Studio Snippet #23: The Vital Importance of Practice (and Making Mistakes)

Welcome to another Studio Snippet! 

Today, I'd like to talk to you about something that's central to my art practice and a principle I encourage in all my classes – the importance of practice. And why mistakes are vital to becoming a better artist. The instructions for the exercise I'm doing in the video can be found in the Maker & Super Learner Classrooms.

For me, I can't stress enough how crucial it is to practice. You should use your best materials, embrace your precious items, and be prepared to make lots of mistakes.  The more mistakes you make, the more you're pushing your boundaries and trying new things. But don't stop at simply making mistakes; pair the mistakes with thoughtful decisions. Ask yourself why you made that mistake and how you can improve.  If you're struggling to answer those questions and get better on your own, seek help from a mentor or teacher or a critique group.

In my opinion, making good art — creating exciting and interesting pieces – requires practice.  Think about it like learning a physical skill, like throwing a ball. You wouldn't expect to get it perfect every time. And you'd expect a lot of repetition.  Over and over, throwing the ball.  Similarly, art is a journey, requiring practice and repetition.  That's where sketchbooks or studio notebooks come in. (They don't need to be fancy; even a simple lined notebook will do.) These notebooks are essential for exploring ideas, experimenting, and documenting your progress. 

I hope you found this pep talk helpful. Keep in mind that art is a journey, and practice is your constant companion on that journey.  And if you enjoy these studio snippets, I hope you'll check out the Maker and Super Learner Studio Vlogs, which are a monthly detailed dive into my artistic practice.

Thanks for stopping by!