🍁 Art tips and tricks – Why You Should Create Imperfect Works 🍁

Introduction: A Rebellion Against Perfectionism

Art imperfect works can challenge world that demands near-pathological perfectionism from us, breaking free from routine is difficult. 
A quiet fear whispers that someone will judge us, that we received bad grades in school for imperfect work, that our mistakes were always criticized and punished. This toxic mindset cripples us in art.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen—we are so afraid of making mistakes, of creating something imperfect, that we stop creating altogether. We fear reaching for more, we fear trying new things.
That’s why I argue that

imperfection in art becomes a revolutionary act of freedom.

Artists have experimented with deliberate “clumsiness” for centuries—from Leonardo da Vinci’s grotesque sketches to modern memes. Why is it worth creating something intentionally imperfect?

1. The History of “Imperfect Art”
– Leonardo da Vinci – made sketches of grotesque faces and figures (often called caricatures), serving both as anatomical studies and exercises in imagination. Some are preserved in the collections at Windsor Castle.
– Jean Dubuffet and Art Brut – In 1945, Dubuffet coined the term *Art Brut* (“raw art”) to describe works created outside the official art world, often by children, prisoners, and amateurs. He valued it for its authenticity, freshness, and lack of academic constraints.
– Neo-Dadaism and Robert Rauschenberg – The American artist experimented with destroying and transforming works as a form of creation (e.g., *”Erased de Kooning Drawing,”* 1953). In his *Combine paintings*, he blended elements of painting, sculpture, and everyday objects, often altering existing pieces.

As Gerhard Richter once said:
“Art doesn’t have to be beautiful. It has to be true.”

2. The Psychological Benefits of “Ugly Creation”
– Frees you from pressure – When you deliberately abandon perfection, you rediscover the joy of the process.
– Boosts creativity – Random “mistakes” often lead to groundbreaking ideas (e.g., Bob Ross’s happy accidents).
– Therapy for uncertainty – Accepting “failures” builds resilience against criticism.
– Pure joy of creation – When you’re no longer afraid of the outcome, you start enjoying what you make.

3. How to Create Valuable “Bad Art”?
✔ The deliberate mess technique – Paint with your eyes closed, use dirty brush water.
✔ Experiment with materials – Mix paint with coffee, leave uneven lineart, blend salt into paint.
✔ “Destroy it” – Add tape to a finished drawing, tear it, spill ink on it.

Conclusion: Imperfection as Liberation
“Failed” works are often the most personal and daring pieces—ones that come from our desire to explore and experiment.
Art imperfect works let us stop punishing ourselves for mistakes and allow ourselves to create, discover, test, and learn from it.

Bonus:
Probably obvious to most, but I’ll mention it anyway—create while listening to music!
Free yourself from the shackles of perfectionism and allow yourself to create creatively, imperfectly. Reclaim your artistic freedom.