For thirty years, I have committed to showing up at my studio almost daily to paint or print-make. During these three decades, through trial and error, I have learned three simple rules to assist me. First, I remind myself to have gratitude for the space and time to create. Second, I keep in mind that hard work, which includes success and failure, is mandatory. Finally, I’ve realized that loneliness, and the isolating process of creating that can define a struggling artist, must be reframed as solitude; the ego must be left outside the studio door.