Art Thou Consistent?

December 15, 2024


Art is not just about talent, technique, or inspiration. It's about consistency. With every new painting an artist creates, the journey into the unknown deepens, the vision expands, and the love for the work grows. It's a dance of dedication, a commitment that stretches beyond the individual brushstroke to form a continuous thread of creativity, discovery, and transformation.

Consistency in art is not merely about repetition or creating something that looks the same. It’s about showing up day after day, pushing past the moments of doubt, and evolving your craft with a sense of devotion and curiosity. It’s about building a relationship with your work — a relationship that becomes ritualistic, almost sacred, in its ongoing practice.

Mystery Deepens with Each New Piece

Every new painting is an invitation to explore new territory, to unravel layers of mystery within the process of creation. At the start, the artist may have an idea, a vague image, or an emotion they want to express. But it is in the act of painting — the layering of color, the exploration of texture, the unexpected surprises that happen along the way — that the true depth of the work emerges.

The mystery lies not only in the finished piece, but also in the journey itself. With each canvas, the artist enters uncharted waters, often not knowing exactly where the work will lead. It is this very mystery that fuels the creative process. The more you create, the deeper the mystery grows, and the more complex and nuanced your vision becomes. Each painting is an opportunity to uncover something new, to refine the details, to make sense of the chaos that initially appeared before you.

Vision Expands with Time

Consistency doesn’t just deepen the mystery; it also broadens the artist's vision. At first, the artist may approach their work with a limited perspective, focused on specific techniques or outcomes. But over time, through repetition and commitment, that vision expands. They begin to see connections between disparate elements of their work, uncover patterns, and realize the themes that have been quietly unfolding within their creative process.

The ritual of painting — doing it regularly, day after day, without pause — allows for that vision to grow organically. The more the artist paints, the more their own visual language evolves. They learn to trust their instincts, to take risks, and to venture into new realms of expression. Art is an ongoing conversation with oneself, and that conversation only deepens when the artist remains dedicated to the practice, not merely the result.

Love for the Work Grows

One of the most profound aspects of consistency in art is how it nurtures a deep, abiding love for the work itself. At the beginning of any project, an artist may feel the familiar discomfort of starting something new, the anxiety of whether it will be "good enough," or the fear that the vision will not materialize as expected. But as the process unfolds and the work takes shape, something magical happens: the artist becomes attached to the painting, to the journey, to the moments of unexpected brilliance and the moments of struggle.

With each new piece, the artist’s connection to their own creativity strengthens. There’s a sense of pride in the effort, a deep appreciation for the process — not just the outcome. This love is not fleeting; it grows with time, with every new stroke, every new decision. The artist learns to embrace both the joy and the frustration, the successes and the failures, knowing that they are all part of the larger picture.

Power of Ritual

Art, when treated as a ritual, becomes something more than just a task or a hobby; it becomes a way of life. Rituals are powerful because they create structure, consistency, and meaning in our lives. For artists, the ritual of painting — whether it's the act of setting up the studio, choosing colors, or the physical act of painting itself — becomes a sacred practice. It’s not about creating for the sake of completion, but about being fully present in the act of creation.

When art is ritualistic, it becomes an extension of the artist's identity. It’s not something that happens only when inspiration strikes, but something that happens because the artist has committed to it as a daily, ongoing process. This is where the true magic happens: the creation of art becomes a reflection of the artist’s inner world, unfolding in real-time. It’s a commitment to one’s own growth, a dedication to something greater than the self.

Consistency is Key

As with any other craft or discipline, art requires consistency. It’s not enough to simply paint when you feel like it, when inspiration comes calling. The work must continue on. It must be treated with the same respect and dedication that any other form of practice or discipline demands. Art is not something to be dabbled in intermittently; it’s something to be lived with, immersed in, and experienced fully.

When an artist creates only "some of the time," they miss out on the true benefits of consistency — the deepening of vision, the expansion of creative possibility, and the growth of love for the work itself. Ritual creates momentum, and momentum creates breakthroughs. The more you show up to your art, the more you invest in the process, the more your art transforms. It becomes less about creating a finished product and more about embracing the evolution of your work — the journey, the struggle, the joy.

Commit to Art

Consistency in art is not just about producing a certain quantity of work, but about dedicating yourself to a lifelong journey of discovery and expression. The mystery deepens with each new piece, the vision widens as you stretch your creative muscles, and the love for the work grows, not because the outcome is perfect, but because the act of creation itself becomes a ritual — a devotion that takes on a life of its own.

In the end, consistency is the key that unlocks your fullest creative potential. It is through the daily, ongoing practice of making art that you will discover the most profound mysteries of your own work and the world around you. Whether you’re painting, sculpting, drawing, or creating in any medium, let your practice become a ritual, and watch as your art transforms not only your work, but also your understanding of yourself and your place in the creative universe.