How to Start Painting after 20 Years

“I haven’t painted in over 20 years… where do I even start?”

It’s something we hear all the time from prospective students at St Ives School of Painting. Last week, I found myself asking the exact same question – not as Office Manager, but as a beginner stepping into the studio for the first time in decades.

After joining the team at the School in January, I’m usually behind the scenes – coordinating courses, answering enquiries, and keeping things running smoothly. But for one weekend, I swapped spreadsheets for a sketchbook and experienced the course exactly as our students do.

My course of choice was the brilliant Discover Painting, run by tutor Ilker Cinarel, and after a painting hiatus of over 20 years, having not touched acrylics since my art A-Level, what followed was equal parts captivating, rewarding, and joyful.

One of the most refreshing parts of the experience was allowing myself to not know.

As members of the team, we often see the finished results – the happy students, the feedback, and the creative pieces produced by the end of a course. What we don’t always see is the uncertainty, the tentative experimentation, or the quiet concentration that fills the studio in those first few hours.

Being a beginner reminded me:
– How vulnerable creativity can feel
– How brave it is to put paint to a blank canvas
– How much courage it takes to say, ‘I’m not sure this is working’, to change the approach and let go of control 

And yet, Ilker consistently encouraged and reminded us that vulnerability is exactly where the magic begins.

The Discover Painting course isn’t about producing a masterpiece in a few days. In contrast, I walked away without a single finished piece. Instead it’s about learning to really see – to observe light, colour, shadow, and composition in a deeper way.

I found myself noticing:
– How a single brushstroke can shift the entire mood
– How light and dark doesn’t simply mean black and white
– That ‘mistakes’ often lead somewhere more interesting

It slowed me down, sharpened my focus, and reminded me that painting is as much about attention as it is about technique.

Joining a course has completely changed how I talk about them.

When prospective students call and say, ‘I haven’t painted since school,’ I now understand that hesitation in a much more personal way. When someone says they’re nervous, I can honestly say: I was too.

Experiencing the teaching from the student side also gave me a renewed appreciation for the tutors – their patience, encouragement, and ability to gently nudge you past self-doubt without ever taking over. Listening to Ilker’s individual interactions with my fellow students, enjoying his knowledge on artists including Henri Matisse, Patrick Heron and David Hockney was all enlightening and inspiring. 

My weekend connected the operational side of the school with the creative heart of it. It reminded me why we do what we do.

For me personally, it reignited something I didn’t realise I’d shelved – the simple pleasure of making something with my hands, the tactility of paint (particularly acrylics) of being mindfully present, and of letting go of all expectation.

Am I suddenly a professional painter? Absolutely not.
Did I surprise myself? A little.

More importantly, I left the course with:
– Paint on my sleeves
– A half-finished canvas I’m oddly proud of
– A deeper connection to the School of Painting and our community
– And a renewed belief that it’s never too late to try something new

If you’re considering stepping into the studio – whether you’re a complete beginner or returning after years away – take this as your sign.

If I can do it, so can you.