What is a Muse? According to Merriam Webster... The word means a source of inspiration and in the historical sense it referred to any of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology. "The Muses presided over the arts (including music) and literature. An artist or poet about to begin work would call on his particular Muse to inspire him, and a poem itself might begin with such … [Read more...]
How to Get Out of Your Creative Inertia
Artists frequently ask me to evaluate their art work and write an art review. When looking at their overall body of work on their website I can immediately detect if they've been in a creative standstill. Sluggish energy and lack of sales can often be telltale signs that an artist is suffering from inertia. If you're there now or have ever been there, this article will show … [Read more...]
The Multi-Faceted Creative Evolution of Digital Art
Digital Art first came about in the 1970's but it took until the end of the 20th century to become a viable art form. Today, with the widespread availability of digital cameras, software, many sophisticated tools, equipment, and applications it's bigger than ever. Artists are tapping into this treasure trove and are letting their imaginations soar. As a curator of online art … [Read more...]
The Inner Dialogue that Transpires in Creating Art and Writing
As I was painting today, I became acutely aware of the presence of the inner dialogue that transpires in creating art and writing. It is fascinating how similarly these thought processes occur in both artistic expressions. Like writing, creating art is a language, a conversation we have within our minds and those relationships that occur among the forms, colors, and textures we … [Read more...]
Keeping An Open Mind About Artists and Art Movements
We all have our favorite artists that we rush to see whenever a museum or gallery exhibition opens that features their art or when an art blogger publishes a new article about them. Their art speaks to us with resounding clarity. We understand their techniques and embrace their philosophies. And, the opposite is true about our least favorite artists. We simply cannot relate to … [Read more...]
Interview with Denisa Prochazka, Award-Winning Sculptor
Denisa Prochazka, denisa-sculpture.com, is a classically trained figurative sculptor living in Ottawa, Canada, whose passion is creating portrait sculpture and clay reliefs. She has participated in over thirty exhibitions in Canada and the U.S. She has attracted many special commissions including creating Awards of Excellence for the Nelson Mandela Legacy and Ottawa University … [Read more...]
The Power of Dreams For Artistic Inspiration
The power of dreams for artistic inspiration is not surprising. Many artists have received their creative ideas from their dreams. In this article I take you on a memory of how I helped an artist learn to trust her dream-world. First, let's explore some facts about sleep. According to sleep experts we normally dream for about one fifth of the time that we are … [Read more...]
Several Artists Answered the Question What is Your Important Creative Ritual?
We asked friends on Facebook, do you have a favorite ritual you perform before you begin your creative activity? Do you take a walk, meditate, do yoga, turn on your favorite music, or drink a cup of tea as you get your creative juices flowing? Enjoy some of the replies we received. You may also want to read The Rituals and Routines of Famous Artists which includes the … [Read more...]
Keith Morant Offers A Solution to The Artist’s Creative Challenge
Keith Morant (1944-2022) was an internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning artist who created expressive oil and mixed media abstract paintings. He received innumerable distinguished awards including the ‘Lifetime Achievement In Art’ award at the Florence Biennale, the ‘Palm International Art’ award, Leipzig, Germany and the “Peoples Choice Award” at an International … [Read more...]
Nancy Reyner’s New Book “Create Perfect Paintings”
Nancy Reyner nancyreyner.com, is a world renowned artist, instructor and author. Her three previous books, including her best-seller Acrylic Revolution, are filled with innovative and inspiring techniques to help artists bring new dimensions to their works of art. I refer to her books often and highly recommend them. So, when Nancy told me about her new art book, Create Perfect … [Read more...]
Release Perfectionism and Celebrate “Mistakes” In Your Art Career
If you suffer from perfectionism I hope this article, that I've sprinkled with inspirational quotes, helps you release perfectionism and celebrate "mistakes" in your art career. For many years I was very tough on myself and tried to achieve perfection in every business task or creative endeavor. With help from spiritual studies and self-exploration I learned to finally … [Read more...]
Are Your Art Materials Making You Sick?
As an artist it's wonderful to imagine the treasure trove of art materials to choose from to create your art. Before selecting your supplies, have you ever stopped to consider how toxic the materials are? What about the possibility that they may lead to any number of serious illnesses? Have you ever wondered, are your art materials making you sick? This article sheds … [Read more...]