Category: TIPS FOR ARTISTS From Rafi And Klee

Welcome to “Inspirations for Creative Humans,” your ultimate blog destination designed to fuel your creativity and inspire your artistic journey. Here, you’ll find a rich collection of stories, tips, and insights that celebrate the spirit of innovation and artistry. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this blog offers a space to connect, learn, and grow in your creative pursuits. Dive into our posts to discover new ideas, overcome creative blocks, and build a vibrant community of like-minded individuals. Join us and transform your creative passion into a thriving lifestyle!

Posted on by — 11 Comments

Artist’s Self-Diagnosis: Which Muse is Driving Your Bus?

If you’ve been feeling a little “meh” in the studio lately, it’s time for a check-up. We all get hijacked by the wrong motivators sometimes. Print this form out below and put a checkmark next to the “villains” that have been whispering in your ear this week, then look at the “Good Stuff” to find your way home. Watch the video below to get insight into the different motivators we face in our art career.

The Toxic Villains

  • The ATM Hallucination: You find yourself staring at a blank canvas and calculating how many tubes of Cobalt Blue you can buy if this thing sells for exactly $400. You are essentially treating your muse like a bank teller, and she is currently “out to lunch.”
  • The Thumb Workout: You have checked your Instagram notifications four times in the last six minutes. Your thumb is getting ripped, but your soul is shriveling. You are currently a digital lab rat waiting for CatLover42 to give you a dopamine pellet.
  • The Toaster Oven Syndrome: You feel like a failure because you haven’t “popped” out a masterpiece today. You’ve forgotten that you’re a human being and have started identifying as a high-speed 3D printer. (Reminder: You do not have a crumb tray.)
  • The Higgins Vendetta: You are painting specifically to prove your third-grade teacher wrong. While spite is a fantastic short-term fuel, Mr. Higgins is retired. Let him go.

The Good Stuff (The Real Why)

  • The First Spark: You remembered why you started doing this art thing in the first place—before the bills, the “likes,” and the algorithms existed. Just you and the pure, quiet joy of making something.
  • The Creative Megaphone: You finally have something to say that doesn’t fit into a polite conversation at a grocery store. Your art is the only way to say it loud enough.
  • Legal Magic: You are taking a trauma, a heartbreak, or just a really bad Tuesday and performing “Creative Alchemy” to turn it into something beautiful. You’re turning trash into treasure.
  • The Life Force: You’re experiencing the sheer magic of bringing something to life that didn’t exist five minutes ago. You aren’t just an artist; you’re a creator, and that is its own reward.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST HERE:

Which Muse is Driving Your Bus_ CHECKLISTDownload
A person painting a blue figure on canvas in an art studio, wearing a red bandana and glasses.

The Prescription:

If you checked more boxes in the “Villain” section than the “Good Stuff,” your “Why” is currently being held hostage by the Corporate Conveyor Belt. The cure is simple:

  1. Stop being a production line. You aren’t here to churn out cheap art; you’re here to create fire.
  2. Reconnect with the magic. Forget the business plan for an hour. Go into the studio and make something so weird or personal that you’d be embarrassed to explain it to a stranger.
  3. Bring it to life. Remember that the power to create something from nothing is a superpower. Don’t waste it on trying to look like something normal.

How did you score? Are you currently in panic mode or a creative alchemist mode? Let me know in the comments! I’m in the trenches with you!

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Selling Art Is Like Talking About Tacos

The path of pursuing a career in the arts for the last fifteen years has taught me that the journey is both as simple and as complex as you can imagine. Early on, I spent way too much time wrestling with the “what.”

What to paint, what to post, and which “important” people I should be bothering. I was essentially waiting for a miraculous event or a stray lightning bolt to finally put me on the path to my dream life. I used to think that when someone finally noticed me, then I would do the work. I thought once the work sold, I’d paint bigger, or once I got the grant, I’d finally start that new body of work.

But the reality is always the other way around. You don’t get the feast before you show up to the kitchen and cook the meal. (And trust me, trying to eat a “theoretical” feast is a great way to starve.)

A woman smiling while posing with a colorful puppet, seated in a cozy room with guitars and decorative lights in the background.

We often think that success leads to happiness, but psychological research suggests the opposite is true. According to the “Broaden and Build” theory developed by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, positive emotions like interest and love do more than just make us feel fuzzy in the moment, they actually broaden our sense of possibility.

When you start from a place of doing what you love, your brain is chemically primed to see opportunities that a stressed out, “discipline only” mind would completely miss. This isn’t just fluffy, “live laugh love” advice found on a discounted throw pillow. Love and curiosity trigger the release of dopamine, which enhances creative problem solving and cognitive flexibility. By starting with the thing you love, you are literally building the mental resources needed to sustain a creative career. You’re basically bio hacking your way to better “arting.”

