Practice might not always make perfect

ANDREEA BURLACU

The arts are a way to express yourself, flex your creativity, and improve your mood. However, perfectionism can turn imagination into intimidation. Perfectionists set very high standards and often criticize themselves when they don’t achieve them.

Many artists’ perfectionism leads to procrastination, while other people fear trying art at all. We’re often too hard on ourselves because there’s no such thing as “perfect”. It’s much more fun to give the arts a try and be free of expectations. Here are some ways to overcome perfectionism and make practicing art your new favourite hobby.

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1) Find an art form you enjoy

When we think of art, we often think of painting and drawing. However, visual arts also include photography, collaging, scrapbooking, sculpting, and filmmaking. There are many other forms of creativity, such as singing, writing stories or poems, acting, dancing, knitting, playing an instrument, cooking, or even decorating a cake. You might not love one type of art, which is okay! Try a variety of different art forms to see which ones are the best outlet for you.

2) Think of yourself as an artist

It’s easy to dismiss ourselves as artists when others seem to have more artistic skills. Yet, everyone is creative. Your ideas are special, and you are as much of an artist as anyone else. Once you value your own creativity, it’s easier to get started on your art without comparing it to others. 3) Let go of your expectations

When starting your art, remember art is subjective and it’s okay if it isn’t flawless. Even Albert Einstein said, “You have to color outside the lines once in a while.” There doesn’t need to be a greater meaning behind your work - you can create for fun, make something messy, or just express how you’re feeling. Whatever you come up with is beautiful because it represents yourself when you made it. No one else has the same vision as you.

4) Try things out and make mistakes

The best way to develop skills and techniques is through trial and error. If you want to improve in the arts, you have to practice by trying new things. Take a class, join an artistic community, and explore new ideas without the fear of failure or judgement. Your pieces may not always work out how you expected, but you’ll learn valuable skills in the process that could make your next piece even better.

5) Remember art is supposed to be fun

If your art piece is becoming stressful, put it down. Often, you’ll have better ideas and more motivation after taking some time to relax. Try self-care such as going for a walk, talking to a friend, or taking a nap. Stepping away from my art lets you stop focusing on what’s “wrong” with it and get excited to work on it again.

It's important to strive for balance in our lives rather than perfection. The arts are a great way to relax, but perfectionism can turn art into stress and worry. Fear of judgement and inadequacy are felt by even the best painters, actors, and singers. However, they persevere and create wonders.

Your art can be as simple as a macaroni necklace or as complex as the Dance of the Swans – either way it is still a masterpiece.