Art and Process: Cultivating Creativity Through Embracing Mistakes with “Bad Art”

The perfection monster. As artists we can sometimes struggle with the fear of making mistakes in our art making process, where creativity typically knows no limitations. Perfectionism can paralyze, restricting the natural flow of creation and suffocating the joy of artistic expression. However, it is critical to acknowledge that mistakes are a necessary part of the artistic journey that leads to growth, invention, and self-discovery.

Mistakes are not indicators of failure; rather, they are opportunities to learn and grow (fail—and fail better!). Accepting flaws can free us from the constraints of self-doubt and anxiety. We can focus on the process rather than the ultimate product if we recognize that what we call mistakes are natural to the process. Every stroke, every color choice, and every experiment helps to shape your artistic style.

Mistakes provide us crucial lessons that we might not have learned otherwise. When a mark doesn’t work the way we hoped it would or a composition fails to turn out as planned, it provides an opportunity to examine what went wrong and why. Understanding the underlying cause of a mistake can lead to advancements in skill, perspective, and creativity. Each mistake serves as a stepping stone toward mastery, improving your talents and broadening your artistic lexicon.

Accepting mistakes promotes resilience, which is vital for our process. The ability to recover from setbacks, learn from failures, and persevere in the face of adversity is critical for artistic development. We can gain confidence in our creative ability by accepting mistakes without self-criticism. This heightened self-assurance allows us to venture into unfamiliar territory, experiment with alternative mediums, and push the frontiers of their artistic expression.

Something I have been intrigued with is the concept of making “bad” art and it’s something I like to bring into my introduction 101 style classes. There seems to be a trend when someone first starts art that everything has to be perfect. In my drawing classes I hear “I don’t know how to draw” a lot—yes, that’s why we’re here…to have fun learning how to draw!  There’s also a lot of comments of “I want it to be perfect” and as we know the perfect-monster sometimes holds us back from actually creating.  So there are two types of “bad” art…that from the early, initial making years and one from being purposeful in the creation of making something look “bad” as a warm up exercise.  For this, we’ll be mostly focusing on the latter.

So, I like having a warm up practice of making “bad” art…purposefully choosing weird colors, picking materials that may not go together, or choosing subjects as reference that I’m not comfortable working with in my usual body of work.  I’m not going into this exercising thinking “end final result!”…I’m going into this as, as I often tell my students, to explore and experiment—and to do so without worrying about that final whatever (final painting/drawing/piece to post on social media/piece to sell).  This is just exploration for the sake of exploration.

Why make bad art?

Making "bad art" on purpose can be a freeing experience for us. We can liberate ourselves from the confines of perfectionism and self-judgment by setting out to create something purposely imperfect. This deliberate act of embracing defects and imperfections allows us to let go of inhibitions and explore our creativity joyfully.

Exercising in "bad art" is a fantastic warm-up activity. It assists us in breaking away from the paralyzing grasp of perfectionism, which frequently stifles the creative process. When we purposefully produce something flawed, we can allow ourselves to experiment without the burden of producing a faultless masterpiece. This act of creative defiance against conventional norms creates the path for novel ideas and surprising artistic breakthroughs.  And the best part? If you end up really disliking what you created during this warm up, you can either keep working on top of it the next time you’re In the studio or you can just gesso over it! I always keep a pile of these experiments for my collage process for layering. It’s a win/win!

Creating "bad art" can be an excellent warm-up for us, helping to break free from the paralyzing grip of perfectionism. When we intentionally produce flawed work, we release ourselves from the pressure of crafting a perfect masterpiece. This act of defying conventional standards paves the way for innovative ideas and unexpected achievements.

Embracing the practice of purposefully making "bad art" cultivates a courageous creative mindset. We become more willing to take risks, experiment with new techniques, and step out of our comfort zones. This reduction in anxiety can significantly enhance our overall creative output, allowing us to approach our main projects with greater confidence and bold innovation. By enjoying the exploration of imperfections, we can foster a spirit of fearlessness that influences all aspects of our work.

