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Collections Against Perfectionism

 

I'm sometimes made impatient by the fact that my future work will naturally be better than my present work. The improvements can be seen from collection to collection, even from piece to piece within the same collection. Part of the reason why I love making collections is that I get to explore an idea multiple times instead of trying to make one perfect piece. A collection is my antidote to perfectionism.

 

A collection is a process, which is why I number my pieces. I make it very clear to myself that there will be a progression of choices and techniques that will lead to where I want the art to be. I have to trust the process. I have to do the work. The first piece will likely be the weakest one, but I still have to make it. One or two pieces will be scrapped mid-creation, but the attempts will not be wasted. If I genuinely dislike a completed piece, I'll keep it to myself, but I will not reuse its number. I can't deny the process as a fact.

 

Perfectionism will immobilize you if you let it.