Let’s be real.
We all make mistakes when painting. Whether you’re working with oil paints, acrylic paints, or even watercolor, accidents happen. Smudged paint brush strokes, wrong color choices, or even an overworked canvas can leave you feeling frustrated. But here’s the good news—most painting mistakes can be fixed, and you don’t have to toss your artwork into the bin.
Whether you’re a beginner artist or an experienced painter, let’s walk through how to handle the most common painting errors without breaking a sweat. Throughout art history mistakes have led to some amazing results.
Listen to our Podcast on Fixing Mistakes
1. Smudged or Overworked Areas
Got too much paint on your canvas? A blurred section that was supposed to have clean lines? Here’s how to fix it.
- For oil paints: Grab a painting knife and gently scrape away the excess wet paint. Wipe the blade off, then go in again. You can also use a dry cloth or soft brush to lift the paint.
- For acrylic paints: If it’s still wet, a damp rag can wipe away the mistake easily. If it’s dry, sandpaper can help smooth out thick paint layers before you repaint.
Example: Rembrandt’s Layering Technique
Rembrandt van Rijn, the famous Dutch painter, was known for using heavy layers of oil paint. He often made adjustments by building up layers, which allowed him to fix mistakes while creating his signature depth and realism. He would scrape off wet areas he didn’t like and then paint over them, blending seamlessly to hide the corrections.
Pro tip: Use glazing (thin, translucent layers) like Rembrandt to subtly adjust color or texture without making the mistake obvious.
2. Wrong Colors
Maybe the color isn’t as vibrant as you imagined, or it’s completely off. No need to panic!
- For oil and acrylic paint: Mix a correcting shade on your palette and paint over the offending area. For acrylic paint mistakes, layering is your best friend since it dries fast.
- Pro tip: If you’re unsure of the color, test it on a piece of scrap paper before applying it to your canvas. This avoids a “what was I thinking” moment later on.
Example: Vincent van Gogh and Color Correction
Vincent van Gogh was famous for his vivid use of color, but even he made mistakes. In his painting “The Bedroom,” van Gogh changed the wall colors multiple times. He originally painted them violet but later decided on a blue hue to fit the mood better. Van Gogh achieved this by layering oil paints and adjusting the pigments gradually, allowing the changes to blend naturally.
Pro tip: If you mess up your color scheme, don’t rush to fix it. Let each layer dry, then gradually build up to the new color, as van Gogh did.
3. Paint Bleeding
This happens when two colors unintentionally mix because the first layer wasn’t dry yet. It’s super common with watercolor and sometimes acrylics too.
- Fixing watercolor: Blot the area with a clean tissue while the paint is still wet. If the paint has dried, use a clean wet brush to soften the edge and blend it in.
Example: John Singer Sargent and Watercolor Mastery
John Singer Sargent, known for his watercolor landscapes, often used a technique called “lifting” to correct mistakes. If too much paint bled into an area, he would lift the excess paint with a damp brush, much like blotting. He used this technique frequently in his watercolor works to maintain clean, flowing colors while controlling any unwanted blending.
4. Too Much Texture
You went a little overboard with the texture, and now your painting has ridges that don’t fit your vision. Maybe it’s those heavy brushstrokes or over-applied palette knife work.
- For oil paintings: If the paint is still wet, you can flatten out the excess with a palette knife or a stiff brush. If it’s dry, consider sanding the area lightly, then repainting over it.
Example: Claude Monet’s Impressionist Adjustments
Claude Monet, a leader of the Impressionist movement, often worked with heavy textures in his paintings. When his textures became too thick or didn’t achieve the effect he wanted, Monet would scrape off the paint and start again, especially in areas where he layered too much impasto (thick paint). This allowed him to maintain the light, airy feel typical of his style.
5. Cracked Paint
Cracking happens when the paint dries too fast or you’ve used the wrong combination of layers.
- Prevention: Let each layer dry thoroughly before applying the next one.
- Fixing cracks: Sand the area carefully, then repaint with thin layers. If the cracks are too deep, you might need to apply a layer of gesso to smooth things out before repainting.
Example: Leonardo da Vinci and the Cracks in the “Mona Lisa”
The Mona Lisa has experienced cracking over the centuries, a common issue with old oil paintings. Leonardo da Vinci used a technique called sfumato—a blending of colors that softened transitions between light and dark—but over time, the layers contracted, causing the famous craquelure (fine cracks). Although the cracks are now seen as part of its charm, if they occurred in a modern piece, light sanding and careful repainting would be the fix.
6. Unwanted Brush Marks
Sometimes your brushstrokes don’t flow the way you want. They’re too harsh or in the wrong direction. This is common, especially with acrylic paints.
- Fixing it: While the paint is still wet, you can use a soft dry brush to blend the strokes or a palette knife to smooth them out. If the paint has dried, lightly sanding the area can reduce the visible marks.
Example: Pablo Picasso’s Brushstroke Edits
Picasso, particularly in his earlier works, would often rework his brushstrokes. When his strokes didn’t convey the emotion or movement he wanted, he would scrape the canvas and redo sections. In some cases, he layered different textures to hide brushstrokes he didn’t like, transforming his mistake into part of the artwork’s final aesthetic.
7. Wrong Background Color
It happens—you paint your subject, then realise the background color doesn’t fit.
- For acrylic: Paint directly over the background once it’s dry.
- For oil: This can be trickier because oils take longer to dry. You can either paint a new layer and let it dry completely or use a color wash technique to tone down the wrong color without redoing everything.
Example: Edgar Degas and Background Adjustments
Edgar Degas, known for his paintings of ballerinas, frequently adjusted his backgrounds. He would often darken or lighten areas to create better contrast with his subjects. Instead of starting over, Degas used thin glazes to modify the background without losing the depth of his layers. This allowed him to bring focus to his subjects without overwhelming the viewer with background distractions.
8. Spilled Paint or Accidental Smudges
It’s super annoying, but totally fixable. Don’t let a paint spill ruin your day.
- Fixing a spill: If it’s fresh, wipe it up immediately with a damp rag or paper towel. If it’s dried, gently scrape it off with a knife or sanding block.
Example: Jackson Pollock’s Controlled Chaos
Jackson Pollock was famous for his drip painting technique, where the lines between control and chaos blurred. While many of his paintings look random, Pollock had incredible control over his spills and splashes. If you accidentally spill paint, channel your inner Pollock. Sometimes what feels like a mistake can actually add character and energy to your painting.
These real-world examples show that even the greatest painters made mistakes. They didn’t panic; they fixed them or turned those errors into opportunities for creativity. So, the next time your painting isn’t going as planned, remember that you’re in good company.
