As an artist, are you a sprinter or are you a marathon runner? I often feel as if each day (each project) is a mad dash to an imaginary finish line. In actuality, each day ands up being just one stride in a creative marathon. It takes dedication to keep going. Sometimes, a good day in the studio can feel like a soft sprint through flat terrain, no leg pain, no fatigue, proceeding freely, unencumbered. Other days, it feels almost impossible to even lace up the shoes and hit the road. On top of the self-motivation needed, there are deeper thoughts that come into play. Especially when you are trying to build an audience, or get your work out into the world. Rejection is part of the process. But so is fatigue, or burn out, or feeling jaded, or just plain failure. The success one feels as an artist is not exclusive to art openings, a sale of a piece, or some online recognition. It also has to do with simply “showing up” day after day. Doing the work, without the external validation. Looking at the rejection, the dismissal, the shortcoming, the failed experiments… and deciding… nonetheless… to keep going. What else can we do?