Is it time to embrace failure in Art? And should we artists accept that failure is part of our Journey and sit more comfortably with it, and revise our expectations, instead of being slaves to it?

Picture the scene. You’ve recently taken up art, or maybe you’ve been painting for a few years. There you are, all fired up at your easel, art station, or table, ready to create! You’re excited, inspired, and full of creative energy.

Fast forward 3-4 hours (or more). That initial excitement has fizzled out, and instead of feeling proud of your progress, you’re staring at what can only be described as a total train wreck of a painting. You hate it so much that you either a) want to set fire to it, b) feel like putting your fist through it, or c) just want to cry.

Well, my friend, you’re not alone! I’ve been there more times than I can count. In fact, I’ve sat there feeling completely disillusioned and crushed. I’ve fallen into a deep depression lasting days (and sometimes even weeks). There were times when I seriously considered giving up painting for months at a time. My first real experience of failure happened in 2015 when I was a Wild Card entry for the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year Competition. Totally crushed by failure.

But… it’s not just me. Look at Vincent Van Gogh and how well he coped with disappointment…

But here’s the thing—there are precious few artists who are willing to admit they’ve been in that situation. Owning up to the dozens of failures and that pesky pile of rejects, failures, and discarded pieces languishing in the loft? That’s not something most artists talk about. It’s a side of art that’s rarely discussed or admitted to.

Even Lucian Freud had days like this. One of the most celebrated painters of the 20th century, he would regularly scrap work he wasn’t happy with. He was so particular that he’d sometimes ask his daughter Annie to help destroy failed paintings in his studio—literally cutting them up to make sure they never saw the light of day.

Claude Monet
Frustrated with his Water Lilies series, Monet destroyed several paintings before a 1908 exhibition—reportedly slashing them with a knife. He was known to discard works he felt didn’t meet his standards, especially later in life when his vision was affected by cataracts.

Francis Bacon
Bacon was notorious for destroying his own paintings. He would often slash canvases he considered failures, and after his death, nearly 100 destroyed works were discovered in his studio. For Bacon, destruction was simply part of the creative process.

The truth is, those beautifully put-together videos and Instagram posts you see? They were the result of hours—possibly years—of gruelling practice, experimentation, and yes, lots and lots of failures. Art is tough, and watercolour is even harder. You think perfecting your golf swing is agony? Try learning to paint clouds or trees. That’s misery right there—and just as soul-sucking, sucking the very marrow from your bones.

So, what do you do about it? How do you cope? What’s the answer?

If you’ve ever felt disheartened by a “failed” painting, you’re in good company. In this post, we’ll explore why failure isn’t the enemy—it might just be your most honest (and surprisingly useful) teacher.

How Embracing Failure in Art Can Lead to Creative Growth and Fulfilment

For all of you out there feeling like art is a cruel joke—here’s what I’ve learned after 10 years as a self-taught artist.

Many beginner artists misread failure as a sign to quit. But think of it this way: anyone who takes up golf expects to be terrible at first. They don’t throw their clubs into a lake after one bad swing (well… not always). With practice, things improve. It’s the same with art.

Eventually, I realised I needed a plan—a system—something to fall back on for the next disappointing day in the studio. My own emergency kit for when failure tries to take over. Because I don’t want one bad painting infecting the rest of my day. Why should it? Being in the wrong state of mind doesn’t help anyone, least of all your creativity.

So I came up with a simple strategy—a way to reset, refocus, and move on with a clearer head and a better attitude. It’s how I stick two fingers up at failure and carry on painting.

Failure isn’t the end—it’s part of the path. Whether it’s a smudged sketch or a full-on disaster, what matters is what we do next. Learn, start over, bin it, brew a cup of tea… just don’t give up.

If you’d like a practical tool to help bounce back from those “why did I even bother?” moments, I’ve created a free downloadable checklist with the exact steps I use to get myself back on track.

Click here to download the Bounce Back from Failure PDF.

It’s short, printable, and ready to pin up in your studio or on your Fridge. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to stay stuck.

I’d love to know—have you ever torn up or abandoned a piece of your art? What did that feel like? Let me know in the comments below or drop me a message on Instagram @wendy.dashwood.