We hope everyone is having a relaxing and restorative holiday season! This week we're recommending "Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking" by David Bayles and Ted Ortlund. Bayles and Ortlund are artists themselves, and know all too well the anxieties that come along with the profession. You can check out … Continue reading Book Review: “Art and Fear”
An Open Letter to the Worried Parents of an Artist
Dear parents (and other authority figures), We know you may not be artistically gifted yourselves. You may not easily understand how we artists think and process life, which is often different (not better or worse) than you. Although you love us, you may not understand what we need to hear. Just like anyone else, we … Continue reading An Open Letter to the Worried Parents of an Artist
Top 5 Quotes About Beauty – 19th Century Edition
One of art’s primary goals is to show beauty. But what is beauty, really, and why is it powerful? We’ve compiled 5 of our favorite quotes about beauty written by authors and poets who lived around the 19th century. Enjoy! 1. “Beauty is in the heart of the beholder." - H.G. Wells (author, 1866-1946) So … Continue reading Top 5 Quotes About Beauty – 19th Century Edition
What is My Artistic Calling?
What am I supposed to do with my life? What kind of job should I have? Or how do I get this “dream job” I so desperately want? Questions like these can fill the minds of artists (and everyone else, too). Before we look at our calling later in this post, I’d like to ask … Continue reading What is My Artistic Calling?
How Do I Respond to Failure?
What is your automatic, knee-jerk response to failure? Do you blame yourself for not being perfect? Do you try to deny what happened and hope nobody sees? Does a setback affect how you see yourself for the rest of the day (or even the rest of the week or month)? It may surprise you, but … Continue reading How Do I Respond to Failure?
Is There an Alternative to Insecurity and Fear?
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see someone who has a sense of peace about their life? Of course, everyone always has some problems, but despite these, do you feel that your life is going well? Do you have confidence about what might happen next? Or does your image … Continue reading Is There an Alternative to Insecurity and Fear?
Can MY Art Make a Difference?
It's not like I'm curing cancer... How could my paintings make the world a better place? Isn't it selfish to spend my life making music? My art isn't exactly in a "popular" genre... So how could it make a difference? My art IS in a "popular" genre... So how could it make a difference when … Continue reading Can MY Art Make a Difference?
Artist Set Free 