The Simple Formula to Make Your Paintings Irresistible

Most paintings feel “fine” because they’re showing too much at equal levels. When you organize your art using the 75/25/5 frequency formula (75% dominant element, 25% secondary, 5% accent), you create work with energy and clarity that makes people stop and stare. This simple ratio transforms mediocre paintings into art that’s impossible to ignore.

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What Frequency Really Means in Your Art

Today I want to talk about frequency.

Not the kind you learn about in science class. The kind of frequency that makes people stop in their tracks when they see your paintings.

Energy. The fire that you feel that keeps you going, that gets you excited. Having that inside of you at a high level. We know another word for this is coming alive. What makes you feel more alive?

It’s being involved in things that you love doing, experiencing new and different things. This tends to make the human being feel more excited, more inspired, more creative.

Good to know because we’re trying to keep this going all the time.

But this also relates to art making.

 

 

The Problem with “Pleasant” Paintings

When I look at some of my work, I notice something interesting. It’s got a lot of different things happening. Colors, shapes, all similar sizes.

But it’s not really clear what I love so much.

Nothing’s particularly dominant. I don’t hate it, but I’m wanting it to be more clear. I’m wanting it to have a higher energy about it and show more of what I want.

Here’s what’s happening. It might be 20% blue, 25% yellow. All these little pieces competing for attention. Nothing’s particularly standing out.

And when that happens, it’s all kind of pleasing. But it’s nothing to write home about.

 

The 75/25/5 Frequency Formula

Let me show you something that changes everything.

If you organize your art with this ratio, it becomes much more exciting to look at.

75% – Your Giant Yes

This is what you love. What lights you up. The dominant thing in your painting.

Maybe it’s a color. Maybe it’s a shape or a texture. But it takes up most of the space and attention in your work.

25% – Your Secondary Yes

This is also great. It doesn’t have to be off the charts. It’s not the primary thing, but it supports and enhances what you love most.

5% – A Taste of Something Else

Just a hint. A little accent. A third element that adds interest without competing.

 

Seeing It in Action

In today’s video above, when I cropped into the painting I was looking at, something magical happened.

Suddenly, it’s mostly about this blue. There are these other little colors with little hints of things. And look how much more exciting it is to look at.

You can almost see different paintings hiding in there. When I crop to different areas, each one becomes stronger because it’s clear. It has a dominant frequency.

Do you see how much stronger that is?

This is because it’s clear. And I’m not saying this is a rule, but the principle, the idea, makes strong work.

 

Beyond Your Paintings

This principle applies to more than just your art. It’s about how you organize your whole creative life.

What are the main things you’re doing that keep you lifted? You can’t do a million things. But if you start thinking of keeping it really simple (three, four things) and making sure that you’re involved in the things that really light you up, it’s super important for your energy.

When you feel this way, you can do more. You’re more confident. You’re more of a risk taker. You have more energy for all the things.

 

How to Apply This Today

This is a handy way to troubleshoot your art.

Generally, we’re showing too much. We’re giving equal weight to everything when we should be making it clear what we love.

Here’s what I want you to do.

Take one of your paintings today and look at it. Is it clear what you love most? Or are you showing 20% of this, 20% of that, 20% of something else?

Try cropping in. Use your hands to block out parts of the painting. Look for areas where one element dominates at about 75%, with supporting elements taking up the rest.

You’ll be amazed at how much more exciting those areas become.

Make it clear. Make it exciting to look at.

 

Your Turn

I’d love to hear from you. Have you noticed this in your own work? When you look at your paintings, is there a dominant frequency? Or are you trying to show too much at equal levels?

Leave a comment below and let me know what you discover when you look at your work through this lens.

Have an awesome Sunday. And get out there and make some art today.

Nicholas