Most consider passion, cultural inertia or perhaps some deep personal psychosis to explain why committed artists do what they do. Some believe artists are born with an “art gene,” which implies that some are born without the gene and an artist’s commitment and pursuits are natural and involuntary. Many see the arts as non-essential and at best a self-indulgent pursuit.
Therefore, people who devote themselves to such an activity likely lack the ambition, rigor and structure required to succeed at a “serious” endeavor. Some assume that because art gives them so much pleasure making the art must have been equally pleasurable. These are some of the reasons why discipline is rarely a topic discussed in the art world.
It is purported that it takes a minimum of 10,000 hours to master or achieve excellence at any complex activity. This amounts to approximately five years of full-time work — not just showing up to work or punching the clock but rather 10,000 hours of focused effort driven by an earnest curiosity. In most cases excellence requires interaction with an equally driven group of individuals pursuing similar goals or the help of an experienced mentor. There is no difference in the art world.
Although it may not be evident and often is purposely hidden, all artists who consistently produce excellent work have devoted and disciplined themselves in focused pursuit.
Producing art is real work. The image above is abstract artist Sam Gilliam in his studio. Gilliam is currently in his eighties and is still producing art. Excellent art requires discipline and discipline requires real sacrifice. It requires one to choose certain activities over others and setting aside or postponing personal pleasures. It requires our treasure and our most valuable resource of all — our time and attention. Pursuing excellence requires a long-term ongoing investment. To pursue excellence in the arts, as in any other field, requires one to set aside our natural instinct to pursue short-term personal comfort.