How I Start a Painting When I Have No Plan

I don’t always start my paintings with a clear idea.

Most of the time, I begin with uncertainty. No full concept, no mapped out outcome, just a surface and the decision to start anyway. That used to make me pause more than it should have.

I thought I needed direction before I could create something meaningful. If I didn’t have a full vision, I would delay starting. Eventually I realized that waiting for clarity was slowing everything down.

Now I approach it differently.

I start by choosing a base layer. Sometimes it’s a color I’m drawn to in the moment, not because it makes sense, but because it sets a tone. That first layer is not about accuracy. It’s about movement.

Once the surface is covered, I stop thinking in terms of finished work. I focus instead on reaction. What happens if I add contrast here. What shifts if I change texture there. It becomes more responsive than planned.

I’ve noticed that the less I try to control the outcome early on, the more interesting the result becomes later. There is a point where planning helps, but before that point, it can actually limit what the piece becomes.

Working this way also removes pressure. I’m not trying to recreate an idea I had in my head. I’m building something while it’s already happening.

A lot of my work under LAYMADEIT has come from this kind of approach. Not fully formed concepts, but starting points that evolve while I’m in the process. Being based in Pittsburgh and working independently has made this even more important for me. I don’t always have external direction, so I rely on movement instead of certainty.

There are still moments where I second guess myself at the beginning. That doesn’t completely go away. But I’ve learned that hesitation at the start doesn’t mean the work will be bad. It usually just means I’m not in control yet.

Once I accept that, I can begin.

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