This is why focusing on building up your follower count, stressing about the business side, or trying to create what sells will destroy your creative practice. You have to remember why you started creating in the first place.

A simple illustrated sketch of a stick figure with arms raised in joy, looking at its reflection in a mirror, accompanied by the text 'Make someone smile every day... Start with yourself.'

The real secret is that the vision must always come before the validation. We often wait for a sign to know if we are successful, but devotion is required long before the proof arrives.

It is not about a hardcore, drill sergeant lifestyle of waking up at 4:00 AM to scream at a canvas while doing burpees. It is about really loving what you do and wanting to spend more time doing it. As a byproduct of that time, you get better. You articulate your vision more clearly, and people eventually respond to that.

Just this morning, some awesome person purchased one of my paintings. While that feels semi normal to me now, it was once a burning hope for a younger version of myself who just wanted someone to want the things I loved creating. I’ve realized that I am only responsible for nurturing my own vision and falling in love with the process. People can sense when things are forced or formulaic, but they truly feel passion. When you resonate with your own work, the world eventually starts to resonate with it too.

A man with a beard and bandana sits on a couch surrounded by various paintings. He holds two paintings featuring women with red hair and sunflowers, with additional artwork displayed on the couch and a larger piece behind him.

My advice is that your focus shouldn’t just be on “scaling a business” or “optimizing an art career,” but on a deeper question: How can I make my entire day a fun work of art? When the path is enjoyable, you don’t have to force yourself to show up.

Think about it: no one has to force you to go out for tacos. You want that spicy, crunchy, delicious goodness. You don’t need a motivational speaker or a $1500 self help marketing course to get you to the taco stand.

If you are struggling with a creative or business block, ask yourself if you are making the work for you or if you are following some kind of external pressure of things you think you “should” do. When you make something you are proud of, you naturally want to share it with the world… just do that. The connection will happen on its own. You don’t have to force it, despite what the marketing gurus (who usually only sell courses on how to be a marketing guru) have to say.

Connecting with other people is just a byproduct of your excitement. Think about it: if you are excited about that taco place you just experienced and tell your friends about it, you’ve become an expert in marketing. You boast about the atmosphere, the experience, and the salsa that changed your life. You want to share that info with everyone you know.

Do the same with what you create. That is fun and “marketing” at its best.

Let’s keep it simple. Get in the kitchen, have some fun, and go out and talk about your creative tacos.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

5 Surprising Lessons from 15 Years of Creative Chaos

I woke up this morning, and our house is 55 degrees because our boiler got over taxed last night and temporarily shut down. It needs a new part, so hopefully I can order that soon. I got it working now, so I’m waiting for the house to heat up in the warmest room we have with nothing to do but think and write. I’ll get back in the art studio when it doesn’t feel like an ice box. So, here’s what I’ve been thinking about this morning. It’s been over 15 years since Klee and I hitched our wagon to this wild dream of being full-time creators. Looking back, if we had followed all the “expert” advice we were given at the start, we’d probably be bored out of our minds. People told us to “niche down” and pick one tiny lane. Instead, we decided to drive the bus across the whole landscape.

Here is the unvarnished truth of what we’ve learned about the business of being an artist while building our own creative universe.

1. The Niche is a Lie (For Us, Anyway)

Everyone says you have to do one thing. If you’re a painter, just paint. But I’m a painter, a muralist, and an author. Klee is a fine jewelry artist who uses old world techniques to give her pieces raw energy. Together, we’re a band, we’re podcasters, Youtubers, and we’re community builders. We learned that specialized silos are for grain, not for people. Doing “everything” doesn’t dilute who we are, it fuels us. That being said, if you are all about doing the one thing, that’s ok too.

A person holding a colorful art piece featuring a character with a smile, yellow clothing, and a red umbrella, standing in puddles with a vibrant, playful background.

2. Redefine Success Before Someone Else Does

In an era where creative success is often measured in money, follower counts and viral trends, we decided to define success on our own terms. One of our core values is to not chase money, fame, likes, subscribers, accolades, power, or validation as a definition of success. If you’re measuring your worth by the numbers on a screen, you’re playing a game you can’t win. Success for us is measured by our ability to live our values and share ourselves and our craft however we can. With this we hope to inspire creativity in others.

