3 Questions That Will Dramatically Improve Your Art (and Your Life)

Use this simple three-question framework to dramatically improve your art and life: What do I keep and amplify? What do I stop? What do I dream? By identifying what’s working (and doing more of it), eliminating what’s not serving you, and staying connected to your vision, you can speed up your artistic growth significantly. This framework works on both specific areas of a painting and your overall art practice and life.

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A Simple Framework That Changes Everything

I’m excited to share a simple framework with you today that will dramatically change your art in no time.

There are three questions you can ask yourself at any time that will help improve your art and your life. I use this framework all the time in my art. And it improves everything really, really fast.

The reason it’s important is because it will dramatically improve everything. Having answers to all three of these questions will speed things along.

 

 

The Story of the Birds

I remember I used to make these paintings, and I’ve shared this story with you guys before.

I used to put birds in everything. Everyone loved them. They were just like, I’d stick birds in paintings. And they originally, in the beginning, were about birds mostly.

But then I got more interested in the abstract nature of the backgrounds, and that got bigger and bigger.

But for so long, I had these birds in these pictures and they weren’t really part of it anymore. But I just was too fearful to let them go.

And the sales of the work, it just got kind of strange. And people weren’t resonating with it. But it was really because I was afraid to let go of these dumb little birds and just make full blown abstract paintings, which I finally did.

And everything changed after that.
I share this story with you because it’s a perfect example. Had I had these questions, I wouldn’t have taken so long to improve things.

The Three Questions

So super simple. This works in your life, but it also works easier to see in your art.

Question 1: What Do I Keep and Amplify?

I look at a section of painting, maybe the whole painting, and it’s like, what do I keep here? What do I keep that resonates for me?

For me, I like this. These pink lines, they’re a big yes for me.

Instead of just keeping them as something that’s already there, I’ll amplify it. So I’ll just intuitively do more of this. I will do more of this, maybe even too much. But I am making more of something that I like.

And so automatically I like this, and there’s more of it now. So the work, I like it better. Generally, there’s just more of what I like.

Question 2: What Do I Stop?

The next question’s kind of obvious. What do I stop?

What do I stop doing? Take the birds out, right? What don’t I like here? What don’t I need? And I can do this in just one area.

Like, I don’t like this here, so I can eliminate this. This can go away, right? Like, this is a different answer to this question. And you know, there can be a hint of it here, but like, I didn’t like that part and now it’s gone.

I’ve amplified what I liked. I’ve stopped doing what I don’t like. And already it’s better.

Question 3: What Do I Dream?

Now the third question is, what do I dream?

So, and this is where you’re in your head, like, what do I want for this? When I look at this, what do I want this work to feel like? What do I want?

And part of it is this up here. Like I love this loose kind of part and where I’d go. I can’t do it in the quick little vlog here, the quick little moments we have. But even more of this here, you know? And just like have these larger patina, large kind of buried color shape things going on, the way that feels.

And that’s kind of like what I’m visualizing.

In your life, it might be, you know, I want to get new galleries, or I want to run a marathon. What do you dream that gets your energy and your frequency going?

How to Use This Framework

You have the answers to those three questions. Your work changes really quickly, as does your life.

Super simple, right?

What do I keep and amplify?

What do I stop? Whether it’s stop doing a habit, stop doing something in the work, get rid of it, right?

And then what do I dream?

And make sure you’re tethered to that. Make sure you’re thinking of that and leaning into it and going after that.

A Powerful Framework You Can Use Again and Again

Three questions, three answers.

You can use it again and again and again all year long.

This framework is powerful because it’s so simple. You don’t need complicated systems or lengthy processes. You just need to honestly answer these three questions and then act on those answers.

In Your Art Practice

You can use this framework:

• When you’re stuck on a specific painting
• When reviewing a body of work
• When planning your studio time
• When deciding what materials or techniques to explore
• When evaluating your artistic direction

 

In Your Life

You can use this framework:

• When planning your year
• When feeling overwhelmed
• When making career decisions
• When evaluating relationships or commitments
• When setting goals and priorities

 

The Key Is Honesty

The most important part of this framework is being honest with yourself.

What do you really like? Not what you think you should like, or what others tell you is good. What actually resonates with you?

What do you really need to stop? Not what’s easy to stop, but what’s actually holding you back, even if it’s scary to let it go (like my birds).

What do you really dream about? Not what seems practical or achievable, but what actually gets your energy going and makes you feel alive?

Your Turn

So here’s my question for you.

What’s one thing you’re keeping and amplifying in your art practice right now?

Take some time with this framework. Look at your work. Look at your life. Answer these three questions honestly.

And then act on those answers.

It can change everything.

Share your answers in the comments below.

I hope you get out and make some art today.