The Mid-Year Creative Reset: How to Keep Going When Motivation Fades

June is the halfway point of the year. It is the perfect time for artists to pause, assess what has worked, let go of what has not, and recommit to the creative habits that matter. Persistence is not glamorous. It is not always exciting. But it is often the real difference between artists who grow and artists who give up too soon. Read on, watch the video and get your Six Month Success Workbook for free.

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The Six Month Success Plan: The Big Idea

Welcome back to the Loosen Up Your Painting podcast. It's me, Malcolm Dewey, and this time I'm going to be chatting to you about probably the most important quality that every artist needs. Of course, you'll need it, no matter what line of life you're in, but I'm talking specifically from the point of view of artists. And that quality is persistence. We call it the secret sauce for creative success.

Since it's June, a mid-year reset may be necessary. Or at least an assessment of what's been going on for the past five to six months. And how you're going to finish this year off in the second half. Is it going to be the success, the crowning of your year, or is it going to be a steady decline? And I hope that doesn't sound too melodramatic, but it does sort of make me think of the second half of a sporting event as well. It's the team that can play till the final whistle goes that will have the best chance of winning.

Now, it's nothing quite as dramatic as that in our lives as artists. But it is the ability to press on through what has been quite a daunting first half of 2026. I guess you could say that just about every year it seems that way, but I really believe it's been a tough one for everybody, and just getting things done and keeping your motivation up. So let's keep our spirits up as well. And consider this the perfect time to take a brief pause to assess, see what's worked, let go of what hasn't, and recommit to the creative habits that matter. Persistence is not glamorous, it's not always exciting, but it's often the real difference between artists who grow and artists who give up too soon? So, as they say, talent may open the door.

But persistence keeps you in the room long enough to become really good at it. We all want to become really good at our art because that is how we express ourselves. And the better you can do that, the more satisfying it is for you and maybe for others as well if you are selling your work. But principally, it's up to you to look at your painting and think, damn, that is looking pretty darn good, and give yourself a pat on the back. We have to do that for ourselves. Doesn't always come from anyone else. So as I chat along. If you're watching this on video, I'll hopefully have a little painting in the background you can watch. Or if you are listening to this as a podcast, hopefully, there are a few ideas to give you a bit of inspiration and push you forward. So we finish on a good note. So, have some of your grand plans been abandoned, or maybe they're looking a little rusty?

Well, that's fine, that's the way it goes. Some of those creative goals have slipped into the background, and, as soon as you know, the harsh light of reality shines on some ideas. They look a bit flimsy, that's okay as well. So let's look at a few key points, right? Just to get some sort of structure to this chat. So, June, the key point is it's not too late. The year is not over. And this is a powerful moment to pause and recommit to the next six months. Plenty of time.

We mustn't underestimate how much can change in six months if we put in some steady effort. So persistence is not about a dramatic breakthrough. That's sort of the icing on the cake. If it does happen, it's returning to the easel, getting work done, and keeping on. So you've got to ask yourself, what would happen to your art? If? You simply persisted with the right habits for the next six months?

Let me assure you that habits and persistence are actually very important things. They may not look too glamorous, but every successful person that we consider successful, for instance, has probably got a very strong set of habits and routine. A routine that makes them come back to the easel or the desk, or whatever it may be, day after day, week after week, that is the persistence that gets big things done. So number one is persistence is more important than motivation.

Motivation is unreliable; it comes and goes, and as artists, we know that our moods can get pretty dramatic, swinging all over the place. But persistence, that's the steady beat or steady heartbeat that keeps you going along, even when your emotions may be flying around all over the place. You want to have a strong beat of persistence that keeps you moving onwards.

That's what makes you decide to continue, even when the excitement has faded. And you get up the next day, and you're thinking, stay in bed or do I get up? That persistence, I guess, is also part of your self-discipline, the thing that gets you up and moving. So professionals work with or without inspiration, because they've got the self-discipline and the persistence to see things through to completion.

A painting habit is built on this routine and this repetitive process. It's not just being in the mood. Now, a good example of this is, let's have a look at a few famous artists. How about Vincent Van Gogh? Right? His career is obviously tragically short, but it was intensely persistent. I think, as a work ethic, Van Gogh probably took the first prize. 

In about a decade, he produced around 2,000 artworks, including paintings, drawings, and sketches. And he struggled with poverty, rejection, mental health challenges, and he worked under the most appalling conditions. Sometimes, because he would not skip a day. It could be blisteringly hot in summer. And instead of doing what a normal person would do, which is to pour a nice cold drink, put your feet up and watch the haze shimmering away. He would put on his hat, if he remembered, grab his easel, and go trudging off into the countryside. Under that blazing heat, working the entire day and coming back at the end of it, probably burnt, bright red from all of that heat. Exhausted, dehydrated, perhaps even seeing stars because he was so dehydrated.

