How Good is Good enough?

[Wendy]

I spent most of the day angry today - REALLY frustrated because I find digital painting to be SO difficult at times. Argh. I just can't figure certain things out (specifically light and color), even after three solid hours of intense work.

I've gone through doing digital paintings three times before and it ain't pretty. I get obsessed and angry through the entire process. I can't sleep, smile, on and on...it's seriously nuts. For weeks, sometimes months. Thank goodness I'm getting faster ;)

To make things worse, the best places for truly learning about this kind of painting is where the professionals hang out - like, the ones who do the digital animations for tv, movies and stuff. On one of the boards my paintings don't even get comments most of the time because I'm just not at the same level. There, I'm definitely an amateur. When I do get a comment my stuff gets pretty darn demolished. Even though it brings in excellent skills and advise... it's painful at times

Anyhow...

It occurred to me, as I stomped away from my computer, that maybe it would be okay to stop, take a breath and take a break for awhile. This is supposed to be fun, right? Recreational, spiritual - whatever- I'm pretty sure it's not meant to make me feel so angry and in distress. My poor Husband brought me some purple flowers just because he could see me sliding over to the dark side...

Then, I had the thought that maybe it was enough just to be...good "enough"...right where I am. Maybe I don't have to aim to compete with the world's best in the field without feeling like a digital failure. Also, a lot of these things I'm working on are meant to be part of an eventual mixed-media piece. It will be one element, rather than the entire thing, so maybe it just doesn't require the perfection I seem to be expecting of myself.

Know what? I'm not planning to be one of the top professionals in the computer arts field - I just want to get my ideas down in a compelling manner. But, is that really...okay?

Is it possible that good is good enough? Does that then become a compromise - or mess up the integrity of your art?

I
Wonder.

Hmm....

[Lotus L Vele]

What a great question you pose Wendy!

Okay, this is just coming from me, but we live in a world of instant gratification. We want it and we want it now! Sometimes this attitude creeps into our artwork too. I know it does for me! Sometimes I won't go to bed just 'cuz, "I know I'll get this thing finished in just another hour or so...."

In the "old" days, artists spent their entire life trying to perfect their art and usually, it was just one aspect of the many forms of art. Painting, I'm thinking specifically. For us, we have the most amazing access to different art forms at our fingertips! I see that you, like me, want to test your hand at everything-and be perfect at it!

Considering that you're still new to this art form, you need to give yourself a break and accept that you won't be perfect every time. Remember, some artists spend decades to reach the level of perfection! I think sometimes good is good enough. especially if you don't want to dedicate a lot of your time to it.

Personally, I think you did an amazing job! Are you willing to dedicate more time to just this? Also, if it makes you so angry, why would you want to?

I know I sound a bit scattered, but these are just some quick thoughts (it's the meds... ; ) ).
Lotus

[Wendy]

Hi Lotus - you bring up REALLY great points! You are right about taking (lots of) time to perfect one's art. I seem to feel like there is something wrong with me if I don't excel immediately.

It's a tough balance because, when learning new skills, frustration seems almost inevitably to happen at some point during the process. I think I just take it way too seriously and fear constant failure.

You are right, I don't want to be angry all the time, so I am really working to lighten up :)

I AM curious about if/how other artists deal with this - so, I'm so glad you shared your experiences!

[Dan Goodwin]

Excellent questions Wendy, and Lotus I love your replies.

Talking about instant gratification in particular, it's so true that's how our culture is going. I've been a writer all my life really, but the first time I really considered it an essentially part of me and my daily life was probably late teens going into early 20s. So 15ish years ago. I've written hundreds of poems and surely hundreds of thousands of words, but I'm still evolving. I still want to write different stuff, try new forms. This year I've written a lot of haikus, fifty word stories and six word stories, as well as more regular free flowing poems. I'm still trying to write the definitive devotional, romantic poem, and though I think I've got close and had a few glimpses, I'll still be trying in 5, 10, 20, 50 years time. I enjoy it, I don't tend to get frustrated with writing often, I just move on and write something else!

We so easily forget how much we progress, because we're with ourselves the whole time. We need a kind of objectivity that often comes from other people, to remind us how far we've come. For example 3 years ago I'd never danced a step of salsa. Now I teach it, and from the feedback I get, I'm pretty good at teaching it. We forget how much we continue to develop, day by day, so any ways we can review our progress and acknowledge our continual artistic growth are are great thing to have in place.

[jane]

i agree with everything lotus says.. again!

it also raises the question, think we have touched on elsewhere here, what IS perfection anyway? In some art forms, i can think of patchwork particularly, there is a belief that only (ones) God is perfect and therefore usually people who make a quilt always have one "odd" piece to demonstrate that belief

If you are mainly creating for your own edification and enjoyment - then getting angry is not a productive place to be and may topple you over into non-activity if you fear that there is no point going on because you believe you are not as "professional" as those other artists you admire. But do you need to be - you are you and your artwork is yours - not theirs!

The very best thing is that you are creating and daily - more than most of us do! So dont be hard on yourself - just let the journey unfold... xxx

[Wendy]

Ohhhh...I love the patchwork example....yeah...let the journey unfold. This group is definitely a part of THAT - I'm so glad you are here!

[DJ]

"Use the Force, Luke....!"

[Lotus L Vele]

lol...

[DJ]

OK, Wendy, on your next voodoo doll pic, you can put the initials "DJ" on its tummy. :-)
Just be thrilled that you even know how to go about beginning to draw with a computer. There are always others out there who will be more knowledgeable than you, and there will always be those with less knowledge than you. You're wonderful right where you are.

[Wendy]

:) Thank you, DJ. This is a wonderful way to think about the issue!

[Susan Hosken]

Wendy, I am a great believer that enough is enough just for today. Taking one day at a time and doing the best I can. I am trying to learn not to compare myself to other people. My art is so childlike and naive and I have very talented friends and I just try not to compare. I am on my journey and they are on theirs. Just do your best Wendy. That is all any of us can do. Enough is enough.
lots of love from susan in australia

[Wendy]

Susan, you are right - comparing ourselves to others is a big trap that I often allow myself to slip into! Smiles...

[Chris Dunmire]

Wendy,

Wherever you are is always good enough for that moment. All of life is a process, and expressions of creativity, even when learning and practicing are a process of self-discovery and growth.

Sometimes we push ourselves hard, to exhaustion and frustration, when really we can simply allow compassion and appreciation for our efforts as they stand at that moment. Later, perhaps after resting the mind and body, we can come back fresh and energized ready to continue.

Why not try subtracting the competition in your mind and seeing where your creative desires lead you. Is it really digital design? If so, embrace the meaning it gives you. The spiritual, the recreational... when it becomes heavy and frustrating, that's you needing a break and a breath of fresh air. If competition is creeping in, it's not you doing it for you anymore, which will induce that never-ending cycle of comparison and criticizing and thinking you're a failure. Which you never, ever are if you focus on the joy that being creative at any level gives you.

Chris