The House of Flow ∞ Advice for Artists
Guidance for Artists and Creatives looking for help or inspiration…
11 POWERFUL MARKETING TIPS FOR ARTISTS
Ah, marketing. The word alone makes some artists break out in hives. We imagine sleazy salesmen, aggressive pop-up ads, and the soul-sucking void of "personal branding." But here’s the thing: marketing is just storytelling for artists. And if you can tell a story, you can market your art. I’ve spent years trying to figure out how to get my work in front of people without feeling like a used-car...
Life Advice from Artists—Rick Rubin and Others Tell All
Let’s get one thing straight: artists are weird. We talk to ourselves. We stare at blank pages, canvases, and dance floors like they personally insulted us. And yet, somehow, art gets made. But let’s be honest—creativity isn’t always a smooth ride. Some days you’re on fire, making absolute magic. Other days, you wonder if you’ve been tricking everyone into thinking you have talent. And in those...
What is the Creative Flow Process: 3 Hours of Achieving Creative Flow
Alright, let’s talk about the creative flow process. You know, that magical state where your mind and body are working in perfect harmony, and suddenly, you’re producing art that feels like it came straight from the universe—without you even thinking about it. Whether you're a painter, a writer, a musician, or a designer, the process is the same: you get lost in the work, and for those few...
Do You Need a Creativity Coach? Signs It’s Time to Get Guidance
Every artist hits that wall at some point. You’re sitting there, staring at your canvas, notebook, or screen, and it’s just… crickets. Ideas that used to pour out? Gone. Buried under self-doubt, fear, or that nagging pressure to be ‘amazing.’ Whether you’re painting, writing, making music, or anything creative, we’ve all been stuck in bad weather. And when you’re in that rut, figuring out what...
The Emotional Guidance System – Aligning With Our Soul’s Purpose
The Emotional Guidance System – A Way of Seeing How We're Stuck When you're floating down the river, and you get snagged on a rock, it's usually easier to see how you're snagged, in order to unsnagg yourself – instead of trying to pull away from it blindly, frantically. No? The Emotional Guidance System is a great way to unsnagg ourselves when we get stuck in one of life's emotional...
Accessing Our Intuition – Creativity on Steroids
Intuition and the Creative Flow State Our creative genius – Where does it lie? Is it mere fiction? Do some of us have it, and some not? How can we access it? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to your intuition and to the state of Flow. Welcome to your unblocked, unbridled creativity. As I mentioned in the previous post, That Pesky Old Artist's Block: Learning to Focus in the...
That Pesky Old Artist’s Block: Learning to Focus in the Digital Age
The Creative Struggle Artist’s block – if you’re an artist of some kind like I am, you most likely already know about it. Maybe you know a lot more than you’d like to admit, and have been struggling for some time without a breakthrough. But you are not alone. There are many, many artists who have been blocked for much of their lives. They live out other people’s visions, driving around...
Anxiety and Depression – How Making Music Melts It Away…
Music has been an integral part of human civilization for centuries. It has the power to evoke emotions and transform moods. While we all have different music preferences, research has shown that making music can have a positive impact on our mental, physical, and psychological health. In this article, we will explore how making music can melt away anxiety and depression. What is Anxiety...
The Many Ways an Art Coach Can Help You Kick Butt
How Can We Really Benefit from Working with An Art Coach or Creativity Coach? Are you an artist (by this I mean someone who makes art in any form, be it painting, or music-making, or writing, etc.) struggling to navigate the creative process, set goals, and stay motivated? You're not alone! Many artists face similar challenges. But have you considered working with an art coach? An art coach, or...
Dissolve Negative Emotions with a Creative Practice
Emotions Are Complex and Difficult Things Using our own creative practice, we can release or dissolve any emotion. In this post we will delve into the Hows and Whys of how to dissolve negative emotions with a creative practice, and how this can benefit us as artists and as human beings. But first I want to mention that this is a complex subject and one that can be viewed in a lot of...
This is Why We Artists Meditate – How Meditation Lights Your Creativity On Fire
“Magic lies in the state of mind of the artist. This magic is wakeful magic. The Artist’s mind is able to tune in to a certain balance or wakefulness. We would call it Enlightenment, in fact.” – Chögyam Trungpa What Exactly Do We Mean by "Meditate"? – Defining Terms For the record, I am not a Buddha—just an average human with average intelligence who has been seeking answers to the...
