— I’ve found that the artists who produce the most impressive work more often than not prove to be the ones most in love with the process itself, not just the end results.

It’s easy to want to create a masterpiece. It’s another to put in the long hours a masterpiece requires.

But it’s not just the time or work.

It’s the ENJOYMENT of putting in the work.

Even the boring bits.

• The hour it takes to make a really great extraction.

• The afternoon it takes to capture or gather the right photos and content.

• The extra half hour at the end, fine-tuning the post production layers.

When you’re able to find real happiness and contentment even when you have to undo a bunch of work and start that part again or try something different, and you put in another hour or two because you need to get this just right . . . you’ll know you’ve found that joyous place from which all the best art finds its origin.

I’m reminded of this grinning old timer I came to know at the ballpark. He seemed to be at every game. Always smiling, always laughing with those around him. Didn’t matter whether the home team was winning or down by 5 runs in the ninth inning. “Win or lose,” he said to me, “with or without thrills, ANY night at a ballgame is a great night!”

And so it should be with photo artists: ANY time you are able to spend with a camera in your hand or at your computer adding layers to an image in Photoshop — any time you can spend in pursuit of your craft — is time well spent, a creative life unfolding.

Approach your work this way and even the boring bits cease to be boring.

Because this is how you set about shaping your life as an artist — by putting in the time and proving yourself worthy of it. Again and again. Cheerfully. Enjoying yourself all the while.

~ Sebastian

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PS: The extraordinary image featured atop this post is by AWAKE artist Marius Els whose work exemplifies dedication to the happy drudgery of fine extractions and careful assembly.