Perfection is so unattainable.

Long before I approach a canvas, I have the sad realization that what I make is never perfect. Might be good. Might not. But it will never reach my highest expectation of what my art should be. I can be much too ambitious in mind. Therefore, in reality, I often will not even touch my paints and brushes, or even pencil and pen, out of fear for what I cannot reach. It's a constant pull between knowing I can do so much, and not knowing if I can do anything. Will any work be my "greatest?" Will it even be great?
Any artist will, or maybe should, say that the next work is their best. Always pushing forward. Always humbling at the reality that your best can never be reached since improvement is always attainable, and perfection is not.
I love this quote by G. K. Chesterton. It's one of my favorites. He says, "Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere." The truth about both is how art and morality each take courage to make a reality. A blank page has so SO much room for mistakes. We have so much room for error, but also for beauty, in our own lives. Each mark we make is a step towards what our life will be like, what our "greatest" work will become. Our job is to create something beautiful, and the only way we can make something even worth showing is if we trust that the Lord has prepared us for the works ahead. We are created in Christ for exactly that! We are His workman created for good works. I look forward to seeing what He has planned for our lives, and the passions He will lay on our hearts. We will never achieve perfection by our own doings, yet we have the hope of seeing ourselves perfected in Christ!