Act first, think later
“Act first, think later — that way you have something to think about.” - Marcia Tucker, Founder of a Radical Art Museum
“You could wait . . . or procrastinate . . . or abandon the project altogether! But wouldn’t it be better to get started anyway?” pondered textile artist Jane Dunnewold, explaining further: “I used to spend ages shopping for supplies for my projects. There was always that one more elusive something I needed before I could begin. But that’s not a mindset that’s conducive to actually producing work.”
Sidebar: Not having all the supplies or even the “right” supplies is a good thing, for this provides an opportunity for inspiration with the resources you do have on hand. The fewer resources you have, the larger your opportunity to call upon and develop your ingenuity. Creativity is often assumed to arise from necessity. We know the saying, “necessity is the mother of invention” but your brain craves problems to solve. “If you ask me,” primatologist[1] Carel van Schaik of the University of Zurich explains, “opportunity is the mother of invention.”
Being resourceful leads to more artistic freedom. It’s not failure. It’s feedback. It’s information. You learn that “If I use this, then that happens.” Remember, nothing is original, so embrace the work of others, remix, reimagine, recreate as you discover your own path. ‘Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.’ Pablo Picasso . . . and make no apologies along the way applying your ‘artistic license’ to create what you want.
[1] the study of primates especially other than recent humans. One of the most famous primatologists is Dr. Jane Goodall.