Deliberately creating "bad art" also promotes creativity and unconventional thinking. Allowing ourselves to produce work that defies traditional standards opens the door to fresh ideas and perspectives. This unconventional approach encourages us to challenge established boundaries and explore uncharted territories. In this way, making "bad art" can lead to significant discoveries and the development of a truly unique voice.

We can use the concept of "bad art" to stimulate creativity, overcome perfectionism, and embrace the joy of artistic expression. By intentionally creating imperfect and unique works, we not only relax and enjoy the creative process but also open ourselves to a world of limitless possibilities and innovation. So, the next time you pick up a brush or a pen, consider allowing yourself to make "bad art" and see how it can become integrated into your creative process.

Curious about making “bad” art? 
Try these out the next time you’re in the studio.

Blind Contour Drawing: One of my favs! Choose a subject (it could be a still life, a person, or an object) and draw it without looking at your paper. Keep your eyes on the subject the entire time. The result will likely be a distorted and abstract representation, embracing imperfections and emphasizing the process over the outcome.

Non-Dominant Hand Drawing: Challenge yourself by drawing with your non-dominant hand (left hand if you're right-handed, and vice versa). Embrace the shaky lines and unexpected marks that result from using your less coordinated hand. This exercise encourages spontaneity and embraces the beauty in awkwardness.

Collage Mash-Up: Gather a variety of magazines, newspapers, and other printed materials. Cut out random shapes, objects, and textures without any specific plan in mind. Then, create a collage by combining these elements in a haphazard manner. Embrace the chaotic and nonsensical nature of the composition.

Color Palette Roulette: Close your eyes and randomly select a few colors from your palette without thinking too much. Challenge yourself to create an artwork using only these chosen colors. Embrace unexpected color combinations and let go of the need for harmonious palettes. If you work digitally, try some random generations via a color generator like Coolors.

Drip and Splash Painting: Let loose your inner Jackson Pollock. Experiment with dripping, splashing, and pouring paint onto your canvas or paper. Embrace the randomness of the drips and splatters. You can tilt the surface or use different tools to guide the flow, but avoid trying to control the outcome too much. Let the paint interact freely.

Overlapping Continuous Line Drawing: Draw a continuous line without lifting your pen or pencil from the paper. Allow the lines to overlap and create a messy, tangled composition. This exercise challenges your hand-eye coordination and embraces the beauty in the organic and chaotic nature of the lines.

Found Object Stamping: Collect various everyday objects with interesting textures (e.g., bottle caps, sponges, leaves) and dip them in paint. Use these objects as stamps to create a textured and unpredictable pattern on your canvas or paper. Embrace the irregularities and imperfections in the stamped impressions. This is another of my favorites from my classroom…check out my pinterest board on markmaking with non-traditional tools.

Freeform Watercolor Blooms: Wet your paper thoroughly with watercolors and drop different colors onto the wet surface. Tilt the paper and let the colors blend and create organic shapes and patterns. Embrace the natural flow of watercolors and enjoy the unpredictable blooms and gradients that occur.

When you purposefully make "bad art," you give yourself permission to break free from the constraints of perfectionism. These exercises offer a safe haven where you may let go of the pressure of producing flawless work. By accepting flaws, you provide room for experimentation and spontaneity in your creative process. These exercises allow you to explore without fear of perfection which can help in developing a resilient mindset as you learn to adjust to unexpected situations. You gain problem-solving abilities and the ability to confront artistic obstacles with confidence as a result of these trials.

Leaving your comfort zone becomes second nature, allowing you to take risks without hesitation. Approaching these exercises with a playful perspective instills delight and wonder in your art, reviving your passion for the creative path. In the end, purposefully creating "bad art" becomes a wonderful tool for not just improving your talents but also nourishing your creativity, resilience, and confidence in your artistic undertakings.