When I first started painting, I worked so hard to avoid making bad art. Like most artists, I wanted every piece to turn out well. I wanted clean lines, balanced compositions, and colors that blended like a dream. The idea of making bad art on purpose? No way. Why would anyone choose to make something ugly?

But the longer I’ve been on this creative journey, the more I’ve come to see how powerful it is to let go of those expectations. In fact, some of the biggest watercolor lessons I’ve learned came from deliberately allowing myself to make bad art. And honestly, it’s been one of the most freeing experiences in my watercolor practice.

Let me walk you through what I’ve learned, and why I believe every artist (no matter where you are in your journey) should try making bad art on purpose.

Why We Avoid Making “Bad” Art

Let’s be honest. Nobody wants to post a messy, wonky painting on Instagram. We compare our work to polished finished pieces we see online and start to feel like we’re failing if our art doesn’t measure up. That’s a tough place to create from.

For watercolor artists especially, the medium already feels unpredictable. Watercolor mistakes happen fast. Colors bleed. Edges dry weird. One drop of water can shift everything. When you add perfectionism on top of that, it can completely stall your creative process.

I used to freeze up when a piece wasn’t going as planned. I’d start over or give up completely (and let’s not even talk about the watercolor paintings I’ve ripped up and thrown away). The fear of bad art kept me from experimenting, and honestly, from growing.

But at some point, I got tired of being afraid. I wanted to break that pressure. So I made a choice: I was going to make bad art on purpose.

Wondering if social media is hurting your creative process? In this blog, I dive into how scrolling can affect your art and what to do instead.

The Practice of Making Bad Art on Purpose

It sounds strange, I know. But I decided to sit down at my desk and give myself permission to create something ugly. The goal wasn’t to produce a finished piece for my portfolio or social media. The goal was simply to play.

I’d start a watercolor painting and intentionally choose colors I wouldn’t normally pair. I’d experiment with messy brushstrokes, strange compositions, or techniques I don’t normally do. Sometimes I’d even close my eyes while laying down the first few shapes (which, yes, led to some truly weird paintings).

And here’s the funny thing: instead of feeling frustrated, I felt free. Without the expectation of making something “good,” I could finally relax and enjoy the process. It didn’t matter if I made watercolor mistakes. I wasn’t trying to prevent them.

Want to know how I turned my art from bad to good? In this video, I share five major turning points that helped me grow as an artist and improve my work:

What I Learned From the Experience

As I kept practicing this idea of making bad art on purpose, I started noticing a few big shifts happening in my art practice.

Freedom Lives on the Other Side of “Ugly”

Once I removed the pressure to make something beautiful, I realized how much energy I had been wasting on self-criticism. When you allow yourself to create bad art, you open up space to take risks. You try new things you’d normally avoid. You loosen your grip on “perfect.” And often, that’s when surprising and exciting things start to happen.

Some of my favorite watercolor paintings started as loose experiments I assumed would fail. I let the paint flow. I tried new textures. And suddenly, new art inspiration showed up that I wouldn’t have discovered if I had played it safe.

“Mistakes” Are Often More Interesting Than Intentions

One of the most surprising watercolor lessons I’ve learned is that watercolor mistakes sometimes make a painting better. A bloom in the sky wash can create the perfect cloud. A slightly off-center composition can feel more dynamic. A weird color mix can end up being your new favorite shadow tone.

When you allow room for these so-called mistakes, your creative process becomes much more playful. You stop trying to control every single outcome. Instead, you respond to what the paint is doing. That’s one of the most beautiful things about watercolor painting. It keeps you engaged and curious.

The Inner Critic Got Quieter

Every artist knows that voice. The one that says, “This isn’t good enough. You’re not talented enough. Why are you even trying?”

But when I started practicing bad art intentionally, that voice didn’t have as much to say. Because the goal wasn’t perfection, the critic couldn’t argue with me. I wasn’t trying to make a masterpiece. I was simply showing up to paint.

Over time, this helped me build creative confidence. I stopped fearing failure. I started seeing each watercolor mistake as part of my growth. And in doing that, I actually got better.

Bad Art Is Still Honest Art

When you make bad art, you’re still expressing something real. You’re practicing, exploring, and learning. Your brush is moving. Your creativity is active. And that matters far more than a flawless outcome.

Sometimes the raw, imperfect paintings hold more emotion and honesty than the ones where I tried too hard. That authenticity is part of what makes an artist’s work unique.

Every Artist Needs Space to Play

As artists, we need room to explore without pressure. That’s where growth happens. That’s where new art painting ideas are born. When you constantly demand perfection, you limit your creative range.

But when you create space for bad art, you start noticing patterns, preferences, and techniques that feel natural to you. Those discoveries often lead to stronger, more personal work later.

For anyone looking to build this kind of creative freedom into your routine, I created The Creativity Playbook with exercises that help you experiment, loosen up, and reconnect with your creativity. It’s one of my favorite resources for overcoming perfectionism.

Why You Should Try It Too

If you’re feeling stuck in your watercolor painting right now, or if the fear of watercolor mistakes is keeping you from starting, I want to encourage you to try making bad art on purpose.

Set aside one afternoon. Pull out your paints. Choose colors you normally wouldn’t. Play with new brushstrokes. Layer without overthinking. Don’t aim for beauty. Aim for curiosity.

You might surprise yourself. You might laugh. You might discover a new technique you love. You might even create something you want to frame. But even if you don’t, you’ll be growing as a watercolor artist simply by showing up.

The truth is, bad art isn’t really bad. It’s part of the creative process. It teaches you to let go. It shows you where your instincts are. And it builds the confidence you need to keep going.

What I’ve Learned From Making “Bad” Art on Purpose

At the end of the day, every great watercolor artist has made plenty of bad art. I still do. But every painting, even the messy ones, teaches me something new. That’s where the real magic happens.

If you’re ready to loosen your grip on perfection and build creative confidence, resources like The Art Within and The Creativity Playbook can help you strengthen your skills, shift your mindset, and discover your unique style.

And if you want to keep watercolor inspiration close by, my Everyday Watercolor Postcards feature 100 vibrant cards filled with seascapes and animals you can mail, gift, or display whenever you need a little creative spark.

The best art isn’t perfect. It’s honest. So let’s make some “bad art”, together.