I've Been Thinking about a Painting Class I Took

and why the phrase "just keep painting" has changed me

I recently hosted and took a painting class taught by one of my forever favorite artists, Colby Sanford. I was so curious what great insights he would have about painting techniques, if we would learn more about color theory, perspective, best practices, etc. As he started giving the instructions he told us he only uses 5 paint colors. A red, dark blue, brown, yellow, and white. No color theory really - just mixing within 5 colors. Then he dove into the technique, which honestly was so simple I was skeptical. He said the most important technique he uses is…keep painting.

What was this class I just paid over $100 for? I mean I love Colby but 5 colors and “just keep painting” as the main technique? It felt a little elementary honestly.

During the class participants would have a question about next steps, what color to use, how to make it look a little better and he would give a bit of advice and then inevitably say, “Just keep painting”. Some would push back with, “but I don’t know what I’m doing really” and he would say, “I know, it will come to you - just keep painting.” Over and over again. It was kind of irking me that he wasn’t giving more specific instruction - I didn’t think it seemed all that “professional”.

My painting looked really bad mid-way through. Just blobs of paint colors that I was very unsure of, but I chose to trust Colby and told myself to keep painting. I added more paint, I painted over some things I didn’t like, I added more detail, kept working at it and I don’t know how it happened but it got better.

Now I’m not going to say that my painting turned out amazing - it looks very amateur (I chose to paint my husband which is much more of an intermediate subject that I should have stayed away from given that I am a beginner and haven’t painted since high school) but it also wasn’t a failure and trusting Colby’s advice and process is the reason it wasn’t a complete disaster.

Looking back on the class I see that it was Colby’s years of experience that taught him to not give very specific instruction to his students. As I continued to paint I felt like I began to understand his method - art is personal and it’s easy to get frustrated and get into a head space where you give up or spiral mentally and nothing productive happens from that point on. I was finding myself entering that headspace and I think Colby telling us that he trusted us and to keep going was taking the pressure off, creating an environment where our skills and creativity would thrive. He reminded us to “just keep painting” because he knows that’s what the creative process requires to arrive at the best outcome.

My experience in Colby’s class reinforced a truth that I know but I often forget - that life is a process. The picture isn’t done yet, don’t judge it too early. Keep going, keep painting, paint over mistakes, add details, dimension, and leave good enough alone, don’t overdo it.

Another truth was reinforced that I’ve learned from working as an interior designer for 13 years, which is to listen to experience/talent/wisdom/professionals. You don’t have to do everything they suggest, but when you choose a talented and/or experienced person to work with, listen to them - trust their process - just go with it. Many of my clients are incredibly trusting and will go with the process, but some will start to fight the process and that never leads to a better outcome, which is why I chose to trust Colby so much. He knows what he’s talking about. It was a choice to listen and trust him and I chose to do what he said, even though it wasn’t what I thought the process should be. And it worked.

Trust the universe, trust God, trust the earth, trust connection, trust whatever bigger purpose/being you believe in. Trust the process that was put in place long before we were here and will live on well after we are gone. And never underestimate what one painting class can teach you.

Sincerely,

Marianne