Artist Strong Blog
Enjoy interviews and articles about creative process and our inherent creative spirit.
The New Era of Patronage: The New Renaissance of Art
In art history, “patronage” meant something very specific: powerful individuals, families, religious institutions, or states commissioning works of art and architecture, funding artists, and thereby shaping culture. Think of the Medici family in Florence, or the...
Style Study Session: J.M.W. Turner
How to Study an Artist’s Style How do you study an art style? How do you learn a specific art style? How do you analyze art styles? How do you find your own unique style? In this Style Study Session, we’ll use the six qualities of style to better understand J.M.W....
How to Get Better at Drawing in 5 Steps
When I paint regularly, I find myself walking through the world a little differently. I’ll catch myself muttering the paint colors I’d need to mix to match the deep green of a pine tree or the soft gray of a rainy sky. Sometimes, while waiting in line at the store, I...
🎨 Propaganda I Don’t Fall For Anymore (Artist Edition)
12 Lies Artists Are Told, And the Truth That Sets Us Free For many artists, the journey can feel like swimming upstream. Whether it’s gatekeeping in the art world, internalized self-doubt, or outdated myths about what it means to be “legit,” the noise is loud. But...
The world’s on fire… why should I make art?!
At the time of this writing, there are so many crises in the world that we share a responsibility to address, from famine in Gaza, Mali, and Sudan, to political strife and climate emergencies. And so often, this makes creatives feel like they shouldn’t make any art at...
Are You a “Too-Many-Online-Courses” Artist?
Are You Taking Too Many Online Art Courses? (And How to Actually Learn From Them) We’ve all been there: the thrill of clicking “buy now” on a new course, the promise of fresh skills, the dream of finally unlocking our creative potential. And yet… many of those courses...
🎨 Batching for Artists Starter Kit: How to Create More Art with Less Overwhelm
Ever feel like you're starting from scratch every time you sit down to make art? You're not alone. Many self-taught artists I work with tell me they want to make more art, but they struggle with time, confidence, or knowing where to begin. That’s where batching comes...
Why You Should Break These 5 Art Rules: 5 Popular Beliefs Artists Should (Mostly) Ignore
As artists, we are constantly bombarded with "rules" and expectations about how we should approach our craft. From drawing fundamentals to the idea that certain techniques are “cheating,” the art world loves to set standards that can sometimes feel stifling. But the...
Why Batching Your Art Isn’t What You Think: Addressing the Top 3 Objections
Batching your art practice is often misunderstood. When I mention batching, some artists immediately push back with common concerns: “I’m not a production line.” “I don’t want to be pigeonholed.” “Batching kills my creativity.” If you’ve thought any of these, you’re...