Finish What You Started- The Creative Process pt. 9

Back in the beginning of April I wrote about the importance of finishing what you start, now come the end of May I’ve finally been able to follow through on that principal. This week I finished two painting and it felt as great an accomplishment as a graduation. There was so much of my heart that went into finishing these paintings, now that I’ve finished them I’ve come to a place of celebration. 


So much of the way our world is organized is to discourage from celebrating. Yes we celebrate birthdays and special occasions, and yes that is important and wonderful, but celebrating is not meant to be sequestered into once-a-year extravagant moments. The little things, the small moments are meaningful too, and deserve at least the pause of excitement. To truly stand and take in the excitement and pride that comes with even a small or first step accomplishment. 


I am often described as an old soul, I’ve been told that I look like I’ve lived much life, that I have an air of maturity. Sometimes it feels a great compliment and others it brings me to the conclusion that I must have many more wrinkles than I thought. So it feels as though it’s taken me a great deal of time to understand how important celebration is. 


Already the next day after completion my mind went straight to how can we keep going, what will we make next, how can we top this. I quickly stopped myself, took a pause and allowed myself the day to just be excited and proud of myself. It’s this funny little key I’ve found, a key to pursuing the creative process healthily. 


There is so much emphasis to keep achieving and keep creating newer and shinier projects, ideas and concepts. There is very little room left to celebrate when it’s always onto the next painting, or novel, or drawing, or sculpture. Celebration and rest walk hand and hand. 


I used to only take the break and would only salut myself once and then it was back to work. Back to the drawing board to find inspiration for a new painting. Now I chose to send the pictures to my friends and let them help me celebrate, not to brag, but to simply let them help me enter into the excitement of a job well done. Because I used to believe that being proud of oneself was prideful, being proud does not equal being full of pride. 


Finishing what you start is important for a number of reasons. When we as artists and creatives leave work unfinished it to leaves a process unfinished and unfulfilled. It makes space for a void that I believe creates opportunity for writers block its counterparts and the like. When you finish a project, whatever the type, it builds experience, confidence, and self discipline. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, or if you started that painting years ago, make the effort to come back to it and give it your best go. At worst you find a really good way not to do something.  

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