DISCIPLINE SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM
The Soul Searcher Drawings. “Untitled”, 16”x 12”, graphite, charcoal, acrylic and collage on paper. © 2021 David Limrite
“To us art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only to those willing to take the risks.”
Mark Rothko, Artist
Discipline Shouldn’t Be A Problem
Discipline is the ability to act or work in a controlled or regular way.
I know that I work better, make better art and am way more productive when I am disciplined about when and how often I work. It’s about consistency.
The quality of my work is directly related to my ability to be disciplined, which then, allows me to be more involved and focused with my work.
The impulse to make art, and the discipline it takes to create it, must be fueled by conviction, passion and curiosity.
Learning to be self-disciplined is essential to your creativity. Which is achieved by:
Prioritizing what is most important to work on right now
Establishing a regular creativity schedule and sticking to it
Not allowing yourself to get distracted
Showing up, beginning and staying with it
Protecting your creative time
It all comes down to asking yourself, “How important is my creativity?”
Is it important enough to commit to being disciplined?
Is it important enough to ignore fear and self-doubt?
Is it important enough to be willing to take risks?
Discipline contributes to consistency, and consistency builds momentum. The desire to express yourself sets the table for discipline. The goal is to then sustain this desire by creating every day (or as often as you choose to), and being disciplined about doing so.
Are your creative interests strong enough to stimulate you into action? Are you motivated enough by your chosen subject matter and ideas, to want to spend hours, days, weeks and months toiling away, alone in your studio, creating paintings that communicate your vision?
If so, then discipline shouldn’t be a problem.
Best,
David