Fighting Perfectionism

art8dave · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 1333 Location: Sydney

Hands up anyone who's a perfectionist..

I am and I hate it.... and I think as I'm getting older, I'm getting worse.

I usually send canvasses overseas on the stretchers...this time I sent some large canvasses to the other side of the world rolled up and the framer has re-stretched them on 1" thick stretchers instead of 1 1/4 " stretchers, against my request.... and I have been beating myself up because they won't look how I want them too...

Yes, seems trivial, doesn't it Rolling Eyes

With everything else going on in the world.

Any tips on fighting what surely must be an illness... LOL

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

The guy that has stretched then on the wrong stretcher frames will have altered your composition slightly.
I can understand why you are annoyed.
We all go to great lengths to get thing just right and then someone thinks 'Oh it won't really matter"" but it does.
The main thing I worry about when someone else stretches my work is that they get the horizon straight.

Daniel

Tango · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1360 Location: Melbourne

Yes I have known the hell of it !
To handle it, is to know thy self, and you seem to be getting there.
You are not the thing you call your body or your brain or the thoughts that that brain puts out,,,,,, you are a small amount of conscious energy which we can call the conscious self which has found itself located in a body that has a personality with character traits, one of them being perfectionism, and when the brain becomes disturbed by imperfection it will generate thoughts in order to get the body to fix the situation and end its disturbed state, so when you ''The Conscious Self '' becomes aware of being bombarded by these thought you can divorce yourself from the drama of the thoughts and let them go ; it is just a matter for "The Conscious Self '' to make a decision not to hold on to or act on those thoughts, and in time the brain will learn that it is futile annoying you with them and stop,,,, and you will be FREE Very Happy

ocker1 · Joined: 27 Sep 2008 Posts: 775 Location: NZ

other than that , a bottle of Bundaberg works wonders

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

AvG · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 1912

Well said Tango Very Happy

Dug · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 4837 Location: Gippsland

I have never struggled with perfectionism

Almost exactly the opposite Very Happy

Re Bundy Rum I was fed Bundy at the age of 16 as a sea sickness cure on a fishing boat. It worked, to this day I have never again been seasick even in the worst conditions. but the mere smell of Bundy is enough to turn my stomach. Sad

pugwash · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 1380 Location: Perth

It is but a small step from perfectionism to CDO, which is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. (Only spelled alphabetically like it it should be!)

art8dave · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 1333 Location: Sydney

Thanks for the comments, particularly Tango's Wink

I was being a bit tongue in cheek, but I do find it a fairly regular irritant.

Not sure about perfectionism being a step away from becoming an Obsessive Compulsive..... seems like a very long stretch.... although !!! Rolling Eyes

...lol

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1053 Location: Queensland

Seeking perfection is my flaw. It is my ball and chain to creative block and struggle at times. But perfectionism is in my nature and unfortunately I can't escape it either. I think more than often it is my downfall as it doesn't allow me to be truely free and expressionistic with my creativity.

Jade · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:49 pm Post subject: Re - Fighting Perfectionism

I'm only a perfectionist when it comes to things like where on the coffee table my glass should be and how my pens and pencils aligned. I wish I could bring being more of a perfectionist to my painting...but the mere thought of it makes my mind begin to tremble in readiness for its imminent explosion should I even try it!

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

I find my perfectionist streak is only a part of my creativity... in the paintigs and that is about it!!
A little in other areas would balance me... but it isnt to be!
The housework still sucks!

tango... you summed it up!

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1053 Location: Queensland

Both artist life and real life for me unfortunately Sad