Written by Skye Slatcher
I have never considered myself an especially creative or artistic person. That said, I always enjoy arts and crafts — usually done poorly. I have painted mugs and trinket dishes, tried and failed at embroidery, and spent more hours than I should drawing things badly. I think part of the joy of arts and crafts comes from not being pressured by the expectation to do it well. Art has been widely recognised as productive for mental wellbeing and relaxation. In that vein, I recently spoke to the founder of Imperfect Art, Linda Savinova. The Angel-based art space aims to be a place for anyone to come and release their own creativity.
I asked Linda to describe Imperfect Art in one sentence: “To put it simply, Imperfect Art is a creative third space where people come to slow down, make things with their hands and reconnect with creativity without pressure or expectations.” She added that it might also be described as a creative playground for adults. Personally, I love the idea that it is a ticket to make art just for the joy of it — no strings attached (and no grades!).
Linda got the inspiration for Imperfect Art through hosting creative get-togethers with her friends during their MBA studies. “It was such an exciting but challenging time, and since I’ve always liked ‘artsy’ things, I thought I would share that with my friends so we could have fun together. It was never about becoming better artists; we weren’t trying to improve, produce something impressive, or ‘learn’ in a formal way. We just wanted to have a good time while doing something a little bit different. And at the end of each gathering, we all felt so happy and so relaxed. It was 10 times better than making art by myself.” She explained that it became clear to her how powerful a creative third space can be for everyone: “Life can be so stressful and overwhelming, and I think we can all do with a space like Imperfect Art.”
It all started with Linda hosting workshops at her home. These developed into one-off pop up events around London. Having enjoyed the development of this project so much, she knew she wanted to open her own space, to allow people to be able to make art almost whenever. Over time the focus shifted from doing individual sessions to building a creative community: “It’s no longer just about doing art for fun, but about bringing people together in a world that often feels lonely and disconnected.” This is an impressive and important aim.
Imperfect Art has received a wealth of positive feedback. “Some have told me it was their favourite memory of the summer or autumn; others have emailed to say it arrived at exactly the right moment in their lives; some tell me in the studio that it was the first time they were able to disconnect from work in weeks. I’m especially proud that the space feels truly inclusive — we see people of different ages and backgrounds creating side by side.”
Linda explained the two main benefits of coming to a space like Imperfect Art: “1. That it helps you switch off and properly relax and 2. It helps you find like-minded people. It’s accessible and affordable so cost isn’t a barrier. You get time, materials, and most importantly, a space to create.” Perhaps more importantly, it offers connection, a place to unwind, meet people organically, and do something for yourself. It’s free from that “I have to be good at it” stress that LSE students are so familiar with. What better place to start rethinking that than a creative pressure-free zone.
I asked Linda what she would say to all of us who don’t think we’re creative enough to go and enjoy Imperfect Art: “We’re all born creative! And as children we never cared about ‘doing it right’, we just did it, really; we explored, experimented, got messy, and just had fun. Over time we were taught that mistakes are bad and that creativity is only for some people, for those who have ‘talent’. But, we all start somewhere and most importantly, we’re allowed to do things just for fun. Not everything has to be graded or judged. At Imperfect Art, you don’t need to be talented: you’re just there to reconnect with that innate curiosity and make something just because it feels good.”
Imperfect Art offers watercolours, charcoal, and pastels, as well as the option to add on friendship bracelets, acrylic paints, collaging, and pressed flowers. (All of that is, of course, accompanied by unlimited tea, coffee, and biscuits.) Linda’s favourite right now is watercolours: “I used to love oil painting because you can fix mistakes easily, you literally just have to paint over them. But watercolours are a completely different story because of how translucid they are but that’s what makes them so beautiful. And with them, you really have to work with the water and not in spite of it — you have to dose properly, wait at times and at others paint quickly, and most importantly, you have to welcome happy accidents. They have taught me to let go of control which I desperately need as a ‘recovering’ perfectionist! That unpredictability helps me stay aligned with the spirit of Imperfect Art, which I try so hard to foster in our cosy space.”
So, what’s next for Imperfect Art? Linda hopes to open more locations to make art accessible to more people. She says that “ideally in the future, people wouldn’t have to commute from very far and would be able to come to Imperfect Art on a regular basis.” She also wants to host more community-focused events, from music nights to film screenings to relaxed gatherings. Imperfect Art will become a place people return to not just for workshops, but for a real community to belong to.
