Have you heard that reading complex works of fiction isn’t just enjoyable, it can also combat dementia? As long as we’re reading novels, why not look for ones with art and artists at the center?
This updated post, which is as much for me as it is for you, has 7 personal recommendations plus 28 that others have added to the list. Add yours!
35+ Novels with art and artists (2026 update) Read
I haven’t done a favorite things post in so long that I feel compelled to catch you up on all of my favorite things since … mmm … 2018. But I’m not going to do that to you.
These are some things that make my work easier, life more joyful, give my brain a workout, help me destress or defrizz, and fill my tummy with yumminess.
My Favorite Things in 2024 Read
Here’s to the mothers who are artists. And to the mothers who raise healthy, informed artists who make the world a better place.
To My Mom . . . Who is forgiven for not taking me to museums because she didn’t want me to misbehave in public. (She was probably right.)
An Appreciation of Mothers and of My Mom Read
For some artists, being asked why they make art is unfruitful—even debilitating. A better strategy is to focus on the people who will be viewing, talking about, and living with your art.
How does your art make people feel? Bernadette Jiwa says, “People don’t buy why you do something. They buy how it makes them feel.” If you think about it, this, ironically, leads to your Why: Connection.
How Your Art Makes People Feel (ep. 184) Read
I believe in the power of daily affirmations. I first used them a number of years ago to increase my income and it worked. My income shot up 40% that year.
I do not believe that reciting affirmations alone will move the needle. You must have the commitment to your goals in the first place and take appropriate action to move forward.
Try them and adapt to your needs.
Video included.
The Art Biz ep. 180: Affirmations for Artists to Keep You Motivated Read
Successful artists are committed to their vision and hard, consistent work.
I’ve seen many artists doing whatever they can to avoid this hard work. Art should be fun, they think. So they keep looking for something that would make their businesses fun and easier.
Well, art can be fun. An art business or art career is about rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. You do it because that’s what’s required.
The Big Secret About a Successful Art Career or Business Read
Action builds confidence, and you need verbs for action.
Look back on how your confidence as an artist has grown over as a result not only of reading about something or hearing about it, but of actually doing it. Making more art. Having more shows. Submitting to more opportunities.
With this in mind, I have 7 verbs to embrace, which you might not normally associate with your art career.
7 Essential verbs for artists to embrace (170) Read
Nobody said you had to be an artist.
It’s a choice you made. And whether or not if feels like you have control over what happens from here, you have control over a host of other choices that will contribute to or sink any chances of success.
Stop thinking of them as sacrifices. You’re pretty blessed.
Building an Art Business Is a Choice, Not a Sacrifice Read
Luck has had little to do with the success of your art career regardless of whether you feel lucky, were born into luck, or are convinced you are unlucky.
I’m fond of quoting Thomas Jefferson on this subject: I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. When you work hard and make progress every day, you put yourself in a better position for luck to find you. Chances are good that the artists you admire worked hard for the luck they seem to have.
How to Be More Successful and Lucky Read
In this blog post I encouraged you to consider how your frugality might be hurting your art business by sending the wrong message to potential collectors.
At the end of that article, I posed 3 questions for you to think about, which we will now look at in depth. The intention is to ensure that you are not only living with an abundant heart, but that you are projecting that way of being into the world.
Perhaps a better question is this: How do you allow others to treat you?
For example … If you’re a member of an artist organization, what is the room like at your artists’ meetings? Is it dark, gray, and lifeless?
Do something to combat the drudgery and nurture abundance throughout the organization. Ask members to bring snacks on beautiful trays – preferably handmade by an artist – instead of paper plates.
Assign alternating people to arrive early at each meeting to clean the room and serve as welcoming hosts.
You can be the catalyst for change within any organization to which you belong.
We teach people how to treat us by
How to Feel More Abundant in Your Life and Art Read
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