If you’ve ever walked into a painting class or picked up a brush and immediately felt the need to apologize for ‘not being an artist,’ you’re in the right place. At Santa Fe Painting Workshops, I see brave beginners and talented creatives a lot—but almost everyone carries their own bundle of doubts and myths about who gets to make art. It’s time to leave those worries behind. Let’s bust the biggest myths holding you back from making art.

Myth #1: “I Didn’t Go to Art School, So I Can’t Be a Real Artist”

Oh my goodness, this one makes my eye twitch! If I had a dollar for every time someone said this, I could probably fund a whole new studio. Here’s the truth bomb: nobody is checking your credentials at the paint store!

Some of history’s most celebrated artists were self-taught. Van Gogh? Largely self-taught. Frida Kahlo? Self-taught. Henri Rousseau? Zero formal training. Jean-Michel Basquiat? Started as a street artist. These artists didn’t let the lack of a fancy diploma stop them from changing the world with their creativity.

What you actually need isn’t a degree, it’s curiosity and consistency. Show up regularly (even 20 minutes counts!), stay curious about techniques, and trust that your unique way of seeing the world has value. We live in the most amazing time for learning! You can master color theory in your pajamas watching YouTube, take online courses from incredible artists worldwide, or join local groups that meet at the library.

Your perspective matters more than your pedigree. I’ve seen people with MFAs create boring work, and self-taught artists blow everyone away with their fresh approach. What matters is that you’re making things and growing as a creator.

 

Myth #2: “I Can’t Draw a Stick Figure, So I Can’t Make Art”

Dramatic sigh Okay, friend, let me tell you something: I paint abstract work professionally, and my stick figures are questionable at best! Your ability to draw realistically has almost ZERO to do with whether you can make meaningful, beautiful art.

Art isn’t just about copying what you see, it’s about expressing what you feel, think, and imagine. Abstract painting doesn’t care if you can draw a perfect apple. Collage just needs you to cut and glue creatively. Sculpture is about building and shaping. Photography is about seeing and capturing moments.

Saying you can’t make art because you can’t draw is like saying you can’t be a musician because you can’t play classical violin. What about drums? Electronic music? There are literally hundreds of ways to create, and most of them have nothing to do with realistic drawing!

Here’s what really matters: making art feels good. It’s calming, expressive, and therapeutic. These benefits are available to everyone, yes, even you with your adorable stick figures. Don’t let drawing skills (or lack thereof) rob you of the joy of creating.

Myth #3: “You Need Expensive Materials to Make Good Art”

Nope, nope, nope! This myth stops people before they even get started, and it makes me want to shake someone (gently, with love). Great art comes from your vision and creativity, not your credit card balance.

I’ve seen stunning artwork made with dollar-store supplies and profound pieces created from recycled materials. When you’re learning, you SHOULD use inexpensive materials! Why? Because you need to feel free to experiment, make mistakes, and paint over things that don’t work.

Here’s your actual shopping list for getting started:

• Student-grade acrylics or watercolors
• Canvas panels or watercolor paper (or even cardboard!)
• 3-5 brushes in different sizes
• A paper plate for your palette
• An old jar for water
• Your willingness to play (this one’s free!)

That’s it! You can start your artistic journey for less than the cost of dinner out. As you grow and discover what you love, you can gradually invest in better materials. But the magic happens in the making, not in the buying.

Understanding your materials beats expensive materials every time. A skilled artist with basic supplies will create more interesting work than someone with premium everything and no idea how to use it.

Myth #4: “You’re Either Born with Talent or You’re Not”

Okay, this is the big one that really gets under my skin because it’s so incredibly destructive. The belief in magical, inborn artistic talent has probably stopped more creative dreams than any other myth out there.

Here’s the truth: Art is a skill you develop through practice, just like learning to cook, play piano, or speak a new language. What looks like “natural talent” is usually someone who got interested early and put in thousands of hours you didn’t see.

When you admire a beautiful painting, you’re seeing the result of years of practice: not some mystical gift. You’re not seeing the hundreds of failed attempts, the countless hours of color mixing, or the endless experiments that taught that artist what works.

This myth is a creativity killer because it makes people quit at the first sign of difficulty. Your first painting doesn’t match what’s in your head? That doesn’t mean you lack talent: it means you’re a beginner! And being a beginner is exactly what you should be when you’re starting something new.

Give yourself permission to be wonderfully, gloriously bad at first. Every single artist you admire was once terrible. They just kept going. Mistakes aren’t signs you should quit: they’re how you learn! Progress matters infinitely more than perfection.

What’s Actually Stopping You?

Let’s recap this myth-busting session: You don’t need art school. You don’t need perfect drawing skills. You don’t need expensive supplies. And you definitely don’t need some mysterious inborn talent.

What you DO need: curiosity, willingness to experiment, patience with yourself, and the courage to make imperfect things. That’s it!

Becoming an artist isn’t about having the right credentials or perfect skills. It’s about showing up, playing with color, making marks, and expressing your unique way of seeing the world. You don’t need permission, and you don’t need to wait until you’re “ready enough” or “good enough.”

Ready to Ignore the Myths and Start Creating?

Here’s my challenge to you: grab whatever supplies you have access to: even if it’s just paper and markers. Set aside that voice saying you’re not qualified. Give yourself permission to be a beginner and make something messy, imperfect, and fun.

Your creative voice is in there, waiting. Don’t let these tired old myths keep it locked up any longer. The world needs what you’ll make once you stop listening to the myths and start creating!

I’m hosting a free Abstract Painting Challenge starting January 12, 2026, designed specifically for people who are ready to ignore these myths and just start creating. Whether you’ve never touched a paintbrush or you painted once in high school and always meant to get back to it, this challenge will give you the structure, support, and encouragement to begin (or rekindle) your abstract painting journey.

We’ll work with simple, affordable materials. No previous experience required. No drawing skills needed. Just you, some paint, and the willingness to explore what happens when you let go of perfection and embrace the process.

[Sign up for the Abstract Painting Challenge here] and join a community of people who are choosing creativity over self-doubt. Let’s start 2026 by making something beautiful: imperfectly, joyfully, and without apology.