Considering Perfection

This might come across as irresponsible to some, but seeking imperfection is something I strongly encourage everyone to do more often in their work. On the surface, this might sound ridiculous. But read along and let me know if you agree or not.

Be less strict about the quality of what you produce. Lessen the rules a bit. Ease up on yourself when it comes to the details. But don't dare do so unless you're prepared to substitute something else to create balance… a little heart and soul.

The Shredder

When I was young, I used to want to be the most awesome guitar player on Earth (youth's ambition has no limits). I was inspired by all of these amazing guitar gods from the 80s and 90s metal era. I would practice arpeggios and rapid-fire picking until my fingers hurt from the pain. The fact that I could never be as good as the artists I listened to just ate me up inside.

Being a great guitar player was never about being the most technically accurate. It was always about allowing the strings to tell a story powerful enough to make people laugh, or even cry. Many great blues guitar players already knew this. A few of them were even a little sloppy in how they played, but what really mattered, the real value in their work, was in the song itself.

The Illustrator

Taking another page from my younger years, I can also tell you that I wanted to be a comic book artist. A penciler working for DC, Marvel, or my favorite: Image. I used to purchase comic books based on cover art alone. I had my favorite artists (as many did) and would study the linework with great intensity.

That's all fine for becoming a better technical artist. But for the most part, an illustration or cartoon is drawn to tell a story. Regardless of the technique, it should never be drawn without purpose. To create a work of art based on technique alone becomes a hollow study.

The Designer

Finally, here I am thinking about design. Specifically, design for the internet. Sometimes, I fear that we worry too much about the execution of our designs with little time spent to address the purpose or meaning of the site.

Like the above examples, a proper point of view is to consider your work from the perspective of the audience. Do you think they're really concerned with rapid-fire guitar picking? Does it matter to them if the hero's arm has a strange perspective on it? What part of your site matters the most to the people reading it (emphasis on “reading”)?

Now, Be More Perfect

Perhaps perfection is actually in the essence of what we create. That some part of our souls find themselves presented to the world at large, preparing itself for whatever criticism or acclaim they might find on their journeys.  Once you know how to tell a good story, make time to go back in and clean up the details. Focus on getting better at making people laugh or cry with what you give them. Being perfect isn't about technique… it's about bringing your creativity to life.