Then, in winter, the same thing again Of staying by the warm fire, he would put a scarf on, head out into that nasty cold wind, and still try to get some paintings done. So Van Gogh wasn't waiting for ideal conditions. He painted through all the difficult days as well, and his persistence has created a body of work that changed art history. I think Van Gogh said something to the effect of great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. So what small creative actions can you take this week and repeat? Whether you feel inspired or not, that will make a difference to you. Something to think about. A second point is that persistence means finishing, not just starting.

Many artists enjoy starting paintings, but the real growth happens when you finish them. When you push on through the ugly middle phase, and you know when to stop. You sign it off, put it aside to dry, then reach for the next canvas. Get that prepared because the next day, or even later that day, you're gonna start your next painting. Starting is exciting, everything feels possible, and finishing is hard because we've discovered a whole lot of problems that have cropped up.

Do we have the persistence to work away at those problems and solve them? Often, the works are abandoned too soon, and that is the tragedy of just about anything in life. We've heard those stories of prospectors who have abandoned their claim only to have the next chap come along and put the shovel in the right place. And there's a whole vein of gold. If only the original prospector had kept on for another day.

Even a disappointing finish is still a finish and will give you some feedback that you can work on for the next one. And we look at artists like Claude Monet. Monet painted series after series: The Haystacks, Water Lilies, Rhone Cathedral, and the Poplar series. He returned to the same subjects, repeatedly exploring the light, atmosphere, and changing conditions. Very often in the early part of his career, he had not a penny to his name and was constantly harassed by debt collectors. But he kept coming back. So we don't want to just finish one painting and think we can now call ourselves artists and put our feet up.

An artist stays with an idea, pushes through, and sees it out to the end. So maybe we can look at some of our unfinished paintings propped up in your studio. Pick one, put it on the easel, and finish it. Squeeze out the paints, grab your brush, and just get on with it to see what happens. So you can't learn from a painting that's only in your imagination or is lying in your studio. Half done. The third point is that persistence helps you survive through the ugly stage of painting. This could be a career waiting to try to get that off the ground or a specific painting or subject that you're struggling with. We all go through awkward stages. And the artists that quit, well, that is, I think, what they call the definition of failing. But success is keeping going, when all you want to do is quit, but you keep on going. That is success right there.

It makes me think of Paul Cezanne. Cezanne worked very slowly and persistently. Often with great frustration. And he struggled to realize his vision, but he kept returning to structure, color, form, and observation. His persistence helped build the bridge between Impressionism and modern art, such as Cubism. He wasn't getting much love and appreciation from his fellow artists or the community, but he trudged on and achieved something quite exceptional. 

An awkward stage isn't proof that you lack ability; it's part of a process, and it might be the path you have to follow. I always say that every painting relies on values and structure, and then color finishes it off. But if you don't persist to get through the structure, the values, the foundations, you won't be able to enjoy the color. And putting that final Bravura stroke onto your painting.

So don't abandon the painting simply because it hasn't become itself yet. And this goes for an art career as well, if that is what you are after. The fourth idea is that persistence builds skill through repetition. That's not one breakthrough painting, it's many ordinary painting sessions. Many, many paintings that are average, you could even say mediocre if you want to be really hard.

On yourself. But we all do them. We all have ten average paintings and then one or two standout paintings, and that's probably a pretty average strike record. When you are developing your art career. So one painting doesn't transform you, and one painting doesn't define you either. Twenty paintings. Well, that will start revealing patterns about your art and where you are at this.

Particular time. Fifty paintings, you start building up more confidence, and repetition develops all of that muscle memory. Things that you need for your brush control, color mixing, composition, and judgment. Your decision-making as an artist is finally tuned after dozens and dozens of paintings. The hand learns through doing, and the character is built in the process. Something like.

Edgar Degas, who made countless studies of dances and figures, movement, and gestures. And this apparent ease of his drawing ability came from relentless observation and repetition. So what looks effortless is often the result of years of repeated practice. Something to look forward to, isn't it? So, between now and June to December, how about painting one small study every week? That's twenty-six paintings. Keep them.

Simple, focus on core skills like values or light, or brushwork, or color, or temperature. And at the end of the year, you'll have 26 studies, and many of those could look fantastic. Pop them in a frame, maybe gift them at the holidays, or put them on your website or in your gallery. Whatever it may be. You'll have choices and options, but if you do nothing, you won't have those. So, one a week for 26 weeks. That's a pretty good portfolio right there. Repetition, it's not boring. It's going to take you somewhere, and in this case, it's going to take you to having that portfolio of 26 new paintings.

