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Blissfully
Restless
Learning To Understand The Dissatisfied
Artist In You
© by Carl
(CAKUart); all rights reserved
 It's completely normal for an artist to
feel dissatisfied. There is ALWAYS that element to an artist
when he or she feels they could have done a bit better… that
they could have perhaps put a bit more effort into it… or
probably should have concentrated a little more.
"Art is
basically made by dissatisfied people who are willing to find
some means to relieve the dissatisfaction" -- John
Chamberlain
This
dissatisfaction we often feel with our results
merely represents we are continuously striving to grow…and to
excel.
But I wonder if putting too much emphasis
on a "result" instead of on the "process"
predominantly causes this common dissatisfaction that a lot of
artists suffer from.
We often attach such high hopes with each
piece we create… almost as if we are half expecting it to come
to life and talk back to us. But we quickly realise that in the
end, when we are finished…it's just a painting.
So therefore,
it's important for an artist to focus on the value and honesty
that has gone into the work…and focus less on a result.
Don't be fooled by the "mirage"
on the horizon and the phoney perceptions of success, as it does
not exist.
Essentially there is no end when it comes to art. So,
avoid working in haste and be true to yourself and your craft.
I personally approach every new piece I
create with the mindset of a new beginning. In fact, commencing
a new piece helps to renew my focus and wash away the
association I may have had with the previous piece.
It wasn't always like that though.
Sometimes, on completing a piece, I would get so worked up with
dissatisfaction that I would go back to it and overwork it to
the point that the procedure became mind numbing and laborious.
I never really appreciated it at the
time…in that; I didn't actually need to find the finish line.
I didn't need to make it perfect beyond the point of it no
longer being able to connect to anyone on a visual or emotional
level.
It’s like someone once told me,
"Carl…stop painting when it finally feels wholesome… and
stop, regardless if you have or have not detailed the subjects
eye".
I am of the mindset that we artists need
to allow dissatisfaction to serve us rather than overwhelm us.
Dissatisfaction, for the most part, helps
to fuel our appetite and avoid complacency at all costs. To be
dissatisfied on nothing but a negative level, I
believe, is simply refusing to acknowledge what you truly are
– an artist.
Sometimes you simply cannot capture the
intensity of your emotional awareness on the canvas - which
could be likened to the idea that you'll never ever be able to
bring your painting to life.
So don't frustrate yourself. You
may not always be able to portray what you see and feel. But
it's important to remember that it is this very dissatisfaction
that will drive you back into the studio to keep trying to
express what ultimately moves your senses.
I think we sometimes
get caught up in the
idea that we will perhaps discover unconditional happiness on
completing a piece of work – but its not to be... not completely.
However, such happiness can be found in the actual process of
creating a piece of art.
If you ended up being completely
satisfied on the completion of a piece of work… would that not mean
that your purpose has been served and therefore you no longer
need to paint again?
It is indeed the habit associated to the
creative process that fuels the artist and not the end result.
Dissatisfaction pushes us towards natural
progression and change – the very thing an artist desires. It
is this very blissful restlessness that keeps us moving forward.
So perhaps learn to embrace the dissatisfied artist in you.
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