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To Tell, or Not to Tell

There’s a powerful moment when a collector connects with a work of art—not just visually, but emotionally. That connection often begins with a story. But how much of that story should you share?

I’ve heard both sides of this. Some creators don’t believe narratives are important in art. Some collectors quickly get bored thinking, and just want to enjoy the visual aspects of the art. Others, like myself, see storylines as a core part of what we convey.

As artists, we’re natural storytellers. We paint emotions, experiences, ideas. It’s tempting to pour out every detail behind a piece—where you were, what you felt, what inspired you. But here’s a truth I’ve learned. Not every collector wants the full story. And sometimes, neither do I.

Telling the story behind the art is important. Titles matter. Stories matter. A well-crafted story helps people relate. It can unlock a new level of appreciation. But storytelling is an art in itself. Details can kill a sale, like when someone thinks they are looking at a scene from France and you tell them no, it’s your backyard in Detroit. The key is to balance information with marketing value. Be genuine, yes—but allow room for mystery, for interpretation. Edit.

Also, stories evolve. I often share one version of a story now, and a slightly different one a few years later. The meaning of your work can change over time as you gain perspective. What once was about loss might later feel like healing. What started as a personal moment might become universal.

And here's something liberating to remember. Once your art leaves your studio, it’s no longer just your story. Yes, you retain the copyright. But the emotional ownership? That shifts. Collectors will bring their own experiences, their own memories, to your work. Their interpretations may be wildly different from your own. That’s not only acceptable, it’s beautiful.

In fact, some pieces don’t need a story at all. Sometimes, a painting is just pleasing to look at. Or it holds a feeling, a fleeting moment, a quiet breath. That, too, is valid. Because even then, a dialogue is happening. What’s “just pretty” to you might stir something deep in someone else.

Ultimately, the story behind the art isn’t only about inspiration. It’s about connection. It begins with you, but it finds completion in the eyes of the viewer. And that story, in all its shifting versions, is worth telling. I try to tell it carefully, truthfully, and just vaguely enough to let someone else make it their own.

Leave a comment

Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com

Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
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Save Money on a Squarespace Site for your Art

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

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Studio Routines that Support the Business

Have you ever stopped to consider your studio habits? I mean the ones so ingrained they’ve slipped off your to-do list entirely.

For example, every time I pass my easel, I instinctively take mental notes about the next steps in my painting. Even if I’m not planning to paint that day, this check-in happens automatically. It’s not scheduled. It’s just part of me now.

I’ve come to believe that the quiet, behind-the-scenes routines we develop, both intentional and subconscious, have a major influence on how our art businesses function. So, isn’t it worth taking a moment now and then to notice what we’re actually doing on autopilot? Some habits are helpful. Some, not so much.

Let’s start with the routines we purposefully add. If you’re trying to add practices that build a more efficient work schedule, for instance, ask yourself if they are realistic. Are they sustainable? I’ve learned to keep my routines simple. If they’re too complex, I know they’ll fall away on the first chaotic day. For me, simplicity is essential.

Then there are the routines we hang on to, even when they no longer serve us. I used to block time to rewatch old art DVDs I bought years ago. At some point, I’d absorbed everything from them. When my DVD player finally broke, I took it as a sign, and didn’t replace it. Instead, I shifted that time toward researching new techniques employed by artists I admire. It’s the same amount of time, but a lot more inspiration.

Every time I pause to examine my default studio habits, I’m surprised by what I find. Some patterns sneak in quietly. Some are energizing—like the charcoal sketching I sometimes do after finishing a painting session. I can’t explain why I started, but it gives me a sense of closure and sparks ideas for what’s next. Other habits aren’t helpful, and I have to have a talk with myself - like this tendency to treat my paint tube collection to new colors at the end of a project. Honestly? I already have enough paint to last the next ten years.

Like anything else, my studio routines evolve. But today, as I take inventory, I want to share a few habits I’m actively working to stop, and a few I want to nurture. Maybe something here will resonate with you, or inspire a reflection.

Studio Habits I’m Letting Go Of:

• Traveling just because I can. I’m being more selective about trips so I don’t wear myself out unnecessarily.

• Entering exhibitions out of habit. I’ve been submitting to the same shows for years, but I’m reevaluating whether they’re still the right fit for my goals.

• Volunteering without reassessment. Some of the roles I’ve taken on may no longer be relevant or impactful.

• Collecting more tools and supplies. I don’t need any more props, gadgets, or brushes right now—it’s time to use what I have.

Studio Habits I’m Committed to Keeping:

• Showing up every day. Even on “lifey” days, I try to do something, however small.

• Continuing to learn. Staying curious keeps my work fresh and evolving.

• Focusing on a consistent body of work.

• Staying present on social media. Even if engagement looks quiet, many followers are quietly watching and rooting for me. I’ve seen it when we meet in person.

Studio routines are personal and ever-changing. What are yours? Are there any habits you’d like to build or break? I’d love to hear what’s working for you, and what’s not. We might just help each other find a new routine.

Leave a comment

Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com

Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
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FASO Loves Brandon Gonzales’ oil paintings!

See More of Brandon Gonzales’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

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we are the only website host we know of that does.

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See More of Noah Buchanan’s Paintings Here

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

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Sales Don’t Determine Your Art’s Worth - You Do

If you value your art with your soul’s intuition, the result is joy.  If you value your art with the market the result is pride. The first is a fact and the second is an opinion.

We’ve been discussing in many of our articles that art must flow from your soul.  It must flow from your inspiration.  And, if we accept that as a truth, it brings up an important point:  when your soul is inspired and you must create a work of art around the idea, that artwork is being created first and foremost for you.  And if you create it for yourself, then it is entirely possible that very few people “out there in the world”, if any, will understand or want to live with this piece.

When you release a piece of art, it may not sell, at least not right away.  It may not even get any engagement on social media.  It has been said that “what gets measured, gets managed.”  If you are tracking any measurable metrics around your art such as sales, likes, views on your website, then you may be disappointed if you are judging the artwork’s value based on these metrics. 

The solution is simple: don’t determine your art’s worth by sales (or any other metric).

I realize this is a difficult idea to truly internalize because, for example, let’s say you post a new piece of art to Instagram, and it starts to get engagement, that is exciting!  It will give you energy.  It may inspire you to create even more of your art.  And, if you sell a piece, that means someone liked it enough to part with hard earned money.  These are exciting ideas!  And there’s nothing wrong with letting them excite you, but, if these things don’t happen, you must not let it depress you.  Once you create the art, if it is inspired, and you are happy with it, then you are the only judge that matters and that piece was a success.  Move on to the next one.

If the market hails it as a triumph - take the accolades and move on to the next piece.

If the market replies with crickets - don’t worry about it and move on to the next piece.

That’s what professionals do.

This is why it’s so important to not get in a position of absolutely needing the next piece of art to sell to pay your bills.  Desperation, or an undying desire to escape a hated job, will color your vision and these metrics will take on an importance that they don’t deserve.  If that happens you will suffer and when you suffer, the work will suffer.

Accept that you are the only judge of the success or failure of each piece.  Once you internalize that idea, you maximize your chances of a work being inspired and having that spark that it needs, ironically, for other people to get excited about it.  Allow yourself to immerse yourself in the creative process.  Allow yourself to enjoy it.  Be calm and gentle with yourself.  Open yourself up to creation and notice the beauty that is there.  It’s almost a Zen koan - if you focus on the sales or lack thereof, they will be more difficult to come by, but if you forget about the sales and internalize that they don’t matter, they are more likely to start happening.

Creatively,

Clintavo
BoldBrush Founder & Art Fanatic

PS - May your life be filled with peace, love and happiness.

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Why is FASO promoting Squarespace?

We think FASO is the best and, usually most affordable option for a fully e-commerce capable, classy artist website. However, some artists prefer something more customizable than FASO or have unique use cases, and for those artists, we’ve partnered with Squarespace to bring you an alternative. Squarespace sites are beautiful and fully customizable, and if you create (or move) your Squarespace site to us, we’ll save you money (versus Squarespace directly) and provide you with art promotional opportunities you can’t get elsewhere. If you prefer your FASO site, great, you’re all set and can stop reading. But if you have or want a Squarespace site, the offer below is for you.

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ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Samuel S Hoskins’ paintings!

See More of Samuel S Hoskins’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Samuel S. Hoskins. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

Get Started With Artful Squarespace

Save Money on a Squarespace Site for your Art

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Samuel S Hoskins’ paintings!

