Look closely at this image:
These are the bullet holes on American planes that MADE IT BACK to base during World War II.
Military officials wanted to reinforce the areas with the most damage. Seemed logical. But then Abraham Wald, a mathematician with more brains than blind obedience, stopped them cold:
“No. You need to reinforce what you DON’T see. You need to reinforce what kept the other planes from coming back.”
Boom.
The data was there, but the interpretation was wrong. The actual problem was invisible.
Why am I telling you this?
Because the same thing happens in art.
We only see the planes that return. Finished works. Successes.
We don’t see the monumental failures, the frustration, the miserable nights, the creative blocks, the failed attempts, the ruined paintings, the doubt, the years of mediocrity.
And this is where many artists get lost:
They copy victories without understanding the failures it took to get there.
They don’t copy the real power.
Many believe that copying the masters will somehow transfer their talent through osmosis. And yes, you can learn a lot that way. But you have to be careful with your references.
Because references are the planes that made it back.
Want to understand how to survive as an artist? Don’t just look at the wings and the tail. Look at what you don’t see—the mistakes, the frustrations, the choices made in the studio.
First, understand how an artist makes decisions, how they handle failure, how they turn uncertainty into creative strength.
Only then should you worry about what brush they use or how they mix their colors.
The irony? Most artists start at the end. And that’s why they never make it.
WE DO THE OPPOSITE.
We don’t reinforce the wings and the tail. We reinforce what actually matters:
We’re doing this in October 2025…
With JAW Cooper, Vincent Desiderio, Ruprecht von Kaufmann, Laurie Lipton, Edward Povey, Tania Rivilis, and Yasha Young.
If you want to make sure your plane makes it home, focus on reinforcing the parts that truly get it there. Here’s how:
P.S. — Sure, copying the great masters is fine. But remember, you’re only copying what worked—not what made it work. To develop the right mindset, click the link above and get Quarantined.
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