Life Lessons from Finger Painting: It’s the Process, Not the Product
It’s getting to be downright embarrassing how much I have to learn from three-year-olds. Despite having about as large a vocabulary as my dog, these kids have Yoda moments more often than I’m comfortable admitting. I used to teach art to pre-K kids, with the emphasis being on process art. In process art settings, the outcome of the project is irrelevant. So what if the entire paper ends up brown and torn? The point is that the children experiment and play with art concepts in a hands-on way. (Side note: It is also humbling when three-year-old art is way prettier than what you can churn out. Oh well. I draw cats better than them. So there!)
Time Well Wasted?
One of my favorite parts about this kind of environment is how naturally kids adopt this attitude of experience over end result. They churn out piece after piece, completely engrossed in what they’re doing, and then promptly forget to take home their masterpieces. I have ridiculous amounts of cool kid art on file because at the end of the day, the students were not concerned about compiling a collection or showing off their skills. They just want to make art for the sake of enjoying the creative experience.
From Finger Painting to Fishing
This is an attitude that many of us would be wise to adopt in our hobbies, especially crafters of any shape or form. The end result can suck (hard), because the point is having fun. If you never get any better at golf, but love to hang out at the driving range, then that’s great. If you love to sew but never wear your creations, that’s fine as well, as long as you enjoyed the time spent creating the garment. It’s the process, not the product. Ditto for experimental bakers and chefs: bad food can still mean a good time.
In the end, emphasizing the process, not the product is just another way of saying that life is about the journey. It really doesn’t matter where you end up; the entirety of your time is spent on the path, not at the finish line. Give yourself a break and remember that time spent having fun is as important as any material item you might have at the end.
What’s your take? Are there any exceptions to this? Share your thoughts in the comments for others to read.
Photo courtesy of Abby Lanes
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This post has 7 comments
August 24th, 2009
What a great post! I love the way you wrote this and I really do believe that life is about the journey. Sometimes I forget this and this post was a great reminder for me. Thanks for writing it!
Positively Present´s last blog ..a letter to my older self
August 24th, 2009
“They just want to make art for the sake of enjoying the creative experience.”
This is something we honor in our home. We have tons of great art work created by our children displayed around the house, but it’s never created with the end goal of hanging on the wall. It’s created just to “do art.”
Children are absolutely the best teachers of the concept of honoring the process and not focusing on the product!
Megan at Simple Kids´s last blog ..Finger Food: 11 Ideas for Breakfast and Snacks
August 25th, 2009
This has always been my thought – that the process is more fun than the actual outcome. Even shopping for a new car – test driving, reading up on the various cars – that was fun. Yes I do love the car I finally chose but the process of it made the car I own that much more dear…So many things we do are “the process” whether it’s a creative endeavor or a practical endeavor. The journey, the experience, the sake of doing.
Enjoy every moment.
Judy Mackey´s last blog ..Empty Promises – Painting of Wine Glass
August 25th, 2009
yes I agree.. Irrespective of the outcome, we should enjoy the journey.
You can take back the time you’ve spent on something. There are only memories to take with you..
good post.
Shamelle- EnhanceLife´s last blog ..Film Yourself, It’s The Only Way!
August 26th, 2009
I chuckled hearing about 3 yr old’s art is better than yours. I have found this true over and over again whenever I play paint with my niece. Her color combination is way better than mine – even though she combines colors in a non traditional way.
I agree the process/play is more important than the outcome. Have to remind myself often of this when writing. When we play and create without worrying about outcome, the end result is always good – sometimes in form of product and always in form of experience.
Avani Mehta´s last blog ..Release People Of Expectations, Let Them Be
August 26th, 2009
We invited friends for dinner Sunday night and my husband overcooked the salmon on the grill. I knew when I tasted it but our guests said nothing. The next day I got an email thanking us for the good food and time. She said they smiled all the way home. You’re correct it’s the process. Our process Sunday was fun!
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Did You Know?
August 31st, 2009
Very true indeed! You pointed out towards this interesting fact that it is the process, and not the product that contains the essential bliss and joy. When we become too much result-oriented in life, we miss all such essential joy that is present in all the mundane activities of daily life. Nice post!
Vijay Kumar Raisinghani´s last blog ..Vipassana Meditation
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