Just the Way You Art

About this time last year I posted about "The Picasso Solution" where I mentioned that I am privileged to teach art to small-ish and middle-sized people, while at the same time developing incredibly tolerance for mess not of my own making as well as employing my own creativity in developing strategies for encouraging the small people to clean it up.  I also get to enjoy the zingers of wisdom  young artists present beautifully and matter-of-factly. Simple statements of  the obvious, that grown-ups have forgotten they knew.

 Last week, during one of our growth mindset discussions, one of the nine-year-olds confidently informed her peers that "Art is just art. It isn't good art or bad art, it doesn't matter who else thinks something is pretty or ugly, because art is just art, and you should just enjoy making art just the way you art." There was (rare!) silence while the class pondered this and I thought"OK then, my work here is done!" I could have wandered up to the staff room for a quick cuppa and left the class in Miss Nine's capable  hands, but, you know, legalities. So I hung out and watched the way they art. Wish I could share Miss Nine's art here, but again....legalities. It's awesome though. Absolutely, perfectly imperfect. 

(Which brings us to my current soapbox topic - perfectionism. Don't engage in it. Just don't. It stifles creativity, stresses you out, makes you feel ill, encourages you to engage in unhelpful and unrealistic comparisons,  and prevents  you from fully enjoying your preferred creative pursuits and your wild and wonderful life . It so often stems from fear and stops you getting started.  (I'm sorry, Perfectionist Readers, I know you're out there, clutching your  (metaphorical) perfect pearls. ​I know this is scary for you. Not suggesting  lowering standards to the extent of living in chaos, getting fired, or ignoring responibilities. Just gently suggesting that you spend your energy wisely.  Prioritise.  I know "spoonies" who get it,  without having much choice in the matter, but it's not just a mantra for those  diagnosed with chronic unwellness or ongoing impacts on ability.  

"Hang on, you call yourself an educator and you're opposed to high standards!  What's wrong with high standards?"  Not a thing.  But high standards and perfectionism aren't the same thing. Perfectionism may seem like a noble goal, but  there's that fear element, which inhibits rather than encourages us, and anyway, it's a myth, in artistic and creative terms . There’s always something more you could tweak, a line you could redirect, a brushstroke you could smooth. Michelangelo got it. He said "ancora imparo" (I still learn) . Growth mindset pioneer, right there. He recognised he had more to learn and went on with it, didn't let fear of failure, fear of judgement, fear of not being good enough hold him back. "But we're not all Michelangelo!" I hear the chorus ring out. Look,  we're all creative beings and we all have a muscle between our ears that benefits from creative exercise, just like other muscles benefit from a brisk walk or a gym session.  (Note to self: brisk walk this morning before it gets too hot! ) 

8/100, The 100 Day Project, 2025. Seeking balance. If I draw it, it will come.

In the spirit of accepting imperfection, I'm currently participating in The 100 Day Project and posting (almost daily - oops, I don't have a perfect record) to Instagram. Give it a go? It's not too late and anyway, you can make your own "rules".  I usually set a timer (life is busy!) and I post my little balance-themed experiments regardless of how good, bad, rushed, silly or simple they seem. Keeping it real and just having fun with it. resting my brain from the challenges of the day with a different type of challenge.  Lifelong learning is a good thing (as Michelangelo told us) but we need to release the classroom mindset  and embrace the playground instead.  Instead of letting perfectionism steal the joy, instead of stressing over whether your art is “good enough,” focus on the fun in the process, expression, growth, and enjoying the ride.  As I do in My Left-Handed Sketchbook​

Be as kind to yourself as you would to others. Just the way you art is actually perfect.  

​How do you exercise your creative brain? Are you a "recovering perfectionist"? Want to have a chat about it in the comments?​