Why Done Is Better Than Perfect

Join me for the conclusion of the mini sketchbook tour and some thoughts on finishing things.

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this sketchbook journey before diving into Part 3 below!

Last week I talked about The Soggy Middle stage of projects, which admittedly, seeped into this final batch of sketches I’m going to share with you today. I was running out of ideas! My fun challenge of filling each page with a landscape-ish type drawing encapsulated in some kind of shape was losing steam! What other fricken shapes even are there?!

Running out of ideas was exactly what forced me to create some of my favorite drawings at the very end. I had already done several variations on ovals, triangles, circles, blobs, mountains, etc. By exhausting all the obvious options, I had to move on, and eventually I explored glassware, animals, and plants!

Whew! There are some real iffy ones in this batch (I blame the soggy middle)! But by the time I drew the bird, I followed a new track that I think was much more interesting! This tiny sketchbook is a nice reminder for me that my delight in finishing something overrides the fact that they aren’t all gems. I struggle with this, but it’s true: Done is better than perfect.

In my opinion, finishing a project has 2 main confidence-boosting benefits:

1. Proof that you can problem-solve: When you push yourself to bring something to the finish line, you realize you have way more ideas and more ability to problem-solve than you initially thought. Why? Because you had to! So you did.

2. Proof that you can persevere: When you give yourself tangible proof that you can follow through, you build trust in yourself and fuel your ability to take on the next project.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for being here! It truly means the world to me. In case you missed it, two weeks ago I shared a free art print download with ALL subscribers. Check it out here.

This week, paid subscribers get another art print in the series that looks like this:

Here is the complete set of 6”x6” art prints inspired by these sketchbook drawings! Become a paid subscriber to access all four below.