Uncovering the Key Health Benefits of Creativity
Another Good Reason to Follow the Creative Urge - The Body/Mind Benefits of Creativity In a recent article in Psychology Today, Cathy Malchiody, PhD, states that there is now sufficient scientific evidence to prove that creativity is a well-being practice. It seems the health benefits of creativity are becoming more known to the public. Studies conducted over the last couple decades...
Creative Inspiration – A Capricious Cat or a Well-Trained Dog?
Creative inspiration is a complex and beguiling subject. As an artist with years of experience, I’ve spent countless hours trying to summon that timeless muse—sometimes it works like a charm, and sometimes it’s nowhere to be found. For many creative folks I know, creative inspiration seems to have a mind of its own, showing up when it feels like it, often catching you off guard when you least...
Sell Your Art – by NOT Becoming an Online Marketing Guru
To Become, or Not to Become, a Social Media Guru to Sell Your Art To be honest, I am really tired of hearing people spouting on about how you can sell your art by doing this marketing plan or doing that social media strategy, or making videos of yourself creating your art and posting them online, etc. etc. – in other words, by getting really really good with your online art presence....
The Artist as Pioneer of Culture – the Power of Following Your Creative Dreams
The Artists Are the Cultural Trailblazers Perhaps more than any other profession at this time, the Artist (writer, dancer, painter, sculptor, etc.) helps a culture evolve by defining the cultural paradigm. That is to say, the Artist’s role, among other things, is to direct how a society views itself and its own possibilities for change and evolution. The Artist is a 'Pioneer of Culture.'...
Creativity Coaches – Are they Better than Art School?
What is a Creativity Coach or Art Coach? What do Creativity Coaches do? And why do we need them? “Support is often in terribly short supply in a creative person’s life. There is no one to talk to about the work. There is no one to talk to about the struggle. There is no one to talk to about the enormous gap between the dream the person had and the reality the person is living. Indeed, many...
Making a Living as an Artist
Money is a Form of Energy “As artists, we are often regarded as people who have problems paying the rent, and our belief in this myth only adds to its truth. It may actually be the case for many artists, but this does not have to be you. Money, as it turns out, is merely a form of energy that comes to us because we have created some kind of value for others. So the questions around money and...
Creativity and The Artist Dilemma, Part 1 – Why is Making Art So Hard?
Having been in the creativity coaching business over the years, I’ve noticed a lot of creative people tend to put their stock in a rational approach to success. They take all these marketing and art business classes and ultimately end up stressed out and unhappy because they have no time or energy left to do their creative work. This artist struggle often leads to artist burnout, where the...
Creativity and The Artist Dilemma, Part 2 – Cultural Conditioning
The Artist Dilemma: Navigating the Struggle Between Creativity and Commerce Following up on The Artist Dilemma: Part 1, let's dive deeper into the creative conflict that so many of us face. There’s this widespread belief among artists that we must gather as much information as possible, figure out all our creative dilemmas with logic, and somehow rationally navigate the challenges of making art...
Help with Depression – The Creative Solution: A Brighter Path Forward
A Brighter Path Forward Let’s talk about something that’s been on a lot of minds lately: finding help with depression. With the world navigating a whirlwind of challenges—global unrest, economic shifts, and that unexpected quarantine stint that began in 2020—it’s no surprise that our mental well-being has taken a few hits. Once upon a time, humans roamed as hunter-gatherers, chasing dinner and...
Patreon Alternatives for Artists: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Creative Journey
Why Look Beyond Patreon? If you're an artist trying to make a living from your work, you've probably considered Patreon. It’s the go-to platform for creatives looking to build a subscriber-based income. But it’s not perfect. Maybe the fees are too high, the algorithm is unpredictable, or it just doesn’t vibe with your audience. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone in searching for Patreon...
How Dharma Art Can Transform Your Creative Process
Art Beyond Ego In the modern art world, creativity is often seen as a product of personal expression, emotion, or even struggle. But what if art could be something beyond the personal—beyond ego? What if creativity could arise not from ambition, but from an open, clear mind? This is the heart of Dharma Art, a term introduced by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Dharma Art is not...
