Process vs. Product

 Imagine this…
 
You’ve had a long day and finally get a few minutes to yourself. You decide to whip out your favorite art materials and get to making. No plan just play. Within minutes you find yourself in a groove. You’re making choices, putting this here and that there. You get lost in the process of making your thing. Your blood pressure drops, your breathing slows, and your mind quiets. You put your finishing touches, make those final choices, and put your materials down. You look at your creation and a smile erupts across your face as you honor your piece, and yourself for showing up and creating. You feel refreshed, recharged, and ready to tackle whatever comes next. This is the beauty and benefit of making and creating where the focus is on the process. 
 
Here’s another scenario…
 
You’ve had a long day and finally get a few minutes to yourself. You decide to grab your best art materials and begin to plan your piece. You know what you want to make so you get to making. As you work, you’re thinking about composition, color, and other artistic elements. You want your piece to look like what you imagine within your mind’s eye. You also want your piece to be visually appealing and engaging to others. As you get to the last elements you want to add to your piece you begin to review your work. You smile as you see what you created meets the criteria you set out for yourself. A sense of pride and accomplishment fills you. This is what happens when you finish something you set out to create, where the focus is on the product. 
 
Both of these approaches to art making are valid. Which route you take depends on what purpose art making has for you. I am here to advocate for the side of process though. I feel this approach is the most accessible to everyone. This way of making gives us the opportunity to quiet the inner critic and be more creative. It allows us to remember what it’s like to make art like a kid. A time where we didn’t judge our creations and had a blast making stuff because our creativity knew no bounds. 
 
I challenge you to make something this week. Doodle, finger paint, collage, color, make a beaded bracelet, work on a fuse bead project, knit, embroider, or grab some playdoh. Put on some music and just play with your materials. Follow your creativity and curiosity to see where it leads you!
 
Be safe and be well.

-Janette D. M.