The magic ingredient that makes amazing art

I don't know about you, but I LOVE antique shops. I adore the feeling of being surrounded by old things and I love imagining the lives of the people who once owned them. But as I looked around, I was struck by something I haven't really considered before: the art on the walls was mostly very average and very uninspiring.

This is no surprise of course - the good stuff is rarely given away or sold cheaply - but it did make me think. Why did I find these paintings so uninspiring? Why did they not spark excitement or curiosity?

And then I stumbled upon one piece that did grab my attention. It was a somewhat naive drawing of some kind of jungle cat. The proportions were all wrong. The artist had drawn and redrawn the lines in an attempt to get it right, but still the legs were too short and the head was too big. And yet, it had something.

I was at the store with Trayci, a member of my team. A few minutes later, she called to me "have you seen this?" Turns out she was looking at the same drawing. Despite its obvious flaws, it was strong enough to grab attention from two different artists. 

What was the difference between that inexpertly drawn animal and the inexpertly painted watercolours on the walls? The drawing was infused with life and energy - you could feel the energy of the artist, intently focused on their subject, passionate about their process, and finding real joy in the act of creating. Risks had been taken because the marks were bold and strong.

On the other hand, the paintings felt lifeless. If you looked long enough, you could feel the fear that was built into them, the hesitancy behind every mark, the painful desire to 'get it right.' Risk had been avoided at all cost.

If we're looking to buy art, what do we want to bring into our lives? Something that feels full of joy and passion, or something that feels full of hesitancy and fear? Something that feels a little bit risky or something that feels dull and conformist?

Of course the answer is clear, and yet many of us struggle to work with passion, risk, and joy. We want to make art that feels that way but we stay trapped by the shackles of fear.

I certainly felt that way when I started out and my work shows it. I made small, cramped drawings using only black ink and water. Somehow that felt like all I could manage. Now I make large paintings using lots of colour - but I want to go further. I feel I could let go even more and make things that are even more exciting. And to do that, I know exactly what I have to do. 

I have to keep following the joy. The artist who made the animal drawing was following joy. They were totally engaged in the process, pouring their energy into every mark. So much so that even in a dusty old antique shop, the piece stood out and grabbed attention. 

My best paintings have this too. When I made them, I was lost in the process. I wasn't concerned with getting anything 'right' - I wasn't even thinking about a finished result - I was simply in flow.

I know the same is true for you, because it's true for every artist. It's true for musicians and poets and dancers and it's true for painters. When we are self-consciously trying to be 'good,' we never are. When we let go and simply enjoy the process, our art immediately gets better.

Once I realised this, I started to teach others how to find their joy. It sounds easy to say 'just don't be so stressed' or 'take a few risks!' but as we all know, it's much harder than it sounds. We have hang-ups that hold us back and we have fears that rear their ugly heads, and sometimes it feels impossible to make the art you would love to make - the kind of art that grabs attention from across a room. 

But once you know the secret to that kind of art, you can start to change. And it really is as simple as this: notice what you love to do when you're making your art and do more of it. Also, notice what you don't enjoy and stop doing that.

Once you do this, everything starts to change for you. Your art gets better instantly, and you lose your fear and stop procrastinating (because why procrastinate about something that's fun). And of course, this means you paint more, and when you paint more, you get better.

Following your joy really is the secret ingredient to amazing art and a rewarding art practice.

That's why, once a year, I run a free painting workshop called the Find Your Joy taster course. This is an 8-day course designed to overcome blocks, eliminate fears, and get you painting in a way you've never painted before. There is no experience requirement - we get everyone from beginners to seasoned pros - and no special materials required (beyond some paper and a few paint colours).

I can't wait to get started and I hope you'll join us. This free course has been called "life-changing" and "the best thing I ever did for my art." I'm so proud of the transformations we've helped to create and I can't wait to see what happens this year.