Dreamland

So, I made a painting the other day. I woke up one day and was feeling creative, but was in search of an outlet so I ventured to the craft store and purchased a few canvases and some cheap supplies. I've never really painted much (excluding in childhood scribbling around) but it definitely made for a fun experience. It felt good to create something, and I'll definitely be doing it again soon.

Creation is important, even if you 'aren't good' at it, or if it doesn't turn out like you saw it in your head. If you only think about your ideas, you won't make anything at all. Art is an experience that connects you to your inner self and to the world around you and it's a chance to create something unique and new. So instead of measuring it as "good" or "bad" recognize that artistic expression, of any kind, is food for the soul and fuel for the spirit. It can be difficult, though, to let loose and produce art because I think fear lives inside us all, that unless we are so completely confident in what we're doing, there's a voice that advises us against it, because we so desperately don't want to be perceived as inferior, or not good enough, etc. We don't want others to find our artwork silly or as a waste of time, or in any negative light. This fear, however, which leads to a desire to produce "good" art, will not yield good product. Artistic expression is a journey and if your path is filled with urgency and frustration, your product will likely reflect it. Instead, make your journey filled with joy and find joy in the process. It is through practice of your trade, through patience with yourself and with your product, and through enjoyment of what you're doing that you'll improve, rather than the urgent desire to produce something that would be deemed 'good'. 

Take, for example, my poetry. I write a lot and I write fairly often, most of which no one will ever read. I'll scribble on papers that get lost in the shuffle of daily life, or I'll type it out somewhere on my computer and save it somewhere in a folder I won't remember where it was at, or yet, forget to save it, or I'll type it out on my cell phone in the notepad. I write just to get the words out, and often times I'll write an entire page of poetry to only come out of it with 1-2 usable lines. I wasn't always able to write so freely, however. I used to struggle because I wanted so desperately to make every word count, to put something beautiful and emotionally charged on every page I touched. I put undue pressure on myself to be 'good' that I made it almost impossible to improve because, in order to improve, you must make mistakes. In order to fulfill your full potential and make something truly incredible, you have to start out by making something that might suck. 

And even if you never move past the point of "sucking", even if your art is never showcased in magazines or museums, or people aren't lining up to buy copies, it's okay because you enjoyed doing it. You brought joy to your life through the experience of creating something. Honestly I sometimes find more passion in people who create "bad" art than those who create the "good" because if your art goes relatively under the radar, if people aren't gushing over it and lining up to get a glimpse, what other reason is left to create other than the sheer enjoyment you get from the process? 

So go out and make some bad art. Write a poem that doesn't flow, or draw a portrait that doesn't look quite like the person you intended. Or maybe you're good at art, regardless. Go out and make something. Risk making something terrible, not for the chance at making something good but for the sheer process of creation. 
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PURCHASE PRINTS OF THE PAINTING FEATURED IN THIS POST!!

Click HERE to be taken to my Etsy shop where you can purchase art prints or canvas prints of the painting featured in this post.

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Discussion Questions:

1. Do you enjoy any creative activities, such as painting, drawing, writing, dance, etc? Do you find these activities improve your quality of life and bring you happiness?
2. Are you 'good' at any of  the creative activities you enjoy? Do you think you enjoy them because you are 'good'? Are you 'bad' at any of the activities you enjoy?
3. Do you ever feel yourself being insecure about the things you create, or being afraid that you might 'suck' at something? When is a time in your life this has really held you back from an experience? What might you be able to do to change it? 
4. What do you think can be done as individuals and as a society to change the mentality that the only art that is 'real art' or 'worth anything' is art that is deemed 'good'?
5.  If you want, post a photo of your artwork, a link to a video of you performing, a copy of your writing, etc in the comments and share!