Creativity and Failing
Okay, so I'm worked on a painting tonight and I pushed it to the point of failure. Now I know occasional failure is part of the artistic process, but there was still this smoldering subtle anger and frustration over what appeared to be wasted time and paint supplies. This got me thinking about the whole aspect of dealing with artistic failures. I recall an instructor of mine pointing out that most breakthroughs happen as a result of failures and that that's when actual artistic growth occurs. Though I suppose it must be subconscious growth, because it just seemed like a waste of supplies to me. At least when I create music on my computer, I can just throw the damn file away and I haven't wasted supplies. That's also one of the main advantages to creating digital art too. When it's digital, I can usually keep working until something turns up, but that's a whole different topic... :D
So anyhoo, all this got me wondering how other creative types deal with failure. And, if one avoids failure, is one avoiding growth as well? Is failure a prerequisite to artistic growth? Does trying to always succeed and do it "right" actually hinder creativity? Yeah I think I already know the answers, but I'm curious as to what my fellow creators think..
So anyhoo, all this got me wondering how other creative types deal with failure. And, if one avoids failure, is one avoiding growth as well? Is failure a prerequisite to artistic growth? Does trying to always succeed and do it "right" actually hinder creativity? Yeah I think I already know the answers, but I'm curious as to what my fellow creators think..
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mo Mapes on -
Oh boy, Steven, if failure makes us grow then I'm growing in leaps and bounds right now!!! I just hope it starts showing up somewhere. I have a painting I have painted at least 8 times with 3-4 bitumen layers and I liked the outcome accept there were too many bubbles and it was too dark. So after looking at this thing for weeks I finally gessoed over it today and am going in a different direction. I tried so hard to SAVE it but that isn't what it needed. I will try what is under this HEAVY painting another way with a lot less bubbles! But I think it will turn out for the better. It sure isn't what I envisioned but I'm hoping it will be better. Yes- I think if you avoid failure you will get nowhere- that's when you learn from your mistakes and hopefully don't make them again. I'm learning real fast that you can't hope for no failures or you will be stopped in your tracks and go nowhere. I know you think that spending $$ on materials and then a piece not turning out is a waste of money but spending your time on the computer and not getting what you want is the same thing- time spent, money spent- same thing. You have lost time and $$ on materials and lost time and $$ you might have been making another way but you were on the computer. I don't see any difference in the time and cost.
I will be posting this next week a lot of mistakes and some that just turned out because I didn't care- I was just having fun. Maybe you feel more at home on the computer and it is easier for you??? What ever is easier will most always seem the best because it is more familiar to you. This site has made me a better artist (although sometimes-OK- most times it doesn't seem like it) but I am getting a little better all the time. I have gone thru a patch of everything going wrong- I think it's about time things start working for me- and they will!
Hey- BTW- your stuff is always really nice- you are getting further along than you think!
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Permalink Reply by Steven Johnson on -
lol... Mo... Yeah you're right. I find working on the computer is much more forgiving in that I can always tweak, adjust, undo, and rework things until it works. Traditional abstract painting is definitely not as forgiving, but that's also why I like it too. I have had 2 recent successes with traditional abstract painting so I don't feel completely useless...lol. Thanks for the support and words of encouragement. I really do appreciate it...
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Permalink Reply by Steven Johnson on
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I hear ya Maria and you've described my usual attitude. However, this time I pushed the painting to the point of physically destroying it. Everything got messy and muddy and I got really pissed and frustrated and tore it up. It was a real catharsis in that it removed the "me and my precious painting" syndrome. I guess it's good to just tear things up now and then. I know there's more creativity where that came from so it's not such a big deal, but man do I hate wasting paint...lol. I just have to remind myself there's an endless supply of paint too...
