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Jennifer M Potter's avatar

Love that 60% rule! I'm more of an 80-90% person, too, but I like the idea of having a "good enough for other people" standard to guide me.

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Ella Beech's avatar

Hey Jennifer!! Glad I’m not alone! And that I’ve given you an extra helpful measurement too! 🙌

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Jazz Islam's avatar

I found this really helpful, thank you!

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Ella Beech's avatar

So glad! 🥰

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Verity Harrison's avatar

Thank you for this Ella.. so inspiring and so many things here that I can identify with... that faffing is OK (I'm a professional faffer too) and that 60%.. I remember when I was just getting started on my illustration journey and a friend gave me that very sage advice .. he literally told me to write 80% in big numbers on a piece of paper and pin it to my wall .. and then said that's where you've got to get to.. no more than 80% happy with what you've done because chances are you'll kill the piece off if you try and get to 100%.

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Ella Beech's avatar

I replied to your reshare (thank you!!) but posting my reply here too!

I LOVE this Verity! Thank you!! Such a brilliant thought… that last percent you aim for will most likely kill all the good stuff we like in art! I’m a big believer in happy accidents, and slightly discordant art (in music as well!). Probably more important than ever in the face of AI development! Thanks so much for sharing this! X

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Verity Harrison's avatar

Ah thanks Ella! I’m also a great believer in happy accidents… the first piece of design work I ever sold while I was still a student was the result of a process that went wrong. That was over 30 years ago… and weirdly I never tried doing it again… now I might!

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Ella Beech's avatar

Ooh! Good idea! Hope it goes well/badly 😉

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Katy Alston's avatar

Thanks Ella a wonderful read! Yes a faffer here too!✔️

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Ella Beech's avatar

Hey fellow faffer! So happy you enjoyed and I hope you see this as permission for some extra faffing! X

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Eugenia Ellanskaya's avatar

Loved reading this one. What an inspiring post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and tips. As a fellow faffer I feel like I now have a permission slip to faff away all I like before getting stuck in. I've always felt so guilty about it!

I have an itch to make things perfect and at this stage I find it so important to just do stuff consistently. I'd rather create imperfect art than not make it at all.

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Ella Beech's avatar

You have your permission slip now - I hope it helps! And I think imperfect art is just as important as so called “perfect” art! So glad this resonated! xx

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Carys Wright's avatar

Love this Ella. Thanks so much for sharing! I’m glad you decided to be you ❤️

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Ella Beech's avatar

Ahhh!! That’s so lovely - thanks Carys! X

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Nanette Regan's avatar

Excellent post Ella! Thank you for sharing those ideas. The 60% rule is such a good idea, I’ll have to have a think about my number, weirdly it’s pencil stage that I find most “emotionally difficult” so I might set a different percentage for that! Guilt is with me all the damn time, so it was really good to read how you made your peace with it! xx

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Ella Beech's avatar

Oh yes!! I find pencils really hard too!! Although it can be such a nice stage too. I’d love to know what number you come up with! X

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Tor Freeman's avatar

A lovely read Els, and the 60% idea is great! Xx

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Ella Beech's avatar

😘

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Polly Noakes illustration's avatar

Great read Ella, as a faffer too it resonated. X

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Ella Beech's avatar

Fellow faffers unite! 💫

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Jesse Breytenbach's avatar

Oh, "what do I think I should do?" That's a really good way to articulate the nudge I often need to give myself when I wander into that vaguely anxious state halfway through a drawing. Thank you! I've put it on a post-it above my desk, for emergencies.

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Ella Beech's avatar

Brill!! I have post-it’s all over my wall and computer - so glad it was helpful! X

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Tara Tayyebi Fard's avatar

This was such a joy to read! Really interesting to learn more about your creative journey. I'm only a newbie compared to you, but a lot of what you've written resonates with me deeply.

Thank you so much Ella!

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Ella Beech's avatar

Hey Tara! I’m so glad it resonated with you! Such a pleasure! Xx

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Jackie McCann's avatar

Some (most?) of this works for writing too. Thanks Ella!

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Ella Beech's avatar

Oh yes! Hope they inspire some helpful ideas for you too! X

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Anna Wilson's avatar

These are all so true Ella! I particularly like the idea of letting feeling 60% okay with something as success! I find it so hard to feel good about my work, so I'm going to try this. xxx

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Ella Beech's avatar

Ooh! I hope it works, lovely Anna! X

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Jo Berry's avatar

This is so interesting, thanks for sharing!

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Ella Beech's avatar

I’m so glad you found it interesting Jo! What helps with you, do you think? X

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Jo Berry's avatar

For me right now it’s a case of managing my own expectations. So I just promise myself that every time I get the chance to open a sketchbook I will put pencil to paper, even if just for 2 mins! Everything you say about perfectionism definitely rings true for me too

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Ella Beech's avatar

That’s another brill tip! I think making, even for 2 mins, makes a difference! And it often leads to more than 2 mins! X

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Jo Berry's avatar

Totally! X

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Sonya Hammond's avatar

I totally agree with perfectionism being a weakness. It can stop a lot of wonderful work from becoming a reality! I love the 60% rule. That’s a lovely way to overcome it!

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Nai Morris's avatar

It’s so true! 😄I always try too hard over my illustrations but more recently I realised my favourite pieces or picture books are the ones that I had the most fun with. 🖌️

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