The Messy Middle/Ugly Phase

Here is a little video flip through of my latest sketchbook. I gave myself the challenge of finishing the sketchbook by the end of the week, mostly because I want to start a new one and I don’t love the paper in this one. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a sketchbook and the excitement of opening a new one. It’s like meeting a new friend. Finishing sketchbooks is unusual behavior because normally I have difficulty finishing things. I get to a stage in a project or task and I can’t see how I can move forward. Often feeling frustration or boredom. This place is often called the ugly phase or the messy middle. The ugly phase is the point after the underpainting or initial layers of a drawing and things aren’t looking the way you want them to just yet. I have heard other artists talk about pushing the through the “ugly” phase in a painting or piece of art/writing/music/creative pursuit and trusting the process. I often give up during that phase. I forget where I am going or lose faith that it will turn out after all. I am learning how to hold the vision of whatever I am creating and seeing it through to completion which requires a commitment and devotion to a vision that is not here yet. Being able to be present with what is happening now and hold onto the vision of what is to come is hard. I am not good at it, but this creative practice is helping me to remember that holding on and seeing the project through to the end is worth it. I also saw this beautiful video on Facebook about Purpose. Developing devotion to a specific and compelling purpose has also helped me to push through or take a break and come back later when I am feeling stuck on a certain problem. Are there places in your life where you want to abandon everything when you hit the “ugly” phase? How do you keep going? I’d love to hear your process in the comments. With love, Lauren This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhscott.substack.com/subscribe