Failure is Informative
Yesterday I spent most of the day making failures. What I had hoped would be an enjoyable studio day of drawing and printmaking turned out to be a little bit frustrating and created no “usable” results.
One thing that’s important to remember is that artists (the ones who consistently try new things,) are always learning to use new materials. What most collectors and viewers don’t see is the painstaking testing that goes on in the studio. Every artist I know consistently works to answer basic—even boring—questions such as: Which pre-prepared surface is best for the paint I’m using? Why does this new paper behave differently from the last? Which eraser works best on this very soft graphite? How much water can I mix with this gesso before it makes the paper buckle? Which plaster sealant will give me the finish I’m looking for?
Material questions are very real for the artist. (I would go so far as to say these questions provide an artist with the sort of problem-solving skills that make them an asset to society.)
I ended my day yesterday feeling I had made no “progress,” as I was thinking in terms of production. In reality, that’s entirely untrue. I have to remember two things:
1. Failure is informative.
The failures seem to be even more informative than many of the successes. I finished my day yesterday knowing which inks and papers combined well, and which did not. I got some important understanding about setup, planning, and organization.
2. Being engaged in a creative process is never a waste of time.
As adults we have very few opportunities to engage in an activity for the sake of being engaged. Focusing on a process or material pushes the work forward, exercises critical thinking skills, and for me, allows me to be present with myself.
My work has always been process-oriented. For me, the steps it takes to get to a finished artwork are an important part of the work itself. A day of making, although it didn’t garner desirable results, provided me with another day of getting to know materials and being present with myself.
I hope you too can spend some time failing!
