two bits

Amy mentioned in a comment to the previous post that she doesn’t like to place restrictions on her artistic output. I haven’t always rejoiced about structure, but I’ve since found that it can be very useful for me. This is why I’m usually game for projects and random goals, even as I move away from trading art in themed swaps (except for when ANg or Nicci hosts). I have this tendency to hoard and refine my brain waves…and then? I never act on them if I don’t force myself to produce. I’m not as bad a certain little bird I know — who devises intricate and crystalline plans for beautiful things that will never see the light — but I’m still pretty bad.

My problem is perfectionism. I want everything to turn out just-so. I hate throwing away work. I hate reworking work. Hell, I hate working (really). And, of course, I remind myself that successful artists do study upon study upon study. They throw things out. They work on and rework everything. It all just seems easy because we don’t see the studies and the reworking and the work. And so, projects like Thirty Things in Thirty-One Days are, in essence, perfect for making me churn out some stuff. I will adore some of it. I will feel eh about some of it. And I will despise some of it. But, really, everyone has bad work in them. The trick is to get it out of your system before doing something grand. Bad work is about the experience because it often tells you very clearly what not to do again.

Thing Six is hands. I’ve been mulling over this idea since I saw a call for a hand-themed chunky book posted. Hands casting shadows was the first thing that popped into my head and since I didn’t sign up for the chunky book (because I’ve got two on the go), this design would have probably just sat in my brain forever and come to nothing. And that would have been sad because I’m pretty fond of it. It’s something I’d like to refine more.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!