Category: Blog

Most artists assume residencies are decided by the strength of their portfolio. And in a way, that’s true  your work gets you through the first door. But once you’re inside, the conversation changes. Selection panels rarely debate whether someone can paint, sculpt, or conceptualize well. What they discuss instead are the subtler things that don’t always show up on a slide deck: clarity of thought, curiosity, adaptability, and whether your proposal feels grounded enough to actually come to life. Panels receive hundreds of strong applications, and by the time they sit…

Have you ever wondered, “When do they actually decide who gets in?” You submit your work, wait a few weeks, then a few more, checking your inbox like it’s part of your daily routine. Most artists don’t realize curators are running on a completely different clock ,  one that rarely matches your creative rhythm. The exhibition world moves like an academic calendar, but no one hands you the syllabus. Some curators plan a full year ahead, while others work in short, intense bursts tied to funding cycles or venue availability. By…

At some point in your art journey, your work finally leaves the studio. Maybe it’s wrapped up for a show, maybe it’s headed to a collector who found you online, or maybe it’s just your first sale ever. It feels good, right? But here’s the part most artists don’t really think about ,  that sale is just the beginning of your artwork’s story. What happens next, who resells it, and how its price changes over time, that’s where the art world starts to get interesting. There are basically two worlds your…

Ever heard the saying “Your art speaks for itself”? It sounds nice, but anyone who’s tried to get their work seen knows that words matter too. The way you describe your process, the stories you tell, even the short lines on your website, they all help people understand what they’re looking at. Writing quietly shapes how your art moves through the world, whether you notice it or not. Most artists treat writing like a chore at first, something you do because the application asks for it. But after a while, it…

If you’ve ever tried explaining your art practice in an email and felt it came out all wrong, you already know why a press kit matters. It’s not about being fancy or looking “professional,” it’s about helping people understand your work without making them dig for it. A good press kit isn’t something you make once you’re established, it’s something that helps you get established. It’s what makes it easier for curators, editors, or collaborators to say yes because they can actually see who you are, what you make, and where…

Most artists are told to focus on the work, not the numbers. But at some point, you realize your art isn’t just a practice ,  it’s a business that needs fuel. You start wondering how other artists manage to plan their income, handle slow months, or decide what to charge. That’s where a financial model comes in. Not in the corporate, Excel-heavy sense, but as a personal roadmap that helps you see where your time, effort, and money actually go. The idea of “financial modeling” can sound intimidating, like something meant…

If you’ve ever wondered why some artists’ prices seem to rise steadily while others stay flat, it usually comes down to one unglamorous but powerful thing: consistency. Not just in how often they create, but in how they show up, communicate, and build trust with their audience. Consistency doesn’t make headlines, but it’s the backbone of every sustainable art career. Collectors, curators, and even followers learn what to expect from consistent artists. Their work carries a rhythm, a visual or emotional through-line that says, you can rely on me to show…

At small shows, you can always spot the collectors. They move slowly, eyes lingering, heads tilting just slightly. They’re not rushing toward a sale, they’re trying to understand. They’ll glance from the painting to the artist, then back again, as if looking for a quiet match between what’s seen and what’s felt. Before they buy anything, they want to sense that the person behind the work is real, steady, and creating from somewhere honest. For women artists still finding their place, that kind of presence matters more than people realize. Collectors…

You ever notice how some artists seem to get seen everywhere ,  not because they’re rich or famous, but because their work somehow travels? It pops up in group shows, zines, someone’s Pinterest board, even in a random café post. And then there’s you, scrolling, wondering how your work that feels just as good, maybe even better, seems to vanish into thin air after you hit upload. Here’s the truth no one admits: being seen isn’t about being lucky, or loud, or backed by cash. It’s about being findable. And findable…

Before announcing the selected artists, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who submitted their work for The Places We Call Home. Each submission carried with it a story, a memory, and a feeling that reminded us just how beautifully diverse the idea of “home” can be. You invited us into your worlds into rooms filled with love, nostalgia, and quiet strength. Your art made us pause, reflect, and see that home is not just a place, but a heartbeat, a belonging that travels with…