See More of Samuel S Hoskins’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Samuel S. Hoskins. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

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The Sweet Spot - Marketing Vs. Technical Expertise

This month I’m pondering something that applies to all creatives - painters, musicians, dancers, writers, photographers. As artists, we often hear that the better we get, the more sales we will have. Still, there are artists whose technical skill is jaw-dropping, and yet they remain obscure. Meanwhile, we watch as someone who churns out trendy art and is good at “working the algorithm” gains acclaim. Is the time and money I am putting into getting better in my craft REALLY going to pay off in the long run? This is a frustrating reality for a lot of dedicated artists.

After many rounds of this discussion, and years of wrestling with this tension, I’m offering it up here again for debate.

Where is the Sweet Spot?

I have come to believe that there is a sweet spot. In that spot, your own marketing gets you noticed and remembered. Your accomplishments as an artist intersect that spot in a way that people take a second look, and recognize your level of talent.

This spot occurs in a different location for every artist. There are the extremes, and everything in between. One may be great at creating art, but their marketing doesn’t reach very many people. So while they have a few loyal collectors, they have not gone viral and probably never will. (Great art and average marketing results)

Another less accomplished artist might get noticed by a huge marketing team who thinks they can make a lot of money promoting the art. The next thing we know, that artist’s name is well known and sales are through the roof. (Average art and great marketing results)

What is Your Passion?

In the end, I believe it all depends on what your personal dreams are. We all want to be a master artist with collectors lining up to buy our work. But do you dream more about getting better at your craft or at getting better sales? I really think it’s our passion that drives this bus. And there’s the rub. If I am PASSIONATE about becoming the best painter I can be, but I WANT to be the best at sales and name recognition, I think nine times out of ten, the marketing falls short.

In the long run, passion wins.

That’s not to say that you can never improve. There are so many business resources. You can also hire someone to do it for you. There are lots of ways to improve in the art we create too. The sweet spot is always in motion. It also changes with the market, with cultural tides, and with the artist’s own journey. Sometimes you’re ahead of the curve. Sometimes the world isn’t ready. Sometimes you’re just shouting into the void because your marketing doesn’t match the power of your work.

But once in a while — BAM — something clicks. You hit that intersection of visibility, talent, and authenticity, and people feel it. That’s when they buy. That’s when they remember your name.

From Our Collectors’ Perspective:

Art is about connection. Skill matters. Marketing helps. But connection is the glue. People connect to what they perceive as genuine passion or truth. Marketing can manufacture visibility, but it can’t fake passion - not convincingly, not long-term.

The consumers who observe our marketing and creating efforts are critics. They will tear down a cringy post or a piece of art they don’t relate to in seconds. Mind you, that marketing or art took us many hours to create. Viewers don’t care. They react. Part of what they react to is our talent. Part is our authenticity. Part is the read they get instantly on where our passions lie.

We all know that the best thing we can do with our insight is to encourage and help each other improve. But the public at large has no obligation to do so. The public can be influenced by great marketing or great technical skills … to a point. I propose though, until that sweet spot lines up for the artist they are looking at, they will not be making a purchase.

So What Do We Do?

I think the takeaway is keep getting better. Keep creating from a place of truth. And learn enough marketing to be able to amplify what you're passionate about — or find someone like FASO’s art marketing team, who can help you with resources that allow you to actively market your creations without compromising your vision.

In the end, the work we do when no one is watching builds the foundation. The marketing shines a light. But the light has to fall on something worth seeing.

Do you agree? Agree to disagree? Do you think the sweet spot has shifted for you lately? Or are you still chasing it? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Leave a comment

Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com

Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
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FASO Loves Brandon Gonzales’ oil paintings!

See More of Brandon Gonzales’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with an art website host that actually cares about art.

Get Started with FASO for Free

Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

Read more

Save Money on a Squarespace Site for your Art

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

See More of Christopher Remmer’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

Get Started With Artful Squarespace

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Recently, I had an interesting discussion with an artist. Her strategy with art is to never be too prolific. She wants to intentionally under-saturate her collector market. I’m paraphrasing, but these are her thoughts:

• Low prices cause people to doubt the value of art. Keep your prices high and increase each year.

• With the law of supply and demand, once you have a sales history, you are better off having a limited supply.

• You should spend the majority of your time perfecting your craft.

• For every three artworks you create, you should destroy two and only sell the best of them.

• If you have gallery representation, you are best served to offer exclusive representation to just one. That way, they always get your best work.

• Only enter art exhibitions you are very certain you can win; otherwise, they are a waste of money.

• Only post on social media once a month at most, and make sure what you post is expertly curated. This creates a sense of mystery and longing.

She believes this approach advocates for exclusivity and scarcity as a way to build long-term value, maintain the mystery around the work, and keep demand high. She’s creating a niche market where her works feel rare, almost precious, and she hopes it will elevate her status as an artist.

Wow! Could I possibly be working further away on the spectrum of each of these strategies?

I just choose to do pretty much the exact opposite things. Part of it may be that this is my second career, and I am older than her by two decades. I feel like I have a lot of ground to cover to make up for lost time. Part of it could be that I have a very different personality. She is very introverted, and I am comfortable being an extrovert if the situation calls for it. Part of it could be that my collectors are different. I may have attracted people who enjoy my art at the price points I sell at.

The truth is, we gross about the same amount of money for Uncle Sam each year, even though we work in vastly different ways. So I suppose we are both right or both wrong, depending on how you look at it.

Just to contrast, this would be my list of thoughts that contradict hers:

• Lower price points allow me to reach and be a part of more private collections.

• As long as my supply doesn’t exceed my demand, I can keep painting prolifically and exploring new series of works that attract new eyeballs.

• If I paint more and sell more, I fine-tune my skills in both of these areas in a way I could not if I created fewer works.

• If I destroyed ⅔ of my artworks, I would reduce the number of potential collectors.

• While I don’t have many galleries, I do believe that sales in one often lead to sales in the others. My regular collectors have all gallery-hopped, looking at and buying my work in each place I am represented as they travel.

• Often, the pieces I enter into shows that win are the ones I thought had the least chance of an award. I don’t feel I can predict the outcome in most shows, so I prefer to collect experiential data when deciding which ones are best for me.

• When I have tried posting just once a month, my posts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms flatline. If I don’t post several times each week, nobody sees my posts. Since I prefer to be an expert painter instead of investing time in videography and photography, my posts will always be cringe-worthy. But, that feels more genuine than posting infrequently with videos it takes a long time to edit.

In short, I am direct and upfront. I don’t see the need for mystery or limiting my output.

Having said that, I see how her points make sense. If I had too many galleries, I couldn’t keep up with the demand for quality work. And working to perfect my craft is important to me. However, I’m focused on producing more work, reaching a wider audience, and constantly improving by practicing. For me, it’s about reaching people, testing my limits, and finding joy in the act of creating, not just in the result.

I realize there’s no universal formula. What works for one artist might not work for another, and that’s why this discussion is so fascinating. The beauty of art is that it allows for such diverse approaches, and there's no single path to finding fulfillment or success.

As we artists mature or our circumstances change, our approach might shift. We may find that as we achieve more success or face new challenges, we start creating more or less work.

Maybe the question isn't really about whether we can create "too much of a good thing”—maybe it's more about whether that volume serves the kind of artistic and personal growth we're aiming for.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe you could ever create too much of a good thing? Or are you like me, where you are determined to just keep trying to do exactly that?

Leave a comment

Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com

Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
https://debkart.com/email-newsletter

FASO Loves Brandon Gonzales’ oil paintings!

See More of Brandon Gonzales’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with an art website host that actually cares about art.

Get Started with FASO for Free

Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

Read more

Save Money on a Squarespace Site for your Art

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

See More of Christopher Remmer’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

Get Started With Artful Squarespace

TMI

This month I am hoping to start a discussion about something I think we all struggle with.

Too Much Information (TMI)

As creatives with art for sale, we are advised to be vulnerable and to share our personal stories. We know our audiences will relate to us and eventually feel invited to support us. I believe it is truly the best way to identify the art lovers who enjoy connecting with us as individuals. Since art is a very personal choice, it makes sense that we need to do more sharing than if we were selling cookware, or carpeting for example.

I recognize that many artists have to work hard to interact and share. On the opposite end of that spectrum, I am constantly trying to curate the information I put into the world. I have a tendency to overshare whatever is going on in my head. What exactly IS too little or too much information?

It’s the Goldilocks story, right?

In our technology age, our knowledge, art trends, and even advice WILL ALWAYS change. But once we post our thoughts, they are trapped in the cloud. The internet doesn’t go away. Images and text can pop up in searches even decades after we think we deleted them. What we post today is the best we know now, but more than likely we would say it differently in ten or twenty years.

So, do we care? I have so much out there that I wish I could take back. Yet, it’s part of my journey. I have not devoted any time to trying to wipe my history on the worldwide web. I figure I will just let the spiders do their work, spinning my past exploits up into cocoons and sucking all the life out of them so they hang there in oblivion.

