I Drew for 11,770 Hours... Here's What I Learned

Summary

Artist Ori recounts their transformative 11,770-hour journey to mastering art, beginning as a depressed university graduate with no followers to collaborating with companies and amassing over 200,000 followers. Ori shares the evolution of their art, significant challenges faced, and pivotal lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of consistency, embracing influences, and the quality of deep work over time spent. The narrative illustrates the 'Creator Curve,' highlighting the gradual buildup to a breakthrough and the subsequent need for prioritization and self-discovery in the face of increasing opportunities.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The '10,000-hour rule' is a concept that suggests it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill, which the speaker has tested through logging 11,770 hours into their art journey.
• 🎨 Starting as a beginner with no followers, the speaker's art evolved significantly over time, leading to collaborations with companies, a substantial following, and winning an award.
• 🌱 Early in their journey, the speaker faced challenges like depression and self-doubt, emphasizing the importance of managing emotional well-being alongside skill development.
• 🔄 The speaker's initial goal to become a manga artist shifted to becoming an anime-style illustrator, highlighting the fluidity of goals in a creative journey.
• 📈 The speaker advocates for an 'inner scorecard' approach, focusing on personal growth and effort rather than external validation like followers or likes.
• 📚 Studying the work of admired artists and understanding that creativity builds on past works were pivotal in overcoming the misconception of needing absolute originality.
• 🔑 The speaker learned that art skills are composed of many smaller, specific skills, which can be individually improved, leading to overall enhancement of artistic ability.
• 💪 After reaching around 10,000 hours, the speaker experienced a breakthrough with increased social media traction and professional opportunities, illustrating the compound effect of consistent effort.
• 🔄 Post-breakthrough, the speaker grappled with prioritizing opportunities and defining a clear creative identity, a critical step in navigating the new challenges of success.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes that art is a continuous journey of self-discovery and improvement, encouraging others not to be overwhelmed by the long path but to take it step by step.

Q & A

What was the main reason Ori decided to start tracking their art journey in hours?

Ori decided to start tracking their art journey in hours to test the '10,000 hours to master a skill' rule and to measure the impact of dedicated practice on their art skills.

How did Ori's initial situation influence their decision to pursue art seriously?

Ori was in a dark period of their life, feeling depressed and unfulfilled in their job as a teacher. This led them to quit teaching and pursue their passion for drawing manga.

What was the turning point for Ori in terms of motivation during their art journey?

The turning point for Ori was when they realized the importance of completing projects and putting their work out there to receive feedback, which helped them understand the next steps for improvement.

How did Ori's perspective on originality in art change over the course of their journey?

Initially, Ori resisted imitating others' styles to maintain originality. However, after reading 'Steal Like an Artist' by Austin Kleon, they embraced the idea that creativity involves building upon the work of others and that imitation can be a tool for developing one's own style.

What is the concept of an 'inner scorecard' and how did it help Ori during their art journey?

The 'inner scorecard' is a concept where success is measured by one's own standards and values rather than external validation. Ori used this concept to stay motivated during the early stages of their journey when external recognition was scarce.

What was the significance of the 10,000-hour mark in Ori's art journey, and how did it relate to their breakthrough?

The 10,000-hour mark was significant as it coincided with Ori's initial breakthrough point where their art started resonating with a larger audience and they began gaining traction on social media. However, Ori suggests that the importance lies in the accumulated effort rather than the number itself.

How did the concept of 'deep work' from Cal Newport's book influence Ori's approach to art?

Understanding the concept of 'deep work' led Ori to focus on doing cognitively demanding tasks without distraction, which improved the quality and efficiency of their art practice.

What was the 'Creator Curve' that Ori mentioned, and how did it apply to their journey?

The 'Creator Curve' is a trajectory that suggests creators start with little progress, but eventually reach a breakthrough point where success compounds and grows faster. Ori's journey followed this pattern, with a significant breakthrough around the 10,000-hour mark.

How did Ori handle the influx of opportunities after their initial breakthrough?

After the initial breakthrough, Ori faced a period of handling numerous opportunities, which led to a realization about the importance of prioritization and understanding their identity as a creator.

What advice does Ori give to those who are just starting their artistic journey and might feel overwhelmed?

Ori advises new artists to see art as a journey, not a destination, and to take one step at a time, emphasizing that progress is incremental and that every creator's path is unique.