Overcoming failure in the studio
Overcoming failure, mistakes, and setbacks seems to summarise my experience of creating Red Playground Derivative Squared 1 and 2! However, prevailing over these is simply a part of the creative life.
Dealing with pesky studio flops means, first and foremost, I’m human! Nonetheless, a good ol’ laugh seems to dispel any power these missteps have on my thought life.
Then I regroup. Sometimes, this means taking a break from the work, and then coming back, even if it is a few days later.
You can overcome failure, mistakes, and setbacks by transforming them into powerful boosts for your creative efforts by analysing them.
Let’s have a look at the flub-ups I made creating these works how I examine them.
Setbacks
Setbacks are unanticipated obstacles or realities that usually slow progress. Here are some questions to ask:
- What exactly is the set back?
- What contributed to the set back?
- Do I still want to proceed in the same manner, given the facts?
- How can I work around the set back?
Logistical Setbacks
For instance, take my camera and storage issues. Really! Please take them away!
Creating videos takes a whole heap of Gigabytes of data storage on my iPhone, iPad, and iMac. It’s an issue all content creators face. And it won’t go away!
Misunderstanding the way that my devices and external hard drive interacted with the iCloud storage system stifled progress. Organising is probably my least favourite part of this whole video pursuit, but, I’ve learned to tend to my data files on a daily basis. This is not purely art related. However, logistics of non-studio life do slow down progress in the studio.
Cleaning setbacks
Cleaning up after painting and drawing is one thing; then there is clean up after oil-based mono printing!
Monoprinting with oil-based medium requires a lot of cleaning after all that wonderful fun. Improperly taking care of this caused a massive delay in following sessions.
Pure ‘I’ll do this later’ setbacks
This was further underscored by discovering ink was left on the roller stamp made at the Sue Cooke print workshop a couple of years ago. Consequently, the rubber on the stamp disintegrated. Furthermore, I had to use strips of canvas to monoprint. They worked really well, albeit, they spread a lot more ink over my hands. Oil-based printing is tricky and final cleanup is tedious. Accordingly, there is no work-around. Monoprinting means I have to clean up really well!! Every time!!
Material Setbacks
Using oil-based ink has been rewarding and fun. Nonetheless, oil-based ink needs to set a week minimum before I can add more marks on or around it. Thereby, this delay calls for rethinking my approach to making videos of creating them.
Many abstract artists work with acrylic based ink and paint, because it dries quickly. Whereas this might be attractive to many, the workability of oil-based media and having the applied wet colour remain the same when dry is important to me.
(Continued below)
The Inspiring works
The derived works-Final
Useful Mistakes
The Oxford dictionary says mistakes are an act or judgement that is misguided or wrong.
Truth is, they are part of human existence. You just can’t get away from them, particularly in my studio. But, taking time to examine them can boost your creativity!
I like to analyse them by asking the following:
- What are the consequences, if any?
- What is the best way to continue?
- What are the lessons learnt?
My Mistakes
I worked upside down
I worked on “Red Playground Derivative Squared 1” upside-down, as shown in the latest video, which you can see by clicking here.
Other than possibly looking the fool on the video, the only real consequence is that the work diverged slightly from the creative path I intended. A simple error compelled me to do a work-around for the best work possible.
I printed with the wrong side
Yep! I did it again! On “Red Playground Derivative Squared 1” I applied ink to the wrong side of the monoprinting acrylic plate. Consequently, rather than take the time to remove the ink (you know how I hate ink clean up) I used it to monoprint the opposite quadrant, because I really needed to complete the work (and video).
The consequence, once again, was an unanticipated change. Importantly, does the mistake matter? Nothing changes except the trajectory of the finished work. The work may even end up better because of the blunder. It gives me an opportunity to improvise and play.
The lessons learnt from both mistakes is:
- pay more attention
- don’t take them too seriously because this is my year of play.
Now, is it really failure?
The possibility of failure strikes fear in the heart of everyone.
My late father, a self-taught English language and grammar lover, was probably right when he observed that the greater the number of synonyms or words used to describe a particular word, the greater significance that word seems to hold for people and society. Failure has a lot of different meanings.
I’m well old enough to have failed at many things. It’s an unavoidable consequence of living and making an attempt to do something. I am not, however, a failure. I have failed at many attempted aims. Failing is not failure. It’s just missing the mark. Mistakes, failings, and set-backs do happen. However, they can be dealt to if you make the effort to do so. Then you move on.
What failure is
Failure occurs only when you refuse to learn from the consequences of your choices and efforts. Failure is refusing to show up again after each shortfall. Failure is refusal to try.
Fall down. Get up. And don’t ever quit.
This printed admonition, lived boldly on the front of my refrigerator after closing my brick and mortar. Moreover, since that event we’ve ripped up and repaired half the floors in our home. With that project completed, still, those words urged me to continue even now. Faith and determination is requisite.
Overcoming failure, mistakes and setbacks is what I’ve done in the studio for over 30 years. Maybe that makes me an expert. Perhaps.
I aim to have many more years of overcoming failure, mistakes and setbacks in the studio because it shows that I’m still showing up!
Overcoming failure in the studio
How are you overcoming failure, mistakes and setbacks in your studio? Please let me know in the comments below.
Please watch the second and final episode of finishing “Red Playground Derivative Squared 1 and 2” by clicking here. Or click on the video at the top of the blogpost.
Further reading
I like Matt Gabler’s article titled, “The Power of Persistence: Success Stories from Renowned Artists”.
He writes, “Every artist’s journey is a unique blend of passion, struggle, and triumph. Behind the masterpieces we admire lies a story of relentless persistence and unwavering dedication. Many renowned artists faced countless obstacles before achieving success. Here are some inspiring stories that highlight the power of persistence and remind us that perseverance is key to turning artistic dreams into reality.”
Click here to read his post and be sure to checkout his dynamic abstracts.
