Sometimes as artists we allow “perfect” to be the enemy of “good enough.” But, you have to start with making something that’s just okay. That’s the only way you get “better” to “good” to “wow” to “omg, how can I buy a copy of this??” or “I can’t wait for your next show!” You are a work in progress: trying new things, making mistakes, learning from those experiences, and trying again. It’s how we grow & evolve. Make a serious effort, but let those mistakes happen so that later looking back, you can see how far you’ve come.

 

Some creative dares this month to thwart your inner critic:

• Set a timer for one hour, and dedicate that hour to beginning a new creative piece or working on a project that you’ve been putting off. Then, take a break from it and go back to the real world—job, bills, relationships, life admin, etc. Come back in a day or two and try picking up where you left off. What do you immediately realize you want to change or expand?

• Wear an outfit you dislike, or adopt a fashion trend that you believe is stupid. If you wear makeup, maybe you do it a little bit uneven on each side to flirt with the feeling of dishevelment. Not purposely bad, but purposely just okay. Then, go about your day and notice how you feel.

• Incorporate mistakes into your creative work. Starting something bad on purpose can lead you into finishing something good on purpose.

  • Writers: Use overdone cliches, improper grammar, or a writing style that you abhor.

  • Dancers: Choose to stutter step, flail unprettily, or miss the beat. Incorporate a silly move from your high school dances.

  • Musicians: Practice fundamentals poorly, then do them the “right” way. Sing off-key or play a wrong note.

  • Visual artists: Make it quick & dirty. Don’t spend too much time perfecting your shapes or getting the proportions or perspective right. Just capture the basic idea first; you can refine the details later.

  • Whatever you do in any artistic medium, have fun and remember that you can clean it up in post-production!

• Share an example of your own “bad art” on social media and tag us! It can be freeing to acknowledge some of the ways that you’ve improved your techniques while honoring the version of you who generated this bit of creativity way back when.

• Submit a finished piece to Carolina Muse for publication consideration by August 15th, 2024 😉

 

We want to see your “good enough”! Don’t let perfectionism undermine your productivity. Yes, we obviously want to receive and are more likely to publish high-quality work, but consider this your pep talk to make like the popular sportswear brand and “just do it.”