Getting Around Perfection

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." ---Salvador Dali

We don't have a lot of choice in the way we think. Not really. Life is a series of experiences, the vast majority of which we have no control over. Life just rolls right along without stopping to acknowledge us. The times we do have a say in what happens in life are few and far between, and for most of us that doesn't even get started until after we leave home for the first time---for some of us it takes longer still, longer to understand who we've become. But well before that time, our brains have already been formed. Strong connections have already been established in our brains, making us timid or brave, sociable or introverted, and so on. Some people are too needy. Some people are too greedy. And worse: some people get it in their heads that perfection is what it's all about. Perfection. That sweet idyllic metaphor, humming with the unseen rhythms of the universe, that one pure note of absolute mindfulness to which the very insects tune their lullabies on crisp moonless nights beneath the stars.

Hogwash! There's no such thing as perfection. Not really. Even if there was, would you really want that? At what cost? Yes, we can achieve sublime moments when everything seems to work out, and we might take a pause in those moments (if we are lucky) to acknowledge the "perfection" we have achieved. But those moments are seldom appreciated, and, sorry, it's not really perfection. This is what I think. I think perfection (or the perfection-obsessed mind) is an obstacle. It is in the way. It halts creativity. It stunts growth. It prevents people from learning and improving. Yes, a perfectly executed work of art is a thing of beauty---I'm not saying that can't or shouldn't be achieved---but the approach must be done in a healthy way. Perfectionism is a mind-trap. It is a mad cycle of desire to succeed, fear of failure, anxiety over the smallest mistakes, and finally, when the perfection hoped for has not quite been achieved, an ultimate letdown.

"For perfectionists, life is an endless report card on accomplishments or looks. It's a fast track to unhappiness, and perfectionism is often accompanied by depression and eating disorders. What makes perfectionism so toxic is that while those in its grip desire success, they are most focused on avoiding failure, so theirs is a negative orientation. And love isn't a refuge; in fact, it feels way too conditional on performance." ---Psychology Today

So how do we get better at getting better without the perfectionism baggage? I answered my own question there: without the baggage. Leave perfection to the insects---let them have it, and all the problems that go with it.

Practical steps? Here's an idea: take some paper or canvas or surface of your choice and some pens/paint/charcoal/etc, and practice shutting off your brain for a little while. Close your eyes and maybe start by drawing or painting a circle---just quickly, without thinking about it. Okay, you can look at it, but then close your eyes again and repeat the circle thing. There, you've done it---two circles. Is it perfect? (if so, you may not be human; if not, congratulations, session complete) What comes next? I don't know---I'm not the boss of you---keep doodling, perhaps. Find some way to be creative without relying so much on your brain. Over time you'll develop new pathways in the brain---or maybe not (I'm not a doctor)---you will find your way out, I'm sure of it. Meanwhile, don't sweat it. You're doing fine. You are perfect just the way you are.

Earthbound

Materials and Equipment of an Artist

Since I've been doing videos lately, I thought I'd switch it up from my painting process to the materials and equipment I use as part of that process. In case you're interested.

I am sometimes asked about specific materials and equipment I use---here's a short video with much of that information in it, for those of you interested.

Taking better photos

With Thanksgiving in a couple of days, and the Christmas season hot on it's tail, I thought I'd throw up a
quick post on taking better photos - just general tips. Hope they are helpful. Here we go:

1. Fill the frame - too many great smiles disappear when they are a mere fraction of an inch in the photo. Get up close and use your zoom lens if your camera has one - fill the viewing area with that great smile.

2. Be aware of everything in the frame - sometimes a good photo is ruined by distractions in the background. Make sure to check everything in the viewing area before taking the picture. Is there anything distracting behind your subject? Is there a better angle that would make a better photo? For instance, in the photo of the teacup to the right, the dark shirt of the person in the background provides a perfect foil for the light cup and saucer in the foreground - had the angle been lower, the photo might have been ruined with too much white in the background

3. Think about your shooting angle - This especially comes up with shooting pets or kids (with cameras). When taking photos of kids or pets, get down on their level - this can be inconvenient sometimes, but trust me, it makes a big difference in your photography.

4. Camera orientation - Most photos are probably taken with the camera held horizontally, but don't forget you can also take vertical photos. Be willing to change the camera's orientation depending on the subject matter - if the subject matter is mostly vertical, like an individual or, I don't know, a candle, it would be harder to fill the frame with a horizontal shot . . .

5. Use a flash indoors and out - Your camera's flash is good for low-light, indoor shots, but also good in bright afternoon sunshine. When the sun is high in the sky, facial features lose all nuiance - dark shadows fill the eye sockets and beneath the chin, not to mention underneath hats. To make a better portrait, try facing your subject(s) away from the sun (to reduce squinting in your subjects) and shooting with the flash engaged (to brighten up the face).

6. Take lots of photos - snap away. The more photos you take, the better your chance of getting a great one. That said, don't take the same photo more than twice (and only twice if you think someone was blinking in the first photo) - move around, get different angles and compositions. Here's one way: start with a broad establishing shot, then move in closer and closer to your subject, then move around the subject for different perspectives. Just a thought.

Well, that will get you started. For further reading, here's a link to Kodak's: Top 10 Tips for Great Pictures

In another post, I'll describe my post-processing secret-sauce that'll give your pics some professional polish. Happy Turkey Day!