But if anyone goes digging, there’s always a good chance they will find things I wish I had not posted. It’s like the aunt on Facebook who posts the pencil drawing I did of my grandparent’s dog when I was twelve. All I can respond with, is “I got better.”

Do you think past and current vulnerable shares hurt your marketing or maybe even help it? If you are an instructor, I suppose you could use work from the last century to show how far you’ve come. But if you said things that 20 year olds could relate to as you struggled with adulting, do you want your now 50 year old collectors to ever gain access to those videos?

On the other hand, it’s important, I think, that we don’t always paint ourselves in the best light. That gets so boring.

How much of our failures should we post online about? I keep a lot of what I am doing private, until I’m sure there is an audience for it. Here’s an example - In my studio, there are so many technique and marketing experiments that are not fully vetted. I don’t like to share until I figure out if they are working for me or not. Then, even if they fail, occasionally especially if they fail, I am happy to share the results. For instance, there was that time I thought I’d paint on little wood boxes that can hold pencils or fake flowers or whatever. It turns out people don’t use pencils or artificial flower decor much anymore. Lesson learned. The experiment ended with a few housewarming gifts. None of them are online.

In short, what do you think is oversharing and what do you think is not being vulnerable enough? Is it different for everyone? By now, if you follow me you know I love lists. So here is my list of things I think about when I share with the public. However, in those moments when my forceful personality kicks in, I definitely ignore my lists. I’m absolutely sure these lists are like snowflakes. Yours can never be the same as mine. Please add your thoughts in the comments!

What to Share:

• My constructive feedback in specific art situations

• Any art knowledge I feel has helped me to improve in my craft

• Successes of my peers in the art world

• Venues with shows, teaching opportunities and events others can benefit from

• Vendors with products I find useful

• Humorous experiences

• Struggles in the art world that resulted in growth

• Sales, juried shows I participate in, new works, awards - not to brag, but to provide data in case others want to apply, or get a feel for where they might succeed with their art

• My personal passions and inspirations

• Travel experiences

What to NOT Share:

• Politics

• Religion

• Commissioned works, unless the collector specifically asks me to share, which is maybe one in twenty times

• My personal finances

• ANYthing that would obviously make people feel a negative emotion. (I can’t be responsible for painful memories that my happy art incites though, and this too has happened.)

• The personal struggles of others

• Gossip

• Pretty much anything I doubt after I put it in writing. If I’m questioning whether to hit send, the answer is no.

• Unsolicited critiques

• Anything that is not family friendly, unless the family is the Osbournes.

Grey Area, Where I’m Not Sure if I Should Share:

• Products I’ve used and found fault with

• Discussions on how I think someone else’s art should be priced

• Advice about whether another artist might do well if they enter an exhibition. (I find that venues are very specific to the individual)

• Knowledge that contradicts another person’s post, but could be advantageous to them

What do you share, and do you think before you do?

Leave a comment

Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com

Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
https://debkart.com/email-newsletter

FASO Loves Brandon Gonzales’ oil paintings!

See More of Brandon Gonzales’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
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Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

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Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

This essay explores themes addressed in my forthcoming book, The Sovereign Artist.

Inside of each of us lies a divine force - The Sovereign Artist Within - a remarkable force which brings joy, peace, creativity and love back into our lives. This approach to the creative process saved me, and it can save you too, perhaps it can save us all. Connecting with The Sovereign Artist manifests as an explosion of creativity, peace, and quiet inner joy. It transforms the artist into a reflection of itself - sovereign, free, joyful and loving. If that is of interest, please click the button below to join the book’s waitlist.

Join the Sovereign Artist Waitlist

Resonance

If you set two violins on a table and play a note on the first violin, the strings on the second violin will vibrate at the same frequencies, and it will produce related notes due to the phenomenon of acoustic resonance. Like an artist in flow, the second violin seems to be playing itself.

Likewise, when we artists enter a flow state, we become a cosmic instrument, and we find ourselves resonating with The Mystery; we begin to vibrate, emotionally and aesthetically, in sympathy with The Sovereign Artist, but, even so, in our resonance, we can’t help but add our own unique flavor to this cosmic musica universalis.

The word ‘resonance’ encompasses the fact that our Art contains a unique energy and vibe. And this resonate energy in our artworks is what inspires other human beings; for they too feel the musica universalis in their hearts.

It is a paradox of art that the more our Art comes from our most personal depths, the more it connects, universally with others. Let’s refer to all of these related ideas, collectively, as Resonance.

While most artists understand the importance of technical proficiency, many overlook the importance of resonance.

However, humans are primarily emotion and feeling driven creatures. We are not nearly as logical and rational as we pretend we are. Our desires and decisions are often driven first by emotion and by what resonates with us. And, after the fact, we justify the emotional decisions of our subconscious by using our conscious mind to rational-ize the decision we’ve actually already made. This tendency is doubly true when people purchase Art because the whole point of Art is Resonance.

Resonance represents communication of non-verbal Truth between humans - Art. Resonance is more important than mastery because resonance is the point.

Technical proficiency can only share the what of your creation. Resonance shares the why.

"Artists are people who are not at all interested in the facts—only in the truth. You get the facts from outside. The truth you get from inside."

— Ursula Le Guin

Because resonance is the point, mining your unique deep truths, style, vibe, and energies will be the most valuable time you spend. If art were purchased simply based on proficiency, then everybody would want the “best” artist in each genre and medium. Fortunately, most buyers are more interested in unique resonance than technical proficiency.

While it’s very difficult to be “the best” in any field, you likely are already unique in some way. You have a unique vibe and energy about you, and the goal is to reflect that in your Art. Push yourself until it does.

Not every artist has tapped into their unique resonance: plenty of artists do the same type of landscapes, still lifes, or portraits that thousands of other artists also do. If I go to a plein air competition and everyone’s paintings look basically the same without much uniqueness, then I’d likely look for the best one I could afford (price) or the one painted by the artist that I best connected with (story) or maybe just not buy one at all. Rather than being “stuck in the pack” of sameness, it’s far more rewarding (and easier) in the long run, to mine your own uniqueness, vibe and energy. But it does take time and experimentation.

Because of the time required, it’s important, before you “productize” your art, that you truly develop your vibe, your energy, and your style. Figure out and utilize what makes you truly unique. Do not blame the economy, your day job, your web host, your fans, the Instagram algorithm, a lack of marketing knowledge or anything else for a lack of sales until you’ve nailed your own inspired uniqueness.

One way to do this, ironically, is to lean into your imperfections and weaknesses. Instead of trying to “stamp out” your imperfections, figure out how to make them work for you as a strength in a way that makes your art special.

If you’re not sure how to develop a unique style, imitate then iterate. Most of us start out by imitating other artists we admire. Copying old master artworks is a time-honored and valid learning technique in visual art. But imitation is not enough, the secret is to then iterate. You iterate by copying many different artists' works and styles. Imitate, then iterate. Imitate, then iterate. Imitate, then iterate. And as you iterate, you’ll slowly learn your own preferred method of doing things and, over time, your own style will emerge. It will be impossible for you to exactly copy another artist, so copy it your way. Look at where you are different, and push the differences further and further.

Follow Bruce Lee’s advice: Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.

“Man, sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself."

— Miles Davis

This cycle of iteration is an ongoing, lifelong process and your art may evolve over time. However, when you’re first getting started, and aren’t sure if you’re ready yet, it’s probably a good idea, after you think you’ve developed something unique, to get feedback from people who aren’t your friends and family and who you know will be honest with you. Other professional artist colleagues are a good source for these kinds of critiques. Make sure you ask people who support you, but who are honest. Now is not the time to show your work to those who might throw water on your growing fire.

This resonance is the most important element of your art. In many ways, it is the reason for your art to be created at all, and I could write an entire book on the creative process of reaching deep into your unique self to connect with, and reflect, the eternal resonance within (actually, I have written that book).

Your long term art sales start and end with this step. If you aren’t honest with yourself at truly finding your unique resonance, others will feel it as a deadness to your work. But, when you are truly inspired and combine that with enough skill to capture your inspiration, viewers (or readers, if you are a writer) will feel the energetic vibrational resonance when they experience your work. There will be something, unnamable, that is different and alive. “This person has it,” they will say.

Show us something the world has never seen, for if the world has already seen it, then why are you repeating it? Uniqueness means “one of a kind” and “unlike anything else.” You are unique. In the history of the universe there has never been and will never be another human with your unique DNA, your unique experiences, and your unique way of perceiving reality.

Society attempts to create clones through programming. But you are not a clone. Creation, nature, and God made you unique. Reconnect deeply with that uniqueness and move beyond what society expects. That is what you need to share through your Art. Seek, through your Art, to be legend.

