In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, we often hear the phrase "work smart, not hard." While I agree that efficiency is essential, as an artist, I’ve learned that some skills can only be mastered through hands-on practice and consistent effort. One particular experience from 2018 taught me this lesson in the most vivid way.

That year, I worked with the Class of 2021 at Boso Senior High Technical School on a project that was both ambitious and deeply rewarding. It wasn’t just about creativity; it was about instilling discipline and refining practical skills—qualities I believe are just as crucial as innovation in the world of art.

A Bold and Memorable Experiment

The project involved transforming an entire room into a canvas of two-dimensional bubbles. Instead of using wallpaper, we opted to create the effect through painstakingly painted designs. The goal wasn’t just aesthetic—it was to teach the students;

• Precision in brush strokes

• Accurate measurement,

• Color mixing, and visualization skills.

• And psychologically prepare them for the comprehensive experience of Picture

  Making (Painting)

  
  

  This wasn’t the kind of task you could rush through. Over two days, we worked side by side, bringing the room to life with vibrant colors and careful attention to detail. The students’ energy and commitment were contagious. What stood out most to me wasn’t just the final look of the room but the transformation I saw in the students themselves.

  They were learning far more than art techniques. They were gaining patience, building confidence, and discovering the satisfaction that comes from hard work.

Hard skills

Painting bubbles all over

Working meticulously

Happy with the outcome

Results

Lessons from My Own Journey

Watching them brought back memories of my own struggles and triumphs as a student. I remember the countless hours spent practicing lettering styles or perfecting a shading technique. At the time, it felt tedious—sometimes even pointless. But looking back, I see those hours as the foundation of my craft.

Those skills didn’t just appear overnight. They were the result of repetitive practice, feedback, and perseverance. And now, as a teacher, I try to pass on that same lesson to my students: the idea that mastery comes from a combination of effort and dedication.

Drappery & Texture in Portrait

detailing texture in thefabric

Hard Work and Smart Work: A Perfect Pair

It’s tempting to view "working smart" and "working hard" as opposites, but I believe they go hand in hand. When my students from that project—like Isaac Vierrah, Emmanuel Awaitey, Emmanuel Lomoko, Joseph Safori, and Enoch Yirenkyi—took on their final exams in Graphic Design, their progress was undeniable.

Their hand-painted book covers weren’t just impressive pieces of art; they were a prove to the skills they’d gained through projects like the bubble room. Each stroke, each decision, reflected a blend of hard-earned technique and creative thinking.

Isaac Vierrah

Designed by Isaac Vierrah

Joseph Safori

Designed by Joseph Safori

Designed by Awaitey Emmanuel

Awaitey Emmanuel

Designed by Emmanuel Lomoko

Sarah Djabatey & Awaitey Emma

Designed by Sarah Djabatey

Why Practical Skills Matter

Art, at its core, is a balance between tradition and innovation. While new technologies and techniques offer incredible opportunities, the timeless value of practical, hands-on skills remains irreplaceable. There’s a kind of confidence that only comes from knowing your craft inside and out—a confidence that no shortcut can provide.

Balancing Smart and Hard Work in Art Education: Insights from a Transformative 2018 Project

In the evolving landscape of art education, the interplay between smart work and hard work shapes both learning outcomes and the creative growth of students. This dynamic was exemplified in this transformative project I led in 2018 at Boso Senior High Technical School, it was a bold initiative to instill discipline, precision, and creativity through a hands-on, labor-intensive activity.

Bridging Hard Skills with Strategic Learning

This hands-on initiative aimed to refine students’ technical skills, including brush stroke precision, accurate measurement, color mixing, and visualization. Over two rigorous days, we worked collaboratively, transforming the room into a lively display of artistic discipline and imagination.

Such practical training is deeply rooted in the philosophy of experiential learning (Kolb, 1984), which emphasizes the importance of direct engagement with tasks as a means of mastering complex skills. The repetitive nature of tasks, such as refining lettering styles or mastering shading techniques, builds a strong foundation for artistic expression. While these exercises demand effort and perseverance, they contribute to the development of hard skills that remain invaluable throughout an artist’s career.

Evolving Through Smart Work

While the emphasis on hard work is critical, integrating smart work practices enhances efficiency and innovation. Smart work in art education involves using strategic approaches, such as breaking complex tasks into manageable segments, leveraging technology for visualization, and fostering collaborative problem-solving. During the 2018 project, these principles came to life when students collectively brainstormed solutions to challenges, such as achieving uniformity in bubble sizes and balancing colors for aesthetic harmony.

Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956) offers a useful framework for understanding this balance. The lower levels of the taxonomy—knowledge and comprehension—are reinforced through hard work, such as repetitive practice and technical mastery. However, the higher levels—analysis, synthesis, and evaluation—are unlocked through smart work, enabling students to conceptualize and innovate based on foundational skills.

The Impact of Practical Training

The growth of students involved in the project underscores the enduring benefits of balancing hard and smart work. Participants such as Isaac Vierrah and Joseph Safori have since emerged as accomplished artists, their development fueled by the disciplined training of the 2018 initiative. Their success highlights the transformative potential of immersive, hands-on experiences in fostering both technical proficiency and creative confidence.

Additionally, the project served as a springboard for students’ performance in subsequent endeavors, including their final practical examinations. Their hand-painted book cover designs reflected not only artistic talent but also the discipline and problem-solving abilities honed through earlier challenges.

A Call to Balance

Art education thrives when tradition and innovation coexist. While the rigorous practice of hard skills builds a foundation of excellence, incorporating smart strategies enhances the efficiency and relevance of learning. As educators, embracing this balance allows us to nurture versatile, resilient artists who are prepared to navigate the evolving demands of the creative world.

Whether you are an aspiring artist or an educator shaping future creators, the value of balancing smart and hard work cannot be overstated. Let us continue to honor traditional craftsmanship while embracing modern methodologies, ensuring a holistic and enriching artistic journey for generations to come.

References

• Bloom, B. S. (1956).Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. David McKay Company.

• Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall.