Step Into Unknown
Just gotta say—this painting gave me a really hard time. There are a few reasons for this.
I have high expectations of myself and clear visions of how I want my paintings to look. In my head, it all looks epic. But the reality is, I still don’t really know how to paint some of the basics—like rocks, foliage, or clouds. Just because I can paint doesn’t mean I can paint things the way I imagine them. It’s not so much about my brushwork—it’s more about understanding light, color, and form, and knowing how to create the mood I’m aiming for in a painting. To get there, I’ve got a lot to learn… but right now, my main focus is on improving light, color, and form.
Step Into Unknown isn’t just a painting—it’s going to be the cover for my husband’s album. So of course, I wanted it to be absolutely perfect. But don’t get me wrong—we’re both very happy with how it turned out.
Around halfway through, I shifted my mindset to: “It is what it is.” That’s just how I paint now. I made that change because I kept tweaking the painting over and over—“That doesn’t look right,” “This part’s too small,” “This looks like crap…” and so on. I got stuck in a loop, and the finish line kept drifting further away. The whole process dragged on way longer than it needed to. Eventually, I just wanted to move on and paint something new. So, I decided to let the painting be what it is. I took it as far as I could and had a bit of fun along the way. There’s something valuable in learning when it’s time to let something be finished.
And honestly? It’s not that bad—right? 😃 …right? 🥲
Interested in the process? Watch the time-lapse video on YouTube:
Want some accessories for this painting? They’re right here: