Hard Work Trumps Talent Every Time. (Patreon)

Malcolm Gladwell made the common rule of thumb that "it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something" in his book Outliers. He's right. Talent isn't enough to get you the success you crave, you have to be willing to learn new techniques and practice them. Commit to making art every day or as often as possible. Here are some ways to make more time for art:

Schedule Time - Just like you would make a doctor's appointment, put an appointment on your calendar to make art, and then KEEP IT.

Cut Down on Screen Time- You'd be surprised how much time you waste mindlessly scrolling social media or binge-watching Netflix. Neither of these activities is as productive as making art.

Bring a Small Sketchbook- Take a small sketchbook and a pencil or pen and sketch whenever you are out in the wild while waiting at an appointment, riding public transportation, or just taking some time in nature. Look for opportunities to sketch in your daily routine and be ready with that sketchbook and pencil.

Delegate Chores- Have your kids do the laundry and the dishes. Don't like to grocery shop? Then use a service like Instacart to have your groceries delivered. Delegating tasks will free that time up for more art.

Take an Art Class- If you really want to jumpstart making art, a class will force you into the art mindset and put you on a schedule and you'll learn new techniques and strategies.