The Art of Letting Go: Embracing Mistakes in Art and Life
If there’s one universal truth about art—and life, for that matter—it’s this: mistakes happen. Sometimes, you’re halfway through a painting and realize the "bold" colour choice you made was less "avant-garde" and more "did I do this blindfolded?" Or you’re confidently outlining a piece, only to knock over a cup of water and watch your masterpiece turn into a soggy mess. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing, though: mistakes aren’t the end of the world. In fact, they’re often where the magic happens—in art and in life. So grab your smudged sketches and misaligned plans, and let’s talk about the art of letting go.
Those yellow paint splotches?
One was intentional, the other not, but you’ll never know which now will you!
Lesson 1: The Accidental Stroke
In art, there’s no greater heartbreak than the stray brushstroke. One moment you’re cruising through a painting like Van Gogh reincarnate, and the next, your elbow betrays you. Suddenly, there’s a thick, accidental slash of red cutting through your carefully crafted blues. Cue the dramatic gasp.
But wait! Before you reach for the gesso in a panic, take a breath. What if that errant stroke could work with the painting instead of against it? Some of my favorite pieces were "saved" by mistakes that forced me to see the composition in a completely new way. Life’s not so different. Sometimes the wrong turn leads to the best destination (or at least a good story).
It started as a spill! Dab a little, add some tape and voila! A painting!
Lesson 2: Lean Into the Mess
One time, I spilled an entire (okay maybe half) bottle of ink on a canvas. At first, I froze, wondering if I could somehow turn back time. Then I laughed—because honestly, what else can you do when you’ve made a spectacularly irreparable mess? That ink spill turned into one of my most interesting abstract pieces, full of textures and movement I couldn’t have planned if I tried.
The piece in question lol. Yes it started as just an ink blob!
Here’s the serious part: life is messy too. And just like in art, you can either fight the mess or embrace it. Leaning into the chaos doesn’t mean giving up; it means finding a way to work with what’s in front of you, even if it wasn’t part of the plan.
Lesson 3: Laugh, Then Learn
Mistakes are funny. Not always in the moment, sure, but give it some time. That overworked watercolour or the "experimental" sculpture that looks more like a potato will eventually make you smile. The same goes for life: the bad haircut, the missed train, the awkward presentation—it’s all hilarious with enough distance.
But after the laugh, there’s always a lesson. Maybe your watercolour was too overworked because you didn’t give the layers time to dry. Maybe you’ll learn to embrace simpler styles. Or maybe you’ll just learn that sometimes, potatoes make great art.
Lesson 4: The Freedom of Letting Go
There’s a beautiful moment that happens when you stop trying to "fix" a mistake and just let it be. It’s freeing. Suddenly, you’re not bogged down by perfectionism or the fear of failure. Instead, you’re creating for the joy of it, embracing the flaws and the humanity in your work. After all, if you wanted something flawless, you’d be a machine, not an artist. (And even machines glitch sometimes.)
In life, letting go can feel impossible. You want to hold onto every regret, every missed opportunity, every "what if." But the truth is, holding on doesn’t change the past. It just makes your hands too full to grab onto the next opportunity.
Just slap the paint down, don’t worry about it
My messy anything goes sketchbook.
Mistakes Make Art (and Life) Beautiful
The next time you smudge a line or spill your tea on your sketchbook, remember: mistakes are part of the process. They push us to think differently, to adapt, and to grow. The same is true for life. The wrong choices, the setbacks, the embarrassing moments—they’re all brushstrokes in the bigger picture.
So let go of the idea that everything has to be perfect. Laugh at the accidents, learn from the chaos, and embrace the wonderfully messy process of creating—both on the canvas and in the day-to-day. And who knows? That next mistake might just be the spark of brilliance you didn’t know you needed.
Now go spill some ink and see what happens. 😉
