Process Over Perfection

I enjoy painting, probably for the same reason I like to write. I love looking at a blank canvas or page and having a picture form in my mind as to what could fill it. And then I like attempting to transfer that picture from my mind to the blank whiteness in front of me.

Spoiler alert: Rarely does anything transfer in an exact replica.

Things change. Sometimes because I decide midway through that something else would actually work better. Sometimes it’s just a failure of execution (particularly when it comes to painting). Either way, what fills the blankness is something new. And seeing what it is can be as fun as having that initial idea.

So, today I share with you one of my whimsical attempts at artwork. It will never be hung in any museum, but I had fun creating it and it makes me smile whenever I look at it. And, at least for me, those are the first two requirements in any creative pursuit.

 

Things you can learn about me from this painting: 

-          I don’t know how to paint (or draw) faces or hands.

-          It doesn’t matter what the medium, books are always a must. If you feel the same way, go check out the artwork here for some (mildly) more professional renderings of people and their books.

Wishing you luck with whatever you choose to create this week! Whether you're participating in NaNoWriMo, trying to finish up a slide deck for an important presentation, working on a new recipe, or attempting to put together the perfect outfit for that meeting on Wednesday, odds are your final product is going to be different than how you envisioned it. But odds are, still pretty awesome. So, forget about perfection and just enjoy the process. It's a lot more fun.