wherein it is examined how to level up one's art

I actually googled this, because I am a nerd.
Also I live in the internet, and it is second nature to ask Uncle Google what I should do next.

the concensus is that I show up regularly, practice, and get useful critiques
taking some lessons is important, but not as important as practice
but practice doesn't help if you are practicing the wrong things, thus lessons (or critiques)

I have tabs open on how to get your portfolio looked at by a gallery, how to brand yourself (ouch), top 10 ways to improve your art, 12 steps to some other thing and 16 things I am supposed to do to be noticed. And those are just the ones I will cop to. There are more embarrassing ones, and less useful ones in there as well.

I think a lot of it is putting in the work. And I have been shirking the work. I am accomplishing other things, like a musical, and the Santa Show which was hilarious and I made the sound board go (yay me!!) but yeah. My room has visible floor space in it, and I have not actually done any work for months. I was, apparently, demoralized by the lack of sales at the last show. And repeated rejections from various shows and competitions. I was doing so well in the spring! I have failed so solidly since mid-summer!

Time to get moving again.
because excuses are boring