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Free Inspiration

Crista Cloutier and Andrew David Smith

The First Artist I Ever Met

I told Andy about the special place where I ride my bicycle each day. It’s a tiny island in the middle of a pond. I explained how it’s been my destination for years; it’s where I

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Crista Cloutier looking through camera

Do They Like Your Art?

My favorite college professor taught art history. He’d started out life as a photographer, a lifelong dream since he’d mixed his own chemicals in a homemade darkroom under his parents’ stairway. As a young man he’d

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The Artist’s Mantra

There are several definitions of artists that I personally subscribe to, but my favorite is this: artists are alchemists. During the Middle Ages, an alchemist was known as someone who could transform base metals into gold. I

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The Procrastinating Artist

The Procrastinating Artist

Is procrastination preventing you from creating a successful art career? Here’s how to fix it.     Many artists I know (including myself occasionally!) struggle with procrastination. Especially when it comes to doing the boring stuff that

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Two artists dancing in the studio

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

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Photo of a starry night painting

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

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Portrait of Art Framer Bill Fielders

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

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International Artists Day

A Special Message For You

 Last Monday we celebrated International Artists Day by meeting up LIVE in my Facebook Group. It was great to see so many artists there and sharing a toast with this beautiful online community. There, I

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The Questions every artist must ask by Crista Cloutier

The Questions Every Artist Must Ask

As artists, we’re constantly questioning ourselves. And questions are good things, it’s important to ask questions. But are you asking the right ones? It’s easy to get caught up in questions such as: Am I good

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Are you an artist

So You’re An Artist. Now What?

  So you’ve taken the jump and chosen to be an artist. Now what? Artists are always telling me what a struggle it is to succeed. They complain that the challenges can be overwhelming. I get

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Portrait of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith

The Artist Who Is “Quick-To-See”

Jaune Quick–to–See Smith is an internationally renowned artist with a seriously impressive bio: Jaune Quick-to-See Smith is one of the most acclaimed American Indian artists today.   Reviewed in most art periodicals, Smith has had over

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