Blog

I don’t know what I’m doing! Moving forward in the face of uncertainty.

Posted on May 12, 2021May 11, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

I don’t know what I’m doing! Have you ever said that? Me too. Lots. It’s okay to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. (even though it feels awful) Okay don’t freak out on me here, but seriously I really don't know what I’m doing and I never have. There’s always some amount of self doubt or confusion. I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately surrounding our journey as artists, our definition of success, the ups and downs of being an artist, the lows and highs, the growth and the struggles. Why all this contemplation you ask?...Read More

Do you have a vision?

Posted on May 5, 2021May 4, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

“Without a vision the people shall perish.” - Proverbs 29:18 More importantly, do you have a vision that’s greater than yourself? Artists sometimes come to me with the problem of lacking motivation. Last week I talked about one solution to this problem. That was to know WHO you’re doing it for. In that conversation the example I gave was me creating, teaching, and building my business for my younger 12-year-old self. (You can go back and read that too because it’s powerful.) I find that as compelling as that concept is though, it doesn’t always cut the mustard. Because self-doubt...Read More

Who are you working for?

Posted on April 28, 2021April 27, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Let’s talk motivation for a sec. What motivates you to do what you do? Knowing WHO are you actually working for is a huge motivator when times get hard. As an artist, the path isn’t always easy. We all get blocked. The inspiration well runs dry. It happens. You can feel angry or depressed (both signs of a blocked artist). You can lose your joy. You can lose your focus. Especially when you start getting lost in the weeds of self-doubt. Trying to be an artist with self doubt is like you’re trying to swim to the other side of the pool...Read More

My Spring Flowers REVEAL!

Posted on April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Are you loving seeing and smelling the Spring flowers as much as I am?! I hope this Spring season has brought fresh and rejuvenating energy into your life and home. In the excitement of Spring, I've created a NEW series of spring florals and am SO excited to share this preview with you before the big reveal on Friday! https://vimeo.com/539378521 My Spring Showers Bring May Flowers Sale will begin April 23rd and run till April 26th. I am offering a special 25% off these paintings, FREE U.S. Shipping, and FREE Framing! Layaway AvailablePLUS YOU GET:My new hand-signed Spring Flowers Collector's Book as a free GIFT with your...Read More

Are you inspiration poor? How to open the flood gates of abundance by giving to yourself every day.

Posted on April 14, 2021April 13, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

How often do you give to yourself? Seriously. Stop and think about it. When’s the last time you gave something to yourself? Sometimes It doesn’t have to be anything that costs a lot of money either. When’s the last time you gave yourself time alone? A walk in the park, a glass of wine in the garden smelling the flowers, a nap, or a bubble bath. Other times you will be required to spend money and perhaps even scary money to make way for abundance in your life. As an artist I’ve learned that creation and inspiration only comes when...Read More

Happy New Year? How to begin again right now.

Posted on April 7, 2021April 6, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Do you feel like it’s the new year like me? The new year came and went and I’m wondering if you too felt as if it wasn’t the same as other new years. Usually, I do a New Years' letting go ritual and goal setting ceremony the first week of January. This year though, I wasn’t feelin’ it. Do you know what I mean? Then all of a sudden over the weekend I felt it! I thought this is the new beginning I’ve been waiting for. Spring is starting to bud, the sun is shining, and I get my vaccine this...Read More

Is your creative spirit emaciated and at risk of dying? How to bring it back to life in the right way, but hurry.

Posted on March 31, 2021April 13, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Join the FREE 5 Day Still Life Painting Challenge NOW! Are you starving your creative self? Depending on how long you've been doing this, your emaciating your creative spirit. So many artist's spirits die from this. It happens far too often and I don't want that to happen to you! When we've starved our creative self we need to take swift emergency action, but in a very gentle and patient way. The right way. It's very much like a person or animal who is starving to death. You have to nurse them back to health very gently. A little bit...Read More

Announcing the 5 Day Still Life Painting Challenge!

Posted on March 24, 2021April 13, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Join the FREE 5 Day Still Life Painting Challenge Now! Over the last few weeks, we’ve talked about the 3 biggest traps that cause developing artists to get stifled and give up. These included the Masterpiece trap, not taking action consistently, and not understanding the visual language of painting. I’ve been where you are and I’ve gone from ground zero beginner knowing absolutely nothing to mastery level in 13 years. Here’s what I know for sure: -That painting isn’t as hard as it seems. -You don’t need a ton of time to complete a painting.-There are simple constructs to the language...Read More

The Secret Language of Painting

Posted on March 17, 2021April 13, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Who's up for a Painting Challenge this March 25th-29th!? And it's completely FREE! Join the private Facebook group for a chance to study with me! Gain early access to win points and prizes! There will be special pre-challenge exercises that will be worth extra points as well! This challenge is not open to current or past Vital Art Sessions members. Join the group to answer this week’s question! http://bit.ly/2wrevGQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiELzfGAoRo One day as I was staring at an art magazine with one of the most BEAUTIFUL paintings I had ever seen, I was entranced by the light, the colors, and the gorgeous...Read More

The Masterpiece Trap

Posted on March 10, 2021April 13, 2021 by Kelli Folsom

Who's up for a Painting Challenge this March 25th-29th!? And it's completely FREE! Join the private Facebook group for a chance to study with me! Gain early access to win points and prizes! There will be special pre-challenge exercises that will be worth extra points as well! Click this link to join: http://bit.ly/2wrevGQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4b0WvwZ9zs&t=1s Week after week, month after month, I’d attend the local classroom studio where I went to draw the figure each week. During the model breaks that I used to refresh my eyes, I’d walk around the studio. Pulling at my kneaded eraser to clean it, I’d peruse the...Read More