Painting is a journey. Some days, everything flows, and your composition shines. Other days? It feels like you’re fighting against the canvas, and nothing is quite right.
If you’ve ever overworked a painting—where colors turn muddy, brushstrokes feel too rigid, or a single section throws off the whole composition—you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t have to start from scratch!
Why Paintings Get Overworked (and How to Spot It)
Overworking a painting often happens when:
👉🏼 You layer too many colors without letting them dry, resulting in dull or muddy tones.
👉🏼 You keep adding detail in an attempt to “fix” something, only to lose the fresh, spontaneous feel.
👉🏼 One area feels off, but you don’t know how to correct it without affecting the rest of the painting.
Before you abandon your piece in frustration, try this simple fix
In the painting above, the background set the stage nicely, but the waterway in the foreground wasn’t singing in harmony with the rest of the scene.
The Simple Fix: Hitting ‘Redo’ on Your Painting
Instead of repainting the whole thing, focus on the problem area—and let the rest of your painting shine!
Step 1: Sand It Down (If Needed)
If the section you want to fix has thick, built-up paint, lightly sand it with fine-grit sandpaper. This helps smooth out ridges and textures, making it easier to rework.
Step 2: Cover It with Gesso
Gesso isn’t just for prepping your canvas—it can also serve as a reset button! Use a brush to apply a thin, even layer over the area you want to fix.
Step 3: Add a Ground Color
Once the gesso dries, apply a thin layer of color that matches the tone of the rest of your painting. This helps blend the new section seamlessly when you rework it.
Step 4: Repaint with Confidence!
Now that you have a fresh surface, you can go back in and rework the section with new brushstrokes, better composition, or improved color choices.Want to see exactly how I hit ‘redo’ on a painting? Check out this quick demo:
Master the Fundamentals & Paint with Confidence
Fixing a painting is easier when you have a strong foundation in brushwork, layering, and color mixing. If you’re ready to build skills that help you avoid overworking your paintings in the first place, my Acrylics 101 course is the perfect next step!Inside Acrylics 101, you’ll learn:
✔️ How to handle acrylic paint so you don’t end up with muddy colors
✔️ Techniques to layer and blend for depth without overworking
✔️ The secrets to confident brushstrokes so your paintings feel intentional
Thanks for sharing your solution to this issue. I adore the painting to your left in this video.