2/7/2018 0 Comments Why Perfection is Toxic to Art
Perfectionism is paralyzing.Perhaps you know the feeling. Your idea is beautiful, magnificent, heart wrenching – but as soon as you begin, you realize that it is far from the shining, gleaming piece you’ve imagined it to be. So you set it off to the side, framed and placed on a pedestal, gleaming in the light of your mind. But the truth is, you will never touch that idea, never share it with others because if you do, it will become imperfect. What’s an idea worth if it’s never shared? What's an artist worth if he never creates? If we are paralyzed by our fear of imperfection, we will no longer be creators at all. What’s more is – we will only become better artists if we make art. Your skills will never improve if they are not in your hands. Perfection doesn't exist in art.Do you truly think that Michelangelo got out of bed every morning saying, “Time to make the best art in the world! Oh, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? No biggie at all!”? What artist says that? The professional artists of our day may not say it directly, but if you’re part of any art community, you’ll meet artists who are in the same boat as you – never perfect. If you don’t believe me, look no further than Claude Monet, who destroyed almost 60 canvases at the end of his life, or Georges Bizet, who was greatly discouraged and may have died partly because Carmen was originally loathed by audiences. Not only is perfection elusive, it’s also subject to the viewer. Today, Monet’s peaceful paintings mesmerize many viewers, and Carmen’s music has probably given you an earworm or two. We may not be perfect artists, but we will be much happier artists if we keep a realistic view of our work. THere will always be more work.I always keep this one thing in mind, and it helps me immensely. I continue to tell myself that if this piece doesn't turn out perfectly, there will always be a next piece to create. There will always be pages in my sketchbook to fill. There will always be something to practice and improve on. If I ever thought that I could reach perfection in one piece of art, I may never create anything again.
So whatever you do as an artist - don't stop. Don't let perfectionism get in the way of what is good about your art. Take note of what you can improve on, and use it as fodder for your next piece. And most importantly: Enjoy what you create.
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Lily Calicois an aspiring composer, writer, artist and musician. Archives
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