Not Enough Time to Paint? Try This Simple Mindset Shift

One of the biggest reasons artists skip painting? They don’t think they have enough time. But what if the problem isn’t the clock—it’s the expectation?

Painter Remington Robinson (Ep.112) doesn’t always have long, luxurious sessions when he heads out to paint. But instead of skipping the session, he makes one important shift: he adjusts the subject to fit the time he has.

What He Does When Time Is Tight

Robinson has developed two strategies to keep painting even on busy days:

First, simplify the subject.
If he has only 20 or 30 minutes, he removes details and pares down complexity so he can complete the painting within that window. This often means focusing on large shapes, strong design, and omitting the fiddly bits.

Second, choose a simpler subject.
Instead of tackling a cityscape packed with architectural detail, he might opt for a grove of trees, a single flower, or a simple skyline. He matches his subject matter to the time available.

Over time, he’s built up an internal library of what types of scenes take more or less time to complete. That helps him make smart choices quickly.

In short: he lets time set the terms—and he paints anyway.

Put It to Practice

A common trap for painters is picking the subject first and then hoping they’ll have enough time to do it justice. But consistent painters flip that order. They start by checking how much time they actually have—and then choose a subject that fits.

Before your next session, try this:

Clock Check: How much time do you realistically have today?

• If it’s 15–30 minutes, skip the cathedral and paint the flower pot.

• If it’s an hour, go a little more detailed, but still keep it manageable.

By aligning your subject with your time, you’ll reduce frustration, increase your chances of finishing, and make painting feel doable—even on busy days.