The fear of making crap art
Are you afraid of making crap art?
If you, too, feel stressed out over getting back into the studio, perhaps not giving a crap about the outcome can give you the freedom you need.
Making crap art is essentially what I gave myself permission to do when I returned to my studio in 2023 after a crazy 10 month period of living in my home during an extensive repair and remodelling project.
Click here to read, “4 ways to overcome when life gets in the way of creating art”.
making crap art? permission granted
Allowing myself to make crap art was a way to get back into the studio because I had been away for a while. This was a way to be free from MY usual high expectations I’d had with my narrative realistic works.
So, I committed to making abstract work, not because it’s easy. It isn’t. Abstract is simply a change I needed.
In my heart I knew it was time to be okay if the results were less than spectacular.
Play is fun...targets are motivating
Play is fun. Targets are motivating
Lowering expectations helped me play and simply have stress-free fun. But having a target motivates me.
So, making 52 abstracts in 52 weeks and making videos about them seemed a good idea. Embarking on this quest was tantamount to allowing myself to make works that might end up with works I didn’t like.
Creating the equivalent of 1 work per week didn’t allow fussing over any one work, compelling me to make marks quickly and often. It gave me permission to create crap (less than my best).
Decision fatigue
There was one big problem.
I had decision fatigue from all the big choices necessary during the remodel, indeed over the past 4 years since closing my brick and mortar business.
So, I made two rules:
- Only use materials I had in my stash (plenty was left over from the business as well).
- All new work had to be inspired by previous work.
For Red Playground, primary colours were the only ones allowed so I couldn’t stress over mixing colours.
With these boundaries in place, I began making my Red Playground collection, which was inspired by my previous set of works, “Can Red Come Out to Play”. That collection, now complete, is the first fruit of that mission to make 52 works.
Click here to read “5 Simple ways to get new ideas from your older works”.
are they crap?
The big question now is: Do I think Red Playground works are crap?
The answer is not that simple. I do like some better than others. However, I appreciate the lessons learnt from making each individual work. I’m still processing my thoughts on them, to be honest.
What I DO like is that I’ve created works for this series that are well outside what I would have created even a year ago.
I like that I allowed myself to laugh and have fun while making them. I don’t think this could have happened had I not told myself that it is okay if I create bad work.
You can be okay with making crap art
How can you be okay with the possibility of making crap art?
You could do like I’m doing and go in whole hog! I’ve committed to 52 works in 52 weeks by 31 May 2024. If going whole hog isn’t your thing, I’d recommend you start with just one of the following:
- Stay out of the art shops if you have too many art supplies, and limit yourself to your stash on hand. You’ll be forced to make creative choices outside your norm. This is scary but fun!
- If you can’t face a blank canvas or blank paper because you don’t know what to make then use your previous works for inspiration. The added bonus is it’ll help you build a cohesive body of works. If you don’t have previous works, or want a change, play with simple geometric shapes. I found this step liberating.
- Find a target or goal to motivate you and make sure it’s challenging! Then make time to plan simple steps to reach your target. Then, work your plan. That’s what I did. I find it magic!
Feelings and action
Take action even if you don’t feel like it. I know it’s hard but you’ve got to battle those feelings.
Most of my artworks and exhibitions were created by overruling my emotions and circumstances. It never was easy.
It still isn’t. Many days I want to do anything but create art because of emotional burdens and interruptions from life. I often feel unworthy of calling myself an artist because of these struggles.
Choosing to make one motion forward every day, even if it is simple, is powerful. I’ve It gives you agency over your feelings. That’s what I’ve found.
Click here to read “10 Things I did to love myself this summer so I could get back to creating.”
See all the 52 works in 52 weeks so far
Click below
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Red Playground Series
