Hi everyone. My name is Erin and I am a perfectionist (Hi Eriiiiiin). Initially this might sound like an advantage for an artist. It pushes me to do good work and to push to get a great final result sometimes. But knowing when to push and pull, and where to let things take their own direction is something I am learning to be key.

I do find too, that when I go in with a specific idea with a lot of detail rolling in my head, I will get discouraged and stop when things aren’t going right. Sometimes it is a hard stop. So, trying to get past that is a challenge too.

When I heard the title quote from Taika Waititi at MAX, in response to how he stays creative, it sang out to me because it was something that I was coming to realize in my own art. Going in with a general idea has allowed me to develop my favourite pieces, especially when I let the piece do its thing.

“React to the art as it is happening.”

Oliver Jeffers

I have told people this in the past, and I am frequently met with frustration. “Oh, that just showed up in your sketchbook, eh?” To a degree… yes! When it comes to a lot of my sketches, I will go in with a certain idea, but the lines start to look like something else, or the layout looks different on paper from what I was picturing in my head. I could erase everything and start over (see my post on erasing, don’t do it!), or I could explore what I see shaping up on the surface. In the sketch up top, that’s exactly what happened. I set out to draw a lady, lying on her bed or on the floor, resting, surrounded by hobbies, books, snacks, and just relaxing. When I started to draw out her hair, some of the lines really looked like the shape of fish. The more I looked at it, the less I could ignore it, so I tried it. The end product gave me more of a relaxed feel than I was getting from my original idea, and I am pretty happy with the result.

“Be in the moment. Respond to it. Let the ‘being’ flow to whatever result.”

Naomie Harris

Working in this way, I am finding, really takes the pressure off. I am not going in trying to get the perfect final result, I am going in with an idea, seeing what the lines, tools, and feeling have for me at the end. This also opens the door for experimentation and trying something new. All of that learning will help you to see what you’re capable of during the next experiment. Going in with too much of a plan has the potential to limit what you and your art are capable of, or willing to try, with any particular piece.

This does not apply to just art either. This is the Creativity Series, we all have it remember? I think that this mentality could really help with a lot of new year’s resolutions people have. For example, instead of saying “I will run 10K everyday, and lose 32.45lbs before the end of the year”. Maybe try something like, “I’d like to incorporate a workout into my day, everyday, with the goal of losing some weight.” This way you are not roping yourself into a plan that, if you’re like me and have very little love for running, will grow tired, FAST. By going in with a less detailed plan, you have taken some of the pressure off, allowing yourself to try some different workouts that you might like better, such as dance or swimming. This could make the process a lot more enjoyable and less of a chore. That’s just one example, you can really apply this to so many things.

Now, obviously this one doesn’t work everywhere. I’d prefer that my surgeon have a pretty solid plan A-Z when it comes to surgery, or the architect of my building really plan out the structure so we don’t fall over. Things like that. But in the parts of the world where there is a little wiggle room, give it to yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much lighter you feel, and what you can accomplish when you trust yourself.

I’m going to stop myself here, I could go on and on about this all day. If I give you too many examples to use, or “rules” to follow, I would be defeating the entire purpose of this post. So go try it! It’s a new year, the possibilities are endless.