How Can One Be an Artist/Graphic Designer and Not Be a Perfectionist?

GoodDave · Post by **GoodDave** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:37 am

Hi everyone,

First off, I want to open by saying that I'm doing absolutely great. I'm making awesome progress with the program. I'm sleeping better, feeling less anxious and becoming more positive. I have one issue, though, that I'm still struggling with:

How can you be a great artist in any kind of way without being an absolute obsessive perfectionist?

When I'm doing graphic design for someone, it's all worry. I have to make a quick deadline. It has to look professional. It has to be perfect. I find myself spiraling into the same "what if" thinking when I'm creating things. I get tense. I grind my teeth. I worry about the deadline. I worry that they're not going to like it and that I'm not going to make money.

Has anyone gone through this and overcome it while still remaining really great at what they do? I'd like to hear some thoughts from anyone who has.

NinjaFrodo · Post by **NinjaFrodo** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:20 am

Perfection doesn't really exist. There is always something you can do to make things look better and each time you do something you get better at this. It sounds like you are telling yourself that something has to look perfect in order to look professional and that is just another unrealistic expectation. It really doesn't.

A really good example of this would be the Mona Lisa

<IMG class="inline_image" SRC="http://www.usposttoday.com/wp-content/u ... a-Lisa.jpg">

The Mona Lisa is a really really good painting, it looks very professional but there is still that line on her forehead that could be taken away and then it would look better but it still looks really good regardless when you look at it as a whole.

Mike

Paisleegreen · Post by **Paisleegreen** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:10 am

Wow, good answer.

NinjaFrodo · Post by **NinjaFrodo** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:33 am

thank u

P&P · Post by **P&P** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:01 am

Having some feelings of wanting a piece of work to be good are helpful, you're obviously striving to create something professional that looks good. Too many of these thoughts can be more self destructive than anything because nothing you create will be good enough. I think it comes down to the acceptance of things not being perfect. I have done some graphic design myself and although my work may not be perfect, if I think it looks nice and I'm happy with it, that's enough. I've realize once I'm done a project, I can go back and pick it apart and almost rob myself of the original happy feelings I once had. Don't even go there

I do believe your expectations of yourself are way too high and if you spoke to the clients you did work for, they would most likely praise you. Remember that non artists are looking for the same level of perfectionism in your work.

Bob-o Bingo · Post by **Bob-o Bingo** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:55 am

Originally posted by NinjaFrodo:
Perfection doesn't really exist. There is always something you can do to make things look better and each time you do something you get better at this. It sounds like you are telling yourself that something has to look perfect in order to look professional and that is just another unrealistic expectation. It really doesn't.

A really good example of this would be the Mona Lisa

<IMG class="inline_image" SRC="http://www.usposttoday.com/wp-content/u ... a-Lisa.jpg">

The Mona Lisa is a really really good painting, it looks very professional but there is still that line on her forehead that could be taken away and then it would look better but it still looks really good regardless when you look at it as a whole.

Mike

But Mona Lisa doesn't have eyebrows! How in the heck can you have a perfect painting if you don't have eyebrows? I'd say that's impossible. Yeah... I know... she used to have eyebrows--but the ink faded and today she has none.