The 80/20 Rule in Art - 8020 in Everything

The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto principle, is a concept that can be applied in many areas of life, including art. Essentially, it states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small amount of effort or input can often have a disproportionately large impact.

Here are some ways that the 80/20 Rule can be applied in the world of art:

Time management: As an artist, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of creating and promoting your work. By applying the 80/20 Rule, you can focus on the 20% of tasks that will have the greatest impact on your career and eliminate or delegate the rest. For example, rather than spending hours on social media, you might focus on creating high-quality artwork and networking with key industry players.
Prioritizing projects: The 80/20 Rule can also help you prioritize your projects and allocate your time and resources accordingly. Identify the projects that will have the greatest impact on your career and focus on those first.
Identifying your target audience: As an artist, it’s important to know who your target audience is and how to reach them. By applying the 80/20 Rule, you can focus on the 20% of potential customers who are most likely to buy your art and ignore the rest. This will help you use your resources more efficiently and maximize your sales.
Perfectionism: It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of perfection, but the 80/20 Rule can help you realize that perfection is often unattainable. Instead, focus on the 20% of elements that will have the greatest impact on the overall quality of your work and let go of the rest.
Collaboration: When working on a project with others, the 80/20 Rule can help you identify the individuals who are making the greatest contribution and allocate resources accordingly.
Marketing and promotion: When it comes to marketing and promoting your art, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options available. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of marketing efforts that will have the greatest impact on your career, rather than trying to do everything at once. For example, rather than spending time and money on a wide range of marketing tactics, you might focus on building a strong online presence through a well-designed website and social media platforms.
Artistic style: As an artist, it’s important to develop your own unique style, but it’s also easy to get bogged down in the details. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of elements that will have the greatest impact on your style and let go of the rest. For example, rather than obsessing over every brush stroke, you might focus on developing a strong composition and use of color.
Artistic growth: It’s natural to want to constantly improve and evolve as an artist, but it can be overwhelming to try and tackle everything at once. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of areas where you can make the greatest impact on your growth and development as an artist. For example, rather than trying to learn every technique and medium at once, you might focus on mastering a few key techniques and then branch out from there.
Artistic materials: As an artist, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest materials and techniques, but the 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of materials that will have the greatest impact on your art. For example, rather than buying every new product that comes on the market, you might focus on a few key materials that are essential to your artistic style and let go of the rest.
Artistic subjects: When it comes to choosing subjects for your art, the 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of subjects that are most meaningful to you and let go of the rest. For example, rather than trying to paint or draw every subject imaginable, you might focus on a few key themes or subjects that inspire you and allow your art to really shine.
Artistic goals: As an artist, it’s important to set goals for yourself, but it’s also easy to get overwhelmed by trying to achieve too much at once. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of goals that will have the greatest impact on your career and let go of the rest. For example, rather than trying to accomplish everything on your list all at once, you might focus on a few key goals and take things one step at a time.
Artistic community: Building a strong community of fellow artists and art lovers is an important part of any artist’s career, but it can be overwhelming to try and connect with everyone. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of individuals who will have the greatest impact on your career and let go of the rest. For example, rather than trying to be friends with everyone in the art world, you might focus on building deeper relationships with a few key individuals who can help support and promote your work.
Artistic inspiration: As an artist, it’s important to stay inspired and motivated, but it can be overwhelming to try and find inspiration from too many sources. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of sources that are most meaningful and inspiring to you and let go of the rest. For example, rather than constantly scrolling through social media or trying to keep up with every new trend, you might focus on a few key sources of inspiration, such as nature, travel, or the works of your favorite artists.
Artistic feedback: Seeking feedback from others is an important part of any artist’s growth, but it’s also easy to get overwhelmed by too much feedback. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of feedback that is most valuable and let go of the rest. For example, rather than seeking feedback from everyone who offers it, you might focus on getting feedback from a few key individuals whose opinions you value the most.
Artistic portfolio: As an artist, it’s important to have a strong portfolio that showcases your work, but it’s also easy to get overwhelmed by trying to include too much. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of your work that is most representative of your artistic style and let go of the rest. For example, rather than trying to include every piece you’ve ever created, you might focus on a few key pieces that really showcase your strengths and let go of the rest.
Artistic pricing: As an artist, it’s important to price your work fairly and appropriately, but it’s also easy to get overwhelmed by trying to account for every factor. The 80/20 Rule can help you focus on the 20% of factors that will have the greatest impact on your pricing and let go of the rest. For example, rather than trying to take into account every possible variable, you might focus on a few key factors, such as the materials you use, the size of the piece, and your own time and labor, and let go of the rest.

By applying the 80/20 Rule in your art career, you can focus on the things that will have the greatest impact and make the most of your time and resources. Remember, it’s not about striving for perfection, but rather about identifying the things that will have the greatest impact and focusing your efforts there.