Success at Failure

This is a drawing from Jules Feiffer. He has done many illustrations, plays and books. He just published his memoir which landed him on the pages of Smithsonian Magazine. That is where I found him.

I recognized his art. You would too if you Googled his name. The interview in September Smithsonian magazine was a question and answer style. One particular comment got my attention. He said, "Success is nothing to sneeze at, but failure too, offers great possibilities." Hmmmm, curious. Failure to me is just plain....ouchy!

He goes on to say that our negative notions about failure often limits us. We don't take chances and we stay in the bounds. But often if we try something and fall on our face we figure out what went wrong and we try again.

Do I try again when I have a big art failure? I don't think so. I hate the way it feels to have a vision in my head that I CAN NOT bring out onto paper or canvas. I usually put it in the dud pile of artwork and move on never to visit again.

Jules has over 50 years of success with his art. Maybe he is on to something.