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...
by Douglas Paul Smith | May 1, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
Let’s be honest: being an artist in the digital age feels like signing up for a job in both the Louvre and a Las Vegas casino. One moment you’re sketching in silence, channeling the muses; the next, you’re caught in a vortex of Instagram likes, Pinterest boards,...
by Douglas Paul Smith | Apr 30, 2025 | General Advice for Artists
Let’s be honest. Journaling can sound like one of those self-help habits that only people with color-coded bookshelves and perfect morning routines actually keep up with. But if you’re an artist, creative soul, or professional overthinker (hi!), keeping a creativity...
by Douglas Paul Smith | Apr 27, 2025 | Advice for Creatives, General Advice for Artists
Why Discomfort Might Be the Best Studio Assistant You’ve Ever Had There’s a dirty little secret about making good art: it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes wildly, teeth-clenchingly uncomfortable. No matter how many expensive sketchbooks you hoard or how many...
by Douglas Paul Smith | Apr 19, 2025 | Advice for Creatives, Art as Meditation, General Advice for Artists
Let’s not beat around the (bamboo) bush: meditation is great. It’s calming, centering, and makes you feel just a little less like a caffeinated squirrel on rollerblades. But if you’ve ever tried sitting still on a cushion with your eyes closed and your brain screaming...
