Be bold and do the work

“The most important possible thing you could do is do a lot of work. Do a huge volume of work.” – Ira Glass 

I was recently reminded of this great Ira Glass video where he gives advice on doing creative work. The video is short (2 minutes), so definitely watch if you’ve never seen it.

One of his main points is that every creative person goes through a phase where their work is just not as good as they want it to be, but the only way out of that phase is to keep creating. He reminds us that most people quit when their work and process do not meet their ambitions, but if we just keep going and keep creating and keep learning, we’ll get there.

I don’t see this video as specific to visual artists, so it can apply to all of us who are creating or learning or developing new skills. I’m also certainly not here to hint that our work isn’t good (I would never!). I am here to say that exploring, creating, and experimenting will take us to new levels and help us to figure out what truly makes us happy. Keep stretching that comfort zone!

Here’s my latest painting experiment (on a 6×6 wood panel):

Different, right? This is my version of doing the work.

Here’s me holding the painting, so you can see the scale (though the lighting is changing the colors!):

Completing one painting per week has been such an interesting and wonderful challenge.

How many of you have talked about trying something new, only to realize months went by and you never actually tried that new thing? I know, I’ve been there too!

Painting weekly has essentially removed that creative barrier and now when I think “hmmm I’m so curious to try another bold, abstract little panel,” then I paint another bold, abstract little panel that very same week.

New ideas spark. I keep working even when I don’t feel inspired and before long I feel inspired again. Most importantly, my skills and confidence as a painter are growing each week.

Let’s do the work, even when it feels hard or strange or like your craft needs more practice. Let’s never stop learning.

Let’s do the work until we feel as proud, and strong, and capable as we’ve been all along.

We can do this,