Corporate drop-out to full-time artist: polish & perfectionism

I spent the best part of my career obsessively uttering the phrase "Done is better than perfect"  in an attempt to quell perfectionism and finish projects.

It was a mantra that kept me afloat amongst what felt like never-ending demands, and it helped me separate my sense of self from my job. It was an essential guiding principle for well over a decade and I am unlearning it FAST.

Turns out, in my art practice, polish and perfectionism are sacred, steady, creative forces. 

From how I prep my canvas (learned this the hard way), to the way I talk about my work (no idea how to do this), to how I photograph or video it (would it kill me to take a straight pic or a clear video?), to how I package prints (no, cat hair should not be stuck in the clear bag), etc.

At first I kinda hated these 'tasks'. Please, can't I just make the work?

And I mean yes, that is an option. But the more I venture into the land of polish, the more I'm starting to adore it. 

Polish, it seems, is about worshipping the act of creation. There's a ritual in it that gives the work the care it deserves and even though I'm terrible at it, it's been unexpectedly nourishing to sink into the patience and slowness of polish.