Dealing with Perfectionism
Letting Go of the Impossible and Embracing What’s Real in Art
Perfectionism. We all know the word—but what does it actually mean? And more importantly, is it even real?
Many artists feel the pressure to get things just right. To make something flawless. To live up to an invisible standard that often isn’t clearly defined. This urge for perfection can feel so closely tied to the desire to create beauty in the first place that it’s hard to untangle. But left unchecked, it can keep us stuck, frustrated, or afraid to begin.
So what if perfectionism isn’t something we have to fight or fix—but something we can gently question, shift, and eventually put to the side?
What Are We Really Chasing?
When we say we want a piece of art to be “perfect,” what are we actually hoping for? Do we want harmony? Emotion? Clarity? Rawness? A sense of freedom or movement?
The word perfection floats in front of us like a neon sign—but when we try to define it, it slips through our fingers. It’s vague. It’s shapeless. It can mean so many different things that it ends up meaning nothing at all.
That’s why it’s so helpful to look underneath that vague desire and ask: What do I really find beautiful or fascinating in art? Not in theory, but in practice. What draws me in when I look at a piece I admire?
Maybe it’s expressive color. Or emotional depth. Or a certain kind of composition, looseness, texture, contrast. These are the things we can name. And once we name them, we can choose to pursue them—clearly, consciously, and joyfully.
Letting Go of the Goal That Isn’t Real
Letting go of perfection doesn’t mean giving up. It means replacing an impossible goal with something that’s actually meaningful. When we stop chasing perfection, we create space for something richer.
Here are a few qualities worth cultivating instead:
- Experimentation – At the heart of creativity is the willingness to try. To explore. To not know how it will turn out. Even after years of teaching, most of my creative time is still spent experimenting. That’s how art grows.
- Growth – Becoming a better artist is a slow and alive process. If we somehow reached “perfect,” what would happen next? Retire? We’re meant to evolve. Growth gives us a direction to follow that’s honest and sustainable.
- Slowing Down – Art isn’t something to rush through. It’s something to be with. When we slow down and stay present, the process becomes more nourishing and less pressured. Just like savoring a good cup of coffee—it’s better when we take the time to taste it.
- Becoming Yourself – Perhaps the most important shift of all: making art that is yours. Sometimes we admire qualities in other artists that don’t come naturally to us—and that’s okay. We can be inspired by others without needing to imitate them. The real joy comes from discovering what flows from you.
“A Unicorn Heart” watercolor and mixed media by Ida Andersen Lang 2024
Being an Adult Beginner Is Hard—So Be Gentle
When we take up something new as adults, we often carry unreasonable expectations. We think, “I should be able to do this by now,” or “I’ve read about it—so why can’t I do it right away?” But that’s not how art works.
We need time. We need kindness. We need to allow ourselves to play, to make mistakes, to find our rhythm without judgment. This isn’t a weakness—it’s part of the process.
Even now, I sometimes hesitate to share messy experiments. That voice of “not good enough” still visits me, especially when I’ve spent hours recording a lesson and then start second-guessing it. But with time, I’ve learned to step back, take a break, and return later with clearer eyes and a gentler heart.
A Simple Reflection to Try
If you’d like to shift your own mindset around perfectionism, here’s a gentle exercise to explore:
- Write down what you find attractive in art. Think of pieces you admire. What draws you in? What do you love?
- Reflect on how you can bring more of those qualities into your own work. Instead of chasing a flawless result, what would it look like to chase those qualities instead?
- Choose two or three to focus on for now. You don’t need to do everything at once. Just start with a few—colors, compositions, emotions, subjects—and let those guide you.
You can always shift later. This isn’t about locking yourself in. It’s about moving from vague pressure to clear, joyful direction.
Circling Back
In the end, perfectionism is just a distraction. It’s not a real goal—it’s a fog that clouds the real work: growing as an artist, connecting with yourself, and creating from a place of curiosity and care.
Yes, perfectionism can feel like a monster sometimes. But maybe it’s more like one of those fuzzy cartoon creatures—loud and a little ridiculous, but not dangerous once we see it clearly.
What matters most is that you keep creating. That you stay open to learning. That you choose presence over pressure, and authenticity over approval.
Let go of what you think you should be creating… and follow what truly calls to you.
That’s not just how we make better art—it’s how we become more fully ourselves.
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This article grew out of a collective Art Studio Talk—an honest conversation from my studio, shared live with members of Art Soul Living and Drawing Magic Circle. Together, we explored what perfectionism really is—and how we might gently let it go and return to what truly matters in our art.
Love, Light and Creative Blessings,
Ida
