Free Inspiration
The Artist’s Dance
We all know artists who do incredible work, but fail to achieve their professional goals. It’s tragic and feels unfair. At the same time, I’ll bet you can also name several artists who enjoy great commercial
To Stop Wishing And Start Doing
For years I wished that I could be a writer and an artist. I wished on every shooting star, straining my neck from the constant upward gaze. I threw a small fortune of pennies into wishing
Framer to the Stars
Though he called himself “Framer to the Stars,” I never saw any stars in Bill’s Custom Frames. But I did see plenty of artists. Every artist has their favorite framers, and ever since I was in
The Best New Year’s Resolution for Artists
I don’t know about you, but 2021 has taught me some painful lessons. These lessons marked my soul so deeply that they should be tattooed into my very flesh. They are the lessons of faith, grace,
A Christmas Story: How One Artist Found Her Way
A few years ago, I donned an apron as I shared my tragically funny story with a wonderful crowd at Phoenix’s very cool RPela Gallery. It’s the true tale of what happened when I decided to
What Is An Artist?
I went all the way to France to write my book. But that didn’t make it any easier. Chapter One. Page One. The bright white of the paper glared accusingly. How do I begin? At
The Ghosts in Our Blood
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
The Artist’s Journey: How To Best Prepare
How do you prepare for the artist’s journey if you don’t know where you’re going? Spend wisely. When I was selling other people’s art and not making my own art, I filled that empty space inside
Does Your Art Suck?
Has anyone ever told you that your creative work sucks? If not, just wait. It’ll happen. And when it does, avoid the urge to hide in a hole. Instead, consider it a rite of passage… I’ve
Artist: The Best Choice You Can Make
Have you ever found yourself questioning if you’re good enough? Or maybe you overthink something you did or something you said? Sometimes we get stuck in those thoughts, wondering about the judgments and opinions of
How a Blind Artist Taught Me How to See
I was 17 years old and had never met a blind man before. Every day, he sat at the counter of the diner where I poured coffee. The first time we met, he pulled out paper and
Are you asking yourself these questions?
Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of university art students. They always impress me; eager to learn, explore, and ready to change the world. But they’re also scared and unsure if the world
What’s your Artist Dream?
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
The Artist Who Made Everything Better
My friend Mark shined the light of his creativity on all he did. We met years ago in art history class, where we fell in love. Not with each other, mind you, but with Vincent Van
Are You Giving Your Power Away?
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
The Artist Who Couldn’t Be Tamed
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
The Gift a Gentle Giant Left Me
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
5 Secrets to Build an Audience for Your Art Business
Artists who have a solid audience base most often see consistent sales and growth and new opportunities. But building a target audience is not easy! It’s an investment of time and energy to gather and nurture