Have you ever wondered how to go about finding your focus? Questioned how other artists manage to create entire lifetimes of work in one medium, palette and style without veering off in other directions? I’ve never been able to do that, and for a long time, that worried me.

Let’s be real—when someone tells you to “stay focused” as an artist, your first thought might be “Does that mean I have to paint flowers forever?” or “Am I stuck doing abstract expressionism for the rest of my life?” I get it. The concept of focus can feel somewhat limiting when you’re someone who gets excited about trying new things.

But here’s what I believe: staying focused doesn’t mean putting yourself in a creative box forever.

What Focus Means: It’s Not What You Think

Here’s the thing: Finding your focus isn’t about picking one thing and sticking to it no matter what. It’s more like being a detective following clues—you might explore different leads, but you’re always working toward solving the same mystery.

Your “mystery” could be anything: how light hits objects, what makes people feel nostalgic, or why certain colour combinations make you want to cry. You can chase that mystery through painting, sculpture, photography, or interpretive dance if that’s your thing. The medium isn’t the focus—your curiosity is.

After finding your focus: How to Stay Focused

  • Show up regularly, even when you don’t feel like it. I know this one, and yet I still find it difficult to carve out a regular studio slot.  Having a routine is like having a creative safety net. Even if you doodle for 20 minutes while drinking your morning coffee, you’re keeping the creative part of your brain awake. I’m working on tackling this one by working in Procreate on my iPad. My theory is that it’s portable and I can sketch or work on editing a painting while I’m out of my studio.
  • Give yourself interesting challenges. Instead of saying “I only paint landscapes,” try “I’m going to explore the feeling of being homesick using whatever materials call to me.” Way more interesting, right? You might end up with paintings, collages, or even a weird sculpture made of old letters. The point is, you’re staying connected to your central idea while keeping things fresh. This is one I do often. I explore new mediums and styles all the time. While it can be a bit of a distraction, it does keep my art practice feeling fresh and interesting to me.
  • Keep a messy notebook. Don’t worry about making it Instagram-worthy. Just dump your ideas, random thoughts, and terrible sketches into it. After a while, you’ll start seeing patterns in what gets you excited. That’s your focus, trying to emerge.
  • Set goals that don’t make you want to hide under a blanket. “Become the next Picasso” is not a helpful goal. “Try three new ways to show movement in my work this month” is much better. You can do that, and it permits you to experiment.

The Beautiful Truth About Exploration

Here’s what nobody tells you: the best artists are usually the ones who explore the most. But they’re not just randomly trying stuff—they’re following their nose, seeing where their interests lead them. It’s like being curious about everything, but through your unique lens.

You might start with landscapes and end up making experimental mixed media pieces. That’s not losing focus—that’s evolution. Your job is to pay attention to what genuinely interests you and follow those threads, even if they lead somewhere unexpected.

(The caveat here is that you can end up using a random scattered approach, and that isn’t helpful. Make sure you have a thread to follow when you start, and keep coming back to check that you’re on track.

Don’t Overthink It

The biggest focus-killer is spending more time worrying about your focus than actually creating. Start with what excites you right now. Make something. See what happens. Your focus will reveal itself through your work, not through endless soul-searching.

Remember, even the most “focused” artists went through periods of experimentation and change. The difference is that they kept working through it all. So permit yourself to explore, but do it with intention. Your future self will thank you.