It is possible, likely even, that when you dig deep enough, the path you are truly meant to follow will seem a bit controversial to some people. That is okay. In fact, it’s a great sign. That means it challenges their programming. It means you’ve made those people, also, start to realize that they are not clones. It means, though their programming disagrees, you kindled something deep in their hearts — that they feel a tiny bit of the universal resonance.

If nobody doesn’t like what you do, then you are likely not unique and inspired enough yet, and that will reflect in your sales. No marketing tactics can truly compensate for uninspired art.

Leave a Comment

Other Posts Referenced in this Essay:

The Mystery
“I’m not sure who you are channeling but it is true and I’m being enriched by your work. You are a wise soul and I appreciate you.” — Ed Penniman

The Sovereign Artist
“This is the most amazing writing I've read on creativity and being an artist…and I've read a lot.” — Kohlene Hendrickson

Embrace The Dragon
“Such BIG Truths veiled behind psychological concepts.” -- Louanne Headrick

You Won’t Sound Like Eddie
“I think Eddie also once said that the tone was in his fingers, not his gear.” — Mark Dykeman

Everything written in this post (and all my posts) is written 100% by me, Clint “Clintavo” Watson, a flesh and blood human seeking to grow my soul and come home my truest self; for that is the essence of creativity. I do not use AI to assist me with writing — that would deny me the very growth of my world through writing that I seek.

FASO Loves Stephanie Campos’ charcoal paintings!

See More of Stephanie Campos’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
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Save Money on a Squarespace Site for your Art

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

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Impress Us in a Good Way

How do you measure the value of your art? How do you measure the value of art by other creators?

This is probably THE most complicated question, isn’t it? It’s also why there are so many approaches to selling and marketing what we create.

I just judged a show of over 600 pieces, and I had 54 awards to give out. It sounds like a lot of awards, but it was a juried exhibition, and for the most part, the entrants have been honing their skills for decades. Still, I felt like I had to have good reasons for each piece I chose - not just “It struck me right away.” or “It’s got that x factor.”

The thing is, every judge assigns value differently. Someone else would have had a completely different winners roster. Let’s bring that back home to our own work. What criteria should we use to judge our own work? Are the highest points given to awards, sales, or opportunities in our art careers?

Well, I think anyone who has a firm answer for that question is not being truthful.

But what I CAN do - I can list for you the specific things I consider when assigning value to my own work, and some examples of what has happened for me. Maybe you can add to this list? Maybe there are some things on it that you have not thought of?

Here they are, listed in my personal order of preference from most important to least.

1. Viewer’s Experience

This is often the ultimate goal for many artists—creating something that evokes a deep, personal connection. Art is more than an object. It becomes a mirror for someone else’s memories or emotions. The best is when viewers want to share their experiences with me, the artist.

As an artist: I love to share about how I’ve made admirals cry. It’s been a highlight of my career to have these highly decorated individuals come to me with emotions that start because of what I have painted for them. Each year the Salmagundi Club hosts a ceremony for acceptance of works into the U.S. Coast Guard government collection. Each year I have presented paintings that evoke strong emotions in the coasties, as they relate and recall similar scenes in their careers.

As an art lover: Although I try not to paint art that challenges or discomforts people, art that evokes “negative” emotional reactions can still hold immense worth to me, as a viewer. Even if it’s not tied to traditional notions of beauty or nostalgia, art that makes me feel will always peak my interest.

2. Allegorical Messages and Storytelling

Layered meaning in a piece of art can take time to resonate with the right person. I want my story to outlive the moment of its creation. My goal is for collectors to continue the narrative I started. To do this, the message and intent have to be clear, whether it’s humor, tension, nostalgia, relationships, mood. It often takes time for the viewer to understand what I am trying to convey.

As an artist: This happened with a piece I painted that was a 40” tall, 17th century style still life painting of desserts. There were tarts and cheeses, Roemer glasses, a precariously balanced bone handled knife, a cascading lime peel. Through symbolism, the separate elements tell a story of life’s bounty, fragility, messiness, and ultimate end. If I’d just been composing a pretty image, everything would have been neatly arranged. The collector understood that it wasn’t just a pretty picture. It was a commentary on life, and how we navigate it. It took him several years of thinking and relating, before he decided to make it part of his collection.

As an art lover: I gravitate toward the art that conjures up the most interesting tales for me. I recently purchased a bronze sculpture of a dolphin emerging from the waves triumphant, because it’s not only beautiful, but it reminded me of one of the most amazing moments in my art journey. Now, every morning as I pause to notice that piece of art, sitting on my bedside table, I will add another thought to the affirmation story, and remember why I get up and do what I do each day.

3. Engagement and Feedback

This is such a tricky aspect because, feedback can be hard to decipher or act upon. I’ve noticed that engagement often reveals patterns over time rather than providing clear, immediate answers. Those recurring themes in people’s responses can point toward what makes your work distinctive, even if it’s not always intentional.

Are people going out of their way to let you know how your art impacts them?

As an artist: When a stranger asks what I do and I say “I’m an artist. Do you have a phone? Here’s my website,” I love to watch their face when they first see my work. Usually, what they see is not what they were expecting. I’m not sure what they were expecting, but people from all walks of life often have strong responses to the same works from me. I can do an entire series, and it will be the same 3 out of 10 drawings or paintings that get the most comments. I like to think I learn from those, and try to do more like them in the future. The truth is, I’m often left scratching my head. So while I’m always striving for more feedback, most of the time, I’m not sure what to do with it. Still, I feel like if people are reacting, I’m achieving an important goal.

Take the initiative to share your work and actively engage with people—it’s not just about passive feedback. Inviting conversation deepens the relationship between you, the artist, and the audience, which is a value in itself.

As an art lover: I always try to give positive feedback and likes and follows to the artists I appreciate. If anyone asks me for a critical review of their art, I always sandwich any constructive criticism between compliments. My goal is to support and uplift with my feedback. Not all artists are thick skinned and the internet makes it easy to crush spirits.

4. Opportunities and Experiences

Opportunities that arise from your work are sometimes the most unexpected rewards. What’s particularly inspiring is how much of that value is intangible—connections, adventures, and the privilege of sharing your art with new audiences. These experiences enrich your life and, by extension, your art. Some opportunities also expand the perceived legitimacy of your work. Awards, features, or collaborations build credibility, which can further enhance how your art is valued.

As an artist: Where do I start? I have had SO many amazing moments since 2010 when I became a full time artist. Notably, there’s that time I got to stay at the 5 star Langham Hotel in Boston, because they have 11 of my commissioned works in their bar and fine dining areas. They even have a video of me seeing them installed for the first time, on their website. That felt like a lifetime achievement to me.

But then just getting invited to give art talks at schools and museums and for art societies, because someone saw one of my pieces in a museum permanent collection - or getting to go out to sea for a week on a coast guard cutter because I won the George Grey best in show award one year with COGAP, or being invited back to teach workshops each year at museums and schools in MO, NC, TX. All of these opportunities are beyond my wildest dreams and nothing I could have scripted.

As an author and instructor: When I offer articles, posts, mentoring, demonstrations and workshops to other artists, I always approach these as events where I am sharing. Instructors are always learning from their students. It’s a two way interaction, so I feel like the hierarchy that says I know more than my students is flawed. I know specific things that are working for me. By sharing, I feel I can increase the likelihood of opportunities and experiences happening for others.

5. Personal Growth and Mastery

How does each piece push your skills, explore new techniques, or challenge your creativity? Even if a piece doesn’t sell or gain widespread recognition, its value can lie in what it teaches you as an artist.

As an artist: I think we all create new series and experiment with different presentations, media, etc. throughout our careers. The best example of my own, is what I am doing right now. I was inspired by vintage valentines I saw in a museum, and I’ve embarked on a series I call “HeartFelt” that is trompe l’oeil and looks like pages from a scrapbook. I love that I can weave stories with different elements and evoke a nostalgic feel. I’m doing works in charcoal for half the price of my oil paintings. My growth has led me to this place where I am confidently exploring these new ways of composing and presenting my works. I could not have done this 20 years ago. I’m cashing in now on the value of those decades of learning and observation.

As a collector: I always appreciate when artists I am familiar with push boundaries. The art in my personal collection has the feel of when the artists has mastered much and is now trying something a little bit different. It’s these new adventures in personal growth and mastery that excite me.

6. Sales

The value of art is multi-dimensional and deeply personal. Sales are important, but for me the true measure of success lies in creating work that resonates with people emotionally and intellectually, forming meaningful connections and experiences.

For those who lean more on the “product first” side, sales metrics might be more prominent in measuring success, and that’s fine, too. It depends on the goals of the artist and the type of art they create.

