The hidden power of constraints.
As a kid I loved Dr. Seuss’ book Green Eggs and Ham. I still love the book. I read it to a couple of little girls just the other day. There is something so masterful in such a simple book.
Dr. Seuss wrote the book on a bet. In 1960 Bennett Cerf, founder of Random House, proposed a challenge to Theo Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) that he would not be able to write an entertaining children’s book using only 50 different words. They had $50 on it.
Dr. Seuss took that bet and won. And since publication, Green Eggs and Ham has become one of the best-selling books children’s books in history, selling more than 200 million copies.
I love the idea of the power of constraints……setting limits for ourselves. When we have a limited amount of words, or colors, or canvas size, or time, or tools, we know we have to create something within those parameters. Our minds become free of all the other extraneous ‘stuff’ that jams our cluttered brains. The path becomes clearer.
Limitations drive us into figuring out solutions and being more creative.
I’ve been studying Argentine Tango and there was a recent Milonga in the lobby of a 1920’s building and everyone was getting all dressed up for the event. It was an opportunity to take photographs as well as to dance. Not wanting to take all my lenses, I decided that I’d make the images work with my fixed 85mm portrait lens. I knew I’d miss out on some images but wanted the constraint of working with only that lens.
The limitation of the lens forced me to work harder at getting the images I intended. I couldn’t just hide in a corner on the outskirts and hope I’d get something I could crop. I had to interact in a different way. To stand in the middle of the room where I was engulfed with the dancing circling around me.
Not only did I get some amazing photographs, but I had an experience that I never expected.
Constraints are not the enemy. At first glance it would seem fabulous to have the entire world’s color palette at our disposal. Can you image all those colors? My Dad always taught me to ‘Keep your options open’. But too many options can be paralyzing. What if we choose 4 colors, and only 4 colors to work with? How would that limitation change our work? What kind of creative solutions would we need to come up with? How would your work change?
Limiting your options gives you freedom to create. Give it a try. See what happens.
I gave myself 30-minutes to write this post. It’s been liberating to not mull over this for hours.
Now go, set yourself some constraints…..it may increase your creativity.
What constraints have you set for yourself in the past and how did it change your process? Next week is another Q&A Monday, so if you have any photo encaustic related questions make sure you stop back next week.
Be well….be creative,
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Great post!!!
Thanks Kay!
I’ve also been thinking a lot about restraint, particularly with color. Only four colors? It sounds painful. The real question is would I have the discipline to stick to the plan?
Then again I had a residency in Finland last year and I decided to make encaustic with no panels. I worked on encaustiflex and inkjet silk. I’m still exploring the process especially the silk. I also didn’t take a computer so all my images were edited on an IPad with apps.I proposed large photo banners on silk for a show in 2020 in Los Angeles based on the Hubble Telescope images and was invited. Still, only four colors?
Give it a shot Carol…….never know what you can do until you try. Congrats on the show. I’ll be looking forward to seeing those images. Post lots online!
Love this Clare! I’ve been experimenting with constraints in my art without even realizing it. But you bringing attention to it will certainly inspire me to do more! I limit my color palette to 5 tubes of color when I paint, and I have set time constraints to go faster. Wow what a difference that has made in my work. The color constraints have taught me soooo much about color mixing, and the time constraint has brought much more spotaneity to my work. Both have freed me up from overthinking & over”tinkering” lol. Thank you so much for really nailing how constraint actually HELPS one’s process … this is something that I will def continue to rely on now that you’ve pointed it out:)
Love this Barb. I fall into the overthinking and over ‘tinkering’ category ALL the time. It drives me CRAZY and I get paralyzed by it. I’m loving working with constraints. Initially it seems odd that there is such a freedom in limiting…..but it’s indeed powerful. So glad to hear that you’ve been experimenting with them.
P.S. May I share this blog post with my email subscribers thru a link to your site?
Absolutely. I’m honored!
Great! I will email a copy to you when it goes out this coming Friday.
Also, I know you love to photograph horses, and are very drawn to them. Conceptually, I was thinking about how horses that live on ranches & farms are kind of in a constrained freedom. They roam freely on a very large open area of land, but then there’s still a fence around them, you know? I wonder if the constraint of the fence allows them to feel more free, knowing where their boundaries are. Just a thought from an overactive mind 😉
Hadn’t thought about that aspect of working with horses…..huh….maybe so. Thanks for that insight.