3. Master the Financial Rollercoaster

Being an artist means dealing with the ups and downs of money. Some months are good, and some are just plain bad. You have to be smart and have a solid plan for those slow months. Klee and I had to build a very strict budget to handle the unforeseen dips in income, and we made sure to keep our bills as low as possible. It might not sound like “fun creative time,” but you have to put on your financial hat and wear it. You need to know exactly how much money comes in and how much goes out. Most importantly, don’t fall into despair when things get tight; it doesn’t help. Just pull up your bootstraps and come up with a plan. Also, understand that no matter how solid your financial plan is, the shit can always hit the fan and it can fall apart. Be emotionally prepared for that as well. You can always pick yourself up as long as you don’t fall apart.

A well-organized art studio featuring a variety of colorful paintings on easels, a computer with a monitor, and various art supplies scattered across wooden tables. The walls are decorated with signs and the space is illuminated with overhead lights.

4. Build a Bridge, Not a Pedestal (There are too many “gurus” out there.)

We don’t want to be gurus on a mountaintop; we want to be in the trenches with you. Whether it’s through our Patreon community or the OC Art Syndicate here in Oil City, we’ve learned that the “starving artist” trope only survives when we stay isolated. We created the Syndicate to be a local place for the misfits and the makers to unite. Our mission is to nurture a community without hierarchy, seeing everyone as equal.

5. Analog is the Ultimate Life Hack

We do a lot online, and have built a wonderful online community, but there is a downside to having a big audience. Responding to a thousand digital comments is a great way to burn out. That’s why we started the Dear Artist Mailbox Project. We asked people to slow down and write us actual, handwritten letters. Writing by hand slows your thoughts down, and that space is where honesty tends to live. It brings the relationship back to basics and protects us from the burnout of perpetual online engagement.

Three individuals posing for a selfie in front of framed artwork, with a cozy gallery setting in the background.

6. Being Brutally Honest Is Hard But Real

Most people only show the highlight reel. We decided to show the whole story. We wanted transparency. It’s easy to pretend that everything is going good for you, and it is really hard to be real. It’s expensive to be real and not pretend that you have your shit together. We don’t sell courses on how to be an artist and make 100K a year (Which can only really teach you how to sell courses and make 100k a year off of desperate artists). For years, our art business covered the cost of creating videos, blogs, and podcasts, even though it was a financial sinkhole. But we had to share what we have learned. We had to express our truth whether someone was listening or not. We’ve had months where nothing was happening financially with our art. We’ve had some hard times and some pretty good ones and shared them all. That’s life. This level of honesty is hard, but it dismantles the myth of the effortlessly successful artist. It sends a clear message: it’s hard, it’s messy, and you are not alone.

There is no map for this. There is only opportunity. If you’re waiting for someone to give you the “right” rules to follow, stop waiting. Make the whole landscape yours.

What is one thing you have learned on your journey through life? Whether you are an artist or not, we would love to hear it.

Posted on by — 3 Comments

When Your Art Brain Refuses to Leave Business Mode

We’ve all been there. You spend a week glued to a computer chair, fueled by caffeine and the frantic energy of a person possessed with getting the project live. Klee and I just finished a marathon of organizing Create and Sip events and a monthly art exhibition at The Exchange here in Oil City.

We built the schedules, dreamed up themes, and birthed an entire e-commerce section on our website from scratch so ticket buying is a breeze. It was a literal mountain of work. I did the same for our new Art Syndicate. I hit “Publish,” wiped the sweat from my brow, and waited for the internet to explode in applause.

Instead? Crickets.

A person sitting on a green couch, wearing a red bandana and a black jacket, looking at their phone with one hand on their face, appearing deep in thought.

Logically, I know online projects take time to simmer. But my brain? My brain is currently a stubborn mule standing in the middle of the tracks, refusing to move toward the studio.

Usually, after a big push, I transition back into “Artist Mode.” I pick up a brush, the gears shift, and the magic happens. But this week, I’ve got what I call worry crap in my gears.

My noggin is stuck in a loop:

  • “Did I use the right font on that button?”
  • “Why hasn’t the entire local area bought tickets in the last five minutes?”
  • “Maybe if I just refresh the page one more time…”

When I actually stop to look at this mental grinding, I recognize the culprit: Control. I want to control the outcomes. I want to control the sales. I want to control how every person in the Oil City area reacts to these projects. But here is the cold, hard truth: I have a remote control with no batteries. I can build the stage, light the lights, and open the doors, but I can’t force people to sit in the seats. Obsessing over it doesn’t make the success happen faster; it just keeps me from moving into the creative space where the actual magic lives.

I actually did get into the studio this week, but I felt split. Half of me was holding a brush, and the other half was still staring at a spreadsheet in my mind. I don’t know about you, but that “divided house” vibe doesn’t work for me. When I am truly creative, time stops and nothing else exists. It’s just me, the studio, and Klee. If I’m thinking about art business stuff while trying to find the right shade of blue, the magic stays locked in the cupboard.

