I’m in my studio today, preparing for a few commissions, mixing paints, organizing supplies – the usual rhythm before a long painting session. And as often happens in these quiet moments before I even touch a canvas, I found myself thinking about something more profound than technique.

What is the most essential habit every artist needs?

You might think it’s consistency.
Or daily practice.
Or mastering color theory, composition, or paint layering.

All of those matter. A lot.

But after years of working as a full-time artist and creating fluid art professionally, I’ve learned that the artistic process starts long before you mix fluid paint or prepare a canvas.

It starts in your mind.
In imagination.
In the first spark of an idea.

Why Your Best Artistic Ideas Need Silence

Before there is acrylic pouring, before blowouts, before layers and embellishments, there is an idea – a spark, a visual direction you want to translate into movement and color.

But where does that spark come from? 

In my experience, the quality of the painting often depends on what happens long before paint touches the canvas. Not just the studio setup. Not just the supplies. But in the space where ideas are allowed to form.

That’s where one of the most important habits in my artistic practice comes in: the intentional use of white space.

This is the time when I don’t scroll.
Don’t watch tutorials.
Don’t consume content.
Don’t even sketch yet.

Just sitting. Thinking. Letting my mind wander – but gently guiding it toward my art.

This is where some of my strongest ideas came from (not from scrolling, watching tutorials, or consuming content). They came from the magic of white space.

And it’s not just my personal experience - the science supports it as well.

Modern research on creativity and neuroscience shows that when external input is reduced, the brain activates what’s often called the default mode network. This is the state where imagination, long-term memory, and creative problem-solving come online. When the brain gets “bored,” it doesn’t shut down – it starts connecting ideas.

In a world full of constant information noise, our brains rarely get the chance to do this.

As artists, when we don’t give ourselves intentional white space, we unintentionally rob ourselves of discovery – of our own voice, ideas, and potential.

Even 5–10 minutes a day of quiet, intentional thinking can shift everything.

Sit.
Do nothing.
Think about paintings.

Why This Matters So Much in Fluid Art

Fluid art is often seen as spontaneous – paint flows, cells appear, movement happens naturally. And yes, that’s part of its beauty. But the best fluid paintings don’t come from randomness alone.
They come from intent.

And this mental preparation shapes everything that happens later during the acrylic pouring process.

Capture the Ideas Before They Fade

After white space comes the second crucial habit: recording your ideas.

I always write things down or sketch them out – even if they feel half-formed or impractical at the time.

I have notes from years ago that I still revisit regularly. Some ideas turn into paintings immediately. Others go into what I think of as my idea library – seeds waiting for the right moment.

And sometimes, that moment comes much later.

When an Idea Isn’t Ready – Yet

One of the paintings I’m sharing in this post was born from an idea that came to me more than a year before the painting actually existed.

At the time, I imagined a large artwork with a dramatic twist in the movement – something that shifted mid-flow to create tension, depth, and energy.

But I wasn’t ready.
I didn’t have space for large canvases yet.
I didn’t have the brush control skills I use now for refining movement.
I didn’t know how to create the glow effects I teach today inside my Embellishment Mastery course.

So I didn’t force it.

I sketched the idea down.

That seed stayed with me – and when the skills, space, and timing aligned, the painting came to life naturally, better than I ever imagined (and btw, it turned out to be one of my popular paintings on YouTube!):

*the recipe and technique used in this painting are from the Fluid Art Mastery course. 

This is something I want you to remember: if you get an idea you don’t yet know how to execute, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.

It might simply be an idea ahead of its time.

Trusting Yourself as an Artist

If you’re a beginner or learning a new fluid art technique, it’s absolutely okay – and necessary – to follow step-by-step instructions from a teacher or mentor. That’s how we build foundations. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when you’re learning essentials.

But at some point, growth requires a shift. It often starts with a simple question: What if?

And when you are ready, I invite you to try something simple.

Give yourself a few minutes of intentional white space.
No scrolling. No learning. No consuming.
Just you and your thoughts about art.

Then write everything down – even the ideas that feel unclear or impossible right now.

Some of them will surprise you later. Because your creativity doesn’t always need more information.

Sometimes it needs room to breathe.

Fluid art isn’t just about what happens when paint is wet. It’s about trusting your imagination – and allowing your ideas to grow at their own pace.

Colorfully yours,
Olga Soby