As an artist: In my world, sales are a natural outcome of everything else I do. I am focusing on the why during each sale. My work becomes part of someone’s life story, not just a decoration. It’s something they keep when they downsize.

Much of my approach aligns with the Bold Brush circle of marketing philosophy. I am building relationships first, and then optimizing the sales transactions.

As a collector: For art to become a part of my personal collection, the sales transaction has to be simple. I won’t jump many hurdles to attain a piece. It has to speak to me. I’m not wealthy, so it has to fit my budget. I value skill in the artists I patronize. Art I pay for is impeccably rendered.

I’m sure your criteria for success and for purchases is different from mine. As a creator, which do you value more - the intrinsic value of art (emotional, personal connections, feedback, etc.) or the pragmatic value (sales, opportunities, etc.).
Is there a right answer? What exactly are your measures of success? What do you think are the biggest challenges in sticking to your framework? Are there ever tensions between what you prioritize and what the market or audience seems to value most?

Leave a comment

Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com

Join me each month for free updates on this art adventure at
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Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

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Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because, though it applies primarily to writers, the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

Save Money on a Squarespace Site for your Art

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

See More of Christopher Remmer’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
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If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

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Embrace the Dragon

The image of the knight slaying the dragon in order to save the “damsel in distress” is the image of the false hero of modernity.

The Dragon represents your Jungian Shadow-self, birthed from your repressed trauma, pushed down deep into its lair, in your core, where it seeks relief by grasping and collecting ‘treasures’ of ‘gold’ and ‘precious jewels.’ It jealously guards these treasures, locked away, deep inside of you.

The Damsel is your Muse, imprisoned by the Dragon who himself is imprisoned within the dark cave to which, through the force of your will and denial, you have banished him.

You think, or, rather, your Ego thinks, that you can "slay" the Dragon by venturing "bravely" into that deep dark cave with the sword of knowledge to do "inner work." But you have it all backwards. You still think that you're the good guy, but, in reality, your egoistic self is the tyrant.

In your quest to control all, you have imprisoned your strongest allies, the Muse and the Shadow Dragon.

Whenever you feel the Call of Truth, through Wonder, and you come near to it, your "hero" the Ego, stops you from following the call with what Stephen Pressfield calls the Resistance – fear.

“Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet. It is the root of more unhappiness than poverty, disease, and erectile dysfunction.” – Stephen Pressfield, The War of Art

The false ego-hero (the Tyrant) doesn't want you to reconcile with the Dragon and the Damsel – the Shadow and the Muse. He wants you to continue to think he’s the hero, so he floods you with fear.

But the true hero isn't the ‘knight’ of your ego. The true hero is the Christ-like consciousness that fills you when you abandon the controlling ego and instead embrace truth, love and peace — when you feel wonder.

Wonder — a word related to ‘wound’ — cracks open the hard shell we’ve built around our heart. Wonder wounds us to let the light back in. You must take off your ego’s armor, walk into the dark cave of your subconscious, and face the Dragon, not with the sword of your Ego, but with the unconditional love of the Christ consciousness that wonder enables.

Face the Dragon, not with weapons, but with faith. Embrace the Dragon with compassion, and allow his fire to burn your ego away and cleanse your soul. He will burn away that shell around your hardened heart and then the Dragon will fill you with his majestic power and release the hoarded treasure to The Muse who will in-spire you and present the hoarded creative treasures, incredible ideas, and insights, to you, with love, one by one, where they will flow out, through you, as Art.

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This reflection explores themes addressed in my forthcoming book, The Sovereign Artist.

Inside of each of us lies a divine force - The Sovereign Artist Within - a remarkable force which brings joy, peace, creativity and love back into our lives. This approach to the creative process saved me, and it can save you too, perhaps it can save us all. Connecting with The Sovereign Artist manifests as an explosion of creativity, peace, and quiet inner joy. It transforms the artist into a reflection of itself - sovereign, free, joyful and loving. If that is of interest, please click the button below to join the book’s waitlist.

Join the Sovereign Artist Waitlist

Posts Referenced in this Article

Ignoring Your Daemon Unleashes a Demon

The Muse

The Call of Wonder

Everything written in this post (and all my posts) is written 100% by me, Clintavo, a flesh and blood human seeking to grow my soul and come home my truest self; for that is the essence of creativity. I do not use AI to assist me with writing — that would deny me the very growth of my world through writing that I seek

FASO Loves Stephanie Campos’ charcoal paintings!

See More of Stephanie Campos’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with an art website host that actually cares about art.

Get Started with FASO for Free

FASO Loves Poppy Balser’s oil paintings!

See More of Poppy Balser’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
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On Writing by Henry Miller

I was driven to write because it proved to be the only outlet open to me, the only task worthy of my powers. I had honestly tried all the other roads to freedom. I was a self-willed failure in the so-called world of reality, not a failure because of lack of ability.

Writing was not an “escape,” a means of evading the everyday reality: on the contrary, it meant a still deeper plunge into the brackish pool—a plunge to the source where the waters were constantly being renewed, where there was perpetual movement and stir. Looking back upon my career, I see myself as a person capable of undertaking almost any task, any vocation. It was the monotony and sterility of the other outlets which drove me to desperation.

I demanded a realm in which I should be both master and slave at the same time: the world of art is the only such realm.

I entered it without any apparent talent, a thorough novice, incapable, awkward, tongue-tied, almost paralyzed by fear and apprehensiveness. I had to lay one brick on another, set millions of words to paper before writing one real, authentic word dragged up from my own guts.

The facility of speech which I possessed was a handicap; I had all the vices of the educated man. I had to learn to think, feel and see in a totally new fashion, in an uneducated way, in my own way, which is the hardest thing in the world.

I had to throw myself into the current, knowing that I would probably sink. The great majority of artists are throwing themselves in with life-preservers around their necks, and more often than not it is the life-preserver which sinks them.

Nobody can drown in the ocean of reality who voluntarily gives himself up to the experience. Whatever there be of progress in life comes not through adaptation but through daring, through obeying the blind urge. “No daring is fatal,” said René Crevel, a phrase which I shall never forget. The whole logic of the universe is contained in daring, i.e., in creating from the flimsiest, slenderest support.

— Henry Miller, Henry Miller on Writing

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Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

Get Started With Artful Squarespace

Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because, though it applies primarily to writers, the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

See More of Christopher Remmer’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

Get Started With Artful Squarespace

Actually, Beauty IS in the Eye of the Beholder

I've always been staunchly in the camp that beauty is objective. Humans tend to find some things far more beautiful than others. And, from one perspective, it is true that beauty is objective. Consequently, I've never (prior to now) found any truth in the statement, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

However, like so many things in recent years, becoming more mindful and meditative has caused my mind to have numerous insights that have altered long held beliefs. Suddenly, a few days ago, I was struck by a deeper understanding of subjectivity.

And, like the drawing of the optical illusion that flips between the young beautiful woman and the old hag, my perception flipped and I could see beauty from the other perspective. I discovered a different way to look at the world and, suddenly it made sense: from this other perspective, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! (Though for those wishing to sell their art, I recommend pursuing a measure of objective beauty in your works, as objective beauty will appeal to more people).

Let me (attempt) to explain. Let's consider light first, and then we’ll come back to beauty.

In the objective world, the world we can measure, we know a lot of things about light. We can know the frequency of a given beam of light, we know that it is made up of particles called photons, we know that it always travels at a given speed, and we know that no matter can travel through space-time faster than light (though space-time itself can expand faster than light).

In other words, we know that the particular part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we call “light” has all of these objective properties.

However, if consciousness didn't exist, if there was no life, if there were no humans – nothing would experience "light." Who would perceive the light? Who would marvel at its brightness and clarity? Who would find the sacred in the sunset?

What I’m saying is that there would be photons without humans, but without humans, there is no such thing as light.

We could nitpick here since quantum light waves appear to collapse into photons only when observed, which would mean even photons wouldn’t exist without consciousness. But this nitpick doesn’t change my overall point.

“Light” is the interaction of a physical phenomenon in the objective universe with the subjective phenomenon of consciousness.

And so it is with beauty!

What can we say about an object of art? Or music? Or the same sunset we just mentioned?

These things are all phenomena with objective properties. It takes a conscious mind to make them beautiful.

This doesn’t mean the observed object or person will become beautiful to everyone, but you can transform anything you observe into something beautiful and sacred in your subjective experience, which is a real part of the universe. Your subjective experience is all you have and it will determine the quality of your life. It’s kind of like the old Zen saying: Zen isn’t thinking about God while washing dishes, Zen is making washing dishes into an act of worship.

That power is a sacred gift to you: It is within your power to beautify everything you gaze upon! Beautify your gaze, and suddenly the entire world becomes a delightful playground!

