Does Painting in a Series Work? (Lessons from 82 Watercolour Series)
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Ever heard the advice to paint in a series and wondered if it’s actually a good idea?
It’s a suggestion that comes up often in watercolour circles—and for good reason. Working in a series is often recommended as a way to build creative momentum, reduce decision fatigue, and deepen your understanding of a subject.
But does it really make a difference in practice?
After painting 82 watercolour series, I’ve had plenty of time to test the theory—and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
(Actually I’m still constantly learning… watercolour painting is great like that 😉)
In this post, I’ll share the three biggest lessons that have made painting in a series one of the most helpful watercolour painting tips I can offer.
Or…. there’s a video version in case this doesn’t feel like a reading day. (I understand that.)
How a Watercolour Series Helped Me Overcome Resistance
Back in 2015, I started working in watercolour series as a way to overcome the biggest challenge I was facing—not painting.
Now, the reason I wasn’t painting wasn’t because I didn’t love it. I do love painting, and I knew I’d enjoy it once I got started. But starting isn’t always easy. For me, it was plagued with indecision—second-guessing my subject, my abilities, and even whether I should be painting at all.
Since then, I’ve painted 82 watercolour series. And while fear and doubt haven’t disappeared, working in a series has helped me show up more consistently and enjoy the process a lot more. I’ve found ways to work with the fear instead of being stopped by it. So I want to share the three key things that helped me get there.
1. Avoiding First-Day Syndrome
One of the biggest benefits of painting in a series is that it saves you from constantly facing “firsts.” First day at school, first day at a new job—firsts are hard because everything is new and requires a ton of decisions.
The same is true in art. Every time you start a new subject—like switching from flowers to landscapes—you face a whole new set of challenges. And each of those decisions takes mental energy.
Painting in a series lets you bypass that. You make one decision—say, "I'm going to paint flowers this month"—and then you get to dive deep. You face flower-specific challenges like capturing loose shapes or choosing the right pinks, rather than having to figure out an entirely new subject every time you sit down to paint.
This concept ties into the learning curve. When you stick with one subject for a while, your skills build faster, and your ease with the subject grows. It becomes more enjoyable, which makes it easier to keep going. And that’s where real progress comes from.
2. Repetition Isn’t Boring—It’s Creative Fuel
I used to worry that painting the same thing over and over would get boring. But I’ve learned the opposite is true.
Working within a theme or subject actually opens up room for more creativity. You start asking “What if?” What if I painted this bouquet in a different colour palette? What if I zoomed in? What if I painted a whole field instead of a single bloom?
Instead of narrowing your options, painting a series gives you space to explore. You have fewer decisions to make about what to paint, which frees up energy to focus on how you want to paint it. And this is where creativity thrives.
3. Confidence Comes from Showing Up (Not Getting It Right)
Even after all these series, I still go through the same emotional cycle. I get excited. Then imposter syndrome kicks in. I start questioning my subject, my skills, and even my entire medium. (Maybe watercolour isn’t for me after all?)
But I’ve done this enough times to recognise that voice for what it is—fear.
Now I know that the best way to quiet that voice is to just start painting.
Even if the first painting feels awkward or “bad” (though I try not to label it that way), it gets things moving. It teaches me something about how I do want to approach the subject. And by the end of the month, I’m usually in love with the subject—and a little sad to move on.
That’s the beauty of it. You build confidence not by avoiding mistakes, but by showing up anyway.
Final Thoughts: A Gentle Way to Stay Consistent
If you’ve ever struggled with creative resistance or the overwhelm of a blank page, painting in a series might be the gentle structure you need.
Inside my membership, the Happy Painters Hub, we’ve created more than 20 watercolor series so far using this exact approach. It’s helped us paint more consistently, grow in confidence, and find more joy in the process.
The Happy Painters Hub is mostly closed and opens only a few times a year, or occasionally by special invitation.
Every so often… if you are very lucky, you’ll find a little invitation like this one (yes I do like treasure hunts… how did you know?) that opens for a short time… 👇
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