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“Mastery is the slowest, hardest path in the world, and the only one worth taking.”
In this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, I reflect on what it truly means to master an art form. Why Mastery Is the Only Path Worth Taking? As both a painter and a classically trained musician, I’ve lived the reality of endless hours in the studio or at an instrument, practice, repetition, resilience, and passion.
Together, we’ll explore:
- Why mastery demands discipline and patience in today’s instant-gratification culture.
- What neuroscience reveals about how art and music reshape the brain.
- Stories from my portraits of Janine Jansen and Sol Gabetta—living examples of artistic mastery.
- Insights from Iain McGilchrist’s The Matter With Things on creativity, preparation, and illumination.
- Why deliberate practice is not just about skill—it’s about building focus, resilience, and fulfilment.
I will also launch Brushstrokes of Being Studio, where artists can study colour theory, art history, and storytelling. Explore my mini-courses on colour, or join the waiting list for the full launch in November.
Waiting List email landing page
https://mailchi.mp/a5dd5098f749/waiting-list-brushstrokes-of-being-studion
Mastery may be slow, but it’s also deeply transformative, for your art, your brain, and your life.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Mastery: the slowest, hardest path worth taking
Why the path of mastery in art and music is difficult, slow, and ultimately the most rewarding journey.
00:01 – What true mastery looks like in music and art
From breath control and posture in music to light, shadow, and colour theory in painting—what daily mastery practice really involves.
00:02 – The hidden value behind classical concert tickets
A story on why concert tickets reflect years of training, resilience, and invisible hours of practice by world-class musicians.
00:05 – Why students struggle with the effort of mastery
How young artists and musicians react to the relentless practice required, and why persistence is the real test of talent.
00:12 – Neuroscience of practice and neuroplasticity
Scientific research on how deliberate practice rewires the brain, strengthens neural pathways, and improves memory, focus, and creativity.
00:20 – Stories from painting Janine Jansen & Sol Gabetta
Portraits of exceptional female musicians reveal subtlety, strength, and poetic mastery built through decades of dedication.
00:28 – Iain McGilchrist on creativity: preparation, incubation, illumination
Insights from The Matter With Things on the three stages of creativity and why true insight only arrives after hard preparation.
00:36 – The link between mastery, focus, and fulfilment
Why deep, consistent practice builds resilience, patience, and happiness in both art and life.
00:46 – Brushstrokes of Being Studio: antidote to de-skilling
How decades of de-skilling inspired me to create an art education platform rooted in skill, history, and storytelling.
00:55 – Mini-courses on colour theory and full program launch
Explore mini-courses on colour harmony, pigments, and palettes—or join the waiting list for the full launch in November.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Your Brain on Art
- This is Your Brain on Music
- The Aesthetic Brain
- The Matter With Things by Iain McGilchrist