The Power of Creating a Series
Have you ever finished a painting and thought, there’s something here I might want to explore a little more? Maybe it was a color combination that surprised you, a particular mark or shape, a subject that suddenly felt interesting...or simply an idea that didn't feel finished when the painting was finished. That can be the beginning of a series!
A series gives an artist something that a single painting can't always provide: room to explore. Instead of asking, “What should I paint next?” you begin asking, “What else can I discover about this idea?” And that's where things can get really interesting.
Cat Ladies Series
Why I Love Creating a Series
There's something kind of exciting that happens when I stop thinking about one painting and start thinking about a body of work. I've been thinking about this a lot lately because I'm finishing one series in my studio, transfer's using my gelli plate, just as I'm getting ready to begin another Small Art Challenge with artNXTlevel...more on that later in this post. And it feels like the perfect time to talk about why I love working in series...and why I think creating a body of work can be so valuable for an artist.
Cyanotype Art Blocks Series
One Painting Leads to Another
For me, a series rarely begins with a complete plan...I'm not quite that organized! Usually, there's an idea that grabs my attention...a color combination I'm curious about, a subject that keeps showing up, a technique I want to explore, a feeling I want to capture. I make one piece, then that piece gives me an idea for the next one, and the next. You get the idea...before long, something starts to happen. The paintings begin to talk to one another! I might repeat a shape but change the colors, I might take an element from one painting and push it in a completely different direction or discover that something I thought was going to be important isn't important at all. Seriously...that's part of the fun. And if I'm paying attention, the series reveals to me what it wants to become. This was the case in the Remnants series below.
A Series Creates Space for Experimentation
One of the great benefits of working in a series is that you don't have to expect every painting to be successful. When you're working on a single piece, it can be tempting to avoid taking a risk because you don't want to ruin what's already working. A series gives you a lot more room to experiment. If one idea doesn't work, try it differently in the next piece, and if something unexpected happens, follow it. The “failed” painting may actually contain the idea that leads to your favorite one on the next go-around. That's part of the process.
Resurrection Art Blocks
When Does a Series Become a Body of Work?
A series can begin with something as simple as repetition, and over time, something deeper can develop. The pieces begin to have relationships with one another. There may be recurring colors, shapes, textures, materials, or imagery. There may be a common emotional thread or story. Sometimes the connection is obvious; other times it's much more subtle.
This is where a series can become a body of work. The individual paintings can stand on their own, but when they're seen together, they tell a larger story. And that larger story can give the viewer a glimpse into the artist's way of thinking. In the series below, 2 Artists 2 Mediums, I combined working in clay with my art on canvas...showing my range and bringing my two mediums together as a series.
Small Works Are Especially Good for Exploring
Working small can make this process feel even more approachable. I love that a small painting doesn't require the same commitment as a large canvas. It can be a place to test an idea, experiment with materials, or just play... if you know me, you know I love this most of all! Make one... then make another. Try something different. Put them next to each other and see what happens... you may have a group of small paintings that begin to feel connected! Working small also allows for more freedom in creating a series... and it's much easier to paint 12 or so smalls... as long as you have your paint out and you're doing one... make it a dozen!
Natures Playground
A Lesson I Learned Five Years Ago
Five years ago, we were all just coming out of COVID, and I was part of a group of five artists, F1VEart, finding our bearings in the new normal of the world. We were meeting up online from our home studios when we discovered a 10-week Small Artwork Challenge with artist and educator Sergio Gomez of artNXTlevel... we dove in!
It gave us all a focus and structure to get started again with not only making art, but the business of making art. What I didn't realize was how much that experience would continue to influence my studio practice. When I recently went back through my photos and YouTube library, I discovered something that surprised me. Over the years, I'd created several different series that grew from ideas I explored during that very challenge. Different bodies of work, different directions... and yet they all have something in common: I gave myself permission to explore an idea beyond a single painting!
I participated in this challenge five years ago... and many series later... it's had a lasting influence on the way I approach creating a body of work. What I love about working this way is that you're not just creating one painting. You're giving yourself the time and space to explore an idea.... to see what happens when you keep going, when you change something, when one little painting leads you to the next.
And this time, I'm going to be sharing my painting process on my YouTube channel. I'll be sharing what I'm making, what works... and of course, what doesn't, as this new body of work develops over the ten weeks.
Want to join me for the Small Artwork Challenge? If I've enticed you into doing a series, the 10-week challenge begins September 23, 2026. If you've been wanting to create a series, develop a body of work, or simply get yourself back into a regular studio practice, I'd love to have you join me. And since I've personally done and used this challenge with Sergio many times, I can highly recommend it...and it's a very affordable challenge!
Disclosure: If you sign up through my link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I only share programs and products that I personally believe in and would recommend to other artists.
Are you working on a series of your own,
or have you been thinking about starting one?
I’d love to hear about it in the comments...or answer any questions you have!
Thank you for being here!
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