Artist Luis Jimenez died tragically in an accident in June of 2006. At the studio where I worked, Luis was the first artist I knew to pass away. Artists Fritz Scholder and Keith Haring had also worked with us and gone before him, but Luis was on my watch – and he was family. Luis Jimenez …
I guess it won’t surprise you know that I’ve always believed in magic. I look for those small moments of synchronicity that let me know I’m not alone. I don’t know Who or What it is that walks beside me, but by dropping that penny in my path, I’ve felt that everything is going to …
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 …
I recently suffered a crisis. My relationships weren’t connecting, my creativity wasn’t flowing. I was overwhelmed and overwrought. It felt like the work was stagnant and it became a battle to get through all the stuff that needed to be done. Have you ever felt like this? In times of crisis, I look for those …
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 …
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 …
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 »
It was on September 13th, when she was just 13 years old, that Orelle was struck by a car as she crossed 13th Street. Unlucky number 13. Orelle spent the remainder of her short life in pain, finally finding peace when she took her last breath exactly 13 months later on October 13th, 1932. It …
It was the last day of the College Art Association conference in Washington DC and I was beat. I’d spent weeks preparing for it. And then 4 long days either in meetings or chasing more meetings. I’d attended sessions, made new contacts, and talked to dozens of artists about their practice. It was a fabulous …
