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Is perfectionism a blessing or a curse? Do you struggle with it, or do you embrace it? And, more importantly, does it help or hinder your creative journey? These are questions I’ve recently found myself contemplating in my own art practice.
In this post, I share my thoughts on perfectionism in art and life, and I’d love to hear your thoughts as well!
Perfectionism can be a positive driving force when it comes to growth. Striving for perfection pushes us to learn more, improve, and elevate our work. I like to think of progress as climbing a ladder—every small step we take brings us closer to our goals.
That said, I’ve noticed that I sometimes go overboard with my desire for perfection. Lately, I’ve felt pressure to make every painting flawless and every photo pristine. This obsessive pursuit has led me to retreat into myself, feeling inadequate and reluctant to share my work. It’s crazy, right? But it’s a very real struggle for many of us.
I recently had a conversation with a friend who shared an interesting perspective on perfectionism—it can actually fuel procrastination. Instead of moving forward with our dreams, whether it’s launching a business, starting a blog, or posting a new artwork, we often tell ourselves, “It’s not good enough yet. I’ll do it once it’s perfect.”
Sound familiar? I can definitely relate. This kind of thinking prevents us from taking action and achieving progress. What I’ve learned is that perfectionism often disguises itself as procrastination, keeping us stuck in the cycle of “not quite ready yet.”
Which brings me to my final point: good enough is better than nothing at all. For those of us who hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, it’s essential to remember that becoming excellent at anything—whether art or business—requires practice, trial, and error. You might feel reluctant to share your work because it’s not flawless, but trust me, your journey and courage to put it out there will resonate with others.
What you may perceive as mistakes or flaws might be imperceptible to your audience, who may fall in love with your work exactly as it is. As an art lover, I find inspiration in seeing someone’s growth. Watching an artist’s progress makes them more relatable and human.
Ultimately, I’ve made the conscious decision to let go of the need for perfection in my art and content. While my creations aren’t flawless, my passion to create, share, and inspire far outweighs my fear of exposing mistakes. I’ve learned that embracing imperfection allows my work to feel alive, authentic, and connected to others.
Letting go of perfectionism has been freeing, and I encourage you to do the same. Don’t let the pursuit of perfection hold you back. The journey is just as important as the destination.
Santa Barbara Artist
Valeria Chepilev —
Santa Barbara Artist
