Jeff Watts' book review of "Mastery" by George Leonard, Part 3

[@WhattheFoXPlay]

I love the quote from Michael Jordan about basketball: "Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That's truly about the game, and in some ways that's about life too.” He has kind of the same mentality Jeff talked about. And guess what, he is one of the greatest players in NBA history.

[@rogerlerebel]

I think it's pretty safe to assume at this point that he enjoyed the book.

[@angeliqueroux3017]

I wish Jeff would do more book reviews like this series. Would love to have a playlist, outside of the online classes, of him being motivational. ✨✨

[@AtenAkaAton1]

Yup this video sums things up very well for me. I finally learned there are no short cuts a year ago and I was always a natural relying on that but that only takes you so far. There is a "faster" method to learning but it's not fast. Really I should say there's a proper way of learning, and it boils down to doing what needs to be done, not just what you feel like doing, and that's about as fast as it gets. Now I study all the time or try to and I'm constantly being told I'm good enough or that I've been studying it enough I should know it by now, and mostly from my mother who has mastered nothing in her life. She has no idea what commitment is about and it's impossible to explain to someone who has never had any real aspirations in life what it takes to be one of the best in a field. She looks at the work of someone like Roberto Ferri and thinks I should be able to do that within a year. She asks when I'll be good enough, never, the answer is simply never but I know right now I have a lot to learn because the community college art program I went to was a complete waste of time and money. It's incredibly irritating but I will prevail.

[@mrmountain74]

wow jeff. I have always found myself swaying from passionately loving art to dreading to practice. But I see now that I love art when I can see that I am making progress and dreading it when I am plateauing. I had never realized.

[@breedbeeld_podcast]

love this review. Very inspiring. Thank you Jeff

[@kilyenbalazs6398]

Every shred of wisdom and knowledge is a real illuminating realization to me from this channel! Excellet book review! Thank you for sharing. I wonder if there is a Hungarian version of this book. I would love to give it to my drawing teacher for her birthsday in the spring.

[@alessandroletocolombo3216]

Love that book and love these videos Jeff! I really hope that one day I will have the money and time to come there and learn from you and all the other great guys.

[@sanjaykambleart8195]

Great Info and Inspiratinal talk..Thank you!!!

[@nsuarez]

Priceless video for people going through this...Thanks for posting.

[@wetyewruyrtsutrdhjfg]

Hi Jeff, I'm doing what you've described but I'm certainly not on a hero's journey. I'm just someone who wants to get better at art consistently, do well enough to work in art (i.e. getting to the top 5 - 10% in the art work) and make an ok living until I die. I'm no hero, I'm just one of tens of thousands who are doing the same thing. None of us artists are going to save lives or create a technological breakthrough that will improve the lot of the human race by doing a fantastic painting. So perhaps some people might view themselves as heroes doing art, but I'm no hero.

[@roryherman9793]

Thanks Jeff!

[@Mirtohid]

Amazing talk, Tank you so much.

[@ned272]

Jeff you're the shit man. Always look back to give me some inspiration on my journey

[@ricardosealey2676]

Great advice Jeff those are some powerful life tools

[@MildredWilsonArtist]

Great talk! thanks a lot, Jeff :-)

[@DontLeaveMeLucile]

unbelievably enlightening Jeff. I have that genius complex to a T! I'm absolutely obsess with the idea of being "good enough" to skip X, Y, & Z studies; Studies like 1, 2, & 3+ point perspective have alluded me, due to my belief, of which, I believe I've somehow surpassed such a study type, without ever having sat down and actually done a large amount of point perspective drawing, because "I already understand that as much as I need to understand that, for now..." that last sentence has seriously stunned my drawing... I already understand anatomy as much as I need to, at this point on my artwork... I already understand color theory as much as I need to at this time in my artwork... BS! I need to humble myself immensely. I need to surrender to the truths of the weaknesses of my artwork- ie: I need to stop focusing do much oh what's fun for me, & begin focusing on what I need to learn for my artwork to reach a new level. right now I am super-focused on trying new, & exciting mediums. rather than this, I need to focus more on mastering a single medium that I excel in. thank you for opening my eyes, to such an immense epiphany, which stretches to and from, from what medium I need to focus on, to what study I need to work on, from the reasons that have kept myself and my artwork a stunned, to the very things that I excel in, of which I need to focus more of my energy on! Thank you for sharing this book with us Jeff. extremely helpful. I will replay this video, perhaps daily/nightly, to ensure that I have not slipped back into performing negative habits, or emitting negative/"genius-complex-related" thoughts! haha. thanks again bro. Jeff, you rule. I would love to one day meet you in person, and maybe even have a chance at studying in one of your classes... unfortunately, I live across the country, and I am tired to my home area due to health problems. I need to/will definitely be looking into your online classes, however! they seem very interesting to me, and I can't wait to take my first dive into your online atilier classes. thanks !!

[@riccia888]

Good luck with his online class. I hope you wont be a starving artist because theres not much fundamentals on his online class. Better study at his brick and mortar school because his not hiding the fundamentals in actual school.

[@DavidWoodArtist]

Great advice on loving the plateau, almost like a spiritual/meditation concept of finding happiness/contentedness where you are, but still want good things and change to come into your life. By the way, is that a Cornwell painting in the background?

[@thesuperest]

This feeling of a real love for what you're doing intrigues me though. Finding your purpose and calling and finding your true self and all that. Is that a result of this process or a required first step? I've always felt that that's where I get help up. I've never had a sense of passion for anything and it's never made sense to try to master something I don't love. But how do you find something you love? Just randomly try stuff until something sticks or... I don't really know. So I never really know where to start. Anyway. Before I start rambling, enjoyed the series!

[@girlanachronism88]

+MoonlightGrace Listen do your dreams, do you have any? There must be something which is deeply rooted in you, something you always wanted to do but somehow belived that is impossible. I had that with painting, all my life I belived I had no talent and would never be an artist, but one day I decided I want to learn how to paint. It's years by now, it was very hard and always be a lifetask but I now I cannot imagine my life without art.

[@Socrates...]

I wish it was longer

[@jasper_of_puppets]

+CaptainMarley loooool

[@procrast]

kh ahahkhakhahkkhakhahkkha

[@monkiemind1596]

THANKS 😀

[@azam987654321]

Nice!

[@robertbest6858]

It's a Scarry thought but if you want something you will suffer anything for the right reasons

[@DubstepSon]

nice =)

[@philipnorris5549]

Pink Floyd 'The Wall' comes to mind..

[@paul1349]

is not a problem making money is do you have to keep up my for some artists about buying a plate of food or buying a tube of pain

[@maryannmullen744]

gee i hope i have the right personality type

[@paul1349]

my whole opinion change about this guy when I received the email from the staff he doesn't care about others remember that scene in Van Gogh the movie when you go to uncle to pick up to pick up I ideas if is uncle would have been anything like his staff we wouldn't have Vincent van Gogh today

[@AtenAkaAton1]

+art art I don't understand what you're trying to state? Personally I hate the work of Van Gogh and I don't understand the love for his work but I'm plenty happy for the people who do like his work.