“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”- (I don’t know who said this, but it wasn’t me.)
I’m always beyond flattered when people pay a compliment about something creative I’ve done. Honestly, I think I’m often not sure how to receive the compliment, so I try to figure out how to explain how I did it, or remove some of the credit just given…or something…I just don’t really know how to receive it well. So when several of you generous compliment givers out there have paid compliments on the bench post I did for today, I have felt a little funny..and wanting to explain how I did it to you.
And here’s what I told a friend who sent me an instant message about it all on facebook today: “I think the only reason I’m able to turn out something good in the end is because I’m not afraid to completely crap it up in the process.”
And that’s the truth.
My friend Laura, who I’ve told you all about before, did a post today that I didn’t see until just a minute ago (after I was already thinking of writing about this.) It’s where I got that quote above…the one at the top. And she posted a whole video of some guy talking about this very thing, and how kids are more creative because they’re not afraid to mess up.
That creativity is lost, not learned. What a concept huh?
Salvador Dali painted with squid ink a few times. Did you know that? He literally stepped his foot on a squid and squished it around to make a painting. I thought it was kinda weird when I saw it in Spain back in college (still do think it’s weird for that matter), but there was something really beautiful about it too. Maybe it’s just that often originality is beautiful. (I should note here that Salvador Dali did some wacky stuff…so he may not be the best example…I just thought of the squid thing to illustrate a point. But really, think of any famous artist…ground breakers. They did something new…because they redefined the lines of what was beautiful….what had been perceived to be beautiful up to that point.)
Anywho…I just wanted to tell you… thanks for the compliments, but the Secret to the Great Illusionist here… is just… Don’t be so afraid to fail at something that you never give it a shot! If you’re not prepared to be wrong or to screw something up, then you’ll never come up with anything original! So my advice to you is….whatever you’ve been thinking would be neat to try but you haven’t because you’re afraid you’ll mess it up, TRY IT! And if you mess up, just remember…
I want to see pictures of your next big project when you finish…or little one for that matter! Some of you might need baby steps, but if you’re like me, just grab hold of something big and have fun possibly ruining it! I think you’ll surprise yourself at what you can accomplish when you take the pressure off and give yourself license just to have fun trying!
Happy creating friends!
– Logan
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