Perfectionism is a double-edged sword for creative people. On the one hand, it can drive us to
produce work of the highest quality, but on the other hand, it can hinder our creative skills and stifle our ability to produce authentic and original pieces. The pressure to achieve perfection can be overwhelming and can lead to creative paralysis, where the fear of making a mistake or not meeting our impossibly high standards prevents us from moving forward with our work.
I can relate to this struggle personally, as I have spent countless hours meticulously trying to line up elements of my designs, only to have them shift as I work on them. This frustration often leads me to discard the project entirely, throwing it into my scrap pot in a moment of anger. Its only when I revisit it later that I realise I actually love the organic, imperfect shapes that emerged from what I considered to be a failed attempt. Looking back at my initial hand drawn designs I can see the imperfections and can see that I still loved the designs but feel when I go to make the piece I need to make it perfect, even and aligned. Why? I can only think that this need for perfectionism has been drilled into me for so long that it has become a habit.
Years of education and the constant pressure to adhere to standards of perfection have deeply ingrained in my mind the idea that everything must be perfect and if its not, well you aren't trying hard enough. But where is the creativity in that? I draw inspiration from nature and organic shapes, yet I have been striving to achieve rigid, straight lines that go against the very essence of what I admire. It's often said that there are no straight lines in nature, so why do I insist on creating them in my work?
Perfectionism can rob us of the spontaneity and freedom that are essential to the creative process. By constantly striving for perfection, we risk losing touch with our intuition and the natural flow of creativity. It's important to recognise that imperfection and spontaneity are not only acceptable, but often essential to creating truly original and evocative work.
It's time to embrace the beauty of imperfection and allow our creativity to flourish without the suffocating pressure of perfectionism. By letting go of the need for everything to be flawless, we can open ourselves up to new ideas, unexpected outcomes, and a greater sense of freedom. After all, it's often the imperfections that give our work its unique charm and character.
My final thoughts as I write this... I might just go and get that ring I chucked in the scrap pot yesterday, as it might inspire me to create something beautiful today.
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