3. Understand Your Mind & Open Your Vessel

This is a very important step. Dive deep into your mind. Spend too much time in your memories. What do your dreams tell you? What emotions do you feel? Why do you feel these things? This process is not going to be fun. It may hurt your feelings, but how can you make poignant art if you are merely scratching the surface of your own existence? Open yourself freely to being a better person. Be careful not to self-loathe too much while you're in this process. Many artists fall trap to self hatred intertwined with self-analysis (myself included). Have compassion for yourself in this process and know that it will help push you forward as an artist.

4. Understand Your Motivation

Why do you want to create? Why do you want to make art? What do you have to say? Maybe you say, “Because I want to be famous.” If that is the case please, please, please, question that notion. Is fame something you truly desire? Or is it our capitalist society that gives you no option for success if not for objectification of your human-ness? Does that anger you? Do you have something to create about it?! Really, though, why is your higher purpose telling you to make art? What is it that you need to express? We are all very curious!

5. Practice Daily Vulnerability

Daily Vulnerability Conditioning is a very valuable tool for artists. To do it, put yourself in a (SAFE) vulnerable situation daily. This could be trying a hard yoga class, going to a new super market, talking to someone you think is cute, doing a new activity. Daily vulnerability exercises will push your comfort zone a bit farther, which in turn will push you a bit more into the ocean while you’re creating art. If you cannot partake in active VC (Vulnerability Conditioning), you can partake in Spatial Vulnerability. That would be sitting or standing in a new area of your room or home. Try to stay there for 5 minutes, and observe a new perspective. Spacial Vulnerability can keep you active when VC is unavailable.