A stupid thought I need to get rid of:
"I can't use this idea because I already used it ". Or "I can't use this idea because I saw it used ".
Trying to never repeat shit is a false virtue.
Because. 1) You repeat shit anyways. Accept that. If you have eyeballs and are using them, chances are you're painting things you have previously seen. So this "not repeating" is a lie from the very beginning. Lies are bad.
2) In essense, what you really are doing when you "try not to repeat", is walking away from idea/shape/form/color scheme/whatever that you like. How fucking stupid does that sound to you? Muchos, amigo. Until you accept and admit that you want to paint something in a way that you have already seen done (which most probably happens because it was done well and you liked it), you can't really analyze and understand WHAT it is you like about that idea and HOW you can push it further.
Remember, boys and girls, don't be a Dimwit.