Perfectly Imperfect: My Journey in Embracing Flaws to Find My Art Style

Detail from "Beauty And The Beast"

'

What Can Be Considered an Imperfection in Art?

It all begins with how each of us defines the word perfection. When we aim for realism in art, we often rely on models or reference photos, trying to be as precise as possible. Yet for a perfectionist, this precision can feel almost impossible to achieve.

Being a perfectionist myself, and after years of academic training, embracing my flaws and imperfections was a real challenge. For a long time, everything that made my art unique, I considered a flaw. There was always something to erase, smudge or correct. My process was built around correcting rather than embracing. But in time, that very process shaped what others now call my “art style.”

As I painted more and connected with viewers of my work, I started to feel at ease with my so-called flaws. Encouragement from others helped me see that the marks I once wanted to hide were actually what gave my paintings their soul. They were not mistakes, they were my handwriting on the canvas.

So what are imperfections in art? They can be a drip of paint that refuses to disappear, a brushstroke that doesn’t fully blend or the rough trace of a palette knife. In realism, these might be seen as flaws. But art is so much more than reproducing reality. These marks are the painter’s soul on the canvas.

When you learn to control and accept these imperfections, they become your language. They express your personal truth as an artist. Art is not about embellishment; it’s about truth. And just as we often struggle to accept the truth in life, some of us may also struggle to accept imperfections in our own work. But as we grow, both as people and as artists, we eventually learn to value and embrace them.

Detail from "Echoes Of Mneme"

Why Are Imperfections Essential in Original Art?

Collectors and viewers often respond most deeply to the irregularities within a painting. They linger on a rough brushstroke, notice the rhythm of a drip or pause at the texture left by a palette knife. These small details carry a kind of presence, a reminder that a human hand shaped them in a moment of creation.

What might once have looked like a flaw is, in truth, the fingerprint of authenticity. Imperfections are what create intimacy between the artist and the viewer. They are the visible evidence of struggle, decision-making, and emotion on the surface.

A flawless, polished surface may impress, but it rarely moves the heart in the same way as a painting that reveals its raw edges.

FROM ABOVE

FROM ABOVE II

Why Can’t I Paint the Same Painting Twice?

Why can’t I paint the same painting twice? Because every brushstroke carries the energy of a moment that can’t be repeated. The tiniest drip, the pressure of the hand, even the mood I’m in while painting. All of these elements create something unrepeatable. A reproduction can copy the image, but not the truth of that moment.

I have tried painting the same work twice in my life. The first time was several years ago, when I was asked to create a commission of a painting that had already been sold. Although I used the same materials, the outcome turned out completely different, as the photographs above clearly show. I am not sure whether the collector expected an identical piece, but in the end they were very happy with it. I, however, felt a little disappointed that I couldn’t reproduce my own painting.

The second time was also a commission for a sold piece. This time, I tried to restrain myself and stay closer to the original. I even relied on reference photos and the result was much closer to the first version (photos below). The collector was delighted and I was relieved that I could control the process more. Although my challenge was relatively successful, it left me uncertain whether I would ever attempt it again.

The truth is, each painting is tied to a specific moment in time. My emotions, my gestures, even the air in the studio are part of it. Once that moment has passed, it cannot be recreated. And that is why no painting can ever be truly repeated.

IN THE STORM

IN THE STORM II

Do Imperfections Reveal the Artist’s Truth?

Art is not about embellishment; it is about truth. And just as we often struggle to accept the truth in life, some of us struggle to accept imperfections in our work. Yet these very imperfections are the proof of our humanity on the canvas. They reveal who we are in a way that polished perfection never could.

For me, it was never about creating a “fake” style based only on technique. I wanted my technique to mean something to me, not just to be correct in the academic sense. I was taught how to see, how to draw, how to follow rules, but my real journey has been about overcoming those boundaries and letting go of that false sense of perfection.

When I look at my paintings now, I see not just color and form, but traces of hesitation, confidence, risk, and discovery. They are fragments of truth left behind in paint.

How Do Imperfections Shape a Painter's Art Style?

In time, I realized that my so-called flaws were not obstacles to overcome but the very foundation of my style. They are my handwriting, my language, my rhythm on the canvas. And once I learned to accept them, I could finally paint with more freedom, even if I'm still not as free as I might wish.

Imperfections don’t just shape a painting. They shape the painter. They remind me that growth is not about erasing mistakes but more about embracing them and finding meaning within them. Every line, every irregularity, every unblended mark carries a piece of my journey. And that is what makes each painting truly mine.

Today, I embrace imperfections not only in my brushstrokes but also in the very canvas I prepare by hand. Even the smallest irregularities on the surface, which are totally normal considering the several layers of glue, plaster and oil paint, carry their own truth and I’ve learned to appreciate them. They are part of the story of the painting, part of what makes each work truly unique.

Final Thoughts

Imperfections are not accidents to be hidden but truths to be embraced. They are the signs of life on the canvas, the evidence that art is created by a hand, a mind, a heart. Without them, paintings would be lifeless copies of reality. With them, they become living expressions of who we are.

As artists and as people, we are shaped by the things we once tried to correct. Our flaws become our language. Our imperfections become our truth.

Until next tide🌊

• Special thanks to my dear artist friend Karina Mosser for the inspiration!