Creative Authenticity: The Key to Artistic Success
In a world obsessed with trends, algorithms, and chasing what’s "hot," it’s easy for artists to feel the pressure to mold themselves into something more marketable, more palatable—more like everyone else. But the truth is, the best thing you can do for your creative work, your success, and your audience is simply to be yourself. Creative authenticity is the secret sauce that separates memorable...
Amateur Artist Problems: The Struggles and Solutions for Budding Creatives
The Beautiful Struggle of Being an Amateur Artist So, you’ve decided to embark on the treacherous yet thrilling path of becoming an artist. Congratulations! You’ve just signed up for a lifetime of inspiration, frustration, and moments of existential doubt. Welcome to the club. Being an artist—whether you paint, sculpt, write, compose, or dance—comes with a unique set of challenges. Especially...
Time Management for Artists: How to Make Time for Art When Life Gets in the Way
The Eternal Struggle: Finding Time to Create Let’s be honest—if you’re reading this, chances are you’ve muttered the phrase “I just don’t have time for art” at least once this week. Maybe even today. Between jobs, families, pets, taxes, and the unexpected existential crises that come with simply being alive, carving out time for your creative work can feel like trying to sculpt marble with a...
Breaking the Rules: How to Develop Your Own Unique Style in Creative Art
Why Play by the Rules When You Can Break Them? Art has rules—perspective, color theory, composition. But let’s be real: the best artists are the ones who look at those rules, shrug, and say, “Yeah… nah.” If you want to develop your own unique style in creative art, you have to embrace experimentation, happy accidents, and a little bit of rebellion. This guide will walk you through how to break...
How Artists Can Benefit From Emotional Release Therapy (ERT)
Unleashing Creativity One Sob, Scream, or Sketch at a Time Artists, let’s face it: you’re a walking paradox. You can turn a stray coffee stain into a gallery-worthy abstract, yet you’ve also spent hours debating whether your latest piece is genius or garbage—or both. Your emotions are your superpower, but they’re also the kryptonite that leaves you staring at a blank canvas, muttering, “Why am I...
Who Am I, Really? The Mind is a Master Storyteller
The Lies We Tell Ourselves (and Believe Anyway) You ever catch yourself mid-thought and go, “Wow, that was some absolute nonsense”? Congratulations! You’re human, and your brain is the unreliable narrator of your life. The mind doesn’t just think; it tells stories, spins narratives, and occasionally gaslights you into believing you texted someone back when you absolutely did not. But...
How to Get Into Flow – Your Direct Connection to the Source of Creativity
Understanding Flow and Creativity Ever felt so absorbed in an activity that time flies and everything else seems to vanish? Congratulations, you’ve likely experienced what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls “being in the flow.” This magical state of peak performance is where your skills align perfectly with the challenge at hand, leading to unparalleled focus and happiness. The bonus?...
Licensing Artwork for Commercial Use — Beginner Guide: Your Art, Their Profit, Everybody Wins
Your Art, Their Profit (and Yours) Art is a beautiful thing—whether you’re sketching a sunset, painting a portrait, or designing a quirky logo, there’s something magical about creating. But what happens when someone wants to slap your masterpiece on a T-shirt, a billboard, or a dog sweater? That’s where licensing artwork for commercial use comes in—a process that lets your creativity shine while...
Famous Artist Quotes for Inspiration — Part 2
A modern take on creative wisdom—because inspiration isn’t just for the long-dead greats. Creativity today looks wildly different from what it did a century ago. Artists are breaking boundaries, redefining mediums, and creating in ways no Renaissance painter could’ve imagined. If Michelangelo were around today, he’d probably be learning Blender or making weird AI-generated frescoes for...
Famous Artist Inspirational Statements to Fuel Your Creative Fire
Being an artist isn’t easy. One minute, you're riding a wave of creative genius; the next, you're questioning whether a toddler with a crayon could do a better job. But don’t worry—some of the greatest artists in history have been exactly where you are. The difference? They kept going. Here’s a collection of famous artist inspirational statements—painters, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and...
How to Make Expensive Art (Without Selling Your Soul)
So...the age-old question: how to make expensive art—art so valuable that people willingly part with their hard-earned cash to own it? Is it sheer talent? Is it mystique? Is it an elaborate performance piece where you just sit in a gallery and dramatically sip espresso while contemplating existence? (That last one might actually work.) If you’ve ever wondered what makes certain art sell for...
