Embrace Imperfection
The Art Within Journey Month 2
Mistakes can be debilitating. It does not matter if you are a seasoned creative or a newbie, mistakes can stop you in your tracks! If we are not careful, we allow these perceived imperfections to color our experience. It is imperative that we learn to release the desire for perfection and make way for the “happy accidents", as Bob Ross might say.
When I was a younger artist, I allowed my creative mistakes to frustrate me to the point of giving up on many occasions. As I have matured in my practice, I have learned to embrace them. Some of my favorite works of art began as complete accidents! These “mistakes” or “imperfections” breathe life in to my art. Our mistakes are our greatest teachers. Our imperfections are what make us beautiful individuals.
Read all the way to the bottom for some special offers!
How do we practice embracing imperfections in our art?
Play: Give yourself permission to play and explore with your art supplies, regardless of the outcome. Make a mess!
Process Art: The process of creating is where the magic happens. Practice releasing the idea of a finished piece of art. Let go of the idea that your art should look a certain way. Spend time observing and noticing as you create. What does it feel like? Tune into your senses. Process art is accessible to anyone at any skill level!
Intuitive Art: Practice allowing yourself to feel into what you are creating. Let your marks respond to the previous marks made. Stuck? Start by closing your eyes to make the first mark. Creating intuitively can help you connect more fully with yourself. It can help you process your own thoughts and feelings, not to mention it is a very relaxing way to create.
Release Expectations: Practice letting go. If you can learn to release expectations and just allow yourself to be present in the moment of creating, then you have discovered the secret to finding joy through creating art. We tend to feel frustration when expectations are not met. There is no rule that the art you create has to look any certain way.
Release Judgement: Follow your curiosity and let your imagination lead your way. This is time to explore. The stakes are very low. What happens if you don’t like what you create? Absolutely nothing! Allow space to make ugly art. This is your time to grow, to try, to evolve.
Here is a little video prompt I made a few years ago:
The idea of this prompt is to use the tools listed above to allow yourself to simply be in the moment as you are creating. I would love to hear about your experience. Hit reply to this email or comment over on Substack!
Why should I embrace imperfection in my art?
You may be thinking to yourself that it is all well and good to make messy, ugly art, but what you really want to do is grow as an artist and make art that you are proud to show off. I absolutely get that. I feel that way too.
What I have learned over the years is that to truly grow as an artist I needed to first learn to let go. This process is a great place to start. Once you learn to embody this mindset, you carry it with you. As ideas spark, your curiosity leads you to go a bit deeper. You may become interested in a technique you have been playing with and now you are ready to dive in. Your practice, learning to release judgements and expectations, allows you to be a beginner. You are no longer afraid of doing it wrong. You can push past the blocks that perfectionism places in your path. You grow as an artist, but you also grow as a person. You are more confident. You are learning to embrace your inner creativity without constraints.
Surprise
We are extending the Galentines FREE Art Resources Offer 1 more week!
As of Sunday afternoon, Our little Galentines Art Collaboration has seen over 2600 views—the response has been incredible! It felt wrong to close the doors while so many people are still diving in, discovering new artists, and grabbing the resources that speak to them… so we’re keeping it open for one more week.
11 Participating Artists. 11 FREE Art Resources!
If you haven’t had a chance to explore yet, this is your window. Take your time, cherry-pick what you love, and remember: once you sign up for a resource, it’s yours for life.
The Art Within Journey
If you are new to my email list, you may not know about the Art Within Journey. This is a FREE year long resource that I created to help guide you in beginning a creative self-care practice. This journey is designed for you to move through at your own pace. You can access the full journey HERE. Each month focuses on a different theme or topic. As you may have guessed, this month’s theme is embracing imperfection. I began working through the journey here on Substack in January with a post called The Art Within Journey: Starting Your Practice. My posts are all available free for 3 months before they archive behind a paywall if you ever want to go back and revisit. My full archive is available for paid subscribers.
I also created an optional journal that supports this journey. It is available on Amazon. You will often see me working in my copy or posting about it on Instagram. Check it out and pick up your own copy if it feels supportive to you. It is not dated so you can begin using it at any point in the year.
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