Don't Be Afraid! Try again!
Don't be afraid to try!I recently started making a couple silly videos for the studio. While I was editing and re-watching them, I'd always find something else I wanted to change or improve upon, but at some point, I just had to stop and publish it. I realized I could always just incorporate that update in a different way in a future video. I'll always keep learning, like I do with everything in life: painting, being a mom, improving my relationships, getting better at my job, cooking, working out, etc.
When I was younger, I was always terrified to try doing something because I was afraid it wouldn't turn out the way I envisioned. Countless times, I proved this to myself by painting or drawing something or writing something and it never ending up being exactly what I wanted. I was some level of devastated each time.
As I've gotten older, I realized, especially when applying for jobs (and even internet dating), that every application doesn't have to be perfect. Just set a goal of getting something out there, maybe once a day, maybe once a week, just as long as you keep trying and keep improving each time. Eventually something will stick. You'll get that interview. You'll find that job. You'll find that special someone. You'll paint something that you'll love. You just can't get attached too much to something that's obviously not going to work out.
Now I don't worry about "wasting" an idea because I know trying to implement it will just lead to something better, some improvement in the future. I can always try again.
In many of our past in-studio painting classes, I watch people try to paint for the first time, or maybe they're still beginners, but they're perfectionists. They have a specific idea of how they want their painting to turn out and, every once in a while, they're so disappointed they couldn't create what was in their minds that they don't even want to take their canvas home. It breaks my heart. Coming to Pinot's Palette is about relaxing and doing something that makes you feel good. Don't be so hard on yourselves, perfectionists! You learned something, and your next painting will be so much better. Maybe you'll even come back to this painting and fix it the way you imagined some day! I can't even tell you how many paintings I've "fixed" in my life as studio owner and now "regular painter."
This all brings me to this image. I used to be afraid to paint random abstract things because I was afraid they wouldn't turn out the way I wanted. But, it's abstract! How could I possibly know what it was going to be? There's nothing to compare it to, no reference photo. Now I just enjoy finger painting and seeing the colors as they mix onto the page. My son has helped me with this - he loves just mixing all the paint together and making brown. Page after page of different shades of brown. He still enjoys it, and I love watching him. I painted this abstract finger painting this morning with washable tempera while he ate breakfast.
Let me leave you with this: when it comes to art and being creative, just let yourself be free. Don't worry about it being perfect. You will learn something every time, and the next one will always be better.