How to Write an Artist Tagline That Captivates and Sticks
If you’ve ever agonized over a single sentence that sums up your entire artistic essence, welcome to the club. Writing an artist tagline is like distilling an ocean into a teardrop—it’s small, but it needs to carry weight. It’s the sentence that follows your name, the phrase that makes people remember you, and the hook that makes them want to see (or hear, or read) more of your work. No...
Artist Success Comes from Within
Ah, the life of an artist. One minute you’re overflowing with inspiration, whether it's a melody, a story, a sculpture, or a dance routine, and the next, you’re staring at a blank canvas, blank page, or empty stage, questioning every life decision that brought you to this moment. Sound familiar? The truth is, artist success isn’t just about talent, connections, or getting that big break—it’s...
Meditation Techniques for Reducing Stress and Anxiety—A Fun Guide to Finding Your Zen
Let's face it—life is stressful. Whether it's looming deadlines, the neighbor's dog that barks at absolutely nothing, or the existential dread that creeps in at 2 AM, stress and anxiety are frequent visitors in our daily lives. Thankfully, meditation offers a time-tested solution. The challenge? Actually sitting down to meditate without thinking about your grocery list, that embarrassing thing...
How to Unlock Creativity Through Mindfulness: A Guide for Artists and Dreamers
Creativity is Wild and Elusive Creativity is a wild, elusive thing. One moment you’re brimming with ideas, ready to paint, write, sculpt, or compose the next masterpiece. The next? You’re staring at a blank canvas, wondering if you should just go reorganize your sock drawer instead. So, how do we tap into our creativity consistently? How do we access that ever-elusive flow state? The answer, my...
The Best Way to Sell Art Online: A Guide for Artists Who Want to Make Money (and Keep Their Sanity)
Selling art online sounds like a dream—until you realize the internet is a vast, chaotic, and often unforgiving place. Between figuring out pricing, marketing yourself, and deciding whether or not to dance on TikTok, the whole process can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, this is not rocket science. This guide will walk you through the best way to sell art online while keeping things...
12 Effective Practices for Emotional Wellness and Mental Clarity
Let’s be real—life is chaotic. Between the never-ending to-do lists, the occasional existential crisis, and that weird noise your car started making last week, finding emotional balance and mental clarity can feel like trying to meditate in the middle of a death metal concert. But don’t worry, because there are ways to find some much-needed peace in the madness. In this guide, we’ll explore...
How to Sell Art Locally
So you want to know how to sell art locally? Great! You’re in for a wild ride filled with coffee-induced late nights, awkward small talk at art fairs, and the thrill of convincing a stranger that your painting is worth more than their monthly car payment. Selling art locally isn’t just about slapping a price tag on a canvas—it’s about strategy, charm, and a bit of sheer...
Creativity Coach vs. Art Therapist: What’s the Difference?
Life has a way of throwing challenges at us all. For artists, it might be a stubborn creative block; for others, it could be an emotional weight that’s hard to shake. In either case, two options often surface: a creativity coach or an art therapist. At first glance, they might seem similar—both involve creativity, after all—but they serve very different purposes. A creativity coach is designed...
College Art Coaching – The Key to Success for Today’s Art Students
The Transformation of Art Education in the 21st Century — How More College Art Students Are Seeking Mentors and Coaches The world of art education is undergoing a transformation. While traditional university art programs have long been the go-to for aspiring artists, many students and emerging artists are now seeking an additional layer of guidance that goes beyond the classroom. College art...
Understanding Creative Flow
What is Creative Flow? Flow is life itself—it is the dynamic movement present in all things, an effortless current that exists within us and around us. When we enter a flow state, we merge with our surroundings, becoming fully immersed in the moment. Our worries fade away, time seems to distort, and creativity begins to unfold naturally. This is what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi...
Anger Journaling – A 6 Step Method to Venting Your Frustrations
The Benefits of Expressing Emotions like Anger and Frustration As artists, and as human beings, we're sometimes bombarded with obstacles. And with obstacles, invariably come negative emotions. Emotions such as anger or frustration are indicators that something happening in our life is out of alignment with our beliefs – our beliefs about how our creative life should be going, for...
Mental Health for Artists: Coping Strategies for Creative Minds.
Mental Health and Art: Navigating the Intersection of Creativity and Well-being It’s no secret that mental health issues are prevalent among artists and creative professionals. The very act of creating is vulnerable, often requiring us to put ourselves out there, risking rejection and criticism. While this vulnerability makes art so powerful, it can also take a significant toll on mental health....
