Path of an Artist

1. Decoding the substance of popular and praised art. "Oh, that's all they're doing?"
2. Emulation of the style because the public enjoys most of all consuming more of what it is already consuming.
3. Reduction to triviality - "This is well supported, but junk. What are people with brains and souls doing?"
4. Exploration for value, then finding a few greats to see what they live, know, and articulate.
5. Consideration of the general and specific vision necessary for art, of the conditions of creativity and development, of the firmness inherent in good taste. Methods include thought, dreams, experiment, failure, and spiritual transcendence.
6. Becoming - after grasping the work of masters and able to walk in their footsteps, taking new steps perfectly suitable for one's spirit and gifts.