"Mistakes are good" has been my personal affirmation this week. I wouldn't go so far as to say I like making them, but I do recognize that sometimes interesting and worthwhile things come out of them. Take this "Welcome Swallow" blanket I've been working on. It hasn't been going terribly well. A new printing method I've been using has felt messy and inexact. The ink colors aren't right. The spacing doesn't visually balance. Just....Bleah. No matter how many times I walked away and returned to problem-solve, I didn't feel happy with how things looked.
So, the good side? I've tried out a new (potentially time-saving) technique and found it didn't work for me. What's the point of saving time when I lose even more trying to fix mistakes? Or worse, saving time only to have a product that I don't feel as good about? Better to go back to square-one and do things properly (if slowly.) Also, now I have a new blanket for baby Aya -- one which I can continue to use to test colors, inks and printing methods -- I'm sure she won't mind.
I really like the "Welcome Swallow" print on the blanket, so I've scrapped this one and began afresh last night. So far, so good. Nothing like a new beginning, is there?
In other creative spaces (not mine, per se) Solomon is loving getting out the paints this week. It's awesome that this has become a mostly independent activity -- he knows his way around a palate and brush by now.
I love the colors he's chosen. These have been put aside for birthday-card making. Lovely!
Find more creatives and their spaces here on Kootoyoo.
13 comments:
Kid painted cards are the best presents! - I treasure the ones my nephew sends me.
Yes I will agree, mainly because I have made several this week. Your print is beautiful and the little guy is quite the artist!
the swallows are just lovely cute little painter there too huh!
well, I'm loving the swallows as is.
Beautiful paintings!
I have a hit prediction: the Test Blanket will be the bees knees. Random testings and techniques are just the ticket I reckon. MISTAKES ARE GOOD!
The process of creating can be trying at times - mistakes are good, so long as you have the time and patience to fix them
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Agreed, mistakes are good; it's all about figuring out how to fix them, when to walk away, and how to keep from repeating them! The new print is going well -- sometimes you need to figure out what you don't like to get to what you do. The first print certainly helped with that. So, all's well that ends well. xx
I;m always reminding my son that mistakes are just one of the ways we learn & that we need them to keep on learning.
I love your swallow prints, and those paintings are gorgeous (my kids will not let me give many paintings away!)
Beautiful blanket - I can't resist a birdie pattern. I would be a very sad and depressed person if I didn't embrace mistakes. I make them constantly because I am too impatient, too reckless and too easy going. I would love to be a perfectionist, but I know that they have their own troubles. Embrace the mistakes and realise that they make your work uniquely handcrafted and uniquely you! x
Yes, I am sure I'll be making mistakes (and lots of them!) for the rest of my life. And thank goodness, because that will mean I'm stretching my boundaries and learning new things. I think mistakes are just part of living -- it's how we deal with them that matters. Thank you all so much for your comments and encouragement!
Maxabella, I'm a total sucker for any bird design too -- I love the one you have.
xx
love the swallows, we all make mistakes and we learn from them. New techniques are the way to improve our craft even if they do fail you usually can bring something from it.
Lovely! Watercolors are best!
Post a Comment