What I Paint When I Have Zero Motivation
After the holiday season, it is surprisingly common to feel stuck creatively. The routines that once grounded us change, energy levels dip, and sometimes the motivation to paint just disappears.
If you have ever sat down with your supplies and felt absolutely nothing, this post is for you.
Today, I want to share what I paint when I have zero motivation. No goals. No pressure. Just a simple, gentle way to show up and reconnect with the act of painting.
Keeping Materials Simple
On low motivation days, simplicity matters. For this session, I keep everything as minimal and portable as possible. I am using the Sarah Burns × Craftamo travel brush set, a small selection of watercolours, clean water, and paper towels.
This brush set is perfect for days like this because it is compact and easy to grab. You can paint at your desk, on the couch, or anywhere that feels comfortable. The less setup required, the easier it is to begin.
Once everything is ready, the hardest part is already done.
Just Start With Water and Colour
When motivation is low, planning can actually make things feel heavier. Instead of deciding what to paint, I start by simply putting water on the paper and dropping in colour.
There is no subject and no intention. I just let the paint move and watch what happens. This approach removes the pressure of knowing where you are going before you begin.
If you are feeling stuck, consider this your permission to start without a plan.
Repeat Simple Shapes
After the first wash, I move into repeating very simple shapes. Nothing detailed or careful. Just soft forms that overlap and flow into each other.
Repeating the same movement again and again gives my hands something to do while my mind slowly quiets down. At this stage, the painting does not need to be interesting or good.
Repetition alone can be enough to gently bring you back into the process.
Limit Your Choices
When energy is low, too many options can feel overwhelming. To avoid this, I usually limit myself to one or two colours only.
This removes the pressure of deciding what comes next. There is no right or wrong combination here, just whatever feels easiest in the moment.
If choosing colours feels hard today, that is okay. Less really is more.
Slow Down or Paint in Silence
This is often the point where I slow down, or sometimes stop talking altogether. I focus on watching the brush move and letting the paint do its thing.
There is no need to analyse, fix, or improve anything. Being present with the process is enough. If you are painting along, allow yourself to pause, breathe, or sit in silence for a while.
Painting does not always need commentary or intention.
Stop Before It Feels Heavy
I always stop before I feel tired or frustrated. Even five or ten minutes of painting is enough.
The painting does not need to be finished for it to count. Showing up, especially on low energy days, is already a win. If this is all you manage today, that is more than enough.
A Gentle Reminder
Thank you for taking this quiet moment to read along. I hope this approach helps remove some of the pressure you may be feeling around painting.
Creativity does not have to be productive, polished, or purposeful every time. Sometimes, it just needs space to exist.
If slow, no pressure painting resonates with you, I invite you to explore more of this kind of content. And if you feel like sharing, I would love to hear how painting has been feeling for you lately.
Take care, and I will see you next time.
🎥 Watch the Full Video on YouTube
Prefer to paint along at your own pace? The full video is available on Craftamo’s YouTube channel, where you can quietly follow the proc
https://youtu.be/EybmHIEeoTA