The Case for Painting Things That Don’t Exist - Imaginary Art Subjects

Why Imaginary Art Subjects?

There’s a weird pressure in watercolor to paint real things.

Real places. Real flowers. Real light.

Like if it doesn’t exist somewhere on Earth, it somehow doesn’t count.

But honestly?

Some of the most interesting paintings come from things that don’t exist at all or are a new imagined idea that combines real things into one imagined one.

🎨 The Problem with “Real”

When you paint something real, you’re not just painting —you’re judging the whole time.

• “That tree doesn’t look right.”

• “The perspective is off.”

• “The colors aren’t accurate.”

You’re constantly comparing your painting to something that already exists… and guess what?

You lose.

Because now the goal isn’t expression — it’s accuracy.

And watercolor is not a medium that likes being controlled like that.

🌫️ When Nothing Is Real, Everything Works

The second you stop painting “real” things, something shifts.

There’s nothing to be wrong.

That strange purple sky? Valid.

That fog that makes zero sense? Perfect.

A structure that kind of looks like a building but also… doesn’t? Even better.

Now you’re not copying — you’re responding.

And watercolor thrives in that space.

💧 Watercolor Already Wants to Be Weird

Let’s be honest — watercolor does whatever it wants anyway.

Blooms, backruns, soft edges, unexpected blends…

Half the time, the paint is doing something you didn’t plan.

So instead of fighting that and forcing it into something “correct,” why not let it become something?

That weird shape in your wash? That’s not a mistake — that’s your starting point.

🖤 Atmosphere Over Accuracy

When you stop painting real things, you start noticing different things:

• light instead of objects

• mood instead of detail

• contrast instead of correctness

And suddenly your painting feels more… alive.

Not because it’s technically perfect, but because it feels like something.

And honestly? That’s what people connect to.

No one has ever looked at a painting and said, “Wow, the perspective is emotionally moving.”

✍️ How to Start (Without Overthinking It)

You don’t need a concept. You don’t need a plan.

Try this instead:

1. Start with a wash Just color. Let it move. Let it do its thing.

2. Look for shapes Not objects — shapes. Light vs dark.

3. Suggest, don’t define A line here, a shadow there. Let the viewer fill it in.

4. Stop earlier than you want to This is where most people ruin it.

🔥 The Real Advantage

When you paint things that don’t exist:

• you develop your style faster

• you stop relying on references

• you get comfortable making decisions

• you stop being afraid of “ruining” it

Because there’s nothing to ruin.

It was never supposed to be anything.

🎯 Final Thought

You don’t need permission to paint something imaginary.

Imaginary art subjects don’t need to make sense. They don’t need to be recognizable.

You just need it to feel like something.

And if it does?

That’s enough.