I remember being in high school and discovering what editing papers did. I mean sure, it seems obvious, but when I took the time to read over a paper, make corrections, read over it again, make corrections, and read over it one more time, I was amazed that each and every time there was something to be changed. I was also amazed at the direct effect it had on my grade (yay for editing!).
I'm beginning to learn the same lessons when it comes to my art work. I tend to feel defeated when I don't love an immediate draft of something, be it a painting, a Sea Study, or a Nature Study, but why should it really be any different than writing a paper. Why do I have such double standards? With my ongoing studies, I do draft after draft after draft, sometimes changing the entire vibe, sometimes just little tweak after little tweak, but it makes all the difference in the world. I'm perfecting my craft with each new draft and guess what? The end goal is NOT perfection. I am actually enjoying the process, each step, each fall, each gain, each loss. Because that's all that it is - a process, and all you can do is enjoy the ups and the downs and all the tweaks in between.
You know when something comes into your life just as you need it? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post from The Etsy Blog on a day when I very much needed it. If you live a creative life or want to live a creative life, it's really worth reading. I promise. The thing I took away from it the most - #4. I realized there really is no magic number I need to be making a year to make me feel like an authentic artist. I mean when you really think about it, how silly is that?
I am an artist.
Why is it so hard to say?