PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

It seems I see these words EVERYWHERE these days. From art blogs, to art books, to motivational articles and beyond. It seems I am finally getting the message. Even “naturals” had to practice to learn their craft. Sadly, the most recent example of this was Michael Jackson. No one disputes how gifted and talented a musician and dancer he was. But one of the things I kept hearing over and over again is how much he practiced and rehearsed, first as part of the Jackson 5 and then as a solo artist. They say he could spend an entire day practicing and perfecting one dance move. That is dedication and that is discipline. He WORKED to make his dreams reality. He didn’t get on stage, sing and then go sit on his couch until the next show. Why should we be any different?

For me, fear of doing a mediocre or bad piece stops me from getting around to doing a good piece. That’s ridiculous. Every famous artist has done some not so great pieces in his career. We just don’t see them. You have to create some so-so ones to get the gems in between. In beaded jewelry, it’s easy enough to pull something apart if you don’t like it, but in painting, its on a piece of paper. Either you wash it off or throw it out if you fail. That’s a scary thought. No one wants to take a piece of their art that they have invested their time and heart into and toss it into the trash can. Just because we have physical evidence of our failures during practice, whereas a singer or dancer does not, this should not stop us from creating. Your thoughts???

"I found that the men and women who 
got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they 
had of energy and enthusiasm and hard work." -Harry S. Truman

Do a little more each day than you think you can. -Lowell Thomas