Every so often, someone tells me, “Correcting a fluid painting after it’s dry feels like cheating," or "Should be able to get it right with pouring technique.”

Well, maybe that's true for some artists, but definitely not for me.

In fact, I couldn’t disagree more.

For me, art has never been about sticking to one rigid process. It’s about freedom, exploration, and joy. The moment we start defining what’s “allowed” or “forbidden” in art, we put unnecessary limits on ourselves. And honestly, the only boundaries that exist are the ones we accept.

Why It’s Not Cheating

If you’re perfectly happy with the way your painting looks when the paint dries – wonderful! Leave it as it is. Fluid techniques can create absolutely magical results, and if that’s where you find your joy, embrace it.

But if you feel like something’s missing… if you want to add a golden glow, sharpen a line, build texture, or introduce a new element once the paint is dry – that’s just as valid.

It doesn’t make your work less authentic. It doesn’t make you less of an artist.

In fact, it’s often in those “what if” moments that we grow. What if I correct this shape with a brush? What if I add a shimmer of gold leaf? What if I introduce new texture? Sometimes the “what if” creates a breakthrough. And sometimes it “ruins” the painting. But here’s the secret: we learn so much faster from failures than from successes.

Your artwork is a conversation between you and your canvas. Sometimes that conversation ends after the first pour. Sometimes it continues with brushes, palette knives, metallic accents, or embellishments.

Both are art. Both are valid. The only “rule” is that you decide when your painting is finished.

Think Outside the Box Cup

Fluid art may be at the heart of my creative process, but I don’t identify solely as a “fluid artist.”

I am an artist. Period.

And being an artist means giving myself permission to explore.

If I had limited myself to only pure fluid techniques, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I never would have discovered my love for embellishments, textures, or combining different mediums.

Every new experiment – from finger swipes to gold leaf, from spray accents to varnish layering – has shaped my artistic voice.

That’s why I put together “Think Outside of the Cup” – a collection of my favorite fluid paintings that go beyond the pour and fluid cup. These works combine fluid foundations with creative touches that bring depth, energy, and personality into each canvas.

Fluid art is about freedom, joy, and expression – not strict rules. Whether you stop after the pour or keep adding to your creation, it’s your process, your vision, your art.

So the next time you hear someone say, “That’s cheating,” remember this: the only limit in art is the one you accept.

Colorfully yours,
Olga Soby

P.S. If you would like to learn more about my embellishment techniques, methods, or materials, I teach them step-by-step in my Embellishment Mastery online course.