Day 05: Chickadee
7 Day Wildlife Sketch Challenge!
Day five already?
This little chickadee with their power stance came together so quickly!
And sometimes that happens. It doesn’t mean you missed something important. It doesn’t mean you need to go back and go through your work to check (though of course you can always spend more time on any sketch if you are called to).
Sometimes a short sketch is just…enough.
If it conveys the story you were hoping to achieve, it is perfect. Actually, it is always perfect. Because perfect is a human construct - it doesn’t actually exist, so if it doesn’t exist, then it always exists, too. Following?
Everything is perfectly imperfect, and imperfectly perfect. Including you.
Life is too short to get caught up in the unhelpful aspect of perfectionism.
We have too much beautiful art to make, too many incredible beings to connect to. We don’t have time or energy to spare on a nonsensical construct that doesn’t even exist to let it keep us small and unable to do our work.
Ask me how I know.
I am not a recovering perfectionist. I carry a tendency towards perfectionism with me always. But I don’t have to let it drive. And I can embrace the aspects of it that support my journey in a compassionate, curiosity-centred way - such as a determination to see ever more detail, and to want to understand how I can best render the same with my very human, very imperfect hands.
As you continue on your artistic path, remember that perfectionism is not the goal; authenticity and intentionality is. Embrace the imperfections, the rough edges, the happy accidents—they are what make your art uniquely yours. And they show that an incredible human animal - not a machine, not a program - made this. Trust in your creative intuition, and allow yourself the freedom to experiment, to make mistakes (or as I prefer to say, unexpected opportunities to practise more), and to learn and grow from each experience.
Embrace the messiness of the creative process, and allow yourself the grace to be “imperfect”. By nurturing a spirit of self-compassion, you will find that your art flourishes, your creativity blossoms, and your wild heart sings with unbridled joy. Create fearlessly, for the world needs that beauty that is inside you. Embrace you, and your wild heart.
Chickadee
Image by Jack Bulmer from Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/chickadee-bird-feathers-plumage-5765309/
PS: Did you hear the FAB news?
My comprehensive seven week wildlife art masterclass is now open! I only open this up twice a year, so we can work intensively as a small group on using lots of different supplies to make wildlife art - AND - become the most confident, curious, and compassionate artist we can become.
You can find out more here:
Recovering OCD, right here, which is basically the same thing as perfectionism because you have to repeat rituals until they are "perfect." Ugh! These days, I rather enjoy the mess. When I have people over, I clean the house AFTER they have come and gone because the clean is for me and not for any other person. And I give myself so much grace when I don't clean because there will be more dirt anyway, so why waste so much time and energy cleaning?
"Happy accidents." Isn't that a Bob Ross-ism? :-) XO
It's a good thing to want to get better and practice whatever we want. It's a better thing if it goes hand in hand with the acceptance to be imperfect.
It is / was a long way for me. Born and reared with the knowledge - you would be loved if you would be perfect.. Asking myself what is perfect?
In Art and with a brave heart I have fun while being unperfect. My hubby loves me because I'm so unperfect as he is 😄 And ask the dogs... 🤭
Again, thank you so much, Natalie, for your words. It's so refreshing to read it. It's a life long process to grove and free from some burden. And it's much more easier to know we are not alone on this way.
And now - let's get sketchy ! 🤩