Recently I taught a class on watercolor glazing and details. I chose an image of a traditional still life to demonstrate various techniques. When it was all said and done though I was quite bored with my finished watercolor (image above).

At 22 x 30 inches, (a full size watercolor sheet), that was a lot of meh. It's important to not be too precious about one's artwork. That preciousness will hold you back. We think about all the time and effort that went into it. We worry that going one step further may "ruin everything." But the truth is, the hours spent painting and learning were hours spent painting and learning. That is never wasted time, regardless of the outcome. And it is in the pushing ahead that I've made my biggest strides. Risking mistakes, reaching for mastery, there is magic outside of our comfort zone.

So I pushed on with my still life, trying to create a je ne sais quoi. And I'm thrilled with the transformation (image below). Crazy background and all. It's a triumph for pushing on.

I wish us all some healthy risk taking today!