Tolerance for uncertainty is the prerequisite to succeeding.

You make good work by (among other things) making lots of work that isn't very good, and gradually weeding out the parts that aren't good, the parts that aren't yours. It's called feedback, and it's the most direct route to learning about your own vision. It's also called doing your work. After all, someone has to do your work, and you're the closest person around.

The hardest part of art-making is living your life in such a way that your work gets done-over and over-and that means, among other things, finding a host of practices that are just plain useful.

Something about making art has to do with overcoming things, giving us a clear opportunity for doing things in ways we have always known we should do them.

To the artist, all problems of art appear uniquely personal. Well, that's understandable enough, given that not many other activities routinely call one's basic self-worth into question.

Even talent is rarely distinguishable, over the long run, from perseverance and lots of hard work.

Talent may get someone off the starting blocks faster, but without a sense of direction or a goal to strive for, it won't count for much