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Permalink Reply by Steven Johnson on
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You sound a lot like me Maria....lol
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Permalink Reply by Jerene Dunn on -
Personally, I think that the artist is the only person who has the right to "judge" a piece of their own art. If they think its crap, then it is crap, because it really doesn't matter what others think. I would venture to say, that most of us don't paint or create to appease a buyer...we paint/create because our souls tell us to! If I create something I hate....I lay it aside and start on something else, and generally will go back at a later date and either paint over or fix it somehow. Last week, for the first time, I actually RIPPED a water color up and tossed it because it wasn't satisfactory to me!
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Permalink Reply by Joan Anne on -
Hey Steven, don't go throwing the baby out with the bath water!! Lots of failures can be used again. Nobody died your pocket just took a hit.
You have to think of your art journey as the life of a baby. So you start off naked and knowing nothing. Soon you start to try to walk, oops there you go you fell down. Up you get and try again. Then back you go to work with something familiar, that's like getting a cuddle from your Mum. On you go now you got to the terrible 2's, temper tantrums on what's not going right. I guess that may be where you are right now? Oh and you might get to the teenage years, you remember them LOL???
We all got a long way to go on this journey with art!
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Permalink Reply by Steven Johnson on
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Hmmm... so I'm 2 years old. Well, that does explain a lot about my life...lol. Seriously though I get what you're saying. I just think it's sometimes helpful to release attachment to our work and just destroy it. This experience reminded me to not think of every work as so precious and worthy of being saved. It helped put things back into perspective. I think when I grow up, I want to be a serial killer and murder lots of art...lol.
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Permalink Reply by Steven Johnson on
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Thank you PoetTree...
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Permalink Reply by Loryn Spangler-Jones on -
ohhh Steven.....how this sounds all to familiar to me. i did have a major break through recently as a result of feeling completely trapped, stuck with a piece that seemed to have taken hours. and, Mo, i believe i also had several layers of bitumen on it so i can relate to the darkness of it. instead of throwing it away or painting over it and stating over i took a razor blade to it. Steven i literally shred it to bits.....and oh Lordy it felt amazing!!! then pieced it back together ...layer after layer after layer and even pulled out my husbands staple gun....also FUN!!! this piece fro me really became a discipline in intentional focus on the process and not the final outcome. ironically enough i LOVED the end result and am currently working on a series.
so all of this to say.....i no longer throw hours of work away, (as i also hate the idea of losing $$$ and time) i simply cut it up or shred it or do like Maria and set it aside for awhile (although sometimes doing this and having to look at it often hurts...).
while at one of my many small groups last night we watched the following trailer. i think it is completely appropriate to this discussion, Steven. it is about 20 minutes long but i think everyone here will find it relevent.
i have to remind my Self often Steven.....sometimes as good as the creative process can feel it can also hurt, but this is where the healing comes in!!!http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&vi...
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Permalink Reply by Steven Johnson on
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Thanks for that helpful insight Loryn...
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Permalink Reply by roberta on -
yes if you are painting to create a masterpiece then the point of creating is lost...it is all about the process of getting to the other side...failure IS the prerequisite to growth..period! Michel Jordon failed thousands of times before success became more of the out come...same with Lincoln and Edison...etc....we have to be willing to fail and "waste" supplies in order to discover who we really are...!
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Permalink Reply by Eric Mobius Knight on -
Failure has its rewards. Without failure there could be no concept of success. Its a measuring and tuning device. Failure is important, but we are not generally taught how to handle it, as it is viewed negatively. My current artistic project is based on failure. As I begin to understand what does not work, I can then see what does.
Use it as a stepping stone- embrace it, polish it and then see what you have.....
Failure is also about loss of control. This time round, it hasnt gone the way I/you want. But thats only this time. Its not a state of forever, and lets be fair, one persons 'failure' is another persons 'success'. Its also about recognising who we really are, and what we already have, rather than who we think we would like to be and what we dont have.
Failure pushes us. " I want this to be better" So we try again. Accept failure, but dont assume its all negative-its just a ride......
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