How do you deal with your perfectionism?

[aqua03]

Hey guys, how have you dealt with your perfectionism when it comes to your comics and art? Especially projects you hold close to yourself (Like Drachenseele for me)

I've gotten a lot better regarding my perfectionism regarding Drachenseele and the Dragoons characters over the past few months, but I've often times found that perfectionism and procrastinate on it to "Polish it up" so to speak.

I've also noticed that when I actually start to getting to seriously writing or drawing thins (Like rough thumbnails or the scripts and story plots) my mind tends to go blank and I sometimes even get bad headaches from trying to kick down that perfectionism wall.

Have any of you guys ever struggled/still struggle with similar problems regarding perfectionism in your creative projects? If so, how do you manage it so as to not let it get the better of you so you can produce your comic and pursue your creative goals? Especially if it causes you literal headaches at times?

Thanks again for the help guys, it really means a lot to me.

[snailienz]

I like to remind myself that a done project is BETTER than a perfect one. I can't show off my story if it isn't done. I can't get any feedback or readers if there is nothing to read. I could spend years micromanaging details but then no on would ever see it.

"Good enough" is often BETTER than "Perfect".

[ogjuic]

I turned my art style into something that resembles a rough sketch but it has too much detail to be classified as one.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I've never gotten a headache from perfectionism. Or from doing my art at all, and I put in a lot of hours. (If I do get a headache, it's usually only from not eating or lack of caffeine.)

That sounds kinda serious if I'm being honest.

But a lot of times when I feel overwhelmed, which does happen rarely, I either:
a) force myself to keep going anyways (this is usually if I have deadlines)
or
b) do something else for a little while, maybe even the rest of the day and come back to it the next day.

[aqua03]

That sounds kinda serious if I'm being honest.

Thanks for the advice in that regard. (I should just give myself more time for break in general with my work.)

Also, maybe it might be a good idea to talk with a health professional about those headahces. It's only happened once or twice, but still would probably be a good thing to talk about with someone just to be safe.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Yeah man...I'm not always the best example for a healthy work schedule in regard to my art, but take care of yourself.

[aqua03]

Thanks. I'll definitely try harder in that regard going forward. You take care of yourself as well.

[kmlangleyauthor]

Hypertension is a thing - so do take care of yourself

I try so do things as inspirations flows. So, sometimes I’ll have an idea for a sketch and do a SUPER rough sketch of it but not necessarily have the motivation to actually draw it right then. But I know I got the idea down so I can come back to it when I am ready. Maybe trying something like that?

And then, if you go blank, maybe have a 5 minute dance party. That way you’re not forcing yourself to do anything, you’re not staring at a blank page, and you’re getting those endorphins pumping (which could actually help a lot in the long run with positive association)

And remember that this is supposed to be fun? So what can you do to make this less stressful? Storyboard with googly eyes? Listen to a comedian as you draw? Play your favorite music? Listen to a podcast? Only eat your favorite snack after you’ve drawn for 30 minutes? Maybe have 1 or 2 non-artist friends who will go crazy and gush all over when you text pics of your rough sketches? (It’s a wonderful ego boost, honestly - I text my art to my sisters and they’re super supportive )

I think I’ve actually mentioned this to you, specifically, before, but scientists have done studies and to hit flow state (which is the BEST), you need to be working at

FOUR PERCENT EFFORT

That’s it. 4% - anything more than that is going to feel insane and overwhelming if you try to do it for too long. Obviously we all need to learn and grow, and pushing ourselves is good and healthy. But in SMALL bursts. Try to find that sweet spot where you’re getting results and not constantly pushing yourself to the point of frustration.

Random related side note. I don’t know if I ever experienced flow state until I started playing around with alcohol inks. They’re a lot of fun (and messy) and it’s hard to do anything except abstract art (unless you’re using a paintbrush). So I started using these inks that just do whatever they please to make this art that is whatever you want it to be. And it was amazing. Because I was finally able to let go of that “this is what it’s supposed to look like” feeling and just enjoy doing art. Abstract isn’t even my “thing,” really, but I absolutely love making those abstracts for the freedom it gives me. And after doing that for a while, I find that I’m able to work on other projects with a lot more leniency to myself. I’ll have more ideas. And more joy. So, maybe, try finding some form of something that helps you experience the joy without the expectation or fear of failure.

Sorry for the novel I just get really passionate about all of this.

[Jon_Gum]

Perfectionism is the death of creativity.

[carloswebcomic]

Deadlines.
If you have a deadline, perfectionism will go out the window.

[feuersichel]

Have you checked your workplace? Headaches also can start because of wrong sitting positions and unergonomical chairs. I can also get them, when I stare into the monitor for too long. It's recomendet to take a short bracke every hour to get up, strech and look at something further away. Your eye-lense had to bee in focus- mode (is that even a word?) for so long, looking at something distant can help alot.

