More Art Advice...aren't I wonderful?

A few more thoughts and ideas have come up that I hope will be helpful.

1. Perfection. Don't avoid the attempt at perfection. There is a persistent selling point to disdain perfection. The low hanging fruit is evangelized. DON'T BELIEVE IT. It is making the worst cause seem the better. The voices advocating against perfection are advocates of low quality. In most cases "Nobody is perfect" doesn't apply. When this type of excuse comes up no one is discussing "perfect" they are discussing a reasonable, attainable, standard. For art the standards are higher. We are supposed to be aiming at perfection, shooting for the stars...even in commercial art and in production. Sayings like "Don't let perfect get in the way of good" are again making the worst cause seem the better. Part of the artist's work is ultra high achievement- as the lowest standard. It takes just as long to make something bad and wrong as it does correctly and it takes much less effort to do things well. "Good enough" in art doesn't exist. There can be boundaries of time and resources, but the most exemplary piece of art within these boundaries is still the standard.
2. Take all critique personally. It is personal. Additive discussion is different from critique. Art is a unique discipline. Do not submit or bare your throats to compromise the best of what we do. In commercial art beware other disciplines and the lure of compromise. Other professions are notoriously ignorant, and blind to the value and contributions of art. Fight them. Actively. Aggressively. The alternative is an ever diminishing standard. This is a real danger. Reject companies that tell you to be gracious in taking criticism. Working with artists for clarity and respecting their elite, expert opinions and judgments are very important. And beware of art directors who are vague and harsh. If they can see a better path, an improvement, let them cheerfully set their hands to the work and demonstrate.
3. Question everything. Question art terms as they are often meaningless or overblown. Question the value placed in things like..."value", "silhouettes", "shape language" "temperature" etc. Little cults are built from these things, and mountains are made of molehills. Are is rife with superstition. Don't join in. Magic will cripple you.
4. Share with other artists. But share carefully. Don't let the vanity of "teaching" bloat you. And if you are asking to be shown something, try not to let too much "internet decorum" bleed into your interaction. Be nice about it, and courteous. Keep your skepticism tempered. If you have challenges to those teaching you that is fine but don't seek out their flaws or be competitive. If anything let the challenges guide you to something you can share, in turn, with the person who taught you. In other words: try being nice you jack ass! I'll try too.
5. Art isn't a sport, it is uncomfortably business, it isn't a job. Take anything anyone says about art with great doubt. Let them prove it and make a good case. If it is based on "the feels" you are being conned. Most of what you will ever hear about art is fraud and nonsense. Be careful and consider the sources. Fight against nonsense and rely on reason. Likewise, beware "masters" and "gurus". Being an artist has some desperation in it, and desperation makes you vulnerable to parasites and predators. Art doesn't have keys, or magic pills, or justification in your feels. If you feel a flush of pride in the tribe, or your reviews, or accolades, beware. You are being covered in seasoning and sauces,
6. Study. Try. Never stop. You will die before you are done. Hand over what you can. Defend art as far as you can. Look through the doors, windows and thresholds that art is, to experience what you are able. One of the roots of the word art meant "door" or "entrance". That hasn't been lost in the practice.
7. And again: Be good to your neighbor. We are all in it together.