Navigating the Art World: Insights from Successful Artists
What Have the Successful Artists Done? It's a mad world out there, especially if you're an artist trying to navigate the tumultuous waters of today's art scene. Gone are the days when simply creating beautiful, technically proficient work was enough to make a name for yourself. Now, you have to be a marketer, a brand ambassador, a social media guru, and a networking genius all rolled into...
How to Stay Motivated as an Artist: 10 Tips and Tricks
How Can We Keep Our Creative Engine Running? Motivation is the fuel that drives the creative engine. As artists, we all know that feeling of being inspired by an idea, a vision, or a dream. We pour ourselves into our work, fueled by passion and a sense of purpose. But what happens when that spark begins to fade? When we find ourselves feeling stuck, uninspired, and unmotivated? It's easy...
Self-Knowledge is the Straightest Road to Creative Success
On Self-Knowledge and Creative Success As human beings, we all have unique talents and abilities that can contribute to the world in meaningful ways. However, it’s not always easy to tap into our full potential and realize our creative aspirations. In order to achieve true creative success, we must first cultivate self-knowledge – the understanding of our own minds, emotions, and...
Terrified of Being Seen? 10 Ways to Overcome Fears of Showing Your Art
Showing Your Art: How to Share Your Work with Confidence and Overcome Fear Sharing your art with the world can feel both thrilling and terrifying. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, putting your work on display can bring up all sorts of fears—fear of judgment, fear of failure, even fear of success. But showing your art is essential, not just for artistic exposure but...
The New Tech Artists – The Merging of New Technology and Art
The New Tech Artists – As technology advances at an exponential pace, it's not surprising that many artists are exploring new ways to incorporate it into their creative process. From virtual reality to AI-generated art, artists are embracing new technologies to push the boundaries of their craft and create new forms of art that were once unimaginable. In this article, we'll explore some of the...
Creating Art – 7 Ways to Boost Your Creativity While Staying Grounded and Happy
7 In-depth tips for staying happy and grounded while creating art Creativity is not just an innate talent; it's a skill that can be honed and developed. Understanding how to boost artistic creativity and increase creativity tips can be pivotal for artists looking to enhance their artistic flow techniques. At the core of creativity lies a psychological journey, where embracing...
7 ways to Stay Financially Afloat While Pursuing Your Art Dreams.
7 Ways to Stay Financially Afloat While Pursuing Your Art Dreams. I think this goes without saying: the vast majority of people inclined to pursue their creative passions will inevitably encounter financial challenges. Whether you're a writer, painter, musician, or any other type of artist, you must find ways to stay financially afloat while pursuing your art. I've been there, more times...
Welcome to Visual Artist Coaching – Empower Your Art!
What is Visual Artist Coaching, Exactly? Artists are free-spirited, creative individuals who do not need to conform to any specific rules or guidelines. This is part of being an artist – going outside of established norms and blazing your own path. However, even the most talented artists can struggle to find their footing and achieve success without some guidance and support....
10 Essential Steps to Becoming a Successful Artist
What does it take to succeed as a Working Artist? Becoming a successful artist isn't just about talent; it's about emotional and psychological readiness, persistence, and embracing the business aspects of art. Here are ten steps to help you navigate the artist career path, from dealing with self-doubt in artists to understanding how to make money from art. If you're passionate...
Thoughts on Death and Grieving
Thoughts on Death and Grieving...Upon hearing of the passing of the daughter of some acquaintances, I was moved to write about death and grieving. What came out of it was something like a poem. In the hopes that this will benefit those going through the grieving process or those helping others through it, I post it here.The Horned Beetle (A poem of death and grieving) When I heard of your lossI...
Thanks for coming to the Advice for Artists blog page. Check out these pages for additional Creative Flow ideas, workshops, and training exercises:
Creativity Workshops • Meditation page
All of the Advice for Artists content on this blog is based on the author’s life long experiences as a visual and performing artist. If you are an artist of any kind – an actor or writer or musician, dancer, painter, photographer, etc. – all of the free advice for artists content here will help you with your art career. Or if you’re just wanting to up your art game, it will give you the inspiration, motivation, and practical know-how to achieve your creative goals.
For further guidance you can visit the artist coaching page.