The Pace Problem That’s Sabotaging Your Paintings (And How to Fix It)
One day, you’re flying through a painting. You feel focused and energized, like the brush is guiding itself. Colors fall into place. Decisions happen quickly. It feels thrilling. You’re in the zone.
Then, on another day, that same fast pace sends you into a spiral. You second-guess every mark. The joy gets replaced with frustration, maybe even panic. Nothing feels right.
So what changed?
Louise Fletcher (Ep.48) has an idea. You might need a change of artistic pace.
Every Painting Has Its Own Rhythm
There is no single speed you should use to work through a painting. Fletcher has learned that each painting has its own internal rhythm. Some pieces move quickly. Others ask you to slow down, to look longer, to wait before making the next mark. Some require both.
When you expect every session to move at the same speed, or default to your usual pace, you create a mismatch between what you’re doing and what the painting actually needs.
That mismatch has a cost.
It shows up as tight shoulders. Rushed decisions you immediately want to undo. That creeping sense that the painting is slipping away from you.
It’s easy to misread those signals. We assume we chose the wrong colors. Or that we’re just off that day.
But often, the issue isn’t materials or skill. It’s pace.
You might be pushing forward when the painting needs space. Or hesitating when it’s asking for something more direct.
Learning to adjust your pace instead of forcing it can completely change how a session feels and how a painting develops.
Do a Pace Check
If you start to feel overwhelmed or stuck, pause and run a quick check:
1. Are you moving too fast?
It’s easy to get stuck in the idea that real artists move quickly. That intuitive artists just go, go, go.
But artists work at all paces.
When you rush, you don’t give yourself time to see clearly. Marks pile up before you’ve had a chance to assess them. If every brushstroke is followed by doubt, it may be a sign to slow down and give each decision a little more time.
2. Are you at a decision point?
Sometimes a painting stalls because you’ve reached a fork in the road. This is where the next move matters.
Instead of rushing ahead, step back. Give yourself a minute to look and ask what the painting actually needs next.
This can feel uncomfortable. In that space, doubt can creep in. You might worry about making the wrong choice.
So you rush.
But learning to make decisions is part of the work.
The first step is noticing when you’re at a decision point. The second is giving yourself the space to actually make the decision.
3. Are you working against a deadline?
Paintings don’t always follow a schedule. When you force them into one, the pressure can take over. What felt open and exploratory starts to feel tight and urgent.
The next time something feels off, take a beat and check your pace.
Ask yourself:
What is my current pace: fast, slow, or stuck?
How does my body feel right now: loose, tight, rushed, hesitant?
What happens if I shift my pace, even slightly?
What might this painting need from me in this moment?
Your pace is a creative tool. When you learn to adjust it, you make clearer decisions and stay connected to the work in front of you.
That can be the difference between fighting a painting and working with its natural momentum.
Put It to Practice
In your next session, pay attention to your pace.
Set a timer for 20 minutes and begin as you normally would. About halfway through, pause and check in:
Are you rushing decisions?
Are you hesitating on obvious ones?
Do you feel tight or fluid?
Then experiment.
If you’ve been moving quickly, slow everything down. Mix your colors more deliberately. Give each mark a few extra seconds before you place it.
If you’ve been stuck or overthinking, do the opposite. Let yourself move faster. Make a few decisions without correcting them.
The goal isn’t to get this perfectly right the first time.
It’s to understand how your pace affects what you see and what you do next.
Because once you can feel that shift, you can start to use it.