TeachKidsArt

a resource for teachers & families

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Artist Birthdays
  • SHOP TPT
  • About
  • Contact
  • TIP Vault

Fighting Perfectionism? Picture This…

By Cheryl Trowbridge 3 Comments

Share
Pin
Tweet
Print
The Persistence of Memory by Salvadore Dali with Quote

“The Persistence of Memory” by Salvadore Dali

One of my lifelong goals has been to become less of a perfectionist.

They say that a goal should be specific and measurable. And this “goal” is neither of those. I don’t expect to completely conquer perfectionism, but just to become more and more okay with “not perfect”. It’s more like a target to be aiming for than an achievement to attain and be done with.

What’s so bad about perfectionism?

Perfectionism leads to procrastination. As I become less of a perfectionist, it should be easy to recognize my progress. Being less of a perfectionist should lead to accomplishing more.

Perfectionism can also cause major roadblocks – not just for artists but for everyone. It’s especially heartbreaking to see perfectionism in kids. I always want to urge them to abandon this toxic mindset before it becomes too ingrained in their personality. But how can I counsel them to resist perfectionism when I still struggle with it myself??

How to avoid falling prey to perfectionism

We need to adopt and model a new standard for ourselves and others… “not perfect”. We can still apply ourselves and do our best without adding the unrealistic expectation of “flawless”. Surrealist painter, Salvador Dali, famously said, “Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.”

To be a perfectionist is to procrastinate living life and allow your precious time to “melt away”. So, next time you’re tempted to give in to perfectionism, try this. Let this painting by Salvadore Dali be your mental image for what perfectionism will gain you. Here’s to “less perfect” and a lot more accomplished!

Here are 5 ways you can use ART to free your students from perfectionism…

Share
Pin
Tweet
Print

You may also like...

Default ThumbnailCreativity takes courage! Default ThumbnailEvery Child is an Artist Default ThumbnailWhat Is Art?? Default ThumbnailInspiration for a New Year

Filed Under: Dali, Salvadore, Famous Artists, Philosophy, Quotes & Stories, Surrealism, Tips for Teaching Art Tagged With: artist Salvadore Dali, perfection, perfectionism, philosophy, quotes

Comments

  1. Boomer says

    at

    The one great thing about striving for perfection is the things you learn along the way to realizing that you’ll never get there. Things you might not have learned if you were less obsessed.

    Of course,you have to bail eventually and broaden out. Best wishes on doing that.

    Reply
    • Cheryl Trowbridge says

      at

      Very good point about the things you learn while striving for perfection. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Wishing You a "Perfectionism-Free" New Year • TeachKidsArt says:
    at

    […] […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Never Miss a Post - Follow by Email

Find a ** FREE ** Lesson (Below):

  • Lessons Inspired by Famous Artists
    • Britto, Romero
    • Burch, Laurel
    • Calder, Alexander
    • Carle, Eric
    • Cezanne, Paul
    • Chagall, Marc
    • Chihuly, Dale
    • Dali, Salvadore
    • Da Vinci, Leonardo
    • Delaunay, Robert & Sonia
    • Escher, M.C.
    • Goldsworthy, Andy
    • Haring, Keith
    • Johns, Jasper
    • Kahlo, Frida
    • Kandinsky, Wassily
    • Klee, Paul
    • Klimt, Gustave
    • Matisse, Henri
    • Miro, Joan
    • Mondrian, Piet
    • Monet, Claude
    • O’Keeffe, Georgia
    • Old Masters
    • Picasso, Pablo
    • Pollock, Jackson
    • Pompon, Francois
    • Posada, Jose
    • Remington, Frederick
    • Renoir, Auguste
    • Seurat, Georges
    • Seuss, Dr.
    • Van Gogh, Vincent
    • Van Honthorst, Gerard
    • Wood, Grant
  • Lessons by Holiday
    • 100th Day of School
    • Chinese New Year
    • Christmas
    • Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos
    • Earth Day
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • International Dot Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • New Years
    • Other
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Lessons by Culture
    • Africa
    • America
    • Chile
    • China
    • Europe
    • Haiti
    • Japan
    • Mexico
    • Middle East
  • Lessons by Process
    • 3D / Sculpture
    • Bookmaking
    • Calligraphy
    • Collage
    • Drawing
    • Embossing
    • Folding
    • Lettering
    • Micrography
    • Mosaic
    • Origami
    • Painting
    • Paper Cutting
    • Paper Folding
    • Printmaking
    • Quilling
    • Recycling with Art
    • Sketching
    • Stitching / Embroidery
    • Weaving
  • Lessons by Medium
    • Acrylic
    • Clay
    • Colored Pencil
    • Crayon
    • Digital / Computer
    • Fabric / Fiber
    • Markers / Pen and Ink
    • Mixed Media
    • Oil Pastel
    • Paper
    • Pencil
    • Tempera
    • Watercolor
  • Lessons by Style
    • Abstract (Non-representational)
    • Abstract (Representational)
    • Cartoon
    • Cubism
    • Expressionism
    • Fantasy
    • Impressionism
    • Op Art
    • Orphism
    • Pointillism
    • Pop Art
    • Post Impressionism
    • Realism
    • Surrealism
  • Lessons by Subject
    • Abstract Design
    • Animals
    • Birds
    • Buildings
    • Butterflies
    • Cityscape
    • Color / Color Mixing
    • Creatures / Monsters
    • Cross
    • Faith
    • Elements of Art
    • Fish / Marine Life
    • Flowers
    • Greeting Cards
    • Hearts
    • Imagination
    • Landscape
    • Mandalas
    • Masks
    • Math with Art
    • Misc. Subjects
    • Names
    • Nature
    • Ocean / Seascapes
    • People
    • Portraits / Self-Portraits
    • Religion
    • Quilts
    • Scripture
    • Seasons
    • Sky
    • snow
    • Stars
    • Still Life
    • Trees
    • Words / Letters
  • … and More!
    • Bulletin Boards & Displays
    • Classroom Management
    • Elements of Art
    • Imagination
    • Inspiration
    • Middle School Art
    • News & Announcements
    • Philosophy
    • Portfolios
    • Product Reviews
    • Quotes & Stories
    • Supplies / Products
    • Teacher Workshops
    • Tips for Teaching Art

Follow me on
Teachers Pay Teachers

Support Teach Kids Art When you shop Amazon.com

TEACH KIDS ART IS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE. I earn a small commission when you visit Amazon.com by clicking through my site and make a purchase of any kind. This supports Teach Kids Art at no extra cost to you.

Click here to shop Amazon.com!

Related Posts

  • TIP #65: 12 Positive Affirmations for Creative Kids
  • Review the Elements of Art with a Beachball Scavenger Hunt
  • Make a Crazy Crown Craft
  • Use Art Postcards to Teach or Review
  • How to Have an Elements of Art Scavenger Hunt in a Painting

Copyright © 2023 Cheryl Trowbridge / Teach Kids Art · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Design by Laugh Eat Learn



We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT