How to Be an Excellent (Not Perfect) Artist

There is a lot of misunderstanding these days about what excellence means. Many times the word “excellence” is code for “perfection.” That’s a dangerous ideal because it puts pressure on us to reach something that’s not attainable. We need a definition of excellence that is healthier and more realistic.

But first, why is it so dangerous to pursue perfection?

Perfection is mostly concerned with meeting the ego needs of the artist. The artist who is driven to perfection will do so at almost any cost, including health, family, and any sense of balance in life. I believe this stems from a deep insecurity, but that’s a topic for another post.

The last couple of weeks I’ve been working my way through Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs. While I admire Jobs for his genius in design and marketing (and am a big fan of Apple products), he is a great example of someone who pursued perfection at all costs. It’s a cautionary tale that should make us reconsider how far we would go to be the greatest in our field.

Perfection is inherently unrealistic and unhealthy. It’s much better to pursue excellence. But what is it? I define “excellence” this way:

Excellence means doing the right things in the right way for the right reasons.

Doing the right things concerns your priorities. If you are completely obsessed with your work and ignore your health, your spouse or kids, your personal development, finances, or spiritual growth, you are not really practicing excellence. You’re not just an artist; you’re a real person with a multi-faceted life, and your art is only one aspect of it.

Doing things in the right way concerns your attitude. It means taking the time and effort to do your best work with the time and resources available to you. The last part of that sentence is very important because there are limits to our time, energy, money, and other resources.

Doing things for the right reasons concerns your motives. You should enjoy the creative process, and for some it will be financially rewarding (which is perfectly OK). However, the ultimate motive should be to glorify God and serve others with your gifts (in that order).

If you do these things you will not only create excellent art, but more importantly, you will create an excellent life.

How to you practice excellence in your own life?

This post is an excerpt from my new book The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey, which releases May 19. Stay tuned for updates about how you can join the launch team and get the book for free, along with a number of other valuable resources!

Photo courtesy of Gratisography