Does it have to be good?

 There has been a tendency in the recreational art community for quite a while that says having fun is the most important aspect of making art. That what you create doesn't have to be pretty or good, that it even can be messy. The messier, the merrier, one could think. And while I agree to a certain extent, I think that this mindset is often exaggerated. 

In online workshop after online workshop people are encouraged to play, be messy, use the cheap stuff and not worry about the outcome. Which often looks like done by a frustrated school kid. Not all workshops are like this and not all sessions in such workshops are like this. Some of the stuff made that way even looks good. 

But there is too much of this mindset spread. People are taught to scribble and doodle - one should think every little kid can do this - and be happy with that, while some alleged deeper meaning is projected into it. What is supposed to be freeing can also be limiting. If you're actually happy playing like a child, go for it. Make some marks and feel like an artist. And miss out on all the possibilities art offers. 

I'm an adult and should be able to accomplish more than mindless doodling. I want to accomplish more, because accomplishments feel good. Progress feels good. Why be satisfied with less if you can reach more? How great is it to surprise yourself with something you have learned to do that you had never thought you could do? It's priceless. 

Perfection is optional. 

Oh, and don't get me started on those self-proclaimed AI artists out there. You feed some prompts into an app and that's it? I'm not impressed.