A man with a beard and glasses sits in an armchair, holding a painted wooden piece in a workshop filled with art supplies and colorful artwork.

The Solution: The “Studio Sanctuary” Reset

If you’re stuck in the “worry crap” loop, you can’t just tell your brain to “stop.” You have to physically and mentally evict yourself from the problem. Here is how I’m greasing the gears to get back to the canvas:

  • Declare a “Project Quarantine”: Step away from the screen. Close the tabs. Mute the notifications. Give the project a “rest period” let’s say 48 hours to a week. The website won’t spontaneously combust if you aren’t staring at it. By putting the project in quarantine, you give the digital dust time to settle and your brain permission to stop patrolling the perimeter.
  • The “Sacrificial” Canvas: Sometimes the jump from “Business Logic” to “Creative Flow” is too steep. Don’t try to paint a masterpiece immediately. Grab a scrap piece of wood or a cheap canvas and just move paint. No goal, no getting it perfect, no “audience.” Just the feeling of the bristles. This is the bridge back to your creative self.
  • Trust the “Simmer”: Think of your business project like a slow cooked chili. You’ve put all the ingredients in, you’ve turned on the heat, and you’ve put the lid on. Opening the lid every five seconds to poke it just lets the heat out. Trust that the work you did is working for you while you are away. You can always come back and “season” it later with updates, but for now, it needs to cook in the background.

Not being able to shift gears means you aren’t moving. And if you aren’t moving, you’re just a parked car idling in a dark garage.

The work is done. The links are live. Now, it’s time to let the “business me” take a nap so the “artist me” can finally play. The studio is calling, and the only way to hear it is to turn off the noise of the “what-ifs.”

Posted on by — 8 Comments

Victory for the Artists! (But the War Isn’t Over)

I’m doing a literal happy dance in the studio today. If you’ve been following my recent (yesterday) saga with the “Tax Man,” I have some fantastic news: I got my tax exemption back with Blick Art Materials!

As it turns out, my gut instinct was right. A “pencil pusher” at the PA Department of Revenue interpreted the laws incorrectly during an audit. They tried to tell Blick that artists aren’t eligible for the resale exemption.

Spoiler alert: That was what we call an “erroneous opinion,” which is the fancy, polite way of saying they were flat-out wrong. Blick Art Materials were also not taking this lying down, and thus there was a battle on two fronts to support the PA artists!

A cartoon character with a bandana and cape, confidently holding a candle while facing a dark, shadowy creature.
My friend Cassie did this illustration of me, I like to get inspired by it when I go to battle.

You might be thinking, “Wait, you just told us about this yesterday! How did you win so quickly?” Well, let me pull back the curtain: I’ve actually been fighting this battle since the end of November. Anyone who knows me knows that when I set my mind on something, I’m like a dog with a bone. I’m incredibly persistent. My strategy is simple: Do at least one thing every single day.

  • Send an email. (A lot of unanswered emails.)
  • Make a phone call. (A lot of long wait times that ended in nothing.)
  • I may or may not have even “ambushed” our local Representative at a New Year’s Eve party. (Hey, if you’re in the neighborhood, you’re fair game!)

So no, this didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow, steady grind of refusing to take “no” for an answer.

A person with short hair is focused on a workbench, using tools and materials for a creative project, surrounded by various art supplies and equipment.
Would you look at that, looks like Klee is “Manufacturing” jewelry.

Upon further review, it was confirmed that artists and creative businesses absolutely can claim the Manufacturing Exemption. Because, hello? We take raw materials and physically transform them into something entirely new. That is the literal definition of manufacturing!

The problem? Our state tax laws are covered in about fifty years of dust. The current “lingo” was written for massive factories with smokestacks, not for the modern wave of small businesses, creatives, and gig workers.

An artist painting a black crow on a colorful canvas while holding a palette with various paint colors in a studio.
Can it be? Am I “actually” creating something new from the materials I buy?

Why I’m Still Fighting

While I won this specific battle, I’m not hanging up my boxing gloves just yet. It shouldn’t take a “war room” corkboard and three months of hounding officials for a creative business to avoid being double-taxed.

I’m going to continue pushing our Representative so that the laws actually reflect the modern market. We need clear guidelines so the next time a pencil pusher feels like making a flippant decision, the law is there to stop them.

Before I go back to making art, I have to say: Thank you to everyone that sent us a comment of support! Seriously, you guys are incredible.

I’ll keep you guys updated. The battle for the “little guy” continues!

