Sometimes we spend so much time worrying about our results and the “what-ifs” that we never get around to actually getting started. Remember that there will always be time to edit, revise, and erase later if necessary — but first we have to take action. Do whatever your can to50
So how do you become a better writer? The answer is fairly simple… You write, you write some more, and then just when you reach that point when you think it’s all stupid and pointless — you keep on writing. Despite what some people may tell you, nobody can teach50
Sometimes it seems like we don’t really have a choice. It feels like what we do, where we have to go, and ultimately who we become has already been decided for us. We feel powerless. In the end, however, it’s your life and only you will decide what type of50
In our culture of fame, reality television, and instant celebrity we can sometimes forget that it’s not about getting other people to notice who we are and what we do. It’s about accepting ourselves first. It’s about accepting where we are at this moment and understanding what we can do50
Too often we sit around and wait for inspiration as if it were a UPS driver who suddenly shows up at our door to brings us a package. We wait until everything is just right, but what we don’t understand is that everything we need is already right there in50
Don’t be afraid to create your own path, as long as you know where you’re going 😉 “Follow your passion, stay true to yourself. Never follow anyone else’s path, unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path, then by all means you should follow that.”50
As teachers and parents sometimes we forget how much a simple word of encouragement can mean to a child. When we tell them that what they create or what they have to say matters, we are teaching them to believe in themselves, which is one of the best gifts anyone50
Sometimes all it takes is a smile to change the world 🙂 “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Before we can help others. Before we are able to love someone else, we need to first learn how to accept and love ourself with all of our little imperfections. John Lennon discovered like so many before him, that before we can change the world, we need to first change50
Just because you’re breathing doesn’t mean that you are living the life you were intended to live. Everyone has a story to tell. Maybe it’s time to create yours… “Unbeing dead isn’t being alive.” ~e.e. cummings
[Click on the image to see a larger version] It’s about time that someone sat down and scientifically mapped out the entire creative process in order to make it easier for us creative types. Although as I was following along the map, I got stuck in a traffic jam at50
What is the secret to being creative? Some people believe that creative talent is a gift that is only offered to a privileged few. Others believe that creativity is something that can be developed through years of practice and perseverance. What do you think? In her book, “The Artist’s Way”50
Martin Luther King Jr realized that anyone can be great in this life if they are willing to serve and help others achieve their dreams. He knew that everything in this world is interconnected, and whatever you are willing give to others, will eventually come back to you. Have the50
What numbers have you done today? Here are 29 great tips and ways to be more creative every day. Don’t sit around and wait for inspiration to come to you — Just get started and do something that will getting you moving in the right direction! So far today I’ve50
[Click on the image to make it larger] Despite what people may tell you, creating art is not easy. Creating art (or anything) is hard work and chances are it’s going to take awhile to get to that point where you are creating something worthwhile. You’re going to try and50
I just happened to stumble across this book in the art section at the bookstore today and ended up buying it because I was beginning to embarrass myself (more than usual I mean). Now I’m not normally one of those laugh-out-loud type of person, but this book by blogger and50
We are here to lift each other up, not tear one another down. This is one of the great life lessons that sooner or later we all must learn. We are fooled sometimes because in the short-run competition appears to work. If you win, I lose — therefore in order for50
Sometimes the simplest questions are the ones that are the most difficult to answer…
Although it may be true that love is all you need, a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. No reason to take chances 😉 “All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt” ~Charles Schulz
Art is not easy. In fact, writing and creating art is often hard and frustrating work. Those of us, however, who choose this path do it because it’s what we love to do. We are thought collectors. We are interpreters. We are creators. That is simply who we50
With the focus on standardized testing and the increasingly slim budgets, it seems like schools are throwing out art, music, and theater classes left and right. However, many studies have shown that the arts give students a serious academic advantage. A few statistics on the importance of Arts Education:50
Sure we all love to procrastinate. In fact you’re probably procrastinating right now just by being here watching this video about how to stop procrastination. So why do we keep doing it? We do it because, for whatever reason, we don’t want to do what we are supposed to be50
[Click image to make it larger] I have always loved this artist’s blessing from the late great Irish poet John O’Donohue. It talks about the mysterious creative process where we often find ourselves waiting for our muse to speak to us. That moment when we are finally able to reach beyond50
[Click image to make larger] Those of us who are trying to create our art in this online age of distraction know that it can be hard not to be lured by the next shiny object. We tell ourselves that we’ll check our Facebook wall, our Twitter stream, or our50
You don’t have to be original and you don’t need to be revolutionary, you just have to learn how to speak in your own creative voice. Find a way to bring your life and your experiences into your work. There are no new or undiscovered plots under the sun, only50
Failure is part of the process They say that mastery comes from experience and experience comes from failure. In other words, you can’t get one without the other. It’s okay to fail as long as you don’t fall into the trap of blaming someone else for your past mistakes. Take50
Everyone has a creative gift to share. Everyone has a story to tell. What’s your story?
Those of you who have been around the Skinny Artist community for awhile probably already know that this is the book that I recommend the most to all types of creative artists. One of the reasons is the fact that this book doesn’t attempt to tell you how to create50
Where are you in the creative process? At times it can feel like we’re the only one who gets lost along the creative path. However as many of us know from experience, there’s a lot that can get in our way (including ourselves) as we travel down that long bumpy road50
This inspiring bit of caffeinated humor has been floating around the internet for years, but it still makes me smile every time I see it!
With apologies to some of our more visually gifted and discriminating male artists friends, you have to admit that this is at least a wee bit funny 😉 After recently spending several weekends wandering the soul-sucking home improvement stores staring at what appeared to be dozens of different shades of50
We all know what it’s like to feel like we are out there competing against the world. Sometimes it feels like it’s us against them. If they win we lose, and the only way we rise to the top is by pulling someone else down. The truth, however, is that50
Choose exhilaration over comfort. Choose magic over predictability. Choose potential over safety. Sometimes in order to live the life we want to have, we need to put our fears aside and jump.
Sometimes in order to get started you need to be willing to put aside your fears and self-doubts and convince yourself that anything is possible. Some people call this “fake it until you make it” while others understand that something is only truly impossible if you are unwilling to try.50
Being a graphic artist is great until you realize that your clients really have no idea what you do or how much work it takes to do it. Here’s an awesome little infographic that explains all of the available options to your prospective customers. Even if you probably won’t include50
It’s far too easy to get discouraged by our current progress (or lack thereof) towards achieving our creative dreams, but success inevitably grows by the seeds we plant today. Even if we are unable to see the results of our hard work today, we need to have faith and realize that50