the 3 types of art you MUST do (and the one you're ignoring)

Summary

In this video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of balancing three core aspects of art: play, practice, and performance. Play is about creating art for fun and enjoyment without pressure. Practice involves focused skill development through challenging exercises, while performance is about delivering polished, high-quality work. The speaker encourages artists to rotate through all three buckets to stay sharp, avoid burnout, and improve their skills. The video also touches on how external pressures, self-doubt, and life can interfere with creativity, offering advice for sustaining passion and growth in art.

Takeaways

• 😀 Balance your art creation between play, practice, and performance to stay sharp and motivated.
• 😀 Play is about having fun and experimenting without the pressure of improvement or achieving specific results.
• 😀 Practice is where growth happens—targeting your weaknesses and deliberately working to improve your skills.
• 😀 Performance is creating polished, finished pieces for clients, portfolios, or personal projects where you apply all you've learned.
• 😀 The three buckets—play, practice, and performance—don't have to be separate; they can overlap and feed into each other.
• 😀 If you focus too much on one of the three buckets, you may stagnate or burnout in your art practice.
• 😀 Art should be fun, but it's also essential to challenge yourself through practice to improve as an artist.
• 😀 Practice is uncomfortable, but it is necessary for skill-building and long-term progress.
• 😀 Play can help you decompress, stay creative, and even get into a flow state, leading to unexpected moments of brilliance.
• 😀 To make a living from your art or carve a niche, you need to balance play, practice, and performance effectively.
• 😀 If you're stuck in one bucket, like focusing only on play or performance, you may miss out on growth or realistic outcomes.
• 😀 Finding the right mix of play, practice, and performance is key to thriving as an artist and achieving sustainable progress.

Q & A

What are the three main buckets of art creation described in the video?

The three main buckets are Play, Practice, and Performance. These represent different aspects of art-making: Play is for fun and creativity, Practice is for skill development, and Performance is for producing polished work.

How does 'Play' contribute to an artist's overall development?

Play is important because it allows the artist to experiment and stay creative without the pressure of achieving specific goals. It helps artists get into a flow state and maintain their love for art, keeping the process enjoyable.

What role does 'Practice' play in an artist’s growth?

Practice is essential for skill development. It involves pushing yourself to improve through challenging exercises like anatomy studies, perspective, and mastering new techniques. It serves as the foundation for higher-level work.

What is the difference between 'Play' and 'Practice'?

'Play' is for fun and experimentation, where the artist isn’t focused on improvement or achieving a specific result. In contrast, 'Practice' is more focused and deliberate, targeting weak areas for skill growth and mastery.

What is 'Performance' in the context of art, and when does it become relevant?

Performance refers to creating finished, polished work for clients, portfolios, or personal projects. It becomes relevant when an artist is expected to deliver high-quality, deadline-driven pieces, utilizing skills learned in Practice.

How can focusing too much on one bucket lead to stagnation?

Focusing too much on one bucket, such as only Play or Practice, can lead to imbalance. If an artist only plays, their skills may stagnate without improvement. If they only practice, they may struggle to finish projects or get real-world feedback.

Why is it important for artists to balance all three buckets (Play, Practice, Performance)?

Balancing all three buckets is crucial for maintaining creative passion, improving skills, and delivering high-quality work. This balance keeps an artist sharp, motivated, and able to achieve both personal and professional goals.

How does social media affect an artist's approach to Play and Practice?

Social media can create self-doubt and comparisons, leading artists to focus more on performance and results. This may cause them to lose the playful, unstructured approach they had as children, which can hinder their creativity.

What is the '50% rule' mentioned in the video, and how does it apply to art-making?

The '50% rule' suggests that half of an artist's time should be spent making art just for fun—pure play. This helps maintain creativity and joy in the process, preventing burnout and preserving passion.

What are the risks of focusing only on performance as an artist?

Focusing solely on performance can lead to burnout and pressure, as artists may feel they need to produce their best work constantly. Without practicing and having fun, this approach can lead to frustration and lack of creativity.