There are days when painting comes naturally, but more often you sit down in front of your paints and the ideas simply don’t arrive. There’s always something else to do—run the vacuum round quickly, put a load of laundry on—anything to avoid having to make a decision and get started. We’ve all been there. I often find myself deep in displacement activities!
The good news is that there are simple little things you can do to help your brain feel calmer, clearer, and more ready to create—without pressure or stress.
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Prepare to Paint
Breathing
We’ve all heard it a million times, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. We often take shallow, fast breaths without even noticing, which can lead to tension and anxiety. A few slow, deep breaths can calm your mind and bring fresh oxygen to your brain—almost like hitting a reset button.
Sometimes I listen to a short meditation focusing on the breath before I begin to paint. Here’s one you might like:
Pair this with a gentle stretch, and you may find that clarity and focus come much more easily.
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Hydration
As we age, rather strangely, our sense of thirst diminishes. Many of us avoid drinking water as if it were a nuisance, but that really doesn’t serve us well. Staying hydrated is vital for the brain, and even mild dehydration can leave you feeling sluggish.
I always keep water nearby and sip it from my hummingbird mug — I use a mug rather than a glass because it reduces the chances of dipping my paintbrush into it! It turns something simple into a small, comforting habit, and it really does help with clarity and focus.
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Colour Therapy
Of course, colour is the reason most of us paint. Who doesn’t enjoy dipping into a pan or a blob of sumptuous colour and watching it spread across the paper?
Colour has a real effect on how we feel. Bright, lively tones can lift your energy, while softer, muted colours can calm and steady you. I like to spend a little time pre-selecting my palette at the start of a session. It helps settle me and gives me a bit of breathing space before I begin.
It’s also worth surrounding yourself with colours you enjoy. Your eyes need somewhere to rest—gentle greens can soothe, while something warmer like orange can feel energising, depending on what you need that day.
Here’s a lovely video from Australia about the importance of colour:
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Taking Breaks
There are a few simple things that make a big difference during a painting session: movement, rest for your eyes, fewer distractions, and working at a steady pace.
Movement comes first. Even a short walk, a stretch, or just shaking out your arms can help. It improves circulation and brings more oxygen to the brain, which helps you feel more alert.
It’s also important to rest your eyes. Focusing on details for too long—or looking at a screen—can strain them without you noticing. When my vision starts to blur slightly, I know it’s time to look into the distance or close my eyes for a moment. Avoid bright sunlight as well; it can distort the colours you’re seeing and make your eyes uncomfortable.
A calm, distraction-free environment helps more than you might expect. Turn your phone to silent if you can. Notifications and interruptions quietly drain your energy. Even a short spell of uninterrupted focus can feel surprisingly refreshing.
And finally, pacing. Rather than pushing through long sessions, it’s often better to work in shorter bursts. Step away while your painting dries instead of reaching for the hairdryer. Those natural pauses help you come back with fresher eyes.
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Taking Notes
Capturing ideas as they come is a small but powerful habit. I keep a notebook by my right hand and try to jot things down as they occur—ideas for paintings, colours I need to replace, or even a quick list of jobs.
I also keep little collections of doodle ideas in a box nearby. It’s surprisingly helpful, especially when I’m recording a video and need inspiration on the spot. It takes the pressure off having to think of something new in the moment.
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Celebration
Enjoy your small victories. We can be far too hard on ourselves, expecting to produce a masterpiece every time we sit down—preferably in an afternoon!
Instead of focusing on what didn’t go well, notice what did. Got the sketch right at last? Hoorah—time for a cup of coffee. Finished a section of your painting? Wonderful—perhaps a short walk in the fresh air. Mixed a colour you love? Write it down in your swatch book.
Even simply showing up counts. Acknowledging these small wins builds confidence and makes the whole process feel lighter and more enjoyable.
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Start with small changes
All of these small habits naturally come together to create a rhythm. A favourite mug, a quiet corner, perhaps a little music—these things gently signal to your mind that it’s time to settle and begin.
Boosting your brain isn’t about working harder. It’s about being kind to yourself, supporting your energy, and creating the conditions where your ideas can flow more easily. Try a few of these approaches, see what works for you, and enjoy the process.
Often it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest difference—and that’s where the real magic happens.
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By the way…
This blog post was originally going to be a video for my YouTube channel, but towards the end of the planning process I realised that I was expecting too much of myself to paint a hummingbird, narrate it realtime (as I always do), and simultaneously get these thoughts across coherently! So I did something we probably all ought to do more often: divided the task. I recorded the video, and then I wrote this blog post. And the funny thing is that by the time I’d finished painting my hummingbird I felt much calmer, happier, and more able to continue with my day. Isn’t it great when theory becomes reality?!
You can watch the hummingbird video here: