Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles

by Beth Pickens

The Artist's Way for the 21st century—from esteemed creative counselor Beth Pickens.

If you are an artist, you need to make your art. That's not an overstatement—it's a fact; if you stop doing your creative work, your quality of life is diminished. But what do you do when life gets in the way? In this down-to-earth handbook, experienced artist coach Beth Pickens offers practical advice for developing a lasting and meaningful artistic practice in the face of life's inevitable obstacles and distractions. This thoughtful volume suggests creative ways to address the challenges all artists must overcome—from making decisions about time, money, and education, to grappling with isolation, fear, and anxiety. No matter where you are in your art-making journey, this book will motivate and inspire you. Because not only do you need your art—the world needs it, too.

• EXPERT Beth Pickens is an experienced and passionate arts advocate with extensive insight into working through creative obstacles. She has spent the last decade advising artists on everything from financial strategy to coping with grief.
• PRACTICAL AND This book is both a love letter to art and artists and a hands-on guide to approaching the thorniest problems those artists might face. Pickens offers a warm reminder that you are not alone, that what you do matters, and that someone out there wants you to succeed.
• TIMELESS Like a trusted advisor, this book is an invaluable resource jam-packed with strategies for building a successful creative practice. From mixing business and friendship to marketing yourself on social media, this book can help. And it will—again and again.

Perfect

• Visual artists and makers
• Writers, musicians, filmmakers, and other creatives
• Art and design school graduates and grad-gift givers

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Self Help, Writing, Creative, Audiobook, Personal Development

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[tappkalina · Rating 2 out of 5]

We are not responsible for our first thought. We are responsible for our second thought and first action.

Don't think it's bad, because I gave it 2 stars. 2 stars to me literally mean "it was okay".

I just expected a totally different book based on the title. I thought an artist will lighten me up, tell me secrets, or reapeat the forever repeated facts, instead the author stated at the beginning that she doesn't consider herself an artist, but she works with them, so here is how she can help.

So what this book is about exactly?
The main titles are: Time, Work, Asking, Money, Fear, Grief, Other people, Education, Thinking + Feeling, Isolation, Marketing, Death + God (not necessarily in a religious way).

I would actually recommend this to those who need some guidance both in their art or life in general. The target audience may be artists, but in my opinion this book could help anybody. I mena, who couldn't use some tips on time and money management?

But I watch and read so much stuff about writing and self-improvement, that I didn't get new informations. Although I got two amazing quotes, so that's a win itself.

Don't believe everything you think.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful, uplifting book for artists of all types. Pickens has spent years helping artists meet their creative goals and she gives great advice, but it's her underlying supportive tone that I appreciated the most. Most of her experience is with artists who are POC, LGBTQ and other communities that are frequently marginalized. She speaks to this often as she busts myths and acknowledges the real differences that artists create under. For instance, she talks about the fact that many of her clients felt like failures because their peers were able to buy their own homes at a young age until they realized that most of those peers had help from family or other assistance that made it possible. She talks about the fact that you don't have to be able to fully support yourself with your art in order to be an artist (or a successful one) and gently walks you through topics like money, marketing, depression, isolation, education, community and so much more. It's all great advice and has me energized to get back to my poetry and other artistic pursuits.

Our family recently bought a 120 year old church a block from our house to turn into a community arts center (lest that sound too extravagant, it was the price of a used car and currently has no running water and minimal heat). We've been filling it with musical instruments, art and crafting supplies, music and poetry books, costumes, props, and other supplies for the day when covid is over and we can open it for the community (you can peek here https://www.instagram.com/p/CHA7ZaRB9wv/ and here https://www.instagram.com/p/CIQ0ZHjBaIc/ if you want to see) for music, dance, improv, crafts and community for all ages. This is a book I'd like to stock at the church once we open it, and one I recommend for artists of all types.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I will be keeping as a reference/mini therapy session and a book I will be buying and gifting to friends. Although the author tries especially to help marginalized artists this is a great book for anyone. It is broken down into very manageable concepts and each one is clearly explained and suggestions (from her years as a therapist to artists) for overcoming doubts or hurdles is generously given. I found myself inspired and armed with lots of techniques for accomplishing goals. Of course a book can't replace one on one therapy but this book sure comes close. I highly recommend it for artists of any kind or even just people who run a small business. The advice in here is useful, helpful, and warmly given. A great read and a great game plan.

