[Michael Georges]

One other thought.

How much you put into your art ultimately depends on what you want out of your art. It also has to do with how you individually define success and your ambition.

I think that the term "great artist" means different things to different people. For some, it may mean getting into some local galleries, others may not be satisfied until they are in the Met. One thing is for certain:

Your dedication needs to exceed your ambition.

Your plan of action and your dedication need to exceed your final intent while still taking into consideration the realities of your life.

Being an artist is like being a pianist or an athlete. Do you want to play on alternate Sundays in your church, or do you want to give a solo recital in Madison Square Garden?

The training, study, and commitment you need to undertake for art is no different. If you want to be in the Met, then you need to work a plan to get you there and you need to realize that it will take you just as much (or more) effort and time to get to the Met as it does a concert musician to get to Madison Square Garden or an Olympic athlete to get into and win a medal in the Olympics.

You may find that taking a workshop once a year is enough to satisfy your ambitions, or you may find yourself quitting a day job and taking risks with your financial future to give more time to your art. It can be very scary, but also wonderfully fulfilling.

I like to say that art is not just an adventure, it's a job. It's a job that gives back as much as you put into it. So, ultimately, you need to define your ambitions and what you feel is "success" to your own standards and within the limits of your life.

Leave the definition of greatness for posterity.