Why Perfectionism Is Killing Your Art (And How to Fix It)

Is perfectionism killing your artistic growth? Instead of trying to make each painting perfect, focus on gaining territory, making work that’s heading in the right direction, even if it’s not quite there yet. Your artistic journey isn’t about one perfect painting; it’s about the sequence of work over your lifetime. Pat yourself on the back for trying something new and different, because that’s where real growth happens. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s making art that excites you

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The Real Problem with Perfectionism in Art

You know that feeling when you’re staring at your painting, and it’s just not perfect?

Everything’s gotta be just right. Then we beat ourselves up when it isn’t. And then we can’t finish anything because we’re waiting for it to be flawless.

I get it. I really do.

During ArtSpark last week, perfectionism came up again and again in the chat. So many of you mentioned this challenge, how the need to make everything perfect creates paralysis. How it stops you from finishing anything.

What Perfectionism Really Costs You

Here’s what I’ve noticed in my own studio practice. We never get it perfect. Ever. But we keep trying anyway, and we beat ourselves up if it isn’t exactly right.

We want our art to be something we absolutely love. We try so hard to get there that we can’t finish anything because it has to be perfect first.

But it can’t be perfect, right?

A Different Way to Think About Progress

The way I’ve learned to think about this has completely changed my relationship with my work.

I pat myself on the back if I’ve done something different in my work. That’s it. Just something different.

Because here’s what I know: I can make art that people will love and I can sell it. Like that comes pretty quick. But making art that I’m genuinely excited about? That’s the more challenging part. That’s what we’re really after when we chase perfection.

 

Gaining Territory vs. Getting It Perfect

Look around my studio and you’ll see work from a few years ago. A lot of it’s not that great. But I was trying so hard, and that’s fine.

What matters is whether you’ve gained some territory. Can you look at your work and say, “This is further along, this is heading in the right direction, this is more than I’ve done before”?

If you can finish it and get it so it feels pretty good—even if it’s not perfect—that’s a win.

That’s actually perfect.

The Journey IS the Art

Art making is not one painting. It’s the sequence. It’s the sequence of your life.

The journey is what you’re trying to perfect. And that journey comes from small steps, half steps, even two steps back. It includes paintings that are amazing—those couple that everyone wants—and then a bunch of paintings that kind of sit around.

I have paintings in my studio that were returned to me. We need all of them. They’re all part of the journey.

Finding Joy in the Process

You’re never going to arrive at perfect. And that’s actually freeing when you really understand it.

What you want is to enjoy and relax and have fun in the process. Beating yourself up and trying to make everything perfect is just going to wreck the experience.

We’re heading into an amazing art season this winter. I hope you have more clarity about where you’re going and you’re more fired up than ever before.

Because when you let go of perfectionism and focus on the journey, that’s when the real magic happens.

How do you handle perfectionism in your own art practice? Leave a comment below and let’s talk about this together.