There are two flaws that I have found within myself that have really held back my potential as an artist. I would have been better off without these flaws both in terms of technical improvement and art style.

Even more importantly these flaws can have very negative effects on your overall life so I highly suggest you take precautions to fight against these.

Not Developing Discipline and Focus

Improving at art has so much to do with the ability to schedule time to practice and staying focused for long periods of time. The amount of progress you can make in your art will exponentially grow the more focused hours you are able to put in.

Being focused while drawing is really important early on because it is so easy to develop bad habits. It takes way less time to learn something properly the first time than it is to have to unlearn a bad habit and then learn to do it properly.

One of the misconceptions about having discipline and focus is that it requires more work. The truth is actually that it makes your life much easier, the person with discipline will accomplish so much more in a short period of time that they have more time to relax and have fun.

If you lack focus you won't be able to accomplish a lot in short periods of time which will cause you more stress. Everyone knows that procrastination doesn't actually feel relaxing, you spend your time half worried about the thing you have to do while avoiding it. You would be better off focusing for short periods of time and getting things done.

Developing drawing discipline will also give you more freedom because you know you can do more in a day. You can add other hobbies into your life with the added time you get from being efficient with your time. Many artists sacrifice parts of their social life to do creative work but it isn't necessary if you know how to focus.

How to Develop Focus & Discipline

So if you are thinking that you need more discipline and focus because you want to live a full and productive life, start by using a timer while working. Set the timer for 20 minutes and during that time you will only focus on drawing and not be distracted. The key here is to reduce distractions, turn off your notifications and make sure the timer has an audible alarm so you don't have to check how much time is left. 

Once you have gotten used to using the timer, set a schedule of doing 20 minutes of drawing per day and slowly increase the amount of time you stay focused. I have found that sessions of 1-2 hours are great because you can get in the zone and also not overwork your body.

The more you do this, the easier your life will become and you will see massive improvement in your art progress.

Having A Fixed Mindset

A fixed mindset is when you believe that your traits and skills are innate, which means that you can't change them. This becomes a huge problem because if you can't grow you won't put in the work to make progress.

In terms of art this means that you take it personally when someone gives you constructive criticism about your work because you believe that you can't change. The criticism isn't just about the work, it becomes criticism about you as a person because you believe that your artistic skill is set and cant be changed.

When teachers are asked which students tend to excel in art, they always say that it is the student who seeks out criticism which is the same as saying someone with a growth mindset. The person that knows they can change will learn much quicker than the person that assumes talent is born naturally.

Fixed mindset lends itself to a fragile ego which only makes your life more challenging than it has to be.

Growth Mindset

The antidote to the fixed mindset is that growth mindset. With a growth mindset you believe that skills are learned so you actively seek out your mistakes because you know the quicker you learn the more your art will improve.

With a growth mindset you will be able to celebrate when you find flaws because it brings you a step closer to becoming  a greater artist. This isn't an easy trait to learn but it is worth investing into.

I have found that changing other parts of what I consider my ‘innate personality’ to be a useful way to create a growth mindset in all parts of my life. I have recently done this by becoming someone who takes room temperature showers instead of smoldering hot showers like I used to take.

I had always thought of myself as someone who takes hot showers, realizing I could just change that part of my defined self has opened my mind to all the other ways I can change myself.

So if you want to make quick and massive improvement in your art and progress quickly make sure to develop discipline & focus while nurturing a growth mindset. It will change your life forever.