Mind-wise I know that problem from work. Too much at the same time to think, even though I love it my brain tends to feel melted :'D when I started to do some sort of powernap, it got better. Ca. 10 min closing my eyes and forcing myself to think nothing untill I'm like: "now I feel good again".

I hope some of that advice was usefull^^

[Kelheor]

I don't. I struggle. It's bad for you, your mental health, your soul, your creativity.
But since I recently burned out because of it, I'll just copy what I already wrote in watercooler.

When making Harvest Night I did my best not to beat myself over not-so-perfect backgrounds and it was so hard, but then it kinda clicked and I even actually enjoyed the process of doodling them. So what if they not perfect, I liked drawing them.
I guess I just need to put a switch on my "I can do it better" and shut it down sometimes. Doing things imperfectly with love is sure better than jumping over your head to hop into the pit of despair.

When creating this story I referred to the other very popular and pretty simply drawn comic. I was looking at it and thinking "Yeah, it's not Miura's level. But it's good in it's style and was probably made 60 panels in 3 days or something".
I must say I am still not really content with how I drew the story in the end, but I finished it in short time, while being burned out and having no strength to even look at my work. I finished it, and it means so much more.

[feuersichel]

Also, you actually finished something only focusing on perfection tends to work not getting done or stories abandoned. I have 2 finished comics from childhood over 100 pages each. They look... Bad. Bad art bad story but I actually love them. Because it's something I archieved

[Jophiel]

+Ask for feedback (I typically ask for feedback when I'm stuck or even done bc what might be incomplete/unsatisfactory for you is complete for others hence overthinking)
+Do deadlines
+Take a day or two from the work you're focusing on too much then look at it again and decide again. Do another small project or really just keep your mind out of the thing for a day.
+Don't post everything
+Also try to surround yourself with growing people or a healthy environment (very important). We're all doing something at our own pace, everyone's in a journey.

[shfra13]

I have never experience headache from perfectionism. Please take care of yourself!

And, to answer your question, honestly, I still struggle with it a lot of time. I have never rid of that, really. But, for quite a while now, I drill my mindset with 'eff it, write it!' and get along with it. Letting my fingers do the writing while not caring about any messy wording helps quite a lot. I tell myself that I can always go back to edit--even after I post it--any time I want.

[thedude3445]

I procrastinate and give up on things early when they don't immediately pan out. (This is not the correct way to deal with perfectionism.)

[Kann]

I don't really know. xD If I cannot nail something perfectly while I'm drawing a panel, I just let it be and maybe just might come back to it later to fix things a little.

There are professional level authors that do things half-assed and tbh I don't think people will really mind as long as they enjoy the story.

[darthmongoose]

Have any of you guys ever struggled/still struggle with similar problems regarding perfectionism in your creative projects? If so, how do you manage it so as to not let it get the better of you so you can produce your comic and pursue your creative goals? Especially if it causes you literal headaches at times?

This would be a good thing to talk about with a qualified mental health professional. The amount of trouble you're experiencing with getting going on this project, the number of threads you make agonising over every detail and that you're getting headaches over it, to me would suggest there's a deeper issue here, like an intense anxiety attached to your work living up to an impossibly high standard you've set that might suggest some self-esteem issues, or possibly some trouble with executive function. You might be able to get some help or CBT for this. Usually when a person is struggling this much, there's a deeper, subconscious problem their work has become tangled up in. I often stress over my work because I tie a lot of my self-esteem to my creative output. If I'm not careful, I easily fall into the habit of thinking my ability to draw is the only thing that makes me matter, and it's something I try, with help from my partner, friends and family, to pull myself away from because it's very harmful to my emotional health.

All I can tell you is that your work will definitely not be perfect, but that's okay because none of our works are perfect! We all look back and go "urgh... I could have drawn that better" or "hmm, the audience didn't interpret this how I wanted them to..." but it's okay because so long as they're enjoying the overall work, that's the important thing, and there's always your next work to improve. I'm sure the creators of Avatar the Last Airbender, which a number of people have called one of the greatest series ever made, wish they could go back and change or get rid of that terrible canyon episode that nobody liked; everyone makes mistakes and that's ok!

[TheGentleArtist]

I follow the advice that my art teacher told me when I was in high school. Excuse the paraphrasing, "If you want to be faster in making art, don't take too long on drawing one detail correctly."

It helped in making my comic go faster since I can go put in what I need to put in, then circle back a bit to fix some details.

[scribesunlimited]

Nothing is perfect.

Perfect is in the eye of the beholder. You can think something is perfect, and there's always people who will say different. Remember what you're creating for: yourself. That's how you break perfectionism. You rely on yourself, and don't get jumbled thoughts of what other people might see. Art is done when it's done, in your eyes and in your heart. Focus on it alone, and don't focus so much on what others will see.