The House of Flow ∞ Advice for Artists
Guidance for Artists and Creatives looking for help or inspiration…
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
Artist’s Block and the Creative Struggle: Learning to Focus in the Digital Age 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...
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...
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 Artist as Pioneer of Culture 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
Making a Living as an Artist “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
Help with Depression With our current global virus situation and the rise of unrest in many parts of the world, it seems a good time to address our psychological maladies. History has it that human beings started as a hunter-gatherer species, often having confined ourselves within four walls. But since Winter/Spring of 2020 most of us have spent a lot of time in quarantine, and this has started...
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
Anger Journaling, a.k.a. Rage Writing 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...
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...
Unraveling Creative Resistance – How We Can Learn to Disassemble Our Creative Blocks
Our whole civilization is based on the idea that rational knowledge is king. But rational, empirical knowing is only a small part of our human potential. Concepts, by their very nature, are limiting. And so, when we fill our heads with ideas about how things are, we invariably end up boxing ourselves into a corner. So What is Creative Resistance, in Real Terms? Creative resistance...
When Life Gives You Lemons – Understanding and Directing Emotions with a Creative Practice
Understanding and Directing Emotions using a Creative Practice We are emotional beings – we have hundreds, even thousands of emotions every day, often without knowing it. Many of us are unaware that emotions are driving our decisions most of the time, and often not for the better. We often sabotage ourselves because we want to do something but are being held back by negative emotions and thought...
Kill Your Anxiety with a Creative Practice
Anxiety’s Many Causes and Manifestations Anxiety, in all its varied forms, affects millions worldwide, manifesting in phobias, panic disorders, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, or even the nebulously termed 'generalized anxiety disorder.' With a medical model that attributes anxiety to an array of causes - from genetics to traumatic events, from brain chemistry to diet...
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.