As an artsy gal who graduated from college with a music degree. I know all about the technical and emotional {artistic} components of music. And I am thankful my strength lies in the emotional aspect as that is the thing that makes a piece soar. Without it, music sits lifeless, dead. One can master technical precision with practice, but the emotional component is either there or it isn’t. Well, I suppose with practice it can be learned, too, but you must be willing to draw the emotion out from inside you, letting it own the music. Do this and the listener is engaged. Technical perfection is exciting, but it alone won’t make the listener feel anything.
Isn’t this the same with any kind of creating? All creative endeavors have a technical and emotional component. Whether we’re playing music, writing books, decorating bedrooms or arranging outfits, we want the end result to make us and maybe others feel something. Perhaps empathy, joy, sadness, or beauty. It depends on the creator and her own style of art. Either way, I’ll take messy, imperfect art to emotionless art any ol’ day.
Any creating I’ve ever done – albeit music or writing or redecorating my living room – I’ve done to encourage. And on some level, don’t we all create to encourage? I want my writing to encourage your soul by bringing you closer to your Father. You want your music to encourage my mood by making me cry or dance. She wants her living room makeover to encourage her family’s spirit by giving them a beautiful, comfortable place to relax. Any way we slice our creativity, we desire emotional engagement rather than technical perfection.
Oh, and yes, we can certainly strive for both emotional engagement and technical perfection. And really, we want both to be as present as possible. But generally one of those things is not going to be a strength, and if I’m going to err, I’d rather err on the side of emotional engagement. Besides, perfection is just so…so exhausting. And perfection simply won’t make your creativity soar. Letting a piece of your heart own the project will.
What is your favorite kind of creativity? Do you struggle with making it perfect? How do you let that go so your creativity soars?
I have literally driven myself insane with perfection this week. I blame it on Spring fever.
I’ve heard that’s going around. 🙂
I love creating in so many different ways there are just not enough hours in the day to do them perfectly, although I do struggle with that. I love writing, graphic design, creating blogs, crafting, drawing (although not my strong suit), and my new favorite is pinning (as in creating beautiful pinboards on Pinterest – I guess this would be considered more of guilty pleasure). I thank God for showing me, after a very dark season in my life, that I was letting my creative self die. I now can’t get enough of it and find myself daydreaming all day long at work about my next creative venture. By the way, Erwin McManus has a wonderful, life-changing sermon series right now entitled Artisan, which is all about making your life a creative work of art. Here’s the link: http://mosaic.org/artisan (click the podcast link to view or listen to the series)
Thank you, Christina, for the podcast suggestion! I will definitely check out that series. Have you also read Emily Freeman’s series on art here: http://www.chattingatthesky.com/category/art/ ? It’s fantastic, too.
Here’s to letting our creative sides flourish, friend.
Yes, I love Emily’s blog. All of you (in)Courage ladies have such wonderful insightful commentaries and beautiful photographs and art. So encouraged by all of you. Have a blessed Sunday.
At this point in time, I creatively express myself in the kitchen. It can been cooking dinner for my family or crating a cake for someone, but I al truly passionate about cooking and baking. Of course, my type-a perfectionist personality rears its ugly head more often than I’d like… 🙂
Girl, what you create in the kitchen is my favorite kind of artwork. And I still haven’t forgiven the Air Force for not placing you in the Springs next. 🙂 Miss you, Jamie!
I’m a creative with a perfectionist streak. That makes for a crazy ride. I’m in the process of opening an Etsy shop creating wreaths, and I’m trying to let go of some of my perfectionistic tendencies. Not easy. I put a lot of heart in making wreaths, but I put a lot of perfection in it too. I want to make with quality, but not stress that hinders creativity.