My First Canvas Painting: A Journey of Confidence and Growth

 My First Canvas Painting: A Journey of Confidence and Growth

I still remember creating this painting during the COVID lockdown. It was a time when the world came to a halt, and we were all confined to our homes due to the spreading disease. Like many others, I felt bored and restless, but painting became my escape, a way to cope with the monotony.

Before this, I had only worked with crayons, pencils, and basic watercolors. However, this was the first time I ventured into painting on canvas paper with professional acrylic paints. It was a huge step for me! I didn’t attend any formal classes or training; instead, I taught myself through YouTube videos, learning one brushstroke at a time.

I have my mother to thank for this creative passion. During our summer vacations, she always kept us busy with cultural activities and crafts, never letting us sit idle. She discovered my talent and nurtured it. For that, I will always be grateful.

When I first bought the canvas book and expensive paints, I was terrified. I wasn’t sure if I deserved to spend so much on these art tools. I kept worrying about whether I was wasting money on something I wasn’t even confident I could do. The paints and canvas sat untouched for ten days. I was hesitant—afraid that I wasn’t ready for something this big.

Then, one day, I decided to just start. After scrolling through social media for an hour in search of inspiration, I found myself drawn to bright colors. My first attempt didn’t go as planned, so I painted over the entire canvas with black. As I stared at the blank black canvas, I realized that any mistake would now be glaringly obvious. But I pushed through.

I found an interesting image online and began painting. This was my first attempt at painting on canvas paper, and it took me a long time to finish. I was so absorbed in it that I didn’t even drink a drop of water or take a break when my parents called me for food. When I finally completed it, I didn’t show it to anyone—I wasn’t sure if it was good. What if it turned out bad?

The next day, I gathered the courage to show it to my parents. To my relief, they liked it and asked where I got all the painting supplies. I confessed that I had bought them with my pocket money and was scared to tell them, fearing they’d think I wasted money on unnecessary art tools. They laughed and told me the painting was superb!

This piece gave me the confidence to keep going, and from then on, each new painting became easier and more enjoyable.

What do you think of this painting? Have you ever experienced something similar? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments. Please let me know your thoughts on my artwork too!

pooja mattapalli