“I’m just not artistic enough to paint.”

How many times have you said that very thing to yourself? 

Maybe you’ve said it out loud. Or maybe it’s that quiet little voice in your head whispering it every time you pick up a paintbrush.

And if we’re being honest…sometimes that voice doesn’t just come from inside. It comes from people around you too.

Comments like:

• “That’s just coloring.”
• “Tracing isn’t real art.”
• “You didn’t even draw that.”

They sting. But the truth is, they aren’t true. So before you let that stop you from painting, we need to talk about what really makes you an artist.

The Truth About Templates (And Why They Exist)

Back in 2017, something shifted in the door hanger world.

Before that, if you wanted to paint a door hanger, you had to draw it yourself directly onto the wood. There were no templates or guides. 

And if you couldn’t draw? You were out. That was the unspoken rule.

Women were finding beautiful designs online. Falling in love with the idea of painting. Getting excited, and then stopping cold because they couldn’t figure out how to get the design onto the wood.

That was the wall.

So I asked a simple question: What if we made that part easier?

That’s where templates came in. And suddenly, women who had never picked up a paintbrush were creating door hangers they were proud of.

“But Isn’t That Cheating?”

This is a big question, but let me ask you something…

When someone learns guitar by playing other people’s songs…is that not real music? When you follow a recipe…is that not real cooking? When a quilter uses a pattern…is that not real quilting?

Of course it is!

Humans learn by imitating first. Then we grow our skills. Then we create and innovate on our own. That’s not cheating, that’s just the process.

What People Don’t See About Templates

The ones who say “it’s just tracing” have usually never sat at a table with a beginner.

Because if they had, they’d see what’s actually happening.

They’d see:

• The color choices you’re making
• The way you decide what goes where
• The pressure of your brush
• The shading, the highlights, the little details
• The mistakes and how you fix them
• The courage it takes to keep going

That part? That’s not in the template, that’s in you. The template is just the starting point. The art comes from your hands.

“What if Mine Looks Too Much Like Someone Else’s?”

This one comes up a lot, and it’s a valid concern. But think about it like this…

Every single creative person started by looking at someone else’s work. That’s not copying, it’s learning. And it takes time to develop your own unique style. 

To find that style:

1. Find 4–5 designs you like
2. Pick one thing from each:
   • Colors from one
   • Shape from another
   • Details from another
3. Combine them into one design

Now you’ve created something that’s inspired, not copied. See the difference? 

The Real Issue Isn’t Art, It’s Confidence

What breaks my heart the most isn’t the comments that are made. It’s what happens after the comments. Women quit.  They put the brush down. They walk away. They decide it’s “not for them.”

Not because they couldn’t do it, but because someone made them feel like they shouldn’t.

And I’m just not okay with that. 

After 11 years of teaching women how to paint, one thing is crystal clear: This is not just about door hangers.

It’s about:

• The woman who paints after everyone else goes to bed
• The one who finally tries something new at 62
• The one who nervously posts her first project online
• The one who finds peace, calm, and herself again through painting

This matters way more than people realize.

So, Who is a Real Artist Then?

Let’s simplify it. A real artist is someone who creates something that didn’t exist before. That’s it!

It has nothing to do with:

• How long you’ve been painting
• Whether you drew it freehand
• What anyone else thinks about it

If you picked up a brush, made decisions, and created something from nothing, you are an artist. Full stop.

And when you keep going, you start to: 

• Trust the process
• Feel more confident
• Experiment with colors
• Add your own little touches
• Develop your own style

It happens naturally. We’ve seen it happen thousands of times. The template is the beginning, not the destination. 

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

If this hits home for you, I want you to know something. 

You are exactly who Southern Adoornments Decor was built for. And inside the Painter’s Clubhouse (our online painting community), you’ll find:

• Step-by-step guidance (no guesswork)
• Templates that make it doable
• A community that actually encourages you
• A place where you can grow at your own pace

There’s no pressure to be perfect. And there’s no judgment for using templates or needing help as you start out. Just a whole lot of support from other women who love to paint as much as you do.

Come join us inside the Painter’s Clubhouse and see what you’re capable of!

Because this? This might be the thing that brings a little piece of you back. And you deserve that!