This is the ocean that mystics swim in, but these flowing waters are available to all of us. Open up thine eyes, and cast your consciousness forth, for you, when in the flow, are the one creating the light and beauty in everything upon which your gaze lands. And the key to unlocking this beautifying gaze is to find, uncover or, in reality, return home to your true nature.

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Everything written in this post (and all my posts) is written 100% by me, Clintavo, a flesh and blood human seeking to grow my soul and come home my truest self; for that is the essence of creativity. I do not use AI to assist me with writing — that would deny me the very growth of my world through writing that I seek

Other Posts You Might Like

The Mind Palace

Ignoring Your Daemon Unleashes a Demon

The Parable of Anna Akhmatova by Ted Gioia

2025 is coming. The world seems to be in such a catastrophic state. Where is the hope? What is hope? by Nick Cave

FASO Loves Stephanie Campos’ charcoal paintings!

See More of Stephanie Campos’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with an art website host that actually cares about art.

Get Started with FASO for Free

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

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we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
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If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

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We’ve talked about The Original Sin of Art Marketing, and the myth of “Marketing is Marketing” (No, Marketing is Not Marketing). The myth goes something like this, "Marketing is marketing. And I know how to market shoes on Amazon/information products/software/medical devices. So I can do some good and teach artists how to market their art!"

The issue with that type of thinking, although well-intentioned, is that marketing art is not like marketing other products. And although it does share similarities to marketing luxury goods, it is still unique.

You want to get your art marketing advice from somebody who has actually marketed and sold art, preferably a lot of art.

After sharing the last article, I realized there are a lot of other "Marketing Guru Myths" that need to be addressed as well.

In today's article, I will highlight the top Marketing Guru Myths to get us started.

Myth #1: You need to define your ideal customer.

The Truth: Lots of different types of people buy art.

Large companies can spend upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars on market research to identify their ideal customer. And this works great when you're selling mass products with a clearly defined user or demographic.

Art is a much more personal purchasing experience. People of all walks of life fall in love with a particular artist's work. From young to old. From rich to poor. From working class to ivy league. The wide and varied appeal of a given work of art makes it, in most cases, almost impossible to define an "ideal customer".

Myth #2: Blogging will help you sell art.

The Truth: The benefit of blogging has moved to social media.

Blogging was a very effective way to put your art into the world 10 years ago. Social media (Instagram specifically) has really changed the way that people interact online. It acts as a curated gallery which allows you to share your work, your story and inspirations, and more to a mass audience.

We also all used to share stories about what was going on in our lives. All of that has moved to Facebook and Twitter. The "Golden Age" of blogging is dead.

Myth #3: You should use intrusive pop ups to increase signups to your newsletter.

The Truth: You're selling a luxury good and this is a mass market tactic.

I'm a strong advocate for utilizing email marketing in your overall marketing strategy. But using pop-ups and giving away freebies for email addresses will just pollute your email list when you're selling a high end product like art.

There are plenty of other ways that you can get people to sign-up for your email newsletter. Here's a few great tips to help get you started.

Myth #4: You need to work on ranking in search engines for lots of keywords.

The Truth: SEO is a lot of work, very expensive, and provides virtually no payoff for most artists.

SEO, which stands for "Search Engine Optimization", and is generally an attempt to rank well in Google for various keywords, is great for product and service marketing where people are actively searching for the "best landscaping company in X area".

The way that people search for and buy art is not, with a few exceptions, through high-ranking SEO pages. In short - search engine marketing works great for products that already have high demand, but you can never generate demand with search engine marketing.

Myth #5: Use an online virtual room to display your art.

The Truth: These are just annoying and slow, use the web in its native format.

Online virtual galleries have really started to pop-up in the last several months as a way to offer art collectors a "gallery experience" from the comfort of their own home. This may sound great in theory but the reality is that these online virtual rooms lack functionality and ease for the user.

People would much prefer browsing through your "gallery" of work on your website where they can easily navigate to each piece of artwork and learn more about it without the hassle of "walking" through an online virtual room.

Myth #6: You need "brand values".

The Truth Yuck. Most sentences with the word "brand" in them are marketing hype.

You’re a human being, not a “brand.” There IS a type of real branding power which I call “reputational power”. It takes an incredible amount of work and time. This isn't as simple as completing a "branding exercise" though.

Myth #7: Create specific "SMART", "BHAG" goals and work backwards to achieve them.

The Truth: Specific goals create a danger of blinding you to the best opportunities, create systems of success instead.

Setting goals for your art that are too specific can result in missed opportunities and limiting your creativity. Ideally, what you're going for is to have big goals, weakly held. What I mean by that is, it's fine to shoot for the moon with your "goals", but if a better opportunity appears, be willing to drop the original goal in favor of the better one.

And don't forget to prioritize systems - for example, marketing and creating every day, with an attempt to continuously improve, will set you up for success when opportunity knocks. In other words, don't set a goal for "clean teeth" and to "be healthy". Just set up a daily system to brush your teeth and exercise.

Myth #8: Work in a series, paint for the market, etc.

The Truth: Create what inspires you and what makes your work unique.

It can be hard to separate the creative aspect and the business aspect of selling your art. But it's essential that you create what inspires you, without regard to what others want (outside of commissions, of course) while creating. That's what makes your art unique! And your uniqueness is what will set you apart. Of course, AFTER, you created a piece, then feel free to put your "business" hat on and figure out the best way to sell it.

Myth #9: Write product descriptions of your art for your target audience

The Truth: Write what inspired you to create the piece. Or the story of what's depicted in the piece.

Product descriptions are generally written on an ecommerce site from the perspective of the purchaser. The companies ask, "what's the best way to describe this shoe that will appeal to the most buyers (and rank highly in search engines)?"

For artwork, what's most important to us as buyers, is to know what inspired you. Use your story and the inspiration behind your art to really connect with your audience, because at the end of the day, that's what's going to sell your art.

Myth #10: You need to send lots of “traffic” to your website and then “convert” them

The Truth: You need to build an audience, your website is the last step in your buyer's journey, not the first

“Driving traffic” is noise. If you want lots of traffic, offer free beer. This is an attempt to copy tactics that Amazon uses to sell sneakers. You need quality, not quantity. You need the right people, not the most people. Instead of the the cacophonous noise of “traffic”, build a real audience and make music.

Myth #11: "Art collectors buy your (the artist's) story, not your art"

TRUTH: Collectors buy your art because it relates to the story of THEIR life.

Sometimes your story reinforces theirs, but their "story" is the reason, not yours.

This is not to say that telling stories is “bad”, but you need to understand what stories to tell and in what context (we share this in our Circles of Art Marketing framework, which we’ve covered here in the past).

Are there any other myths I’ve missed?

Creatively,

Clintavo

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I am adrift, alone across a metaphorical ocean, searching everywhere for fresh water, for living water to quench my thirst. We all are adrift perhaps, seeking such fresh water.

So I write. I must write. There is nothing to do but write. Nothing to do but create. Nothing to do but to document this aimless journey through space and time as experienced by a human. Writing is my living water and it, along with other forms of creation, quenches my thirst.

And sometimes, I share what I’ve written. Perhaps a few people read it, perhaps none. That can be frustrating when one pours their heart into their work and then releases into a silent void. It cuts a bit when I share my writing and nobody reads it, but it cuts far deeper not to write at all. So, I write, first and foremost for myself. Beyond quenching my parched soul, all else surrounding the work is irrelevant, although I forget that sometimes. Having someone read my writing is not the point and is irrelevant. "Monetizing" the work is irrelevant. "Going Viral" is irrelevant. All surrounding the work is dust in the wind. What is real is the writing. What is real is the worship I call creation.

“I think therefore I am,” Descartes said.

I know that I am because I experience. And in my experience, I write constantly in my mind, however, only a tiny bit ever makes it to paper and a smaller amount still is shared publicly. Perhaps the ideas and thoughts that I mentally write are being logged by The Source somewhere. I hope so. But for now, I think and I am and I write what I think to temporarily satiate that unquenchable thirst.

I don’t write because I took a course. Or because I read a book. Or because a podcast “guru” told me to make money doing “digital writing.” I do it because I must. It is my way in the world. Far be it for me to give advice to others, but you must find your own way in the world.

I would humbly suggest that, at first, you forget all the programs, and methods, and coaches, and gurus, and books, and podcasts, and blogs, and tweets, and all of the other resources of the world that pretend to help you "be successful.” Because deep down, if you are honest with yourself, you know that most of those are just entertainment that goes into your mind and then disappears like the dust I mentioned above.

