The Power of Practice: Progress Over Perfection

We’ve all been there—staring at a painting or a drawing, feeling that gnawing sense of dissatisfaction. Maybe it’s not turning out the way we envisioned. Maybe we see someone else’s work and wonder if we’ll ever reach that level. It’s frustrating. But here’s the truth: The goal isn’t to be perfect. The goal is to be better than you were yesterday.

The phrase “Practice makes perfect” gets thrown around a lot, but perfection is an illusion. The Spanish version of the saying—“La práctica hace al maestro” (Practice makes the master)—feels much closer to reality. We aren’t striving to be flawless. We are striving to master our craft—through every good and bad brushstroke, every mistake, every lesson learned.

Consistency Over Intensity

It’s easy to think that improvement comes from those big bursts of effort—the full-day painting sessions, the long hours of grinding away at a single piece. But in reality, mastery isn’t built in exhausting marathons. It’s built in the small, consistent moments where we show up day after day.

An artist who paints 15 minutes every day will grow more than an artist who paints for 5 hours once a month. Why? Because growth happens in repetition. Each session builds muscle memory, refines technique, and strengthens intuition. The act of creating frequently is what transforms skill from something you struggle with into something that feels natural.

So if you’re struggling to find time, shift your mindset. Instead of saying, “I don’t have 4 hours to paint today,” say, “I can paint for 30 minutes.” Instead of waiting for the perfect block of time, use the small moments you have.

The Freedom to Make Mistakes

When learning an instrument, a musician doesn’t play a perfect song the first time. They hit wrong notes. They repeat the same section over and over. They refine, adjust, and allow themselves to be bad so that they can eventually be great.

Art is no different. Practice pieces aren’t meant to be masterpieces. They are stepping stones. They are places where you can experiment, fail, and learn without the pressure of making something worthy of display. Every “failed” painting still teaches you something. Every brushstroke, whether it’s right or wrong, is part of the process.

Your Future Self Will Thank You

If you stay consistent, if you keep painting even when you’re frustrated, even when you feel like giving up—your future self will look back and be so grateful. The work you put in today will make things easier tomorrow. The struggles you push through now will become skills you don’t even have to think about in the future.

So show up. Paint when you feel inspired, and paint when you don’t. Some days will feel amazing, and some days will be frustrating. But every day you create, you are becoming better. And that’s all that matters.

-With Love-

Chej

P.S. If you are looking to create your own art and are in need of supplies, there are many great resources online. I always scavenge facebook marketplace first and scoop up people's throwaways. Or if you only want new items I would suggest Blick Art Supplies, They are pretty cheap and they have EVERYTHING. I buy 90% of my supplies from Blick.

P.S.S. If you or anyone you know wants to learn how to paint and draw and actually make $$$ with it. Check out the Milan Art Academy, which is where I chose to go (other than watching a million Youtube videos). The people at the Milan Institute don't believe in the 'starving artist' myth and every lesson is designed to help you in the long run to successfully make money. We can all make a living with art, especially in a day and age where we can contact people on the other side of the planet within literal seconds if we choose to do so.

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