The Tools That Changed My Painting Process

Every now and then, something small shifts in your process, and suddenly the whole painting experience opens up. I’ve had a few of those “ohhh” moments recently—little breakthroughs that changed how I approach the canvas, and how I think about colour, space, and freedom in my work.

One of the biggest shifts? Learning about warm and cool colours in oil paint.

Before that, I painted intuitively but without much direction. Red was red, blue was blue. I didn’t realize that each colour carries a temperature—that ultramarine blue feels warm, while pthalo is much cooler. Once I understood how temperature affects mixing, shadows, and skin tones, it was like someone handed me the missing key. Suddenly, everything looked more natural. I wasn’t fighting the paint anymore—I was working with it.

Another simple but impactful change: switching to a larger palette.

I used to work off a tiny, cramped surface, constantly squeezing colours into the corners. It made me timid with mixing. But once I gave myself space—a full-size palette where I could lay out the whole spectrum—I felt a shift in energy. I had room to explore, to push colour further, to make mistakes and learn from them. It made the whole process feel less tense, more playful.

These might sound like small tweaks, but for me they’ve been game-changers. Together, they’ve given me more control and more freedom at the same time. I’m not just mixing colours—I’m building mood, shaping light, and leaning into subtle transitions I never used to see.

And that’s the thing about painting—it’s always evolving. The more I learn, the more there is to learn. I’ve finished a few pieces recently—both Bellas, both Brooks—that I feel especially proud of. They carry a kind of quiet contemplation that I’ve been chasing for a while. The source material was beautiful, yes, but I think it’s also the tools and mindset shifts that helped me bring those portraits to life in a new way.

Looking Ahead

With these changes in place, I’m excited to keep pushing forward. Portraiture still pulls me in deeply, and I’m planning to work on several more pieces in the coming weeks. There’s something meditative about painting a face—capturing more than just likeness, but presence.

Next on my list? Keep refining the website, stay consistent in the studio, and explore more layers of temperature and tone. The tools may be simple, but when they’re the right ones, they make the whole journey feel more grounded.

The remains of my palette after a full week of painting—warm and cool tones mixed and layered, with skin tones, deep shadows, and earthy reds still visible. This kind of mess is proof of progress.