Imperfections and Mistakes can improve your Art Pieces

Making mistakes is a human nature and an essential element in art making. We are continually trapped in the mindset that we need to strive for perfection. In all honestly, how many pieces of art are perfectly designed? That is after all how we get better, right? Striving to be perfect? Wrong!

What defines an artwork as perfect? There is no definite reference point for perfection. What one critic might describe as perfect, another might criticize for being “too this” or “too that”. We can all have different opinions on the same artwork, but there is no measurable standard to rank for perfection.

Looking at a variety of elements of an artwork can be used to measure certain aspects of it, such as composition, color-use, techniques and materials used, the overall size and weight, and length of time spent creating the work. There really is no concrete measure of perfection because art is imperfect at its best.

Imperfection is Intriguing 

No one really wants perfect in any sphere, whether it is sport, art or anything else. As humans, we crave the unexpected events, we thrive on surprises and enjoy a little tension from time to time. We strive for it; however, we don’t really want perfection in every aspect of life.

If the perfect art piece existed, would anyone actually like it? Imperfect draw art makes us feel alive and gives the piece more authenticity. Different elements create different feelings, so if your work misses the mark of what you tried to perfect, it will still communicate a message in its imperfection.

As much as we think we need to be perfect, we never can be as humans. Imperfection is more relatable than perfection. In creating art, never expect perfection. It’s in the imperfections that true creativity shines. Mistakes bring artwork to life and can direct you to new, more creative ideas.

Mistakes Open New Doors

When comparing two groups of ceramics students, a teach discovered that a group assessed based on the quantity of their work produced better, more thoughtful pieces than a group being assessed on the quality of a single, final piece. This shows that when we are given the opportunity to make mistakes, we find ways that don’t work and have the option to find new ways that continually improve on an original concept.

When your mind is confined to a single idea and focused on improving and ‘perfecting’ that idea, creativity suffers. However, given the chance to explore new and improved ideas with new iterations of the same project can help to achieve a most perfect outcome of what you imagined.

As in artmaking, making mistakes and imperfection are both common to the process of creating artworks. If you view mistakes as clues that lead you to what doesn’t work and what might work, you will have a more enjoyable creative journey to your final artwork. Experimenting encourages you to keep learning and moving along the creative path to success.

Perfection is an unattainable goal, but each piece you create is another step along your creative journey.