Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Embrace Your Mistakes

Texas artist Qiang Huang writes a blog about painting. He paints every day and many of his paintings are experiments, since he sets about to test colours and values. Sometimes a painting will work, often it doesn't. He says of these so-called failures that that it isn't the painting that's not working, but the theory. "Having wrong theories is very common in research. That is why experiments are so important."

So instead of beating himself up about what isn't working, he looks at it this way.

"You should congratulate yourself if you see problems in your painting, because you have caught the problem, it is no longer hiding, so you are half way to success already."


The same could be said of your writing.

Or your relationships.


Actually, it's a good lesson for life.

Thus endeth the lesson.

I could expound.

But I'm going to make oatmeal scones and tea instead.

And there is nothing you can do to stop me.

6 comments:

Scarlett said...

Mmmmmmm... scones!

Nice lesson. So true! I was just talking about something similar in comments the other day. My seventh grade art teacher told me, "There is no such thing as a mistake in your art. (She was speaking of Batik, but I like to think of her advice when I write.) There is Always another way around. You simply must be willing to look at it from a different perspective."

Anonymous said...

Here am I, so impressed that you were baking scones at 5:17 a.m.

Were you up very late or very early?

PyjamaPants77

A Novel Woman said...

Neither PJPants, I simply set the time code without looking so it would post this morning. And I haven't started the scones yet. They're to go with the cream of cauliflower soup I'm making for dinner and they taste better warm and fresh. It's snowing mad dogs outside, so soup and scones pretty much beg to be made.

Debby said...

Oh, now, I've given you a recipe for pepperoni rolls. The very least you could do is provide a tutorial on oatmeal scones.

(I wouldn't dream of stopping you. From making them OR inviting me, either one.)

A Novel Woman said...

Debby, I will do so tomorrow. And I'll take a photo if the boys leave any behind.

By the way, I made your pepperoni rolls. They were a big hit with the guys, but I thought the bread came out a bit tough. I used a pizza dough recipe so maybe next time I'll use a softer dough recipe. And mine were big. You need to take a photo of yours, in your hand for perspective, so I know how big to make them. Mine were like long calzones! And they leaked cheese! Obviously the point of all this is that you'll have to make them for me...

Ev Bishop said...

I loved the lesson.

And I'm going to steal your scone recipe. Very excited! :)