Stop seeking pretend solutions and find that one thing that quenches your thirst. When you do, you will be on fire and will drink from it like a shriveled lost soul in the desert drinks from an oasis. And once you drink deeply of such living waters, you will find yourself automatically improving, then succeeding, and then becoming a master. At that point, when the student is ready, a real teacher will appear. Perhaps not. But you will know if there is a coach, or book, or podcast to pursue, and you will pursue it with laser focus to get what you need to move to your highest level of mastery. Once attained, perhaps you will inspire someone else to seek their own living water.

Doing and Being is the only way to improve, not reading about doing or being. And so, drink deeply and you will become a master, even if nobody knows it. And it may hurt not to achieve outward success, but no matter, your thirst will be quenched. And that is the main thing. Almost the only thing. And so, I have quenched my thirst for the moment. I have gulped down enough to satisfy me temporarily. And whether anyone reads this or not, I am glad for having written it. And with that, I see an opportune place to grab an ending, so I think that I will take it.

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FASO Loves Stephanie Campos’ charcoal paintings!

See More of Stephanie Campos’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
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Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because, though it applies primarily to writers, the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

ARTFUL SQUARESPACE by FASO Loves Christopher Remmer’s paintings!

See More of Christopher Remmer’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a Squarespace website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at Artful Squarespace (by FASO), we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with a Squarespace art website host that actually cares about art.

If you already have a Squarespace site, you can move it to Artful Squarespace with no changes, you’ll likely save money and you can see your art promoted in our newsletters just like Christopher Remmers. If you want a new Squarespace site optimized for art, we can help you with that too!

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Creativity is a Relief Valve

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” —Ray Bradbury

When I don’t write, my spirit darkens and my demeanor becomes generally irritable and cranky (Not that I have a ‘sunny’ disposition, even on my best days. In fact, I’ve occasionally been accused of having contracted an industrial-grade case of stage-four resting-bitch-face).

The longer it’s been since I’ve sat down to a proper writing session, the more I feel as if I’m wasting my life, and, when I feel that way, I descend into sullenness.

Writing, you see, acts as a sort of ‘relief valve’ that vents the darkness that accumulates inside of me into the Infinity of Creativity. The very act lightens the load upon my soul. As Chesterton said, angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. They contain lightness — light — inside. And writing lets out that heavy darkness so that there is room for the light to flood in through the cracks, so that my soul too, may again fly.

We all go through seasons when we find ourselves busier than usual. Which, in this age of technocracy, is saying something.

Unexpected things happen. Tragedies happen. Tasks that we think will be simple and speedy end up being complicated and confusing. The car, or the air conditioner may break, taking a day (or more) of our time – time that we had planned to write. Perhaps we experience an unexpected dental issue. Or maybe we agreed to a time-consuming long term project when we should have had the courage to say ‘no.’ The vicissitudes of life, which threaten to steal our creative time, are endless and that simply is the way it is.

Even worse, sometimes, months swagger arrogantly into our lives and, like playground bullies, delight in wrecking our plans. They kick over our little sand castles and refuse to let us build new ones. Such months delight in collecting unexpected events and piling them up until they occur all at once, so that, despite our best efforts, we find it extremely difficult, almost impossible, to make time for our creative outlet. We find ourselves without enough white space.

Some may scoff at the idea that creatives require such white space (or, for that matter, they may scoff at my whole ‘relief valve’ theory of creativity). Those people say that real writers, real artists, always make time. Suck it up. Skip sleep. Do whatever you have to do, but put words on the page. Every. Single. Day. Maybe those people are right. Bastards.

I once saw a post by a guy who wrote an entire book by spending five minutes writing in his car before work every morning.

I suppose, even on the busiest of days, I could spare five minutes.

However, for me, five minutes isn’t enough to activate the relief valve. Forcing myself to write for only five minutes a day sounds like, well, hell. I’d have to force a stop before any truly good ideas occurred. Or worse, I’d have to force a stop when good ideas were flowing. I need much longer stretches of quiet time, to think, to read, to absorb, and to write.

And during those solipsistic busier-than-usual periods of life, the sacred stretches of solitude (so necessary for creative work) disappear.

Now, logically, I know that busier-than-usual periods are temporary. They will pass. White space will return. Life will go on.

But, logic notwithstanding, emotionally and spiritually, pressure builds…and builds….and builds, and when that relief valve isn't opened up through the real act of creation, through real writing, eventually, I explode.

When that happens, my creative shadow side takes over and my metaphorical skin rips open, falling away, leaving my humanity as a pile of forgotten flesh, and the Shadow, now a full-fledged demon, no longer constrained by a human container, expands outward, showing his true, dark leathery form. ‘He’ reaches out with his claws toward those around me and with his forked tongue of lies, lashes out and burns down my world. Once satiated, he dissapates, leaving me to attempt to rebuild from the ashes.

Art is certainly the Cinderella (of modernity)…if Cinderella is not allowed to go to the ball she will not stay quietly at home washing the dishes; probably she will set the house on fire instead. — Sangharakshita.

The Creative Act, you see, is a magic act that rehabilitates demons and defeats evil.

Writing, for many of us, is the alchemy that takes the grimy emotional pollution of everyday life — that nasty accumulation of darkness and trauma that builds up inside of us — and transmutes the gunk into something new, something good — even something divine.

Your pen is your magic wand and your rune-covered keyboard enables you to cast spells with your Words (that’s why we ‘spell’ words, of course). In the beginning was the Word — the ultimate spell.

But, unfortunately, when the accumulated darkness isn’t vented through writing, and it forces itself out in an emotional explosion, the escaped demon lashes out at whoever is closest to us, and that is nearly always a loved one; for who else is one close enough with to allow such shameful outbursts?

It’s a tragedy of life that we shit on the people we care about the most. And like a virus rupturing an infected cell, the darkness, if not transmuted through creative magic, seeks to spread from person-to-person. You can see this darkness living and spreading over modern society. I call it the ‘endarkenment.’ Everywhere we turn in modernity, the darkness seems to be covering the globe.

If there is any upside, at least our closest loved ones see the full spectrum of who we truly are, I guess. And, of course, if they choose to stay with us, demons and all, their love and devotion for us have been proven unequivocally. After all, Beauty doesn’t remain with the Beast unless she still sees Hope on the horizon.

The creatives who have graced my writings with their attention will be nodding their heads about now.

So, what to do about it?

I don't have an answer for you. I don't have a solution.

But I do have a resolution and it’s the only (new year’s?) resolution that makes sense for a writer: Write.

Use your Shadow’s talons to claw back some creative time instead of using them to shred those you love. Uh oh. It appears that I’m now one of those advice-giving write-every-day bastards.

It’s an unrealistic resolution, I grant you, but so are most resolutions, including everyone’s ultimate unspoken resolution of ‘don’t die.’

Resolutions don’t have to be realistic.

Resolutions represent Hope.

Optimism with a broken heart — that’s what Nick Cave calls hope. I’d probably say Hope is optimism defying a broken heart.

‘Resolution’ means ‘a breaking into parts.’ Through the Hope of Resolution, we sunder ourselves and create cracks in our heart, a broken heart, through which internal darkness may vent and allow the light back in. We need to break (open) our hearts if we wish to let the darkness out and the light in. Hope contains such power to inspire. And inspiration leads to action.

With Hope, even simply ‘writing’ in our own minds can sometimes be enough. Since, ultimately, you can’t truly control anything, there is no solution but resolution. And every resolution, at its core, is simply to hope.

This is the first real writing I've done in close to two months and so this piece itself has helped open that relief valve a tiny bit, and perhaps the pressure will now diminish and, as that pressure reduces, and negativity vents, Hopefully the Light of Creation will be uncovered again; for when the clouds finally dissipate, there is only the shining sun.

Comment on this Article

Posts Referenced in this Essay

The Mind Palace

Ignoring Your Daemon Unleashes a Demon

The Parable of Anna Akhmatova by Ted Gioia

2025 is coming. The world seems to be in such a catastrophic state. Where is the hope? What is hope? by Nick Cave

FASO Loves Stephanie Campos’ charcoal paintings!

See More of Stephanie Campos’ art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with an art website host that actually cares about art.

Get Started with FASO for Free

Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because, though it applies primarily to writers, the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

If you want a FASO Art Website, Now is the Time

By the way - Unsanctioned use of your Art by AI is an emerging risk. If you would like an artist website that protects your art from being scraped and used by AI - check our our Holiday Offer. We’re offering an incredible deal with our most popular website plan that is about 70% off the entire bundle.

Learn More About FASO's Holiday Offer

Not into FASO? We have deals on Squarespace Too!

