by Douglas Paul Smith | Feb 8, 2026 | General Advice for Artists
A New Poem… Does Anyone know anymore about this thing called poetry? This thing where you write stanzas of rhyme without logic or reason? Seems to be a relic of the ancient past, but for some reason I keep resuscitating it, trying to coax it back to life....
by Douglas Paul Smith | Jun 12, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
So You Made a Painting. Now What? You’ve created something bold, beautiful, maybe even a little weird in the best way. You’ve splashed your soul on a canvas, sculpted your dreams into bronze, or captured your existential angst through interpretive pasta. But then...
by Douglas Paul Smith | Jun 12, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
The Existential Crisis That Comes with a Paintbrush (or a Musical Instrument, or a Pair of Dance Shoes, etc etc) Let’s face it—at some point, every person who’s ever doodled on a napkin or wept openly at a well-lit bowl of fruit has asked: “Wait… am I an artist?” Cue...
by Douglas Paul Smith | Jun 12, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
The Dirty Little Secret of the Creative World Let’s be honest: there’s a whisper going around art studios, writing desks, and pottery wheels across the globe—and it’s not the muse. It’s burnout. That tightness behind your eyes after your third all-nighter painting...
by Douglas Paul Smith | May 21, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
So, you’re meditating regularly. You’ve got the cushion, the incense, the shrine (which may or may not include a small ceramic frog), and a Spotify playlist called “Mystical Mind Soup.” You’re doing everything right—but somehow, your mind keeps sliding into something...
by Douglas Paul Smith | May 2, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
Let’s Set the Myth on Fire (Gently, With a Paintbrush) There’s a popular myth floating around the art world like a ghost in a beret: that talent is the golden ticket to becoming a great artist. You either have it or you don’t, and if you don’t, well, good luck with...
