"The Beauty of Imperfection: Why Drawing Picture-Perfect is Not True Art"

Recently, I visited the Tate Modern to view new artworks and read about them. While walking around, I stumbled upon a young girl. She was sitting on the floor, furiously sketching away, and recording every fine detail replicating a perfect copy of the drawing in front of her.

Growing up at school until the age of 16, I was only taught about art being this ‘picture perfect drawing’. To then, later on, discover this was not Art at all! Thankful I had a new art teacher after this who truly opened my eyes teaching me all about what Art really is.

Art is a form of creative expression that can take many different shapes and forms, and drawing is no exception. While there is certainly value in mastering technical skills and creating pictures that are visually perfect, this approach can often lead to a lack of creativity and imagination.

Many artists believe that the true beauty of drawing lies in the imperfections and flaws that make each piece unique. By focusing too much on creating a picture-perfect image, artists risk losing the very essence of what makes art so special – the ability to convey emotion and meaning through the use of lines, shapes, and colours.

Art is not about copying reality; it is about interpreting it and expressing it in a way that is personal and unique. When an artist focuses solely on reproducing an image exactly as it appears in real life, they are essentially limiting themselves creatively and missing out on the opportunity to explore their own unique style and voice.

Moreover, drawing picture-perfect images can also be a daunting and intimidating task for many aspiring artists, leading them to believe that they are not good enough or talented enough to pursue art as a career or hobby. This mindset can be incredibly damaging and can prevent people from exploring their own creative potential.

I personally experienced feelings of not being good enough to pursue Art when I reached the age of having to choose which GCSEs I was going to take in school. I knew drawing ‘picture perfect’ was not who I was as an artist but also knew my art teacher was the only one marking my art homework every week and that she would not give me a good grade unless I drew ‘picture perfect’. This lead me to a very frustrating time in deciding whether to pursue Art further or not but thankfully I stood my ground and went with my gut!

In contrast, embracing imperfection and using it as a tool for creative expression can be incredibly liberating and empowering. It allows artists to break free from the constraints of realism and explore new and exciting artistic territories.

Ultimately, art is about more than just creating a pretty picture. It is about conveying emotion, telling a story, and expressing oneself in a way that is deeply personal and meaningful. By embracing imperfection and focusing on creativity and imagination, artists can tap into the true power of art and create works that are truly extraordinary.

#BeautyOfImperfection#ArtisticExpression#EmbraceYourCreativity

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