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Artspiration

Do it stupid

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. ~ Thomas Edison I’ve often heard (and shared) the advice to make more art. So often, it seems that the secret to quality lies in quantity. Here’s a different way of thinking about this, in case it lands differently. Someone wanted to learn […]

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Artspiration

Creative cheat codes

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ~ Walt Disney When it comes to creative work, we all dream of finding that secret shortcut – the one thing that will suddenly unlock our potential or make the process easier. Alas, the real cheat code is usually the work we’re avoiding. […]

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Artspiration

Good enough to move on

Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough—that we should try again. No. We should not. ~ Julia Cameron I recently came across the quote above that really stuck with me. In […]

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Artspiration

Give yourself the space to be inspired

When we focus too hard on being a little better every day, we destroy the ability to be inspired. ~ Evan Armstrong Self-improvement is great and productivity is wonderful, but sometimes we need to pursue the unoptimized life. Sometimes we need to give ourselves space, and permission. We can ignore all the things we’re “supposed […]

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Artspiration

Be on the side of the creator

I decided years ago that I would always be on the side of the creator. ~ Ryan Delk It’s easy to be critical, especially in today’s culture. As more creators dare to create, they often don’t meet the standards we think they should. Whether they’re beginners whose skill doesn’t match their vision or a professional […]

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Artspiration

The journey is necessary

Your journey has molded you for the greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. ~ Asha Tyson It’s easy to fixate on the destination—the finished project, the big goal—but we often forget that the real magic happens in the small, seemingly unrelated steps along the way. I’ve had times where I […]

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Artspiration

Art Comes From Action

Most people tell themselves that if they felt better, they’d do the thing—when it’s actually doing the thing that makes you feel better. ~ Mark Manson We often tell ourselves that we’ll finally start creating when we feel more inspired, more confident, or “ready.” But the truth is, it’s the act of making art that […]

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Artspiration

Fear of Starting

The scariest moment is always just before you start. ~ Stephen King Dropped my daughter off at forest school yesterday. It was the first day back and she was a bundle of nerves. She was excited but nervous but once we arrived and she settled in, her smile was back. Funny how quickly fears can […]

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Artspiration

You are important

The artist is not a special kind of person; rather, each person is a special kind of artist. ~ Ananda Coomaraswamy In some art magazine, I read the following and thought you should know that it applies to you, too: I hope you all know how important you are. Your uniqueness as artists – in […]

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Artspiration

Ditch laundry for creativity

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~ Pablo Picasso Ever crammed your day with chores only to ditch art? I’ve done that. I might start out the day with good intentions (even having an art project in mind) but then end up juggling chores and work tasks instead. Coordinating schedules, […]