.com/how-to-find-your-own-art-style/).

### A painting made of rejected layers

This painting is a good example. It started as a mixing canvas. Then came a failed candy painting that went straight into the dumpster of bad ideas. So I slapped down some collage paper, came back later, and it became a ketchup bottle.

Layers of rejected attempts. That’s my path: unpredictable, unconventional, a little chaotic. I love it. It might not be your path, and that’s something you have to discover.

Want to try this yourself? See [what to do with rejected paintings](https://craftedbyrobert.com/what-to-do-with-rejected-paintings-collage/) and [paint everyday objects](https://craftedbyrobert.com/paint-everyday-objects-mixed-media-still-life/).

### The bottom line

There ain’t no secret that’s going to do the work for you. People just don’t want to put in the work. Keep showing up, keep painting, and keep going. More in [10 tips for painting loose](https://craftedbyrobert.com/tips-for-painting-loose/).

Learn Structure. Paint Loose.

**Construct. Deconstruct. Explore. Repeat.**

### Getting better at painting FAQ

**Is there a secret to getting better at painting?**  
No. Consistent practice and lots of failed paintings are what move you forward.

**How often should I paint?**  
As often as you can, especially on days you don’t feel like it.

**Should I copy artists I admire?**  
Learn from them, but eventually find your own way.

**What do I do with bad paintings?**  
Paint or collage over them. Rejects become great layers.