Mistakes are welcome
Creative Block → 016
Creative Block is a weekly newsletter that gives you a glimpse into my life, creativity, design, and music. It's like a little pick-me-up that you get delivered straight to your inbox each week.
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to participate in a captivating workshop centered around the art of painting. Despite my primary focus being digital design, I couldn't resist the allure of exploring the world of painters and their fascinating techniques. Little did I know that this experience would profoundly impact my creative journey.
Before we began painting, our instructor gave an amazing pep talk that left a lasting impression on me. Among her words of wisdom, one phrase resonated deeply: "Mistakes are welcome here." It was a revelation, liberating me from the burdensome pursuit of perfection that had haunted me for so long. I found peace in the idea of befriending mistakes, realizing they held hidden lessons that I might never have learned otherwise. As a digital artist taking a painters workshop, I was bound to make mistakes with my brushes and paint, but in a sense it was freeing because I didn’t feel the pressure to be perfect. I knew I’d make mistakes and welcomed them. I felt free.
In fact, I refer to my mistakes as "Happy accidents." Rather than being disheartened by errors, I now seize them as opportunities for growth. When a slip-up occurs, I take the time to understand what went awry, make the necessary adjustments, and forge ahead. To my delight, some of my best posters have come from these "happy accidents" – seemingly minor missteps leading to astonishing results.
Below you can see a video of me designing a poster and the different iterations It took to get to the final result. Embracing mistakes and coming out with a nice result at the end.
Surprisingly, my biggest mistakes have at times unveiled uncharted paths and exposed me to ideas I never thought possible. Embracing the unexpected has enriched my creative process beyond measure, infusing it with a sense of liberation and joy.
Today, I no longer fear making errors in my artistic endeavors. Instead, I welcome them with open arms, knowing they hold the key to honing my skills and, more importantly, setting my creativity free.
As the renowned painter Gord Bond wisely put it,
My process is a realization of mistakes. You keep messing up, then recognizing the mistake and reacting to fix it.
- Gord Bond
My process has become a dance with mistakes. I’m learning to embrace and learn from them. In return, this has allowed me to evolve through each iteration. It's not just about avoiding mistakes, but rather embracing them as stepping stones toward becoming a better artist, one who finds beauty and growth in the unexpected.
→Artist to know
RJ Vergara | This man can draw anything. I’m working with him on a super secret project right now and i’m blow away by his ability to adapt and draw in different styles.
Dale Edwin Murray | There something about his technique of drawing these illustrations that I love. The shapes, the composition, the disproportionate body parts all come together to make an amazing art piece. He also has a Shop
D’ANA (a.k.a DEADLINE D’ANA aka COVL) | Her style of drawing and art direction is impeccable. I love her attention to lighting, colors, texture and shape. She made the artwork for “NEVER HAVE I EVER” on Netflix (All the seasons) and also has her own Shop. She’s the epitome of a trail blazer and I love her views on art and creativity.
→Cubes N° 2 (Playlist)
Last month I introduced CUBES – A monthly curated Playlist for the Creative Block* Community and creatives alike. Here’s the 2nd playlist filled with songs I listened to this month. I hope it inspires you and introduces you to new artists and sounds. My favorite songs on Cubes N° 2 playlist are “Am I Dreaming” and “The Sun”.
If you missed the first playlist, you can listen to it here.
Note: In the ever-changing realm of creativity, "Cubes" has the potential to transform into something new or bigger in the future. Maybe it'll become a podcast or an insightful interview-style newsletter, separate from Creative Block. But for now I think it’s a cool title for the playlists especially since artwork covers are a the shape of a cube (square).
The possibilities are endless for what this could become, and I’m open to ideas on how CUBES can go beyond just a “playlist”.
Over and over I've seen how learning to accept mistakes in art/craft helps people learn how to accept the mistakes in themselves.
A few years ago I did a huge collaborative crochet project to raise awareness about depression, suicide, and crafting to heal after the death of crochet designer Marinke Slump. Many people sent in their crochet mandalas with a note that said that there were mistakes, it wasn't perfect, it was messy, but that they felt welcome to share that anyway because us humans are messy mistake-filled creatures and we are no less beautiful for it.
Creating what feels right instead of focusing on perfection is freeing. It held me captive for a long time. I’ve been telling myself this a lot lately. Good read.