The Perfect Solution to Perfectionism 

I heard a saying one time ( Not sure of the origin) ' In the pursuit of perfection , excellence is destroyed.' It is still a battle though.

Perfectionism is stifling, be loosey goosey!

Well said. When I was dealing with a years long art block, it was perfectionism standing in my way. I was so dissatisfied with what I was making that I felt why bother making anything because it will be crap. I got tired of not creating. And I gave myself permission to do crappy art for a while. Believing eventually I'd begin to feel good about what I was creating again. It took persistence but I'm finally at a point where I'm loving what I make.

Your definition of what perfectionism is at 1:50 is absolutely the most helpful perspective I’ve ever heard. Thank you!

Perfectionism is boring. Who wants to be boring?

I had two strokes at 22, gave up on art until I saw your your video The Sketchbook That Healed Me , it made me see art in a whole different way and now I'm prolific

"We all make crap every day, if we didn't, we die, or at least be really cranky." This cured my perfectionism but made me laugh my ass off

This guy is the kind art dad I didn’t know I needed

Really needed to hear this today. Bought a wonderful new sketchbook with perfect paper and I stare at it. Open it. Fold creases so it’s perfect lined up to flow from one side to the other. Then shut it because scared to make the first mark.

I had stopped looking for perfection years ago. For one think there are not enough hours in a day to be perfect at everything. One of the appealing things about urban sketching is the fact that not only is perfection not required it is positively discouraged. The aim is to be loose with your art. A good cure for a perfectionist artist is to look at a sketch by da Vinci which I had the pleasure in doing several years ago. Knowing you will probably never reach that standard you will either give up or learn not to be a perfectionist.

Your opening describes me! I’m exhausted and sick of being this way! 😢

Eternal Thanks, Danny, I love your inspiration and soothing voice. Much Love 🙏🏾

Not only the video is very helpful but also your voice is very calming and kind of therapeutic if you ask me.

My drawing teacher, Mercedes Matter, knew Giacometti. Her husband, Herbert Matter, a photographer, took pictures of Giacometti. Ms Matter had the stories to tell. I read the Lord book just after publication, for the first time. I’ve seen the movie. The stuff of my dreams.

Perfection is when your parents judge you on your maturity no matter how good or bad you did.

I love these videos about perfectionism! They really help me since I'm a recovering perfectionist

Danny I am a fan. You are sooo deep into art. You understand. I love listening to you. You have made my art journey more bearable, fun and worth the while. Thank you so much Danny Gregory. You bring me so much joy

The timing of this video was perfect for me. I really appreciate that you take the time to make these videos for us. I try really hard to get my work about 80% of the way and keep my standards for my work low. This approach gives my brain a chance to relax, and it lets me enjoy the process of creating. It’s counterintuitive, but lowering my standards for my art is the thing that lets me do a better job because I’m not working towards a specific end result. It stops me from overworking the piece, and the truth is that if I didn’t do that, I’d probably be like the sculpture you mentioned who ended up with really skinny statues. Thanks for being a calming influence to my art practice, you’re a great coach 😊

Thank you very much for this video. I definitely suffer from perfectionism. It is something that I am working on every day to overcome.

Hi Danny ! Thank you for these little short videos ! I Always enjoy them and I like to have something to ponder about when I am in my thinking mode !! I have never been a perfectionist and I love things that have a little flaw as that makes them more special to me as they are unique ! I like kids drawings because they are never perfect and they always have that honesty in them !! We should be like them and just enjoy the moment !! One of the reason why ai enjoy Draw With Me is that we just join in a draw ....Thanks for you time Danny ! Always appreciate it ! Warmest regards to you and JJ...Lorraine 😁🎨

Sometimes your advices comes along at just the right time! THANK YOU!🦋🌟

Every artist needs to watch this video. Thanks for the Giacometti links, loved the movie. About to read the book.

i just want to say your voice is just so calming

Really needed this video- came to learn how to draw and left with some great wisdom

My brother! This is the video I've needed to see...for years. Just recently, I've realized that the opposite of creative perfectionism, at least in my reality, is creative fun! Bill Murray has a quote out there supremely relative to this topic. I write, I make Art...I'm a Creative. I've lived in this Creative Limbo for decades, with nothing truly accomplished (no dreams achieved). It all has finally started coming together, with a lot of pain, some heartbreak, a ton of prayer, and much determination and work. Thanks for doing what you do, brother. ** There will be no edits to this post. My ❤ to yours! Amen!