[Elisabeth Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did quit a little early, but this was terrible. She has a very tedious intersectional intro, but I soon realized that doesn't include any class analysis. There is some upper class representation though, as she pays extra service to what is probably the bulk of her clients, trustafarians. Yes, the born or inherited wealthy have extra burdens, so the narrative goes. They need someone like her to take their money so she can cultivate their special gifts to the world.. it's a little gross.
For the rest of us her time advice amounts to get a better paying job and then pay a housekeeper. Another gem, think about what you could do with those 4 or 5 hours in between work and passing out, great advice.

[Holli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book for artists trying to work through the various things that block them. The writing is light and conversational and the author clearly understands the artist's mind. It's broken down by chapter which makes it easy to find what you are looking for and it has practical exercises/homework. Though I can't imagine many authors think they need to learn more about "Death" to be a better artist there is a chapter for that. A lot of what is said here has been said in other books I've read and said better. I found a few good suggestions early on so it wasn't a complete waste. I think this is a case of YMMV. I can see some people getting benefit but I would hardly recommend this one over something like Art and Fear or Bird by Bird.
Also, it's worth mentioning that far too often the author feels the need to categorize everyone by identities and has a distinct post-modernist power dynamic to her world view. I could not get behind this and found myself rolling my eyes each time it happened.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy to read in exchange for an honest review. (TBH I read more of this than I normally would have just because I wanted to leave a solid review)

[Cathy Geha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Make Your Art No Matter What by Beth Pickens
Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles

With personal anecdotes, examples and stories taken from people she has consulted with, information she has gleaned from life, and issues she believes are important to artists this book provides case studies, suggestions, activities, meditations, list making, work to be done and more as it identifies twelve areas that might cause difficulty and how to overcome issues that might arise.

The Twelve areas covered:
* Time
* Work
* Asking
* Money
* Fear
* Grief
* Other People
* Education
* Thinking and Feeling
* Isolation
* Marketing
* Death + God
- additional reading suggestions a

As an amateur artist, I have gotten away from the practice of creating and thought this book might assist me in returning to art, but it did not provide that stimulus or ideas that I was hoping for. Instead, it is more of a friendly consultant-like exploration of the topics listed above, the author’s thoughts and suggestions and beliefs on each topic, and a bit like a manual and self-help for artists with the above specific issues to address. If you do have such issues then this book might help, but it is not the book that I need right now or the one I was hoping it would be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pragmatic, generous, wise. Not exactly revelatory, but I think intentionally so; it seems more concerned with laying things out clearly so that they feel not just possible, but manageable over the long haul. I hate how so many advice books suggest solutions that seem to require even more effort & work than actually doing the thing itself.

[Cooper Lee Bombardier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for all artists and writers. I especially appreciate the way the book engages holistically with well-being and creativity and discusses the importance of taking care of ourselves--pushing back against the myth of the self-destructive artist prevalent in patriarchal capitalism.
This book is a friend worth keeping nearby to come back to again and again as you work. What an act of generosity of Beth Pickens to make her wisdom about what artist struggle with--and how to meet these issues head on and with compassion--available to us all. Also, Pickens is a fantastic writer in her own right and there's tons of humor and wit throughout.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some very good ideas and advice. So 4 stars. I wouldn’t mind having a copy in my personal library.

[Sunaina Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may be a little too old for this book, but I'm giving it 4 stars because I really want to buy this book many of the young people in my life. This book is great because it's filled with little wisdom nuggets, broken up by catchy headers, and has useful chapter titles. I envision it being a book you skim through and then come back to as you need it. I liked the subtle artwork inside the book as well - very soothing.

It covers everything from fear and anxiety, to marketing your art, to establishing a workflow and more. It's like a little toolkit for talking yourself off the edge when confronted with obstacles that artists often face. The author also includes resources for further reading. Not a book I would have bought for myself as a young person, but one I would have cherished as a gift.

One thing I did get from the book was the license to call myself an artist, at least in my head. The chapter on what makes someone an artist really rang true to me. I appreciated the author's use of their own experiences to help illustrate the points backed up by the sources they cited.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

[Franciekat · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author alludes to healing and supporting artists by stating she has a MA in Counselling Psychology. However, she is not a psychologist and the book doesn't provide therapeutic exercises, like how to deal with one's inner critic.

Similarly, the author is not an artist and the book does not give many ideas on how to develop as an artist from an experienced creative professional.

Where it does work well is offering a infomercial for the author's services that generalizes all artists' experiences within a San Franciscan political and sociological worldview. All in all, there's a myopic tone in the text that's common to many social media influencers "monetizing" their beliefs, which seems to be the current iteration of con artists.

tl;dr - the book's full of woke rhetoric but short on practical guidance for artists.

[Tess Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a guide for how not let obstacles prevent you from making your art. Pickens breaks down the common barriers to artistic practice—issues with time, not asking for you need, even fear of death—and gives smart questions to ask and concrete solutions. I appreciated the anti-Capitalist and intersectional framework. Pickens is, as always, as a warm and empathetic task master you need to get out of your own way and make your art!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Make Your Art No Matter What is a well written practical guide full of anecdotes and advice by art advocate Beth Pickens. Due out 6th April 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

It's not much of an overstatement to say that everyone I know has had their lives impacted in major and minor ways because of the pandemic and the societal shifts which have occurred to a greater degree the last year (and a little bit). There have been upheavals in travel, culture, performance art, museums, studios, makers' groups, libraries, concerts, everywhere, top to bottom. Additionally, humans are social creatures, we create because we *need to*... and those psychological and creative outlets have been severely curtailed or cut off altogether.

This is a timely look at how to continue to make art practice and creativity a non-negotiable part of our existence. These are concrete suggestions from an experienced advocate, applicable for all ages. When I read the author's words about social justice and advocacy work they resonated so deeply. I have the same cares, the same feelings (justice, equity, reproductive health advocacy for women no matter where they live, disability action and access, LGBTQIA+ rights, education access, freedoms, safety, etc etc).. and have also *needed* art, music, expression, to gather and maintain some sort of positive energy in my own life surrounded by desperate inequality, unfairness, danger, and the general seemingly unrelenting sh*tstorm that is much of world existence these days. I'm a healthcare professional, I've dedicated my life and my intellect to improving the lives of my fellow humans, but I get overwhelmed and burnt out. I have needed art to survive (and thrive).

This is a valuable resource for artists, with concrete advice and guidance. It's also conversely a good read for audiences and patrons of the arts. I would recommend this as a meaningful selection for library acquisition as well as for students and admirers of the arts.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a big disappointment. i was expecting a radical book about how and why you need to make your art. i needed inspiration and tips and what i got was just… a whole bunch of liberal nonsense. i might just be too radicalized.

don’t get me wrong, i do believe there are useful things in this book. i particularly enjoyed the grief chapter. but since the author is a consultant for artists, this was much more “businessy” than i expected.

i instantly became annoyed and frustrated with this book, which made me incredibly biased for the rest of it and i felt like i just wanted to rush through it, because of the lack of class analysis. the author does mention the existence of social minorities and how that can affect your opportunities, but in a very liberal way, with tips like “well you just need to find the time to do your art! and distinguish employment from work!” and bla bla bla nonsense.

the two factors that made me feel this intense annoyance and even anger, were that for two whole pages, she writes about how people with familial wealth have it hard too because they feel like they don’t deserve the opportunities they get and that they’re not good enough. boo fucking hoo. but there’s barely any advice or acknowledgment to poor people, which i found very funny. but the one that proceeded to REALLY piss me off was a section the author named as “considerations on capitalism”. here’s the quotes that irritated me:

- “In the United States, we are going to live in capitalism throughout our lifetimes. I used to reject this notion because capitalism causes harm and exploitation, and, therefore, I naively assumed it would end. The wild greed and inequity is unacceptable and, therefore, it must go. […]

However, wether or not we want capitalism, it is the system we live within. We must work to change and improve our economic systems, while we are living within them. I don’t know viable, sustainable ways for artists to live outside of capitalism in the United States. […]

Some of us get it backward. We believe that we have a great deal of power over global capitalism and its dismantling, but we may feel powerless over earning and spending in our own lives. I experienced this, particularly in my earlier adulthood. I could honestly imagine a time that I and a group of co-conspirators would somehow spot or radically change economic injustice […]

We each have a one-person-size role to play in making national and even global systemic change. It’s like our one vote in a national election; its small and one single vote does not affect an outcome, but it’s your single vote and the only one you’ve got. […]

On the flip side, you have complete influence over your own economic reality. Notice I write influence rather than control. Much of our financial beginnings are outside of our control, inextricably linked to our families of origin, race, gender, immigration status, and other factors that are established years, even generations before we are born. How we are set up for financial literacy and mobility as adults is often a simple accident of birth. But your adult life is the place where you have authority and complete influence over your finances. You have choices regarding how you spend money, earn money, and behave with money.”

sorry for the long quotes but this felt incredibly incoherent to me, but especially wrong.

1. it’s precisely this type of thinking, neoliberal individualistic mindset, that makes it hard to dismantle capitalism. how will the revolution happen if we’re always saying “well i’m just one person!”. and, dare i say it’s definitely NOT by voting that that will happen anyway. we do have power, if the people unite and organize. social movement is everything. it baffles me that the author proclaims to be a social activist but then proceeds to make these statements.

2. you do not have influence over your finances. I’m sorry, but that is just not true. When we live in an oppressive capitalist society, all you have is either privilege and/or luck. It’s completely insane to me to even suggest that you can change your finances if you “just work hard enough; save just enough”. All the tips and tricks she gives us about money are, again, neoliberal bullshit. It does not interest me to surrender to capitalism. It interests me the radical ways our art and our unity in the social movements can help destroy this system.

In conclusion, this is not an attack on the author. I believe this work is not completely bad, there are some things I do think are useful and might agree with. But the lack of class analysis is just… completely unbearable for me, personally.

[Richard Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised and excited. Excited about what I thought this book was going to be about. Surprised at what it was. Good well-composed book with information overflowing with details and programs to benefit the artist and his/her endeavor. Well done Beth.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a let down, don't expect any sound advice or inside stories on how to go about being creative; this felt like your big sister taking you aside and whispering in your ear well meant caveats on what to avoid in the big bad world of creative enterprise. In addition the level of woke terminology is counterproductively high (every 2-3 paragraphs, take your pick: race, oppression, systemic, gay, white privilege, male, heteronormative, non binary, cultural appropriation...).

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Here is my thesis, and it will not be the last time that I tell you this: You are going to die. I will, too. We have to make choices about time because we have the nite gift of one existence. You should make your art."

This book is written for artists. Even though the author does an excellent job defining what an artist, I couldn't decide if I was one or not (which maybe means I am not), but I decided to put that aside and just enjoy her solid advice.

"The more you give time and resources to your art, the more you’ll understand paid employment as something that supports your art and life. We get this backward, thinking that we are on the planet to work and earn money. Let’s ip it—we earn a living to pay for our lives."

The book is divided into different sections that cover different areas of worry: time, work, asking, money, fear, grief, other people, education, thinking+feeling, isolation, marketing, death+god. Each section dives deep into that area and explores what is holding the artist back and gives ways to shift that thinking.

"It is said that we are not responsible for our first thought. We are responsible for our second thought and our first action...Our first thought could be steeped in fear, judgment, old thought patterns, and stories; perhaps it’s distinctly someone else’s voice—an ex, a family member, an authority figure from long ago. We’re not responsible for that first bullshit thought. We are responsible for our next thought, the second thought, which we consciously conjure in response to that first thought. Then, we’re responsible for our first action."

There is so much gold in this book. Regardless of if you're artist or not, I am convinced you will get solid value out of this book. And if you're an artist, you might get even more. Above all, the author makes this excellent reminder (you can substitute "your art" with anything else that's meaningful to you):

"Your life is finite, and you should make your art. Things will get in the way and you should still make your art."

with gratitude to netgalley and chronicle books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I wanted to love it. I wanted to come away from it having learned something, with a new insight. I wanted to maybe add this book to my yearly reread list where I can learn more, or relearn something that might help me at that time. But, that is not the case.
It's like a book of teasers. Here's a topic, here's a little bit of information, some bits of guidance and a suggestion or two, and some quotes and things other people wrote to fluff things up, but that's all. It almost seems as if the author is saying, if you want more from me, become one of my clients. There are even additions of things that someone might not openly consider, for instance, the role death can play in an artist's work. But again, we are left with just a taste of something without actually being given a whole plate to feast on. And of course, the author colors much of this with her own experience, which, in the grand scheme of things, offers little to the overall narrative of what the typical person reading this book might be looking for.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more helpful and relevant than I expected. Sometimes books with big titles like this promise a lot and deliver the equivalent of a carousel of instagram infographics. That is not the case here.

Beth Pickens, who works as a therapist for artists, understands the real issues many artists face.
Her words were a salve to me, someone who grew up in a home where artists were laughable and who currently lives in a society that does not place much value on art. Pickens supplies words of encouragement and advice beyond “believe in yourself” emptiness, which is true but not very helpful. Reading this book while finally working with my own great therapist has me feeling more at peace.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the exact book I needed right now, but I know it would have been so helpful when I was having a really tough time fitting art-making and, truly, my identity as an artist into my everyday life. Lots of practical strategies for addressing the things that get in the way of making art (you know, like money and day jobs and time and self-doubt). Not fuzzy at all, but kind and supportive, as one would hope a creative coach would be. Loved the list of books recommended in the back & that I’d already read most of them made me wonder if I know more than I think I know.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some helpful information in this book, but in general I had a hard time connecting with the author and the material because I felt like it was geared towards artists who have a completely different worldview than I do. I continued reading in hopes that it would get better, but found myself feeling more irritated and sad as the book went on, especially when I got to her chapter on God and death.

[David Rickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pickens approaches this as a therapist who works with artists, not as an artist herself (she says she isn’t one). I found a lot of value in her outsider’s approach, and I found several passages, such as the one where she talks about the perils of unlimited time to work on your art, resonated deeply. Some of the later chapters weren’t quite as profound, but definitely a book I’ll be recommending to creatives.

[Deirdre · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most memorable sentence in this book: “We are not responsible for our first thought. We are responsible for our second thought and first action.” Loved that.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this self-help book for artists and creative people of all disciplines, psychological counselor Beth Pickens explores the areas where her clients most struggle (e.g. time, money, marketing).

She does a great job of acknowledging uncontrollable factors that may limit artists (such as race and gender) without allowing them to become excuses. Moreover, she provides actionable tips for how to approach each challenge from both a practical and psychological angle. And even when encouraging artists do make art because, literally, time is finite and we will die, she remains encouraging and positive.

The only reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 was that many of the sections dealt with topics that I already have handled in my creative life or that I have seen better explained in other self-help books. But the topics that did help me were extremely beneficial and gave me great food for thought.

Highly recommended for creatives, artists, or anyone who feels a calling and compulsion to create but struggles with the process. (So, all of us creative types at one time or another!)

[sophie]

Fairly simple self-help book, but I didn't find much that I haven't read in other books. The writing is a bit repetitive, making a short novel feel padded out.

I almost stopped reading after the short section about artists with inherited money. Ex: "These artists feel a lot of guilt, shame, and secrecy about access to their money...They fear judgement in their community, worry people will ask them for money...We don't get to choose our parents or grandparents; we have no choice in the economic circumstances we are born into. This is true no matter what end of the economic spectrum you find your family in.” (p. 38 - 40). <- Am I supposed to believe that artists who don't have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck working 40+ hour work weeks don't have much easier lives? It's a jarring and strangely disingenuous inclusion when the majority are not economically privileged.

[L J]

This was recommended in a webinar about grant writing I was attending, so I took it out from the library. I was a bit skeptical about some things-- "punk damage?" there are people who are embarrassed to earn money because they're too punk? calm down, sid vicious-- but I was surprised how much I liked it.

The commentary on the discipline and practice of doing things was very good. The author breaks things down in an actionable, operational way. There are some interesting ideas to carry off for many types of work!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll def be coming back to this book over and over again. It was a difficult read only because I related to the problems highlighted in it so strongly and was being told solutions that I know will work but will take a lot of practice and self discipline. It’s always easier to just not do anything and stay sad but it’s never going to just solve itself that way!!!

[Lisa]

I listened to the author on an episode of the Forever 35 podcast and loved the interview. I liked this book a lot less, but one valuable takeaway from the book for me has been the author's daily attention to death, and particularly the app WeCroak!

[Margaret Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not exactly an artist, but I do need to make space in my life for creative practice. Lots of interest in here to anyone trying to think through how to exist authentically with their work just now.

[Hannah Devlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for class and it wasn't bad it was just... very self help-y. I wouldn't necessarily mind it being self help-y if it was more... helpful... but it felt very surface level and I don't imagine that I would go back to it in the future