Easy Watercolor Exercise to Fight Perfectionism

How do you even make a mess when you're recovering from perfectionism?? We start small, my friend. Join me for a quick, guided exercise to grow more comfortable with discomfort and have more fun with watercolor!

Interested in learning more about creative mindset and overcoming your inner critic?

Check out my watercolor for beginners course here!

Need a refresher on watercolor basics?

Looking for my Painting the Wilderness Challenge supplies overview?

Music: “Conquer”, by Megan Wofford -- license through Epidemic Sound

Supplies in this video:

Paint I made myself! You can make some, too:

[licwkjm]

I really like these quick exercises. It helps me to loosen up my brain and knowing that it is only 5 minutes of no pressure shuts down that excuse that "I have no time to be creative today". Thank you for showing how sharpening this mindset is just as important as practicing technique. Please do more!

[jolovesnailart]

This is really hard to do 🥴 Thoughts like a waste of paper-paint-time etc. etc. etc. are going through my mind 😟 So this is a very confronting exercise and therefore a great one 😂 Thank you so much for this brilliant video it opened my eyes 🙏

[megm.]

Thank you for making and sharing this video, Kolbie. Your videos and encouragement are so kind and gentle, exactly what I (and maybe the world) needs right now.

[susieford]

Even your voice is comforting! I am going to do this exercise again and again!! Thank you!

[wendychampness]

Definitely a perfectionist! Will try this for sure❣️

[amylaskin]

That was really fun, actually! I got to make a mess on a break from work.

[melissalbennett]

THANK YOU! I need help being messy and this is incredibly helpful. Especially, the incorporation of body with breath. Brilliant!

[virginiabusch]

Thanks so much. I am still a beginner. I was unable to paint the last couple of weeks. Picked up a paint brush to do a simple circle painting and was horrified at how it looked. This has helped so much to limber my hands back up. I did not only the lines but a page of leaf shapes using both a round and a dagger. Feel so much better about letting it all go.

[treesapgrl]

Right around the 5 min mark I see a whole gang of pagodas, and that just makes me happy. Can't wait to try this exercise! Thank you, Kolbie.

[apcorgis]

At the end I saw layers that I would have never seen before.

[lesleydavies]

I'm a perfectionist (I analyse and paint Islamic geometric patterns, and while watching you paint my whole being was shouting, "why, why, why??! Why would I want to make a mess? What's the point?!" But I watched to the end and your explanation did make sense. Maybe it would be good for me? I'll try it, but I can feel the resistance 😂
I love your attitude, Kolbie, and your voice and your art!

[anna.augustinova]

To me this seems like a good way of warming up or getting inspired. Might try this out sometime!

[maresnite]

As a newbie, I really needed this !! Thanks so much. ❤️✌️

[silverpalm]

I'm not a perfectionist 👀you can't prove it.... Excellent video, Kolbie ❤

[annewatman]

This is a great idea, and I want to do it, BUT it looks like you’re using good watercolor paper. Can’t I just go with something cheap, like mixed media paper?

[ChericeByler]

I’m a hardcore perfectionist and Virgo and am really struggling with this!

[maureenmckenna]

This actually made me very uncomfortable to watch!!