What Great Artists Teach Us About Mastery
- Keith Power
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Why do some names echo through the centuries?Rembrandt. Constable. Michelangelo - these are my own favourite artists and I have been privileged enough to see their works at close quarters in Amsterdam, London and Florence.
We know them as masters of their craft; defining figures in portraiture, landscape, and sculpture. But beyond the art world, their lives hold powerful lessons for anyone pursuing personal growth, leadership excellence, or creative impact.
Because greatness isn’t just about talent. It’s about vision, devotion, and the relentless pursuit of something just beyond reach.
So what can we learn from the greatest artists of all time?
Rembrandt: Mastering the Art of Self-Awareness
Rembrandt van Rijn was a genius of portraiture. But it wasn’t just technique that set him apart, it was empathy. He painted not just appearances but emotions, contradictions, and the quiet struggles of being human.
He also painted himself. Often. Across decades. Not in vanity, but in study. You can track the wear of age, the lessons of loss, the hard-earned wisdom in each self-portrait.
The Lesson: Self-awareness is the foundation of mastery.
In leadership and life, it’s tempting to focus outward; on strategy, metrics, other people. But Rembrandt reminds us: to lead others well, we must first understand ourselves. Strengths. Shadows. Stories. The more honestly we see ourselves, the more impact we can create.
Constable: Finding Purpose in the Everyday
John Constable transformed the landscape genre, not by painting exotic scenes, but by elevating the familiar. The rolling fields of Suffolk, the changing skies, the working life of rural England. He found beauty where others saw routine.
He teaches us something profound: you don’t need to escape your world to create something extraordinary.
The Lesson: Pay attention to where you are.
Growth doesn’t necessarily come from reinvention. Often, it’s about deeper presence, noticing more, and investing care into what you already do. Whether you’re building a team, mentoring others, or reimagining your role, greatness can grow from the ground beneath your feet.
Michelangelo: The Relentless Carving of Potential
Michelangelo saw possibility where others saw stone. His sculptures - David, The Pietà, Moses - are breathtaking. But behind them lies obsession. He worked for years, often in isolation, chasing form inside formlessness. He believed that each block of marble held a figure waiting to emerge. His job was to chip away everything that wasn’t essential.
"I saw the Angel in the marble and carved until I set him free" Michelangelo talking about his masterpiece 'David'
The lesson: Potential is real - but it takes work to reveal it.
You have raw material inside you. Skills, instincts, ideas, ambition. So do your people. But greatness doesn’t surface on its own. It’s carved out, through feedback, practice, resilience, and trust in the process.
Michelangelo didn’t wait for clarity - he created it and you can too!
So, who is the Greatest (in my opinion at least!) and WHY?
For portraiture, it’s Rembrandt - who understood people more deeply than anyone else.
For landscape, it’s Constable - who found power in what others ignored.
For sculpture, it’s Michelangelo - who showed the world what’s possible when you refuse to settle for what is.
But more than their categories, these artists reveal something universal: mastery is not a moment. It’s a mindset.
Three Questions to Reflect On:
What do I need to see more clearly—about myself or others? (Rembrandt)
What overlooked part of my life or work could hold new meaning? (Constable)
What potential am I holding back from fully shaping? (Michelangelo)
You don’t have to be a painter or sculptor to live like a master. You just need to show up to your work - whatever it is - with focus, integrity, and the belief that something greater can still emerge.
What’s your masterpiece in progress?
Written by: Keith Power, Executive Coach | Leadership Advisor | Host of the Podcast The Power WIthin | Motivus Coaching LLP
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