I still remember so many conversations from my “baby calligrapher days” when I allowed that P word to dominate my practice…. I was not referring to practice, that is the GOOD P word.
P-E-R-F-E-C-T
OR
P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N-I-S-T
I have been very intentional to not allow my “inner perfectionist” to keep me from succeeding after I really wrapped my head around the importance of your mindset and approach when learning something new. I was also intentional to allow that part of me to exist because I also felt that pretending it was not a part of who I am was dishonest. The result was personal growth that started in calligraphy and bled into other areas of my life… something I will forever be grateful for.
I put together a project today and recorded it but I thought that the message behind it was worth sharing in the community early. If you look at the photos first… you would probably never believe me when I said that I wanted to start over within the first 4 letters that I wrote!
You will see that I smeared the light green p and it took EVERYTHING within me to still push past that word. I reluctantly continued to execute the “plan” and felt the awkward letters that didn’t match my brain’s idea making it even harder to not let “perfectionist the critic” to take over.
So add more styles…. when they felt awkward I decided to go all in and write on top of different versions using calligraphy or any hand lettering…. Don’t look for guidelines…..
LET IT GO ELSA!
Even looking at the paper before wrapping, I can see what I was not happy with. I also acknowledged it will be unwrapped tonight and discarded in the trash with the other wrapping paper, it was not a piece of art that would hang in a frame on a wall. Using the Tombow dual brush pens that I love to hate is an additional personal win. Find ways to turn your practice into something that will make someone else smile. Embrace the chaos and go with it.