The Power of Deadlines

Does the prospect of having a definite deadline for your art commission terrify you?

You wonder, "What if I can't pull it off? What if I procrastinate too long, or I paint my commission, but it turns out awful, and I have to start over?"

All of these questions made me worry about deadlines in the beginning. Now, I love me a good deadline because it's so motivating and challenging and pulls the best work from me. Now I know I can trust myself.

If deadlines scare you and make you nervous, you are not alone

A lot of artists see deadlines as their greatest enemies.

But what if we reframe how we see deadlines? What if we see them not as enemies but as friends?

When you commit to a deadline, you are not just making a promise to your collectors or audience; you are making a promise to yourself. You are placing a certain degree of trust in yourself.

You are saying, "I believe in my ability to achieve this."

What you have now is an opportunity to prove yourself trustworthy—to others, but more importantly, to yourself. Knowing that you can trust yourself is a key ingredient to acquiring discipline, which is what drives you to success and fuels you to meet every deadline on your calendar.

Once I saw that I could consistently meet a deadline and even finish early, my confidence in myself soared, and I felt unstoppable.

When you know you have a show coming up or a piece that needs to be delivered, every action takes on a sense of purpose and urgency, helping you to focus and eliminate distractions.

This pressure is powerful. It turns up the heat just enough to turn your ideas into something concrete. It forces you to prioritize, to make decisions swiftly and confidently.

Deadlines are a key to growth. Working under pressure is healthy despite the discomfort.

But then what? Once the deadline has passed, what happens?

Are you allowing that valuable experience to inform and transform your day-to-day rhythm? Are you allowing it to affect how you show up in your studio, how you lay down paint, and the urgency with which you bring your ideas into reality?

As you face your next deadline, embrace it. Let it be the catalyst that propels you to new heights. And when you successfully meet it, take a moment to celebrate your growth because every deadline met is a battle won.

Stand tall, brave artist.

Your deadlines are not your enemies.

They are your milestones, marking your path toward greatness. Forge ahead, meet them with creativity and resolve, and watch as each step takes you closer to becoming the artist you are destined to be.