Quantity > Quality

August 2, 2024


Every great artist has a collection of works that could be considered masterpieces. Yet, what often goes unnoticed is the staggering number of pieces that didn’t quite make the cut. Behind every iconic painting, sculpture, or installation lies a treasure trove of attempts—experiments, failures, and lessons learned. This reality leads us to a crucial insight: when it comes to making art, it’s often a numbers game.

Art of Making Mistakes

In the creative process, the willingness to fail is essential. It’s easy to become enamored with the idea of perfection, but striving for flawless execution can stifle creativity and lead to a paralyzing fear of failure. The truth is, even the most celebrated artists produced countless works that didn’t resonate or fell short of their vision. What sets them apart is their ability to embrace these missteps and use them as stepping stones.

Take Vincent van Gogh, for example. Though he is now celebrated for masterpieces like "Starry Night," he created thousands of paintings during his lifetime, many of which were not well-received. His relentless pursuit of expression and his willingness to experiment ultimately paved the way for his iconic status. Each piece, whether a triumph or a failure, contributed to his growth as an artist.

Numbers Game

The notion of quantity leading to quality is not just a comforting mantra; it’s rooted in practice. The more you create, the more you learn about your materials, your techniques, and your own artistic voice. Each brushstroke, every choice of color, and all the decisions made during the process refine your skills and deepen your understanding of your craft.

Consider a sculptor working in clay. Each attempt at shaping their medium may not result in a perfect form, but each piece provides valuable insights. They learn about texture, weight, and proportion—lessons that inform their future creations. This iterative process is foundational in art; it encourages experimentation and innovation.

Persistence Over Perfectionism

In an age where social media often promotes the polished and the perfect, it’s easy to feel discouraged by the less-than-stellar works we produce. However, true growth comes from persistence. Every artist will encounter roadblocks, creative slumps, and moments of self-doubt. It’s essential to keep pushing through, to keep creating, regardless of the outcome.

Instead of fixating on achieving perfection with each piece, focus on output. Allow yourself the freedom to explore different styles, techniques, and themes. This exploration can lead to unexpected discoveries that might inspire your next masterpiece.

Looking Back at Your Journey

When you commit to producing a significant volume of work, you open yourself up to the possibility of greatness. You may find that, over time, you’ve amassed a body of work richer and more diverse than you ever anticipated. In hindsight, you can see how those seemingly insignificant pieces contributed to your evolution as an artist.

Reflecting on your journey allows you to identify patterns, recurring themes, and stylistic shifts that define your artistic identity. Often, the pieces you initially dismissed can take on new significance, revealing insights about your growth and creative process.

Path to Mastery

Embracing a “quantity over quality” mindset is a powerful approach to art-making. It acknowledges that mastery is not born from a singular focus on perfection but is cultivated through experience, exploration, and perseverance.

The next time you find yourself feeling discouraged by a lack of “masterpieces,” remember that every attempt is a step toward growth. Celebrate your journey, embrace the process, and allow yourself the freedom to create without constraints. You may just discover that the more you produce, the more extraordinary your art becomes. After all, it’s in the numbers that true brilliance often emerges.