Posted on by — 9 Comments

The “Art Isn’t Real” Tax Fiasco: A Love Letter to the PA Dept. of Revenue

I recently received a piece of mail that made me laugh, then get angry, then consider moving my entire studio to a different planet. It was a letter from Blick Art Materials informing me that the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has decided that the production of artwork (you know, the thing we do with our lives) does not qualify as “exempt manufacturing” under some dusty statute called 72 P.S. 7201 (c).

UPDATE: WE WON! Read About It Here: https://rafiandklee.com/victory-for-the-artists-but-the-war-isnt-over/

Basically, some pencil-pusher in a cubicle somewhere has decided that when we take raw materials and transform them into something entirely new, we aren’t actually making anything. We’re apparently just… having an expensive hobby? This may have just happened to us, but at this point I’m assuming we are not the only ones dealing with this.

An artist working in a colorful studio filled with art supplies and tools.

How Does The Sales Tax Exemption Work (The Boring-but-Vital Part)

In case you’re unaware of how the grown-up business world is supposed to work: when you are a registered business that manufactures goods, you get a tax break. It’s called a Sales Tax Exemption.

Here’s the deal: If I buy a hunk of clay, paint, canvas, or a gallon of resin to make a sculpture that I then sell, I’m not supposed to pay sales tax on those materials. Why? Because the state gets its cut when the final customer buys the finished piece. If I pay tax on the materials, and the customer pays tax on the statue, the state is double-dipping.

To get this, you usually fill out a form (the REV-1220) and give it to your suppliers (like Blick). It’s a standard system designed to help small businesses actually, you know, stay in business.

An artist sitting at a cluttered studio workspace filled with art supplies, painted canvases, and boxes labeled 'BEADS' and other crafting materials.

Apparently, Art Supplies Are Not “Raw Material”

We’ve been in business for a while, and I’ve never run into this issue. According to Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, the state doesn’t think art is “manufacturing.” Apparently, they think we just wave a magic wand and the artwork appears. They don’t see the process of creation, or the physical labor of turning a blank canvas into a product. To them, we aren’t “producing goods.”

The core of the problem is that this statute is fundamentally outdated. The lingo used in the current law is written to benefit specific large-scale industries while leaving the door open for interpretations that exclude small businesses and independent makers.

This decision is, to use a technical term, dumb. It directly impacts how I order my materials and how much it costs to keep the lights on in my studio.

A woman stands in an art gallery, looking thoughtfully at the artwork displayed on the walls. She wears a red shirt and beige pants, with a backpack slung over her shoulder.

Standing Up to the Pencil-Pushers

I’m not taking this lying down. I am currently in the process of fighting this at the state level. As artists who run small businesses, we’re often treated like we’re playing pretend. We have to fight twice as hard just to get established systems to recognize our rights as legitimate businesses.

I’m now in communication with my local state representative to make them aware that the Department of Revenue is effectively penalizing the creative economy of Pennsylvania.

Here is my “Rogue Challenge” for you: Whether you use this tax exemption or not, this is about the principle. If the state decides our work isn’t “manufacturing,” they are deciding our work doesn’t have value.

  1. Check your orders. If you’re a registered business, see if you’re being charged tax on your raw supplies.
  2. Contact your State Rep. Seriously. Send a polite but firm email. Tell them that art is manufacturing, that we are businesses, and that this ruling is a blow to local makers.

We have a bit of a road ahead of us to get the “powers that be” to see us as the economic engine we actually are. Sometimes, the only way to get a seat at the table is to stand up and start making some noise.

Banner promoting a local project for artists in Northwest Pennsylvania, featuring playful graphics and the text "ARE YOU A NORTHWEST PA ARTIST? JOIN OUR NEW LOCAL PROJECT FOR ARTISTS IN OUR REGION."

If you live in PA, here is an example letter you can copy, paste and rewrite to suit you:

Subject: URGENT: PA Dept. of Revenue Ruling on Sales Tax Exemption for Artists (Statute 72 P.S. 7201 (c))

Dear Representative [Name],

I am writing to you as a constituent and a small business owner in our region to bring a concerning matter to your attention regarding a recent shift in the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s interpretation of tax law.

Recently, the Department has been contacting major art supply vendors (such as Blick Art Materials) to state that the production of artwork no longer qualifies as “exempt manufacturing” under Statute 72 P.S. 7201 (c).

The manufacturing exemption is a standard business practice designed to prevent “double-taxation” by allowing businesses to purchase raw materials—which are then transformed into a new, finished product—without paying sales tax at the point of purchase.

