Perfection is Overrated

Part of the fun of sketching is that it’s not about perfection. It’s about creating, capturing, documenting, practicing, stretching, liberating, being present, and enjoying the process.

On the left is one of the cutest storefronts in downtown Perry, James Farmer’s shop on Carroll Street. On the right are some items from my table at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce event in Macon on June 18.

I absolutely love these sketches. Not because they’re perfect. In fact, if I look at them for more than a few seconds, I immediately start ripping them to shreds with all the mistakes, imperfections, and so on. No, I love these sketches because of their imperfections.

I free-handed these, sketching very quickly, no rulers, no pausing for reflection. Just right-brained creation and sheer joy in creating. I can actually feel the joy and slight euphoria from the moments when I sketched these.

Sketching takes me to another place inside me while being completely present. That sounds like such a contradiction in terms, but it’s true. I don’t know how else to describe it.

Now that I’ve unlocked sketching in my life, I can’t seem to stop myself. The feeling is like nothing else!

Give it a try. You won’t regret it.