As most of you already know, the lessons learned, the principles at play in the making of Art almost seamlessly transfer to Life. I find that when I am feeling less sure of myself, my art feels somewhat the same. I also see parallels in the business side of making Art. Clarity, intention and passion translate not just into strong Art but also into building a new business, an idea or basically any new venture we desire.
Creatives involved in the highly unconventional practice of making something highly personal and then sharing it with the world are not only artists, but are also entrepreneurs. There is a tremendous amount of outside the box thinking, risk and sheer determination needed not just in creating our Art but also sending it out into the world.
In Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler’s new book “Bold” they illuminate the common mindsets of entrepreneurs and creatives who are engaged in building groundbreaking businesses, products or ideas.
It got me to thinking. What can we learn from those who build gigantic revolutionary ideas and business that we can then apply to our own creative ventures?
It turns out, one of the most powerful principles that all the entrepreneurs and creatives in the book share – be it Richard Branson, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, the CEO and co founder of Tesla and Pay Pal – has to do with making mistakes.
[Tweet ““Fail early, fail often, fail forward.” – Dominic Basulto“]
Always swimming against conventional thinking, they have come to the realization that success comes not in spite of wrong turns but because of wrong turns. Mistakes are an integral part of success. I too see this every single day in my process of making Art, but hadn’t thought of it exactly this same way.
The book “Bold” offers that it is just not the simple idea of accepting mistakes as part of our process, but going even further to realize that the more mistakes, and the rate of mistakes do, in a direct way, determine the likelihood, degree and pace at which success is achieved.
“Fail early, fail often, fail forward.” Summarizes this beautifully. “Real progress requires trying out tons of ideas, decreasing the lag time between trials and increasing the knowledge gained from results,” is also utterly relevant to the practice of making Art. It is also one of the enabling concepts used by those involved in bold, passionate ventures. And in my opinion, this includes Artists.
This specific thinking, this approach in the entrepreneurial, start up, world changing idea realm is known as rapid iteration. The more I think about this idea, the more I see its relevance for the artist/entrepreneur. In my experience and practice, when I have managed to become more confident, more curious to make more and more mistakes, the stronger and not surprisingly the quicker my Art has developed. I didn’t know there was a name for it.
Regardless of whatever stage your practice or career is presently in I think this is a good reminder for artists to remember the hidden benefits all cued up, all just waiting in our upcoming mistakes. Maybe instead of just tolerating or accepting them, we start making more. And maybe we start making them quicker.
And then, because of this heightened rate of learning, authenticity and resulting clarity, our Art will shift, surely and boldly, forward.
What has your experience been with mistakes in your art practice?
In gratitude, Nicholas
10 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
well I could call a lot of half baked work in my rack mistakes…but I like your approach and will just consider them “in progress”. Rich territory..those mistakes….you never know what or where they will lead you . My tendency, when things dont go well,…is to start another instead….leads to a lot of those half baked works! Perseverence furthers…according to the iChing…so will I! Time to go work on them right now!!
I just heard I am getting back about 4 unsold paintings from an old gallery–these too will become new re worked better works…
well I could call a lot of half baked work in my rack mistakes…but I like your approach and will just consider them “in progress”. Rich territory..those mistakes….you never know what or where they will lead you . My tendency, when things dont go well,…is to start another instead….leads to a lot of those half baked works! Perseverence furthers…according to the iChing…so will I! Time to go work on them right now!!
I just heard I am getting back about 4 unsold paintings from an old gallery–these too will become new re worked better works…
I think that there may be several categories by which mistake fall into. One type of mistake I see myself make is when I am drawing a bird I that flew by that I have to not let others influence what I saw. For example, I recently saw a large black bird flying back and forth over a gorge, and I drew it as I saw it, then later changed the bill to be more vulture-like after someone insisted it was a vulture. Later, I figured out it was a Raven; and that my original drawing was accurate. Another type of mistake, I have seen myself make is when I have an urge to do something bold and permanent without planning, and it is as if something inside of me hijacks the pen or paint brush. This is usually when I like my art the best; but when I try to redo the art in a more planned manner, I don’t like the results.
I totally see this too–I figure now that I want 60-70% of my painting to be unplanned! This works better for me…
I think that there may be several categories by which mistake fall into. One type of mistake I see myself make is when I am drawing a bird I that flew by that I have to not let others influence what I saw. For example, I recently saw a large black bird flying back and forth over a gorge, and I drew it as I saw it, then later changed the bill to be more vulture-like after someone insisted it was a vulture. Later, I figured out it was a Raven; and that my original drawing was accurate. Another type of mistake, I have seen myself make is when I have an urge to do something bold and permanent without planning, and it is as if something inside of me hijacks the pen or paint brush. This is usually when I like my art the best; but when I try to redo the art in a more planned manner, I don’t like the results.
I totally see this too–I figure now that I want 60-70% of my painting to be unplanned! This works better for me…
I love your positive attitude (e.g. “unsold works…will become re worked better works…”), and how “scientific” you are about your art (e.g. 60-70% unplanned), yet leaving ample time and space for spirit to express! I have a 4x5ft sitting Buddha I painted, and the proportions are “way off,” and I just abandoned the painting. Then I came across some of Picasso’s lesser-known work with disproportionate hands and faces, and then I thought, wow, maybe I shouldn’t resist my urge to make things as I feel moved to rather than a desire to be “right” or “proportionate!” Ha! Or maybe it needs to be re worked, as you say! I am waiting for inspiration nevertheless to take the next step, not wanting to force.
I love your positive attitude (e.g. “unsold works…will become re worked better works…”), and how “scientific” you are about your art (e.g. 60-70% unplanned), yet leaving ample time and space for spirit to express! I have a 4x5ft sitting Buddha I painted, and the proportions are “way off,” and I just abandoned the painting. Then I came across some of Picasso’s lesser-known work with disproportionate hands and faces, and then I thought, wow, maybe I shouldn’t resist my urge to make things as I feel moved to rather than a desire to be “right” or “proportionate!” Ha! Or maybe it needs to be re worked, as you say! I am waiting for inspiration nevertheless to take the next step, not wanting to force.