The core of the problem is that this statute is fundamentally outdated. The lingo used in the current law is written to benefit specific large-scale industries while leaving the door open for interpretations that exclude small businesses and independent makers. By ruling that artists are not “manufacturers,” the Department of Revenue is effectively:

  • Invalidating our status as legitimate businesses: It suggests that the physical transformation of raw materials into a finished good only “counts” if it happens in a traditional factory setting.
  • Creating a Double Standard: It allows large corporations to enjoy tax breaks on production while penalizing the small, local studios that make up the backbone of the creative economy in regions like ours in PA.
  • Increasing Overhead Costs: This interpretation forces double-taxation on our materials, making it even harder for local makers to remain competitive.

The process of creating a sculpture, a piece of jewelry, or a painting is a physical transformation of raw materials into a manufactured good. I ask for your support in advocating for a modernized interpretation of this statute—one that recognizes the reality of 21st-century small business and ensures that “manufacturing” isn’t a term reserved only for big industry.

We are taxpayers, business owners, and vital contributors to the economic and cultural vitality of this district. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can resolve this issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Business Name] [Your Address] [Your Phone Number]

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Guide to Realizing You’re Already Perfect

Early 2025 decided to take a giant swing at us when Klee got sick, and for a while there, I just couldn’t handle sharing my thoughts anymore. Luckily, she’s feeling much better, not quite at 100% yet, but enough for me to bore you all with what I think are life lessons. Honestly, taking that forced break was a blessing in disguise because it helped us get our priorities straight as artists and as humans. It made me realize that, without even noticing it, I’d fallen back into the trap of perfectionism.

I’m not talking about having high personal standards, I’m talking about that sneaky need to stay “impressive” for other people. Somewhere along the way, as our popularity grew, I became an uptight stick in the mud trying to keep up. I was jumping through invisible hoops, worried that if I wasn’t constantly “upping my game,” people would see what a miserable impostor I am. I think it happens to all of us at some point. You have more eyes on you and you think, “things were simpler when no one was paying attention”.

An artist painting on a canvas in a workshop, wearing a red bandana and glasses, with colorful bracelets on one wrist.

The funniest thing about trying to be perfect for the world is that people will still find something weird to say. We’ve had hecklers in every area of creation. They will say your art, jewelry, books, videos, or podcasts suck and no one likes you. No matter what you do, someone out there will hate it. At some point you realize how futile it is to try and control their perceptions. You have zero control over whether someone is “astonished” by your work or think it is a pile of garbage. The only thing you can actually control is whether or not you like what you’re creating.

If I’ve learned anything from this year, it’s that perfection is a total lie. You are inherently perfect just doing your personal best with whatever bandwidth you have today. Some days your best is a masterpiece, and other days your best is just putting on pants.

So, go out there and do your best today, no matter what that entails. It will be perfect.

Watch The Video We Made On This Subject

Posted on by — 9 Comments

What No One Tells You About Becoming an Artist

Welcome to the “I wish I knew” club. Population: Every artist ever.

When we first pick up a microphone, torch, stylus, or a brush, we all have this vision of ourselves: sitting in a sun-drenched loft, effortlessly sweeping a charcoal stick across a canvas while wearing an oversized sweater that stays inexplicably clean.

The reality? You’re hunched over a desk like a gargoyle, your neck is making sounds like a gravel driveway, and you’ve just spent three hours drawing a single left hand that still looks like a bunch of overcooked sausages.

Since I can’t go back in time to save past us, here is the survival guide for every baby artist just starting their journey.

A painting of a woman cradling a sleeping baby, set against a bright yellow background, displayed in an artist's workspace.

1. The “Ugly Phase” is Mandatory

Every piece of art goes through a middle stage where it looks like it was cursed by a swamp hag. In the beginning, we think this means we’re failing. It doesn’t. It’s just the awkward teenage years of your painting.

The Lesson: Just keep pushing until the swamp hag leaves.

2. Failure is a Myth (But Giving Up is a Nap)

Here is the big secret: There is no such thing as failure. There are only “learning sketches” and “incidents where the paint won.” The only way to actually fail is to stop entirely.

And even then? Giving up is usually just temporary. You might throw your sketchbook in a drawer and vow to become a goat farmer, but three weeks later, you’ll see a cool sunset or a well-drawn elbow, and bam you’re back at the desk. You can’t escape the “Art Itch.” It’s a lifelong condition. Accept the breaks, but know that creative inspiration always has your house keys.

An artist in a creative workspace, wearing a bandana and glasses, concentrating on notes while surrounded by art supplies and colorful walls.

3. You Will Become a Hand-Hiding Ninja

At some point, you will realize hands are the final boss of art. You will become an expert at drawing:

  • Characters with their hands in their pockets.
  • Characters standing behind large bushes.
  • Characters who mysteriously had their hands replaced by hooks.

