Her name was Ruffian. And she was the fastest girl alive. They said she couldn’t beat the boys but I didn’t believe them. Ruffian was a two-year-old thoroughbred racehorse who ran undefeated. In fact, no horse had ever run in front of her, she took the lead every time and refused to surrender it. But […]
Mickey was born the moment that his father died. His dad was rushing to the hospital to greet his firstborn son when he was hit by a train and killed instantly. A few years later, Mickey’s misfortune continued when his mom married a Bad Man. Family lore has it that the Bad Man beat little
I found myself at a crossroads when I was eighteen years old. I’d grown up in a family where science and mathematics made proper courses of study for university. But my behavior gave my family reason to pause. We didn’t have the vocabulary to understand what was wrong with me, why I was different. I
Artists are dreamers. Often we operate in two different worlds: the vibrant, colorful, mystical world inside of our heads and…well… the real world. The real world isn’t as fun. Bills demand to be paid. Responsibilities need to be met. And people? Well, people aren’t always as supportive as we’d like them to be. How often
As she wiped away the tears, the artist told me her story. She’d applied for a project that was a perfect match for her work. She had all the right qualifications. She was certain that she’d get it. She even started to make plans for moving forward. But then she wasn’t chosen! It left her stunned,
Is your life’s journey a true expression of your self? Too many people just follow what’s right in front of them, without discernment. They choose what’s easy and available. They don’t realize that we can create our own lives. I think that’s why the public is so fascinated by the lives of artists. We’re
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
“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
Have you come to a point on your path where you’re considering turning your passion for making into a career as a professional artist? But this is where many artists ask me, “How do I know if I’m ready to work as a professional artist?” I always believe that the answers lie in the questions.
Investing time and money into a course for artists is a great way to build your knowledge, expand your skill set, and develop confidence. And artist masterclasses, courses and programs are invaluable to artists at all stages of their careers. But how do you decide which artist course is right for you? You may already
Is The Working Artist Masterclass the Right Art Course for You? – An honest assessment Read More »