That’s okay we offer deals on Squarespace Sites too! We can save you money on a new or existing Squarespace site plus bundle it with a bunch of goodies that help with art marketing ideas, information, and community. Our current deal is $600 for two years of Squarespace service on the Advanced Commerce plan which is incredible considering that is $2,400 from Squarespace directly. We can even move any existing Squarespace site under our umbrella and you will save money going forward. You won’t even have to redesign your site if you already have one and would login to edit it the exact same way you do now.

Learn More about our Squarespace Offer

On to today’s article….

Rationalizing Magic

Over the course of my lifetime, the world has increasingly embraced the logical, the scientific, and the rational. We have, collectively, turned away from the unknown, the mystical, the spiritual, and the unexplainable.

I, personally, have, for most of my life, embraced this trend. I was a thinker and not a feeler. I relied more on logic than intuition. I've scoffed at miracles, and laughed at the mystical, favoring what is "real" and what is explainable.

But that was a mistake.

And I am changing.

What is "real" isn't only what we can explain with words and theories. In the last several years, meditation and other reflective practices have opened my metaphorical eyes.

Humans are not logical, we are much deeper than that. We have a dual nature.

We are masters of logical thinking and also feeling and intuition.

And, increasingly, I'm noticing that we have turned away from the magical and the spiritual at the time we need such things the most.

Look at the world: war, inflation, bank runs, increasing crime, dehumanizing attitudes, arguing on social media.

These are all ways for us to destroy ourselves.

They are ways that we lose our humanity; for our humanity is spiritual in nature. By the way, I don't mean “religious” when I use the word spiritual.

Perhaps someday science will be able to explain what I am calling "spiritual" or "magic" but, whatever we call it, humans need it. We crave it.

Economists pretend that humans are rational creations. But such purely rational creatures only exist in the minds of economists.

For example, people often buy products for non-rational reasons. And marketing should be non-rational. Marketing is more about making magic than managing metrics and a spreadsheet leaves no room for magic.

When we do things, such as making a non-essential purchase, we only pretend we are rational.

We then take our real, “magical”, reasons for doing things and we rational-IZE them.

In other words, we rationalize magic and in doing so, we diminish it.

Perhaps it’s time to embrace the sacred, the spiritual, and the unexplainable again.

Perhaps it’s time to believe in magic again.

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Everything written in this post (and all my posts) is written 100% by me, Clintavo, a flesh and blood human seeking to grow my soul and come home my truest self; for that is the essence of creativity. I do not use AI to assist me with writing — that would deny me the very growth of my world through writing that I seek. I do use AI to create relevant images to go with my writing as the images are orthogonal to the writing itself and I am not an illustrator.

FASO Loves Kevin Macpherson’s oil paintings!

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

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And we have a deal for you…..

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Creatively,

Clint Watson
FASO Founder
Creativity Fanatic

Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because, though it applies primarily to writers, the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

If you want a FASO Art Website, Now is the Time

By the way - Unsanctioned use of your Art by AI is an emerging risk. If you would like an artist website that protects your art from being scraped and used by AI - check our our Holiday Offer. We’re offering an incredible deal with our most popular website plan that is about 70% off the entire bundle.

Learn More About FASO's Holiday Offer

Not into FASO? We have deals on Squarespace Too!

That’s okay we offer deals on Squarespace Sites too! We can save you money on a Squarespace site plus bundle it with a bunch of goodies that help with art marketing ideas, information, and community. Our current deal is $600 for two years of Squarespace service on the Advanced Commerce plan which is incredible considering that is $2,400 from Squarespace directly. We can even move any existing Squarespace site under our umbrella and you will save money going forward. You won’t even have to redesign your site if you already have one and would login to edit it the exact same way you do now.

Learn More about our Squarespace Offer

(Or email me at clint@faso.com if you have questions)

On to today’s article….

The ordinary world conspires to deny you creative freedom. If you’re waiting for the ‘right time’ to create, it will never arrive. Creative time doesn’t arise out of chaos. You must construct a sacred prison for yourself to separate yourself from the everyday.

The Muses love to confuse us with paradoxes and so, in a Cosmic joke, we find that creative freedom arises best in captivity – the captivity of routine work in solitude.

When you create for yourself a cell of solitary confinement in which you do your work, you become a daily prisoner who hopes for the warden, The Muse, to walk by and say something.

The irony of such a prison cell is that it provides you with the temporal white space that allows you to think without distractions.

And once you allow your mind to forget the mundane, it vibrates at a higher level and transforms your ‘prison’ into the holy place of creation where no talking is allowed.

You enter the temple, your silent studio, and only you, the high priest of your practice, is allowed entry into the holy of holies – your mind.

And there, when the Muse alights, you are, through the Ark of the Covenant in your mind, empowered to re-enter Eden where the Cherubim hand you the power of the flaming sword, the logos and you commune with God as a co-creator.

“I will put my law in their minds” – Jeremiah 31:31

This sacred sanctum is the time and place where you pour out your soul before God and tell him what you have learned to be true, what hurts you, what gives you joy, what inspires you, and most importantly, just who are you, really?

Having re-entered Eden, God once again in-spires, “breathes life” into you, and you pour it out in front of Him – that is creation.

Creation is a pouring out of your soul. Re-creation is a gathering, a pouring in, a filling up, a force of attraction.

Re-creation is what happens when you go out there into the world and you fill up your soul with experience, both good and bad; both painful and joyful. You overcome your fear and go forth into the messy Bella Chaos of the world.

Having poured yourself out completely before God during your last trip into Eden, you are empty. And you cannot give what you have not yet received.

You are no longer the being you used to be, so you must re-create yourself so that you may once again have something to offer as you enter the solitary confinement of your inner sanctum where you, again, pour it all out onto the altar and, once again, you and God will co-create something in your image.

To create something worthwhile, you must give something of yourself.

So you got out into the world, and you fill yourself up with scenes, relationships, observations and emotions.

Then you create and then, again, re-create yourself, over and over. Experience then create, experience then create.

It dawns on me that these two essential activities – experience then create – are the reason that in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way she has only two activities that are non-negotiable: The weekly artist date (re-creation) and The Morning Pages (creation).

What I have outlined here is the gist of the creative life and the reason we are here. And each time you muster the courage to go through the cycle again, the size of your soul stretches just a little bit more.

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Posts Referenced in this Reflection

The Muse

Sacred Solitude

Reentering Eden

The Sacred Studio

Everything written in this post (and all my posts) is written 100% by me, Clintavo, a flesh and blood human seeking to grow my soul and come home my truest self; for that is the essence of creativity. I do not use AI to assist me with writing — that would deny me the very growth of my world through writing that I seek. I do use AI to create relevant images to go with my writing as the images are orthogonal to the writing itself and I am not an illustrator.

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Creatively,

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Creativity Fanatic

Editor’s Note: In two days, this post will be locked and is available only to paid members because we don’t want this duplicate content on the open web in a way that might draw traffic away from the original post. You can always read the entire post here.

We are sharing this essay in The BoldBrush Letter because, though it applies primarily to writers, the underlying idea applies to all artists. Please enjoy.

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OK, on to today’s post:

We – the writers, the deep thinkers, the philosophers, the magicians, the alchemists, The Artists – only want readers and followers who can think for themselves.

Let the rest of the world have the multitudinous Nietzschean "last men" – those who follow the party line, those who believe what the media gaslights them into believing, those who think they get to decide what speech is acceptable and what is not, and those who dare to call out The Artists for having the courage to shine the divine Light of Truth upon the things that terrify their tiny undeveloped and repressed cowardly souls; for it is The Artists (and the mystics) who shine a flashlight into the dark corners that terrify most people. It is The Artists who journey into the depths of The Mystery that most people spend their days trying to avoid.

Life grows. And we are here to grow. And most especially we are here to grow our souls through creativity, through human ingenuity, and through inspiration. Maximum growth and harmony requires maximum freedom. So, if you fall into the camp, that dares to restrict the freedom of others; to restrict what The Artists may say or not say, then, please, feel free to click the unsubscribe button; for we, The Artists, do not wish to cast our pearls before the swine.

Leave a comment

Posts referenced in this Reflection:

Ignoring Your Daemon Unleashes a Demon

The Mystery

How to Grow Humanity’s Creativity

Everything written in this post (and all my posts) is written 100% by me, Clintavo, a flesh and blood human seeking to grow my soul and come home my truest self; for that is the essence of creativity. I do not use AI to assist me with writing — that would deny me the very growth of my world through writing that I seek. I do use AI to create relevant images to go with my writing as the images are orthogonal to the writing itself and I am not an illustrator.

FASO Loves Kevin Macpherson’s oil paintings!

See More of Kevin Macpherson’s art by clicking here.

Wouldn’t You Love to work with a website hosting company that actually promotes their artists?

As you can see, at FASO, we actually do, and,
we are the only website host we know of that does.

Click the button below to start working
with an art website host that actually cares about art.

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