The Practice Sutras 365 Book 1 - The Path: How to Forge Your Artistic Path & Develop Your Creative Vision

By Christopher Cotter

From the moment you first make the decision to become an artist in any medium, you embark on a lifelong journey of treading a path that you forge step by step throughout your lifetime. It's a path of exploration, discovery, and learning, but it has its fair share of obstacles. In this book, you will find many strategies that will help you prepare for the artist's journey and overcome any challenges that you encounter along your way.

No matter what form(s) of art you practice, whether drawing, painting, music, sculpture, acting, cinema, architecture, or something else, the path to success can be daunting and filled with obstacles. No matter how dedicated and passionate you may be about your art, losing sight of and straying off your path is common. However, it is possible to stay on course and succeed if you persevere.

Finding your unique style or niche within your chosen art form is one of the first obstacles you will face. It takes dedication, practice, and experimentation, but mastering that style becomes easier once you find what works for you. The next challenge will be to believe in yourself enough to continue along your artistic path despite any criticism or rejection from others, whether they are family members, peers, or critics. Believing in yourself is a real test of resilience and commitment to your craft, which will be essential in staying on the right path

Based on the principles in The Practice Sutras, the first book in The Practice Sutras 365 Series - The Path, takes you through the process of forging your own unique artistic path. Through a series of Insights, Concepts, Quick Action Steps, Applications, Foundational Exercises and Action Assignments, you will hone your skills and gain valuable insights as you develop clarity in your creative vision, and forge your own unique artistic path.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350905694

Christopher Cotter

Christopher Cotter has worked the past 30 years as a professional musician, private teacher, trainer, and coach for artists, and owner of GLJ Training Systems in Jamestown, NY. He has also studied and taught courses in Satyananda Kriya Yoga for 15 years and dedicates much of his time to creating educational materials and writing. Chris' passion is to create and share his education and life experiences with people, so they may benefit from the lessons he has learned. He holds dear and values all his students, a small circle of friends, and the memories of a life well-lived. He lives with his family in upstate, New York.

Book preview

Chapter 1:

The Journey Begins

"It doesn’t matter the path you tread, only

that you tread as effectively as possible."

~ Swami Satyananda Saraswati

From the moment you first make the decision to become an artist, you embark on a lifelong journey of treading a path that you forge step by step throughout your lifetime. It’s a path of exploration, discovery, and learning, but it has its fair share of obstacles. In this book, you will find many strategies that will help you prepare for the artist’s journey and overcome any challenges that you encounter along your way.

No matter what form(s) of art you practice, whether drawing, painting, music, sculpture, acting, cinema, architecture, or something else, the path to success can be daunting and filled with obstacles. No matter how dedicated and passionate you may be about your art, losing sight of and straying off your path is common. However, it is possible to stay on course and succeed if you persevere.

Finding your unique style or niche within your chosen art form is one of the first obstacles you will face. It takes dedication, practice, and experimentation, but mastering that style becomes easier once you find what works for you. The next challenge will be to believe in yourself enough to continue along your artistic path despite any criticism or rejection from others, whether they are family members, peers, or critics. Believing in yourself is a real test of resilience and commitment to your craft, which will be essential in staying on the right path.

Along with mastering your style, you must also stay current on trends and techniques to remain competitive in an ever-changing field, especially if you are interested in selling and earning money from your work. Equally important is learning to manage your time effectively while juggling your life commitments, such as family and other work obligations. Lastly, you must have an entrepreneurial mindset when selling your works or services. Knowing how to create effective marketing materials and cleverly promoting yourself and your artwork is vital for any aspiring artist looking for success.

It is essential to stay inspired. Read artist bios, take classes, and explore any forms of creativity that interest you. When facing an artist’s block or feeling down about your progress, it can be helpful to look at great work by other artists for inspiration. It doesn’t have to be in the same medium as yours—observing any form of creativity can give you new ideas and help get the creative juices flowing again! Also, ensure that you have all the necessary tools and supplies ready. You’ll need to be prepared for inspiration to strike and for whatever creative adventures lie ahead.

A burning desire to become the best artist you can be is crucial, but having a clear goal is essential. What do you want to achieve with your art? What are you looking to create, and why? Having an end goal will help focus your efforts and keep you motivated when things get tricky. It is not an easy path, but with dedication and focus on your personal goals, you can stay true to yourself and reach your creative dreams, no matter what medium. After all, like any journey, the obstacles will only make you stronger if you let them.

The artist’s journey is unique and comes with its own sets of highs and lows. Learning to overcome obstacles along the path will make it easier and more enjoyable. If something doesn’t turn out the way you’d hoped, take it as an opportunity to learn from the experience and move forward, remembering that the artist’s journey is lifelong. If you stay focused on your goals, remain inspired, and prepare for any challenges that may come your way, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the artist that you want to be.

Quick Action Steps:

Experiment with styles and decide on the direction you want to take.

Create an affirmation to believe in yourself and stay resilient amidst criticism or rejection.

Get current on relevant trends and techniques.

Learn to manage your creative time effectively while juggling other commitments.

Develop an entrepreneurial mindset when it comes to selling your art or services.

Create effective marketing materials and