Seek perfection in imperfection....

That's what I always tell my workshop students. They are so afraid of not painting perfectly, so timid when first starting out. I get it, it's really hard for us, especially living in Southern California. We have the illusion of perfection surrounding us constantly. I have luckily received the gift of seeing through all of it and embracing imperfections. I love them, I actually seek them out when looking for furniture pieces to paint. The more nicks, scrapes, and bumps the better. I know those pieces have a story! The imperfections add character that cannot be duplicated with factory made furniture.

I was flipping through the first few pages of Annie Sloan's book, Quick and Easy Paint Transformations, and came across this passage:



I thought to myself, "BRILLIANT!". I'm so glad she and I think alike, as Annie Sloan is one of the people on this planet I admire. 



The look and feel of Annie's paint, and the patina the waxes create are what I love. They don't require perfection. The pieces actually look better when you just let everything happen spontaneously. I can easily change what my initial intention was, without reservation, because the product is so easy to work with! 

So let go. Be free to create whatever comes to you naturally! No over thinking. Please, just try. Deal?

While we're at it. I think we can apply this philosophy of "seeking perfection in imperfection" to people also...

No, he's not perfect. But I bet he made you smile!