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 Ambition in a creative career means different things for different people, but at its heart is a desire to create something "great" - the elusive masterpiece, and perhaps all the acclaim that comes with that. Could there be a single-most important element in an artwork that turns it into a masterpiece?

In a recent blog post by author and artist Austin Kleon he discussed the concept of the "most important thing you do" in terms of building a creative career. I found his words very apt in describing the difference in perspectives between those who are ambitious and those who desire the most out of themselves. Ambition pushes you to some undetermined place in the future. You might even find yourself in circumstances deemed "successful" by others, but there's always more for tomorrow, right? Focusing instead on what is in front of you, creating the best you can in that very moment will most likely lead to better and better as each day unfolds, and each day is a success in its own right, having wrung the best from you.

Kleon presents this quote from author Verlyn Klinkenborg from his book, Several Short Sentences on Writing. Klinkenborg speaks of thinking ahead of the sentence upon which an author is working:

“You’re looking past [the sentence] toward your meaning somewhere down the road,

Or toward the intent of the whole piece.

Somehow that seems more important than the sentence you’re actually making,

Though your meaning and the intent of the whole piece

Depend entirely on the sentence you’re making.

In fact, you’re distracted from the sentence by your intention

And by wondering how soon you’ll be done.

You’re distracted from the only thing of any value to the reader.”

I'd like to subtly paraphrase for visual artists:

“You’re looking past your mark toward your meaning somewhere down the road,

Or toward the intent of the whole piece.

Somehow that seems more important than the mark you’re actually making,

Though your meaning and the intent of the whole piece

Depend entirely on the mark you’re making.

In fact, you’re distracted from the mark by your intention

And by wondering how soon you’ll be done.

You’re distracted from the only thing of any value to the observer.”

Each mark laid down is the most important....until the next one. And so a painting builds, one important mark at a time.