This ted talk hit close to home for many reasons. I related to being so invested in an art and being so determined that it would be the only thing you would ever have to do, to erasing it from your life in a matter of time. Unlike Phil Hansen, nerve damage didn't decide that for me. I chose on my own. Also unlike Hansen, I never really went back to what I used to. (Or at least I haven't yet.) There's a lot to say about how Hansen revolutionized his own art, let alone made an impressively creative dent in the industry as a whole. He utilized his imperfection to his advantage instead of letting it defeat him, and proved limitations to be more than successful if handled right. I was amazed by his destruction collection and can't stop thinking about the piece he made out of other people's stories. He makes art for the process and excitement of making art, rarely the final product, something we can all learn from in regards to our day to day life. I realized that, like Hansen so incredibly exemplifies, when life gives you lemons, sometimes you make everything you can make with a lemon, not just lemonade.
It is also worth mentioning that this artist didn't resemble/embody the stereotypical "artist" persona. Hansen looked like your average guy who worked at a desk job, but instead creates art that truly revolutionizes and brings a new light to one of the most impactful industries there is. It goes to show that what's on the inside can be more than what one would ever expect. I enjoyed watching this video becuase it helped me realize that limitations can sometimes be more freeing and lead to better outcomes than endless options can, something I could really relate to (without knowing it) when I went fabric shopping and then went home and was determined to make any style of dress out of any of the 10 yards I bought. My favorite creations are often ones that I made out of scrap fabrics when I put no pressure on the design or my patience with it.
My creative limitations vary, but I think the one I have to have my closest eye on is staying with something until the end. I am a master of starting projects with huge ambitions, expecations, and with a lot of thought and excitment for the product, yet I'll hit a few too many road blocks or will simply forget about the project before I get the chance to finish it. Instead of putting it away and starting over, I can't wait to work on digging through and using my mistakes for my advantage for this mind map and many more creative projects to come!