The Pro Tip: Just bite the bullet and draw the hands. Draw them all the time. Trust me, you’ll get really good at it. Use your own hand as a reference. Yes, you will look weird taking 40 photos of your left hand in a “holding an energy ball” pose. Do it anyway. You’ll thank me later.

4. Reference is Not Cheating

There is this weird myth that “real” artists pull everything from their brains. Unless your brain is a high-definition 8K camera with 100% recall, use a reference. Using a photo of a toaster to draw a toaster isn’t cheating, it’s just making sure your toaster doesn’t look like a mailbox.

An artist carefully uses a torch to heat a metal ring on a workbench, surrounded by various tools and materials for crafting.

5. Your Workspace Needs Hazard Signs

You will eventually:

  • Dip your paintbrush into your coffee and drink it. Recently, a friend said it happened with their tea.
  • Wonder why your lower back feels like it’s on fire after being hunched over a painting all day.
  • Realize you have a streak of Cobalt Blue on your forehead that has been there since Tuesday.
  • Gas yourself with Flex Seal in an enclosed area until you lose your voice… oh, just me?

Just be careful. Yes, you cam probably withstand a lot when you are younger, but form better habits now, so you don’t regret it later. And, Buy a better chair. Your spine will thank you in ten years.

6. The Most Important Rule: Comparison is a Liar

You’re going to scroll through social media and see a 14-year-old who paints like Rembrandt. Your heart will sink. Stop that. That person’s Chapter 20 has nothing to do with your Chapter 1. The only person you need to be better than is the version of you that didn’t draw anything yesterday.

These are the six I’m sharing today, but there are many, many more. Have an awesome and creatively beautiful year!

Posted on by — 12 Comments

Our Ritual for Not Imploding in January

Every year on January 1st, Klee and I go through this weird, collective limbo. It’s like we wake up and suddenly forget how to be human. We just meander around the house, staring at walls, wondering if anything we’re doing actually matters or if we should be, I don’t know, learning to farm alpacas or something.

I think we get so geared up for “The New Year” and all those shiny opportunities that when we actually arrive, we just stand there like, “Now what?”

A woman with a playful smile wearing a turquoise shirt with a ruler graphic and the text 'YOU ROCK' stands next to a man with glasses and a red bandana, wearing a black t-shirt that reads 'ARTROVERTS.' They are in an artistic environment with colorful paintings in the background.

Luckily, the “what” usually involves a massive amount of brain-vomit.

To get our bearings back, we sit down and do a total brain dump. Every idea, every project we’re already doing, and every “maybe one day” dream gets written down until it’s tangible. Then, we spend about ten minutes feeling completely overwhelmed by how long the list is before we start the glorious process of cutting things out.

We only keep the stuff that actually makes us feel excited.

A lot of people set financial goals in the beginning of the year, we set FEELING goals. I think setting strictly financial goals for the year is kind of silly. Sure, you can say you want to make $X amount, but if you aren’t having fun and you’re bored out of your mind, it’s not sustainable. You’ll quit by March. We gravitate toward what gets us fired up. If the excitement is there, the work happens, and the money usually follows the work. At least, that’s what we believe.

A person kneeling on a carpet, organizing a variety of index cards spread out in rows on the floor, while surrounded by furniture.

Once the list is pruned, we tackle the physical disaster area. Everyone knows that when you’re in the middle of a project, the studio (and the house) looks like a creative tornado hit it. Cleaning up the clutter isn’t just about finding the floor again; it’s about making space for new opportunities. You can’t look forward if you’re tripping over a half-baked project from last July.

But the biggest thing we do is a “Superman Check.”

It’s easy to plan for the future and pretend you’re a superhero who doesn’t need sleep. But are you giving yourself breaks? Are you giving yourself time to actually enjoy the journey? Are you giving yourself time to just… think?

A cozy indoor setting featuring two individuals engaged in discussion. One person is seated on a stool, while the other sits on a chair, holding a book. The room is decorated with musical instruments, a calendar, and various notes on the walls, creating an artistic and creative atmosphere.

Here are a few other things we’ve added to the ritual to keep us from burning out:

  • The “Let It Die” List: This is the opposite of a to-do list. We identify the projects or habits that are draining us and officially give ourselves permission to kill them off. If it doesn’t serve the soul, it’s gotta go.
  • The Energy Audit: Instead of a schedule, we look at our energy. When are we most creative? When are we most “introvert-fried”? We try to build our days around how we actually function, not some corporate 9-to-5 dream.
  • Small Wins First: We pick one tiny, easy thing to finish in the first week. It breaks the “limbo” spell and reminds us that we actually know how to get stuff done.
A person playing a xylophone in a music studio filled with various instruments, including guitars and puppets in the background.

