The pursuit of perfection is elusive, self-limiting, and regressive. Instead of propelling the artist it stagnates the artist. Instead of inspiring and nourishing the artist it dries up and starves the artist. Perfection is a lovely conceptual notion on paper and visually appealing in imagination. But, in all actuality perfection is a mirage not worth chasing after in any journey worth embarking upon. Wherever artists can find their authenticity needed to accomplish their works perfection is no where to be seen. Part of the reason for that is perfection is a diversion, a misnomer, an illusion.
I find myself needing to confront the slippery slope of what and how perfection is in all its myriad disguises. I want to combat this not necessarily for accomplishment sake but to stymie procrastination and not distract from focusing. Perfection usually comes up once the student has completed their schooling in a specific craft. Perfection entices newcomers to industries and platforms for an aim at longevity in a given career path. Perfection is also that elusive concept that keeps hungry artists from finishing their work in fear of not accomplishing quality projects or creative, daring endeavors. Was perfection the motivating factor as Michelangelo masterfully decorated the Sistine Chapel with his fresco, “The Last Judgment”? Could perfection be what Ingmar Bergman sought after while directing his classic epic, The Seventh Seal?
For filmmakers perfection appears in the edit bay when producers and editors stress-pick great material for finessing. For painters perfection shows up at the stroke of a brush. For writers perfection stares at them from a computer screen with every word and punctuation. All these appearances of perfecting one’s craft leads to the tendency of not fully completing a work nor attaining a goal at the best of one’s ability. Here, perfection makes one procrastinate and lag and drag. All while slowing down progress to near stops.
One has to be careful with the notion of perfection. Instead of getting frustrated that one hasn’t arrived at the highest caliber of attainment coined as “perfection” or “genius” one should use it as a measuring barometer to continue at improving. Perfection should serve as guide posts rather than the fuel for the engine to start and keep running until the journey concludes. By getting away from this illusionary path of perfection one finishes a passion project or dream pursuit with the highest of satisfaction. Perfection just like in character and behavior should prompt one to reach excellence and a job well done. Anything short of that–would be inauthentic in the creative process. So, I say: “Let’s aim for purity not perfection.”