Is Perfection Possible? Contemplating Simple Shifts in Business, Art and Life

When I was first starting to learn to make art I thought that if only I could discover the “perfect” art supplies, I’d be able to create the beautiful, “perfect” art I imagined in my head.

I probably don’t have to tell you how naive and misguided those thoughts were.

But I think we often imagine an external change will bring about complete transformation.

Perhaps it’s our society that leads us to believe thoughts like this. Advertising. Books. Blog posts. YouTube videos… so many claims like, “The Best Watercolor Paint You’ll Ever Use” or “The Only Paintbrush You’ll Ever Need.”

I cannot create watercolor paintings without watercolor paint. But does it really matter which brand I use?

No.

In fact, over the last not quite 13 years I’ve tried many brands and although I’ve developed my own preferences, I cannot name any single brand as “the best”.

I’ve also learned that the only way to be able to make the beautiful art I imagined was through lots and lots of practice.

I’m still practicing and I’m still striving and although I may no longer believe in (or seek) perfection, I am still working toward beautiful imaginings.

Not just in my art, but also in just about every aspect of my life. My home, my garden, my business… and deeper down, within myself, too. This is especially true when I struggle with worry and anxiety.

Lately, one area I’ve been considering is my schedule.

I shared my schedule last year on my blog and perhaps just as I arrange and rearrange my studio, seeking the “perfect” arrangement, so too have I been considering what the “perfect” arrangement of my days might be.

In the beginning of March, I decided to arrange my schedule not by the hours of the day but by the days of the week. My plan was that each day would hold a different focus. I also planned to open Fridays up to include scheduled Artist Dates.

Although it helped to have a focus for each day (and certainly to allow myself not to do certain tasks on certain days), I didn’t take myself on a single Artist Date (though I did take some time off in March and made a point to nourish my creative spirit during those days).

at the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, Wisconsin

I’m not giving up.

And I’m certainly not going to beat myself up for failing to stick with my new schedule.

But I find it interesting to think about — both the striving for “perfection” and the falling short; the idea of picking myself up and beginning again; the act of analyzing my days and making changes so I’ll be more effective, efficient, productive and creative (and wondering which of those is the most important to me).

While I’m not necessarily looking for “perfection”, I often think about what small shifts I can make to make life easier.

In the kitchen we recently moved the dish drainer from the right side of the sink to the left because it was in the way of our filtered water tap. I don’t know why it took us over a year of living with the awkwardness of that arrangement before making the change.

I wonder what other awkward arrangements I’ve gotten used to living with. I wonder what simple shifts I might be able to make in my life and my art to make things easier.

There is no perfection. I do know that. And although there isn’t “the only schedule I’ll ever need” for my business or my life, I do hope I’ll be open to change, to possibility.

Perhaps like with painting, it will take a lot of practice. And perhaps like with painting I’ll be forever striving to improve. (Though I do hope I will be able to let go of the idea that the answer is outside of myself).

I’m curious about you.

What shifts have made your life easier? In what ways are you striving?