Perfectionism recovery diaries - how my creative process is evolving

When I was doing art at school I despised having to start a piece with a set outcome in mind. We were encouraged to make sketches, test out different mediums and materials and practice elements of the idea before getting on with the real thing. I just wanted to get started!

My normal process starts with having an idea for a painting and then doing my best at the ‘final piece’.

I find it funny now then, how when I do want to explore an idea in more depth and create something specific, I do this exact thing they taught at school, testing and trying things out!

The process of playing with different versions of an image before making the final piece has actually been really helpful for defining my intentions and exploring the best ways to create it (who knew!?).

I think part of my resistance to testing things out first comes from the pressure I felt to ‘get it right’ straight away.

As I carry on along my journey through perfectionism, I feel the benefits, fun and freedom that comes from experimenting and playing with an idea first, which I used to find too vulnerable and difficult.

I’m making some Christmas cards this year and tried painting a glowy cottage scene based on the lodge where we live.

I started with a pencil sketch to map out the idea, then an ink version, and then a watercolour with goache, to feel into this process and how I’d like the final image to look… none of these felt right and what become clear overall is that there is no way to paint the lodge in the dark that does not look spooky! (Maybe I should keep trying!)

The process has been useful and clarifying though, and after leaving this idea I had some new ones based on recent encounters with the incredible Red Deers and Owls of Exmoor. I’m getting them ready now!

What does your creative process look like?

P.S. Check out other greeting card designs available now in my Etsy shop here!