Free Inspiration
![Crayons on wood](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/blog_0-300x170.jpg)
Have You Pushed PAUSE On Creativity?
An artist recently spoke with me about her work. She tearfully admitted that she’d been too busy to create new work of any substance. She was afraid. Afraid she won’t be able to connect with the
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When Artists Feel Rejection
Every artist experiences rejection. Even artists who hit Big Time. Even artists like you. Even artists like me. That’s why I understand when artists say they’re suffering. Rejection never feels good. It happened to me recently.
![Portrait of Crista Cloutier](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/13699fc2-a698-467f-8f0c-8d2187144992-300x169.jpg)
For Artists Who Crave Feedback
As artists, we often find ourselves at a crossroads, seeking validation and feedback, wondering if our art resonates with the world. Do you ever feel that way? I made this video to share with you
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On your mark. Get set. Go!
I’m always encouraging artists to JUMP. But what does that even mean? The jump is about following your heart. If you recognize your heart as the very best of yourself, and you acknowledge that this is
![Portrait of Crista Cloutier](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/13699fc2-a698-467f-8f0c-8d2187144992-300x169.jpg)
Do You Hear That? It’s Life Asking You A Question.
What do you want to do when you grow up? Do you think we ever stop asking ourselves that question? It seems to be one of life’s great mysteries. When I was young I yearned to
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When Artists Lack Motivation
An artist asked how to fill his time when he didn’t feel particularly motivated or inspired to make something? I know that many artists sometimes struggle to find inspiration. I suggested that he use this
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The Truth About Success For Artists
Artist, you cannot fail. What if that were true? What would you do differently if you knew that artists can’t ever fail? Well, guess what? It is true. It’s a success just to be
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What the Blind Artist Saw
Have you ever felt like your creativity wasn’t flowing? Maybe life wasn’t working out? Nothing was going according to plan? Have you ever struggled to keep the faith? In times of crisis I look
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How Artists Create Self-Confidence
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
![Photo of a painting class](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/f80ced99-8ddb-4dd4-9660-3076b2257f5f-300x225.jpg)
Magic Words to Create Your Greatest Masterpiece
As artists, we are CREATORS. And your life is your greatest creation. In his brilliant book Negative/Positive, Bill Jay wrote that artists are people who strive to become actually who they are potentially. To become actually
![Art Pallette](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Truth-300x200.jpg)
Are You Choosing Through Fear? Or From Truth?
An artist recently told me that for years there was a battle inside her head as both hemispheres of her brain struggled to control her fate. The right side of her brain screamed to be an
![Portrait of an 8 year old artist](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_0290-251x300.jpg)
The 8-Year Old Artist’s Message
It was Day 16 of my crowd-funding campaign and I had only cried in public once. Twice. Online crowd-funding is not for the faint of heart. This was a several years ago, when I was raising
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Do You Hate Social Media?
Do you hate social media? Do you hate self-promotion? Do you hate the competitiveness? The vacuous echo? The soul-sucking amount of time it takes? I hated all those things too. Yet people were always telling me
![Tattoo portrait of Crista Cloutier](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tattoo-249x300.jpg)
The Best New Year’s Resolution for Artists
I don’t know about you, the last years have taught me some important lessons. These lessons marked my soul so deeply that they should be tattooed into my very flesh. They are the lessons of faith,
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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
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Who Believes in You?
All artists have dreams, wishes and goals. It doesn’t matter whether we keep our light hidden and never share our aspirations with another soul, or we announce our plans loudly to the universe. Either way, as artists,
![Crista After the Dive](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/untitled-8171528-257x300.jpg)
How Artists Achieve Breakthroughs
This picture of me is not the most glamorous, yet it’s my favorite. Let me explain. All my life I’ve been terrified of sharks. Truly terrified. My fears grew so big that I became unable to
![Photo of a sculpture that says fine art](https://theworkingartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2019-01-24-at-1.11.31-PM-300x170.png)
Who’s Your Art Hero?
I like a hero as much as the next girl, maybe more. Probably more. But my heroes aren’t action stars, sports legends, nor Kardashians. They’re not even all artists. My heroes tend to be the special