Our New Year ritual might sound a bit touchy-feely. It’s all about emotions and how we feel. But let’s be honest: your feelings are the driving force of your business. If you don’t care for them, you’re going to burn out, and a burned-out artist doesn’t make much art.

So, here’s to being awkward, clearing the clutter, and only doing the stuff that makes us feel alive.

Stay brave, stay weird, and let’s make some cool stuff this year.

Rafi

Posted on by — 6 Comments

A CREATIVE PSA: Don’t Be Dumb Like Me

I wanted to share a little warning with all of you today.
A friendly, heartfelt, “learn from my mistakes” kind of post.

Or, more accurately…

A don’t be dumb like me post.

A couple of days ago, Klee and I were deep in the mad holiday rush. Orders were flying out the door, the studio looked like a creative tornado had touched down, and we were prepping for our last winter show, the Holiday Makers Market at Clifford’s.

The show itself? Amazing.
The community showed up, we got to hang out with incredible local artists, and it reminded us (again) why we love doing what we do.

A smiling couple stands at their booth filled with handmade jewelry and colorful artwork at a craft fair.

The problem happened before the show.

The day before, while juggling a million things, my brain did that thing it does sometimes. You know the thing. I’m fully focused on one task, and then suddenly my brain goes:

“HEY. YOU SHOULD FIX THAT RANDOM THING RIGHT NOW.”

This time, it was a crack in our studio utility sink.

Perfect timing, right?

So naturally, instead of saying “maybe after the holidays” or “this can wait,” I decided this would be a great thing to squeeze into an already packed schedule.

Brilliant.

A cluttered artist studio sink area with various paintbrushes hanging on a rack, a utility sink showing signs of use, and a yellow painted base.

I caulked the cracks in the sink and then thought, “You know what would really seal this up? Flex Seal.”
I had a spray can left from when I worked on our gutters. Easy. Quick. Done in five minutes.

Except… not really.

It’s winter.
The studio has limited ventilation this time of year.
And even though I own masks and wear them regularly when I spray paint…

I decided (in the heat of the moment) that I didn’t need one.

“It’ll be quick,” I said to myself.
“It’s fine,” I said to myself.
“Future Rafi can deal with it,” I implied.

So I sprayed the sink.

Then another layer.

Then another.

Then… I emptied the entire can.

A close-up view of a utility sink with fresh white flex seal coating applied, showing uneven patches and a drain at the bottom.

If you’ve ever sprayed something inside a basin, you already know where this is going.
That spray doesn’t politely stay where you put it.
It bounces.
It comes back out.
And it hits you directly in the face.

Since I wasn’t wearing a mask, I basically inhaled those vapors like they were fresh mountain air.

Then (because apparently I hadn’t learned anything yet) I just went on with my day.

That night and into the next day, my lungs were not happy.
I was coughing up stuff, felt that deep chest irritation, and realized something was very wrong.

At the show, I couldn’t stay the whole time. I had to step out and go home a few times just to breathe and recover a bit. Klee just looked at me with a serious look and said, I’m worried about you. Never do that again. I nodded.

That evening, I did some steaming, focused on clearing my breathing, and thankfully things improved.

This morning, I woke up feeling better overall…
but with absolutely no voice.

None.
Gone.
Vanished.

Which brings me to the point of this whole post.

A cluttered studio space filled with art supplies, boxes, and unfinished artwork, showcasing a creative environment in disarray.

The PSA Part

Do not be dumb like me.

Seriously.

Here’s why this was a bad idea (in case my missing voice wasn’t convincing enough):

  • Cold weather + poor ventilation = bad combo
  • Spray sealants are not harmless
  • If you’re spraying inside a confined space, it will come back at you
  • “It’ll be quick” is a lie your brain tells you
  • Masks exist for a reason
  • Rushing + repairs = mistakes
A snowy backyard scene featuring a house, steps leading up to it, and a firepit, with snowfall creating a serene winter atmosphere.

What You Should Always Have on Hand

  • A proper mask or respirator for fumes
  • Ventilation (fans, open windows when possible)
  • Gloves and basic safety gear
  • The ability to say “this can wait”

So there it is.
My public service announcement for the day.

For anyone wondering, I’m feeling much better. Other than not being able to speak, I actually feel pretty good. Lungs are calming down, breathing is easier, and lesson very much learned.

If this post saves even one of you from doing something similar while rushing around your studio, garage, or workspace…

Then at least my poor decision wasn’t completely wasted.

Stay safe out there.
And wear the damn mask.