“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.”
Michelangelo

Don’t Do Less Than You Can

I think I can confidently say that most of the time I work hard on my art. I make an honest go of it. Not everything I create is good. Much of it is more than passable, and every once in a while, I succeed and make a winner. It is hard work but the quest to make a winner is one of the things that keeps me coming back to my easel every day.

My feeling is that if I make an honest effort then I can’t fail. An honest effort is not a failure. My paintings always have a chance of being successful if I work hard and make an honest go of it.

When I create something that is “less than”, it is usually because my effort was less than on that given day, which usually means that I did not give it my all. It probably means that I did less than I am capable of. Which never results in good work, let alone, winners. Let alone, work that I can be proud of.

I really dislike the feeling of knowing or realizing that I did less than I am capable of. My lackluster effort definitely shows up and is reflected in the work, which sits on my easel reminding me that I gave it less than.

When I focus on the process, (the making, the doing and the attempt), my love for creating keeps me engaged, and curious, and working hard. When I’m focused on the process, that is when I make an honest go of it.

Work hard and push yourself. Try to go beyond what you are capable of. Try and out do yourself with each successive painting.

Don’t do less than you can. Always do more than you think you can.

Best,

David