Rufus is a LIAR

There is a recognizable ebb and flow to the process of learning to paint in Photoshop. As we gain skill, Rufus gets louder and bolder in an attempt to derail any success.

We always begin every painting with care, choosing our colors and strokes carefully. At some point, usually right when we have invested so much time that it would be soul crushing to start over, we look at what we have painted, and we don’t like what we see. It’s commonly known as, “the ugly phase”.

This is when Rufus will pounce. He knows you’re feeling insecure about what you’ve done. He knows the ugly phase is paralyzing. He knows you’re ready to toss the whole painting into the trash.

“See? I told you! You can’t do this!”

If Rufus has wormed his way into your head, the worst thing you can possibly do is feverishly try to pull the painting up out of the ditch. If you find yourself scratching your Wacom Pen on the tablet wildly only making a bigger and bigger mess as you go — STOP.

Rufus wants you to panic and scratch away without a plan. This is how many paintings are ruined. Instead…

Put your pen down.

Take a deep breath.Stand back from your screen.Take a long, objective look.Squint.Take another deep breath… or three.

Walk away for a while. Your painting won’t go anywhere if you walk away and collect your thoughts. Sometimes, that’s the best thing for the final piece!

Give yourself some time. Reconnect to your original vision for the piece and give your brain time to silence Rufus’s ugly little voice. Everything you need to complete the piece is already inside you if you can just silence Rufus’s attack.

When you come back to the painting, take stock of what you love (there will almost always be something). That first step will help silence Rufus. Then, pick out an area that you dislike and go to work. Focus on just one area at a time. This will help keep Rufus in check! Before you know it, you’ll have pushed the painting past the ugly phase blocks Rufus threw up in your way and created something beautiful!