Let Go of Perfectionism

Perfectionism. You know, that voice that whispers in your ear, “This isn’t good enough,” or “People won’t get it unless it’s flawless.” Well that voice is a liar. And you know what? It’s time to give that liar some Ratsak flavoured ice cream.

I’m sorry to say that you’ll never reach some magical state of “perfect” in your art. What does perfect even look like, anyway? A neatly framed painting hanging in a gallery somewhere? A drawing with every line precisely where it “should” be? The truth is, the more you chase perfection, the more you suffocate your creativity. And let’s be honest: being an artist is already enough of a rollercoaster without you adding your own roadblocks.

So here’s a revolutionary idea: Let. It. Go. Yep, let’s Elsa the situation and drop the whole “flawless execution” thing. Instead, let’s go for raw, messy, and maybe even a bit… strange. You’re always trying to fit your work into some imaginary box of what “art” should be. It’s time to fill that box with petrol and drop a match in it.

Make stuff that feels odd. Do something that makes you think, “Is this even art?” Spoiler: it absolutely is. When you stop caring if your work is picture-perfect, that’s when the real magic happens. I mean, remember that time you were sketching flying fish in your car, between mowing jobs, and then suddenly—BAM—it became part of the “Uncommon Animals of the Alphabet” series? Would that have happened if i was sweating over weather I thought it’d amount to anything? Not a chance.

Perfectionism is the creativity killer. It’s like putting a chokehold on your inspiration and saying, “Sorry, we’re closed today.” But when you let go of that obsession with things being just right, you actually open up space for risk-taking. And let’s face it, you’ve always been better when you’re experimenting. Plus, who are we kidding? Some of your best work has come from happy accidents.

The goal isn’t perfection; the goal is authenticity. So, let’s drop the illusion that we’re ever going to produce something without flaws and instead make stuff that’s real, personal, and maybe even a bit weird. Because at the end of the day, it’s that weirdness that makes your work worth remembering.