Why consistency matters more than inspiration
I started my watercolour journey by painting every day. I think it was a bit of a trend at the time to complete a 100-day creative project and share it on social media. I always loved a good challenge.
One hundred days is a long time. It’s over three months of showing up consistently, but it was also a way to test myself: could I really commit? Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made. Not only did it kickstart my painting practice, but it also taught me how to show up consistently and push through the days when things didn’t feel easy.
Fast forward to today, I don’t paint every day. I paint often, but there is always something that gets in the way. I’m not afraid of losing the skill anymore. I’ve taken a few breaks from painting in the past and always found my way back. But there is something else I’ve noticed.
On my recent trip to the South of England, I committed to creating one painting a day. By day four, I felt so much more confident. I knew exactly what I was doing, new aspects of my style started to emerge, and I made discoveries I wouldn’t have made otherwise.
All of this came from having a consistent, uninterrupted rhythm of painting.
What is interesting is that I already believe in this idea. I see it happening every day, just not always with my own painting.
My son has been learning to play the piano since he was six. Now, at nearly nine, he has made great progress. He has always enjoyed playing and is especially proud of his skills, but let’s be honest—piano practice can be tedious.
We don’t make him practise for hours like a future concert pianist. The only rule is that he plays every day. No excuses. Of course, some days are busy and we get home late in the evening, but on those days he might just do a quick sight-reading exercise.
The idea behind it is simple: he is learning to show up for something consistently.
It works. And recently, it made me wonder: why don’t I apply the same principle to my own creative practice? I can see the benefits of consistent work. I’ve experienced them myself. The method is trusted and tested, yet sometimes I still convince myself that I’m too busy with other important things.
Watching my son practice made me realise that consistency doesn’t have to mean hours of focused work or pushing yourself to the limit. Sometimes it simply means keeping the connection alive.
A five-minute piano exercise still counts. A quick sketch still counts. Mixing colours, testing a brushstroke, or painting a small corner of a scene still counts.
Because every time I return to a consistent rhythm, something happens. I become more confident, ideas come more easily, and I discover things I couldn’t have found any other way.
So this is what I’m trying to do now, not chase perfection or force myself into an unrealistic routine, but simply keep showing up.
A little painting every day, whenever possible. Keeping that connection alive.