Hi artist, One of the key principles my recent art retreat was built on is on making a critical mindset shift from prioritizing outside input to learning to look within ourselves for what we need from our art practice. I think we tend to come to painting with all kinds of expectations. It’s easy to focus on our desire to build skill, refine technique, or strive toward excellence. And it's not wrong to want those things. But sometimes the demands placed by those expectations can become...

Hi Reader, Yesterday I spent an hour on Zoom with the students in my Heart-Led Artist Journey course. I started a new painting using a reference photo from my trip to Mt. Baker this summer. At the end of the hour, I didn't have a finished painting, but what I did have was a solid beginning of a process of development that will continue over the next few weeks, and maybe months. My first version shows me what I don't know. It's always humbling to start something new. That first walk through a...

Hi Reader, Early in my art career, I spent a couple of years writing bi-weekly artist profiles for the local newspaper. It was eye-opening to see how many ways people were being creative in our region, from antler carving to pottery to encaustic painting to pine needle weaving. As I talked to these artists, I was surprised and confused by how many artists would talk about their focus not being a finished art piece, but express some variation of the idea that "it's all about the process." "I...