I love it! We all make crap everyday or we get cranky. It keeps perspective and humor. Thank you for the inspiration!

I get its because I have been there more times than I care to remember. The story of Giacometti was eye opening for me. Thanks Danny

Thank you this was Avery well presented video. It was really helpful and I really needed to put my perfectionism into perspective maybe somehow I can break out of it. 🙏🏼

I needed to hear this. I tend to tweak my projects. I'm a watercolorist and tend to "pick" at it. I'm also a quilter where I need the pattern pieces to fit the design. Transitioning from my hand quilting techniques to my desire to paint loose with my watercolors. I will try to do better of not being such a perfectionist.

it is really helpful I started as someone who didn't want to draw because I wanted it to be perfect but now I just draw what I see and it has become a passion so tanx

I'm so thankful I found you! ❤❤❤❤

I love it. Thank you!

Thank you so much

For me I begin,but I delete it right after. And it's silly. I'm totally improving! I'm eager to see my mistakes in the years. Those mistakes helped me draw realism! Now I'm planning to draw poses,make them look natural. In a few years from now,rewatch my old drawings will be so good. I trash away my old drawings...oh boy if I regret it! But now they'll never come back. Lesson learned. Almost. Still learning. Thank you for this videos ❤❤

Thank you.

Thank you

Thank you! Signed recovering perfectionist who didn't have an art instructor growing up!

"We all make crap every day. If we didn't, we'd die, or just be really cranky." This speaks to me on a spiritual level.

I have no trouble with starting I have trouble with finishing when it comes to making covers I am a perfectionist as a kid I sang for joy and I was never even caring how I sounded now my perfectionism gets in the way of ever getting covers done

Blessings from Poland 🙂

Im not even an artist but this was so useful to me.

I think this is my problem, even when it comes to writing. I used to write for fun, because I loved it but at the time, I wasn't thinking if it was good or not. But then I was burnt out due to the job I had and I stopped everything that was art/design/writing related. Now, every time I try to do something, I have a feeling it will suck and just stop because when I do begin something I try to make it as perfect as possible and if I'm not pleased with it, I hate myself 😭😭

❤❤❤ @ 11 Feb 2024 # 11:44 PM

The Old Masters making his great paintings, with Photoshop ? How they reach perfection ? Made choices and wondering what works with them.

nicely done I am 41 and my whole life and point to life is to be perfect. I and I am often fair more better then most people at most things. with me puting days and years into something. on the other hand I am life fuck it and wont even start some things..... all or nothing... is this mean perfectionism??. its so tireing to aim to be perfect.. I wont even bother on some points in life. nonething the work it will take. on others I will do so for the fun of it I enjoy the the trip along the way... thoughts?

I thought it was only me!!!

1:46

_"incredibly well"_ is nothing. Its absolute unforgiving perfection!

"just get over it" has a lot of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" energy. not everything can be solved by a quick 5 minute mind clearing meditation. Especially not most mental health issues. We see k more help because such an easy solution and mindset is still out of reach if the answer was this easy, we'd have stopped searching for help a long time ago.

This is happening to me 😢😅😅😅. I wish I could talk to you. I have been painting my background paint over and over. I am mentally exhausted and still not happy 😢😅😅😅.

The most ironical thing is, that everybody is looking for that loosy feeling coming from art :D so the easiest way is just at the END not giving a fuck :D Of course you give, but it comes with a procces

Me

I think I just realized that the chaotic sketchy mess that I assumed was an early work in progress is actually the final masterpiece. Art is ineffable I guess.

If you can't produce good work, there is no point.

Perfection does not exist 😊

So... it's ok to have a shitty drawing