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Prentice Mulford has some interesting ideas on work.
He said: "To succeed in any undertaking, any art or any trade or any profession, simply keep it ever persistently fixed in mind as an aim, and then study to make all effort toward it play or recreation. The moment it becomes hard work, we are not advancing."
As I look back on my experiences in the artworld, I see how true this is. From the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia came eight men, all of about the same age, who became distinguished and successful artists.
They were called "The Eight" in Contemporary Art. Not one of them was ever known to work hard. They never drew from the antique; they never did anything in an academic way. They simply expressed themselves. They painted and drew because they loved it - for the fun of it.
They tell an amusing story of one of them who became a very well-known landscape artist, taking many medals and honorary mentions at exhibits.
He had a one-man show in New York City at one of the big galleries, and was seated reading a paper.
An enthusiastic woman rushed up to him and said: "Can you tell me anything about the wonderful man who painted these adorable pictures?"
He replied: "Sure, I'm the guy that painted the damn things."
He painted for fun, he didn't care whether people liked his pictures or not.
