So what happens when we discard the idea of perfection?
This piece is (ahem) a perfect example. It began is imperfect as a piece can be - the very board itself is a piece of salvaged lumber, discarded at a metal shop. It was already painted (light teal exterior paint), scraped, grooved and rough. By starting with something discarded and hugely distressed, each layer I added to it just made it better. None of the angst of beginning with a pure, white canvas and judging each subsequent mark and brushstroke. There was NO WAY this painting could ever be pristine and perfect. I embraced its rough imperfection by adding even more texture (dimensional grounds) and using a spackle knife to carve back into the layers of paint. And it got better and better. It is now the best that it can be. Which isn't perfect at all. But it makes me smile every time I walk past and get a glimpse of it on the easel. Now, if I can just look at each day this way - rough and discarded, ready to be improved and made better, not made perfect. Hmmmmm.
6 Comments
Carl Stoveland
4/25/2019 05:21:07 pm
Absolutely true. I often heard the phrase perfection is the enemy of good or something like that... anyway when I loosened my grip just a bit and enjoyed the moment instead of analyzing what was still wrong about it life got immeasurably better.
jen
4/25/2019 05:23:15 pm
Oh! I will write that one down! The "perfect" way to describe it. :) And thank you!!!! I love that word - "gobsmacked". Makes me grin!!!!! This piece was pure freedom to create. I am going to be salvaging more ugly wood! 4/25/2019 06:21:58 pm
Jen! That roll-over enlargement feature at your website gave me the PERFECT way to get up close and personal with every rough salvaged discarded scraped grooved rough distressed textured nook and cranny of this piece. Love every little bit of it.
jen
4/25/2019 07:08:33 pm
Dotty! Thank you for taking a closer look! It is one rough beauty! Starting with something super scraped up helped me embrace adding TONS of texture. It was exhilarating! 4/26/2019 01:59:08 am
Your post has lifted up my spirit. Feeling so distracted. overwhelmed, and at ends, mostly with myself. Sorry for the rant! Maybe the long drawn out holidays that seem to go on forever. Love roaming around your landscape finding new and interesting spots to linger. Always view on your site to get a bigger view. Yes we have to embrace imperfections in our work and in ourselves,Wabi Sabi "nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect"
jen
4/26/2019 09:56:38 am
Carol! I'm glad the post helped in any way at all. :) Sometimes our kindred spirits connect across the many miles and provide a little balm for the artist's soul, which is sensitive and easily overwhelmed. Big hugs to you!!! Leave a Reply. |
AuthorLola Jovan 
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