Sorry guys, I need a minute:  We’re doing this project for Environmental Design where we’re supposed to make sculptural pieces that resemble a letter of the alphabet (T, in my case), somewhat inspired by Fletcher Benton’s sculptures (as above). Through this process, it has come to my attention that I AM HORRIBLE AT THIS. I have had 20 minute staring contests with the letter T. I’d like to say I’ve slaved over exhausting every option, but the problem is I can’t seem to even THINK of the options. Where other people dove in and started chopping up paper and “having fun with it” (god I hate the phrase “have fun with it”), I just stared and then clumsily cut out a few Ts to stick together. Then I stared at what I had done and thought, well, that’s stupid, I suck at this. Then I stared at everything some more. I’m not sure what it is about 3D that makes my brain screech to a halt. Maybe I’m truly not good at it; maybe my design-brain just doesn’t extend into the third dimension, and there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s what I’ve managed to convince myself, in any case. But it’s possible, I suppose, that I actually CAN do this — it’s just the fact that I have decided I can’t that’s hindering me. Logic-brain chooses option two, catastrophizing-crazy-brain chooses option number one.  What’s most distressing about this whole thing is the idea that I’m the kind of person who throws her hands up and backs away from a challenge. I don’t think I am that kind of person when it comes to design, but apparently I have my limits, and that’s not good. It makes me wonder how much generalized “creative block” originates in lack of self-confidence. A whole lot, I think. We want to attribute it to some mysterious curtain that falls between us and our creativity, something out of our control. Either that or it’s a lack of “inspiration,” which we can blame on the world — Inspire me, world! Why are you so boring! But obviously, the real source is within. Creative types and designers, how do you get over these kinds of hurdles? 

Sorry guys, I need a minute: 

We’re doing this project for Environmental Design where we’re supposed to make sculptural pieces that resemble a letter of the alphabet (T, in my case), somewhat inspired by Fletcher Benton’s sculptures (as above). Through this process, it has come to my attention that I AM HORRIBLE AT THIS. I have had 20 minute staring contests with the letter T. I’d like to say I’ve slaved over exhausting every option, but the problem is I can’t seem to even THINK of the options. Where other people dove in and started chopping up paper and “having fun with it” (god I hate the phrase “have fun with it”), I just stared and then clumsily cut out a few Ts to stick together. Then I stared at what I had done and thought, well, that’s stupid, I suck at this. Then I stared at everything some more. 

I’m not sure what it is about 3D that makes my brain screech to a halt. Maybe I’m truly not good at it; maybe my design-brain just doesn’t extend into the third dimension, and there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s what I’ve managed to convince myself, in any case.

But it’s possible, I suppose, that I actually CAN do this — it’s just the fact that I have decided I can’t that’s hindering me. Logic-brain chooses option two, catastrophizing-crazy-brain chooses option number one. 

What’s most distressing about this whole thing is the idea that I’m the kind of person who throws her hands up and backs away from a challenge. I don’t think I am that kind of person when it comes to design, but apparently I have my limits, and that’s not good.

It makes me wonder how much generalized “creative block” originates in lack of self-confidence. A whole lot, I think. We want to attribute it to some mysterious curtain that falls between us and our creativity, something out of our control. Either that or it’s a lack of “inspiration,” which we can blame on the world — Inspire me, world! Why are you so boring! But obviously, the real source is within.

Creative types and designers, how do you get over these kinds of hurdles? 

6 months ago  Notes (11) Tags: personal writing graphic design words fletcher benton
  1. passionsanddistractions reblogged this from heyheydesign
  2. heyheydesign posted this
blog comments powered by Disqus