Don't Be Afraid to Make Ugly Art
Don’t be afraid to be creative, to see “what if”
One of the barriers to creativity people have when they want to start a new creative activity is that whatever they make will be ugly. Well, that’s a distinct possibility, and it’s nothing to be afraid of. The thing that we’re letting get in the way of our creativity is an illusion of perfection, which is getting in the way of our progress.
When we recognize that fear and let ourselves see what happens, we will progress in our creativity. We will explore different techniques, find ones that work for us and more importantly ones that don’t. We can see where we want to put our efforts, and where we can make a difference.
For example, I’ve spoken of it before, but I took pottery classes for 16 years, and really enjoyed going to them, spending time with the community there and trying out different techniques. But I didn’t progress as much as some of the others I went to class with. I was comparing my progress with theirs, and felt like I wasn’t getting to where I should be. What I wasn’t doing was comparing my progress to where I had started and what I had accomplished. Putting in the extra practice time wasn’t as important to me as spending time with my husband; I was also working a full-time job and going to university part-time, so this was my creative outlet in the margins of life. When I took my focus off of what others were doing, I was able to enjoy what I did do a lot more.
Try! See what happens
You’re never going to know if you’re good at or if you like something unless you try it. I know that sounds silly, but it’s true. Okay maybe it doesn’t sound silly; it’s something we’ve heard from the time we were kids and our family would be encouraging us to either try a new sport or even a different vegetable. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn’t. But at least we would expand our horizons if we were brave and took that step. Who knows where creativity can lead us?
Start by making a lot of “ugly” art then see what you can do with it
So back to the problem of “ugly” art. Is it really a problem? Painters solved that problem by simply painting over canvases that didn’t turn out the way they liked. It’s harder for watercolour artists, because you can only layer those papers so much before it turns to mud. But you could cut the larger papers up into smaller sections and voila! Bookmarks or gift tags. When you see a smaller section of a larger paper, you have a nice abstract piece of art. What was an “ugly” picture of a duck that came out shaped like a horse is now a multitude of gift tags that look like custom abstract art you can use on presents for your family and friends. (No one needs to know what you started with, but for kicks you could keep a before and after picture)
See what beautiful art comes from the “ugly” art you started with
What happens when you continue practicing is the “ugly” art you start with will become more beautiful and refined. You’ll learn how to mix the paints, hold the brushes, or play the notes better. Then you’ll have something beautiful to work with. You’ll be able to play songs you wanted to learn, or paint pictures as you see them. You’ll be able to make that teapot you always wanted to design, or make that birdhouse (that actually looks like a birdhouse this time!) There’s no limit to what you can do with your creativity if you allow yourself to try.
We’re not all working towards becoming professional artists, but exploring our creativity, and immersing ourselves in the creative process, which will surround us with joy. Not everything will be easy, and we will experience frustration, but the benefits we receive from it will far outweigh the frustrations.
Share your beauty with the world
Give it a try; share your beauty with the world! Let your light shine, to brighten the lives of other people, not only to light your own path.
If you want more inspiration, check out these resources:
Free 5 Day Creativity Workbook
21 Day Creativity Journal - Joy
Yes! I Am Creative! 6 Keys to Creativity for anyone who thinks “I’m Not Creative”