Number five is that persistence requires a clear creative direction. It's easier to persist when you know what you are persisting with, or maybe what you're persisting for. Do you feel like your energy is scattered all over the place, and you don't have any focus? There are too many subjects, media, courses, and styles. It's all confusing, and you don't know what to focus on. A clear direction helps you clean out this mental clutter, select something, and see it through. It's not what I should try next, but what I should stay with long enough to improve.

Consider Georgia O'Keeffe. She developed a clear visual language over time. Flowers, desert landscapes, simplified forms, and strong compositions. Her persistence with her own vision made her work unmistakable. So it's not just about working hard; it's about working consistently in a meaningful direction, and you'll know what that may be for you. But if you're uncertain, get a pen and paper and ask yourself what subject keeps.

Calling you back? What medium do you want to improve the most? What skill would make the biggest difference to your paintings? And what do you need to stop chasing? Maybe it's what you feel you need to start. Let's say you want to explore oil painting, but you are confused or apprehensive about the mess it can create. It's that fear that you need to face head-on and simply.

Begin. In that way, you discover it's not any of those things, and it's actually a lot of fun. So you have a direction. Head in that direction. Number six is persistence, which means learning from failures instead of being defeated by them. Failure is simply information. You can learn from it, or you can be scared away by it. A painting that doesn't work can still be valuable if you learn from it.

Failed paintings merely reveal weak areas that need more attention. It's not about whether you're good enough? But what is the painting teaching you? Can you diagnose a problem? If not, maybe you can chat to another artist, who can help you diagnose a problem and see a solution. An artist that comes to mind is J.M.W. Turner, the famous English artist who was criticized throughout his career, especially as his work became more atmospheric and experimental. Yet he persisted with his vision of light and weather, sea and atmosphere. And pushing painting towards. Well, almost an abstraction, wasn't it? Long before this was even understood. So if you change direction every time someone criticizes you, you may never discover your true strength. You certainly will not in my opinion.

You'll be constantly at the mercy of somebody else's opinion. So why isn't your painting working? It could be values, muddy colors, a lack of a focal point, over-blending, or flat, dull light. All of these little problems need to be diagnosed, and very often, the cure is quite simple. Once you know, you can then sort that out and put it behind you.

Number seven is Persistence is easier with a creative community. All right, artists need solitude to create, but they also need encouragement, feedback, and shared momentum. Isolation makes giving up easier. Is that true for you or not? Certainly, if there are no consequences and you feel this isn't for you, isolation makes it a lot easier. You simply can down tools, lock them in a cupboard, and that's the end of that. But if there's a community behind you, or you're involved with other artists, the struggle becomes a lot more normal. Everybody is facing this, and it makes it easier for you to work through. Everyone faces doubts, everyone needs a bit of help now and then, and everyone can benefit. If there's a teacher or a group to keep you accountable. And consider the.

Impressionists who got together and held an independent exhibition. They didn't fall at the salon's feet and give up. They told the salon to get knotted, and they went ahead. Clubbed together, persisted, and ultimately succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. A creative community can help artists persist when the outside world is unhelpful or not understanding.

I would like to tie this is part of my own artist community. Persistent and vibrant artists working hard in the Artists Live channel, sharing their work and getting things done. Transforming their painting skills, coming back and working month after month. And if that sounds like a community that you want to be part of, then have a look at my Artists Live channel. I think you will get a lot out of it.

So persistence makes you stronger, especially when you share it with others. Number eight. How about the persistence of returning after a long break? Many artists stop painting for weeks, months, sometimes years, and then believe it's time to come back. The important thing is not that you stop. The important thing is that you return. Don't think because you've been out of painting for a few years that it's too late.

You just have to accept it and move on, and not come back to painting. Life can interrupt your creativity, work, family, health, and discouragement. All of these cause breaks in momentum. Artists often feel guilty, as if they've wasted their money and energy. And who are they fooling? But by beginning again with small and manageable steps, many artists.

In fact, every artist that has disclosed this issue to me has come back and created amazing work. And they are so much happier because something new has opened up in their lives. An example is Henri Matisse. Late in life, after illness and surgery, Matisse could no longer paint as he had before. But instead of giving up, he adapted and created his famous paper cutouts. His persistence changed his painting style, or the form of his painting, but didn't stop him. What did he do? While feeling pretty grim at times, he sometimes couldn't even get out of his bed. But he used a long stick, put a pencil, pastel, or something like that at the end, and simply drew on the wall. All of those steps are testimony to somebody who persists in the face of quite stiff odds.

