Say what you will about young people today. this generation makes my heart sing for the future of the planet. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with hundreds of university art students all over the world. I happen to think that this generation will save the world. But they suffer. We cripple them […]
One of the first questions I ask aspiring artists is, “What is it that you want?” Invariably the answer has to do with wealth and fame. Heroes named include Damian Hirst and Andy Warhol. And then I sigh, collect myself, and try to explain that when your focus is on wealth and fame you are getting your validation
I imagine that you’ve heard of the boxer named Mohammad Ali. When he passed away, the whole world mourned. But Crista, you’re probably asking, what does a boxer have to do with art? A lot, actually. Because there’s a lesson here that speaks to all of us who strive for greatness in what we do.
So you’ve taken the jump and chosen to be an artist. Now what? Where’s the fabulous gallery opening in New York City? Where are the international collectors to lavish praise and money on you? Where’s the gallery to take care of all those pesky marketing tasks and details? Instead, you battle rejection. You wonder
As artists, we challenge ourselves because that’s how we find The Muse. The Muse doesn’t just sit around waiting for us. We have to get to work to find her. Sometimes that means opening ourselves up to new experiences and learning from others. That’s why last week I hosted The Working Artist 5-Day Challenge in
Every artist’s journey tells a story. And every story has an antagonist. The story of your artist’s journey is no different. The antagonist is the adversary, the opponent. It’s what comes between the hero and her desire. Consider your own journey, where you are right now. Can you identify an antagonist in your story? Yes, it
One of my favorite writers is Seth Godin. I’ve been reading his books and blog for years because his advice for creatives is paradigm-changing. But life was throwing me some challenges. I wished I could ask Seth Godin about it. “Seth Godin would know what to do,” I thought to myself. “He always has the
“But Crista,” the artist asked, “How can I make a living from my art?” “I wanna be wealthy! I wanna live on a beach! I wanna be dripping in jewels! And I want my art to pay for all of it!” Then I reply with something that artist Kiki Smith once told me: “Your art doesn’t exist to support
Every family has a story. They called her “Grandma Ach” because of her habit of beginning each sentence with a guttural sound of disapproval. “Ach! What is this?” But her name was Mary Anne. She was the daughter of German immigrants. Farmers. But Mary Anne was an artist. Bright, beautiful, and serious, the photos of my
I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen a lot of art critiques in my day. Even though artistic taste is subjective, even though everyone has their own aesthetics and set of experiences and education that they bring to the work; critiques are an important part of the artistic process. Why? I often ask that