HOME | DD
StephenMcCranie — Practice Doesn't Make Perfect
Published: 2012-11-21 12:50:18 +0000 UTC; Views: 6566; Favourites: 405; Downloads: 57
Redirect to original
Description
This essay is easier to understand if you’ve read these previous ones—On Immersion:
[link]
On Failure:
[link]
PS. I want to connect with you guys! Will you follow me on twitter? I’ll follow you back:
[link]
Related content
Comments: 69
I completely agree, I liked to draw pokemon from pictures I saw but draw them in different poses. Needless to say they looked downright ugly at times but I got used to trying to create my own drawings rather than just tracing everything I saw
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah-- that's a great thing to do! It forces your brain to think.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This reminds me of back when I used to take karate, my sensei would say "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practices makes perfect."
But for me, I don't really believe perfection is possible for anything... with only one exception but let's not bring religion into this.
And while I think that perfection is unobtainable, we can still get to a level that is perhaps close to it (so long as we don't obsess over getting there and end up going about it the wrong way).
You are right, practice is a word that is often misread with this statement, it's trying that really helps us. Trying to set and reach goals, trying to raise the bar for ourselves, trying to learn new things about art and techniques from those who came before us, not just practicing the same thing over and over.
In my case, I'm probably more of a DJ (though I wouldn't say anyone fits into just one category all the time). The one question I always find myself asking when I think about ideas.... "What if...?"
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That's great-- "What if?" leads you many places.
I think you're right about perfection-- it's unobtainable (in this life at least) but should be strived after.
Thanks for the comment!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I find your vision on things so true, I myself am trying to become better at drawing things. And I can really recognize things that I find important in almost all these comics/lessons. And then it continues to build on that, further explaining and showing me what it means and why it's important.
I often just look these up, when I'm feeling a bit unsure about level of skill compared to that of others, and how it will affect my future in animation. But then I read these and I just get refilled on hope and get brighter ideas about my progress wich I've made.
I hope these can continue as long as possible, and thanks for the times these managed to get me to continue.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow, thanks for sharing that-- I'm really glad they help!
I've been trying to improve my drawing skills and it's easy to get discouraged-- I actually have to stop and try to take my own advice often too, ha ha
Thanks for the comment-- let me know if you have any questions about anything!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Again, this is so good! What bothers me about practice makes perfect is the perfect part. Artists shouldn't strive for perfection. It's the imperfections in art that make it our own. Instead, we should practice excellence with the excitement of a child. Art is an adventurous frontier. Mistakes lead to new discoveries.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I like the way you've put that-- being childlike and playful is important. I think we should aim for perfection-- but a problem we often face is when we become obsessed with perfection and can't stand to fail. It's good to be a child like-- to laugh at failure and keep going.
Thanks for the comment!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Romans talked about this as well. It's something that we don't give much attention to nowadays, which is a shame. It's fundamental.
Thanks once more for such an inspiring comic
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome!
Romans? Which part?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I was referring mostly to the fact that, in Roman society, imitating the work of the best authors was seen as a good way to become better in the arts.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh yeah-- they had the concept of "the muse" too I believe-- the idea that inspiration isn't on your shoulders but exists outside of you.
Good observation!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
this is one of the answers that many artists seek
great job,you´re admirable
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I totally agree with your way to represent the topic. Imitation and creating a self derivate version is a really rewarding way to learn. By the way, it's easy to copy the shell/aspect of a work , but the real learning is probably in learning the 'how' and 'why' of it. I like the frame with the representation of a technical plan of a vase for flower ( coming after a frame with a view of the same vase from the external ) because I think it traduce well this process.
Congratz and thanks for continuing sharing your comic.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome! Yeah-- it's important to focus on the "how" more than the "what."
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is so inspiring! I think I'm the scientist 
my username= inawish and sorry for the bad english
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks for the follow! Glad you like the comic!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0