Here are a few tips if you're coming back after a long break. Start with small panels or a sketchbook. Use a few colors, a limited palette, and paint simple subjects. Don't try to jump in at the deep end and almost self-sabotage yourself. Rebuild the rhythm. Don't expect amazing results right away. Chat to other artists as well, and slowly immerse yourself in the cold waters of creativity. After a bit of time, the water will feel quite refreshing and pleasant, and you'll be enjoying yourself. Idea number nine is that persistence requires protecting your creative energy. Yes, to persist, artists must manage their energy, expectations, and environment. Burnout isn't a reward for persistence. Okay, so you have to manage your life so you don't burn out.

Burnout is just something that you've been doing a little out of balance. Overcommitting can lead to resentment. If you say yes too many times, you end up doing a lot of things poorly and getting exhausted by it. Too much social media comparison can drain your creativity and make you feel down in the dumps about your own abilities. So what artists need is a rhythm of work and rest.

Persistence is more sustainable when it's realistic. If you need that afternoon siesta to get your energy back, that is what you do. You can just work a little later into the evening, perhaps. That's all good. You have to work out what energizes and makes you happier. So persistence is not always a dramatic event of self-sacrifice. Sometimes you just have to keep things cool, calm, and collected, and quietly get on with a comfortable routine.

A few suggestions include setting a regular painting time you're happy with. Always keep your materials ready and at hand so you don't create friction or resistance to starting your next work. And don't compare your progress to others. So create more than you're consuming. That's an important Idea as well. Too much reckless or pointless consumption leads to guilt. Instead, just create steadily, and you'll feel a lot better about yourself. Protect your environment and conditions from things that are draining your energy.

Number 10 is persistence, which turns practice into your artist's identity. So, at some point, your persistence changes the way you see things yourself. You are no longer someone trying to become an artist. You're now an artist because you keep showing up. And you can now look at yourself as, or identify yourself as, somebody who has built up their life through repeated action. This confidence comes from your commitment. And you realize that an artist's life is not built on one grand moment. It's built through hundreds of small returns to the easel.

It becomes part of who you are, your identity, and it grows on you like a comfortable suit of clothing. David Hockney is a good example of this. Hockney has persisted across decades, different styles, technologies, and subjects. He's moved from painting to photography, iPad drawings, landscapes, portraits, and large-scale works. Simply based on his.
Curiosity and persistence, he has kept his work alive and evolving long after people with less persistence would have thrown in the towel. So you don't have to stay stuck. That just means you keep your creativity alive by showing up. Keep returning. So let's have a look. Ask yourself a few questions. Take up that pen and paper again. And make a note of the following. Number one, what has worked on your art practice so far this year? Number two, what has not worked? Number three, what should you stop doing? Number four, what should you continue doing? And number five, what single creative habit will persist for you over the next six months? A bit of introspection is necessary, and it might help you gain some clarity over the next six months.

So just imagine reaching December with those 26 small paintings behind you. Not necessarily perfect, but part of your growth. I think that's a really exciting prospect. And persistence is going to help you achieve that. So it's not an overnight thing. You've got time, and you only need to return to the easel. Do that today or first thing tomorrow. Sit down with your pen and paper and go over those questions. 

I mention it and see what pops up there. So that's it. Are you going to recalibrate, head into the next six months with renewed purpose and ambition, and see what happens? Let me know in six months' time. If you've got those 26 paintings set aside. How does that feel? And I'd appreciate it if you let me know in the comments which of these tips or which of the 10 points has made the most impact.

What is one creative habit you're going to persist with over the forthcoming year? Is it weekly painting, daily sketching, finishing unfinished works, or returning after a long break, or dealing with some hurtful criticism that you are now going to put behind you? And I also want to encourage you, if you haven't done so already, to look up Create Art magazine. That is our free magazine packed with inspiration, artist features, and how-to articles. Comes out every second month. The next edition on the 2nd of July, and then again in September and November. So, get your subscription. It's totally free to Create Art Magazine. You'll find it at createartmagazine.com. Also, check out my YouTube channel.

If you're already listening to this podcast on my YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe so you get plenty of tips and inspiration over the coming six months to help you along your way. And finally, please share this podcast. Others may be inspired by it, or may need to hear something to help them get back on track with their creative plans and objectives. So I hope you've enjoyed this little chat, and we'll have another episode of the Loosen Up Your.
Painting podcast in the near future. Until then, good luck with the rest of this year, and we'll chat again soon.