I’m often asked by people why I am having success at an artist. They all tell me how lucky I am, that they wish they could have things work out like I have.
Here is the well kept secret to my success:
Burn the midnight oil. Take hours and hours of classes. Paint for hours every day, every week, every year. Draw for hours on end. Take endless chances. Get turned down over and over. Have one success for every thirty failures. Be told you’re not very good. Then keep going over, and over, and over, and over. After all that, you’ll just be getting started. Then keep at it . . . and keep going over and over and over and over. Then after several years, you’ll all of a sudden have a little bit of success and people will tell you how lucky you are.
Comments on Burn the Midnight Oil
It’s true. I have definitely seen the hard work that goes into your art, and it is so rewarding to see when it pays off.
I love it!! So true, and it really applies to any success in life. Look at how many times Lincoln failed before he succeeded, or how Van Gogh never sold a painting and died thinking he was a failure as an artist. I really believe that if you really want to achieve something, it has so little to do with luck, and so much to do with blood, sweat and tears!
I SO believe in you, and understand your heartfelt words!!!
…And that is when you are called an “overnight success!”
I definately agree with that. Maybe I will be as successful as you someday!
You are such an inspiration to me and everyone that knows you!