recursive

it depends on the result you're going for...

If you focus on the process of creation. from the actual sitting down to write at the comp or gathering of the paint and brushes and focusing your thoughts and allowing them to pour out of you onto the screen or onto the canvas then you have a piece of yourself there before when you have finished. To judge that as "good" or "bad" nullifies that it's a part of you, expressed. You've just judged yourself, which will inhibit true expression.

If you focus on the actual piece and that it must look or be a certain way, you've forced yourself into a mold, and anything short of perfection won't fit the mold. This of course means you're just not good enough and should stop attempting at this exact moment because you'll never fit a mold. (none of us will, bytheway. even if we pretend we're cheese left in the fridge too long and grow green fuzzy coats.)

my recomendation, pick up a book entitled writing down the bones by natalie goldberg. Read it, all of it. It's yummy food.
Also, start letting you be you. Realize where you are inhibiting your natural tendancies to be yourself and becoming that which someone else wants you to be. Let that awareness flow into your expression.

Kisses,
~Figment

ps. I'm a horrible "artist" for the sake of art, but that doesn't stop me from doing that which I enjoy. Those who call it crap don't get to see much of it.

yay! the book is good stuff... Being overly critical and self indulgent stimotaniously are perfectly fine, if that's what you want. practice not labeling for a while, see what it does.
kisses,
~Figment