As Art teachers, we have experienced many emotional breakdowns from our students. Most stem from perfectionism, fears and insecurities. There’s something about opening up the right side of the brain that releases a myriad of emotions. This is the struggle with perfectionists in art and the heart
There are the good emotions like joy, happiness, relaxation, but then there’s also the ones that wreak havoc on a person’s ability such as fear, insecurities and perfectionism. These emotions can block creativity.
We can’t tell you how many kids from high school down to 4 years old would cry or fall prey to the comparison bug.
The very definition of insecurities is lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt.
Insecurities block not only creativity, but they block us from seeing the amazing creation we of God and can influence our way of thinking or purpose in life.
You see, what you say about yourself leads to what you begin to believe. What you believe about yourself leads to how you will live your life.
When you look at other people or influencers and compare your life to them, you see their life as “perfect”. The other side of the fence must be a perfect place to be and you aren’t there.
So when you look at the other person’s life you will see your life hasn’t reached the goal.
You aren’t pretty enough, thin enough, smart enough, blessed enough, or talented enough. You have compared yourself to the other person in some way and found that you are not enough.
Then you begin to say that you are not enough, believe you are not enough and live life never reaching where you need to be.
That same insecure comparison and imperfect bug bites kids everyday. We see it in Art classes and hurt for the kids who feel they or their artwork is “less than”.
Many kids (and even adults) compare themselves or their work to someone else. In other words, they are using someone else as their measuring stick.
When we look at someone else or their artwork and find ourselves not measuring up, we are seeing “them” as what we are to achieve. They are they goal. That person or their work is the “perfect” target to reach.
As Art teachers, we first thought it was only teenagers struggling with their artwork or looking at someone else’s art and feeling lacking or less than. But no, it was every age and in every class.
Some kids in our Art classes would breeze by and not be hit with the perfectionist or comparison struggle in certain lessons, but each week as we changed the medium or the assignment, we saw everyone falling to the same insecurities. It was just a different day.
But it didn’t stop with kids. When we teach ladies or mom art nights, we see this same insecurities, perfectionists and comparison struggles.
It was then that we realized we were dealing with something much bigger than a piece of art… we were dealing with the heART.
There are different situations and conditions that a perfectionist term is used. We are discussing the need to be perfect in achieving or reaching expectations we place on ourselves and in our artwork and the insecurities that can block creativity.
Let’s look at how comparing yourself to someone else whether it is as a person or their work is setting you up for feeling less than and not seeing your own God given creativity.
According to the Webster’s Dictionary, perfectionist:
Don’t you love when a word is defined by using the same word you were trying to define? What is “perfect” then if a perfectionist adheres to perfectionism?
Perfect:
Now we’re getting somewhere with the definition. Perfect is to be complete and finished, flawless and faultless.
No wonder so many people are struggling to find perfection in their work, art or self.
Humans measure themselves everyday. We measure our weight, body fat and water intake. We measure our skill abilities, our career status and our wealth. On a more personal level, we measure and compare what we have, do or achieve with another human being who is most likely measuring themselves to someone else too!
Filter, Photoshop and video editing allow us to cover up the imprecations and appear perfect. At first glance it does the job. But then you look at Instagram feeds, Facebook posts, magazine covers and other media and you will begin to see people start looking alike. Flawless skin, perfect bodies and Pinterest worthy homes will feed your insecurities because you are not like them.
You were not supposed to be.
There is nothing wrong with being inspired, but when it feeds your insecurities, you need to reevaluate your thinking.
God created you to be you, not someone else.
Your Creator designed you to be who you are and with a purpose to be like Him, not like them. You were not created to blend in with the rest of the world, but to stand out and display who He is.
If “perfect” is your goal, the expectation to be flawless and faultless is impossible without Christ. Because only Jesus was the spotless, perfect and faultless person to walk the earth.
It is only in Christ that we can be complete, flawless, faultless and holy.
Rather than looking at someone else, their life or their work as the goal to achieve or be, we should be looking to Jesus and become more like Him…..renewed in the image of our Creator.
Rather than striving to be the world’s definition of perfect, which in unattainable, we should seek to be pure. There is only one source for a pure heart, and that is from God.
God the Creator is able to create a pure heart in us. We just need to ask.
He can not only create a pure heart, but He can also renew us in our spirit.
So how does this perfectionist concept apply to Art?
Art is an expression of using our creative gifts from God.
One story that best illustrates struggles with perfectionism was a student we will call M. We had given the entire class an assignment to mix the primary colors to create secondary colors and then paint Matisse Goldfish painting.
M spent the whole class mixing the paint to create the most perfect and exact colors to match the Matisse painting. When the clock showed class time was over, M melted into tears because he had not painted the painting. Instead, he had mixed his colors beautifully, but didn’t have time to paint.
● He was frustrated that he did not have time to paint.
● He was upset that his paint would now be useless because he was unable to paint.
● He was devastated that he had worked so hard and his efforts were unused.
Now M was a young teenager who normally was cool, calm and collected. This art project overwhelmed his perfectionism, the goals he has set for himself and his need to get the colors perfect.
Remember, the very word “perfect” means to be complete. M did not complete the assignment for that class.
So what do two Art teachers do when a child is breaking down and needs his heart ministered to? We tell him to go home and throw paint. The class assignment was not about the final artwork or how the paint was applied. It was an assignment on mixing primary colors to achieve secondary colors and having fun painting.
He did that perfectly! (You see what we did there?
To help him through the overwhelm and disappointment, he needed to find a way to creatively step out of the logical side and move to the creative side. How the paint is applied to the canvas is not as important and working through the struggle.
M went home and with the help of his mom, found multiple ways to get perfectly matched paint on a canvas…from at least 5 feet away. He was of course outside. We would never condone throwing paint indoors. (Well maybe not)
M had an amazing time with his mom throwing the colors onto a canvas. His painting was finished, perhaps a little different than he originally planned, but complete. The experience set him free at that moment from perfectionism and released his creativity.
This moment was one of our top 10 as teachers.
Let’s remember what the word “perfect” means.
to be complete, flawless, faultless,
Now apply the heart meaning to your creativity and Art. If God can make something beautiful out of a mess, you can too.
You do not need to focus on the perfectionist part of your artwork resulting in a creative meltdown, comparison to someone else or feeling less than.
Instead, allow your inner creative child permission to play.
Permission to make mistakes in art.
Permission to be messy.
In our opinion, there are no mistakes in Art…. only creative fixes!
Help children understand and remember God’s Word through creative, hands-on art projects. These lessons connect Scripture to visual reminders, helping truth sink deeper into their hearts.
These are symbolic, meaningful art activities that focus on faith, reflection, and spiritual growth. They’re simple, visual, and perfect for families, classrooms, or personal quiet moments with kids.
Examples include:
Visual reminders of God’s promises
Faith-building projects
Scripture-based creative prompts
Identity in Christ projects
Includes:
Flowers
Trees
Insects
Space
Landscapes
If you’re ready for simple, meaningful Bible + art ideas every month, come join us inside the Remember’s Creative Library.
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