“If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.”
-Michael Jordan

*Michael Jordan by Walter Ioss, Jr.*
© Walter Ioss, Jr.

If you too are on the creative journey, be it music, animation, sculpting, photography, painting, dance, acting, etc., I ask you:

How much time do you spend on your art?

Does it keep you up at night? Are you constantly sticking your nose in a book or reading an article or watching a video on the subject? Desperately looking for new nuggets of golden wisdom that will make your skills that much better. Are you investing in yourself? Your education? The production of your art? Are you practicing? Even when you don’t have a project in mind, are you experimenting with new techniques? Or refining your approach?

Actually tally up the time each week and note how many hours goes towards your art. Also, tally up the hours that goes towards other things, not including your day job if you have one. I love the feature on the iPhone that shows your app usage and how much time you’ve spent on certain apps. Unless those apps are aiding your improvement, that time should be much lower than the amount of time spent on your art.

Simply put, the amount of time you spend will show how much passion you have for the art you create. Even if you’re a seasoned pro, you still have to establish a process of improvement. A period where you work diligently and determinedly on refining your craft. Top athletes do this all the time.

*All-time great Quarterback Tom Brady studying game film. Remote in hand, replaying clips over and over looking for weaknesses and areas he can improve.*

In basketball, they work on their three point or free throw shooting. Spending hours in the gym, taking the same shot over and over and over, making slight adjustments to their approach until it clicks. In football, quarterbacks study film religiously, not only looking for holes in their opponent’s game, but their own method of playing. Maybe they can release the ball faster or be more aware of their teammates positions downfield. The greats continue to refine and sharpen their blade even after they’ve won championships and received accolades for their abilities. Think Michael Jordan or Tom Brady. Athletes who are obsessed with the game and pushing their skills to the absolute limits. Great artists are the same.

Put the time in. Let it become a part of your daily rituals. Take notes. Make adjustments. Refine, refine, refine. And in time, you will get better. If you’re unable to do this on your own, find a teacher or mentor. That act alone puts you ahead of 95% of people who are likely too stubborn or arrogant to seek help from others. Art often comes with a lot of ego. Maybe you need someone else who can hold you accountable for your inaction or lack of effort. Most tend to give themselves a pass when quitting when the work becomes difficult or frustrating. Think people not doing all their reps at the gym when working out alone versus when working with a trainer who pushes them.

An iconic photo of a young, highly touted Rookie Kobe Bryant, getting next to Jordan mid-game and asking for his advice. For such a young star player with all the hype and praise heaped on him, to humble himself and ask his senior for tips, is one of the many reasons he too, would be one of the greatest players of all time. You’re never too good to learn from the masters.
© Vincent Laforet /AFP via Getty Images

In closing, I say again, put the time in. Drop and avoid the distractions. And make no excuses. When you do your time calculation and if other less helpful endeavors are taking up most of your time, work hard to change that. Try to get your “hours spent” numbers much higher in the column for your art versus, say, social media usage. Set goals and observe your improvement week after week, month after month.

Your art will be all the better for it.