So, what about when it all feels like it’s falling down around you? There are moments in life, probably more than we care to think about, when no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to go right. In fact, sometimes it feels like the more effort you put in, the worse things get. When you hit these walls, maybe the best thing for it is to stop. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying throw in the towel and abandon your dreams – just hit pause. Give yourself a little time to breathe and figure out what’s really going on. The answer might surprise you. And once you’ve had time to reevaluate, hop right back in the saddle.
The Art Seen Festival’s 2026 Call for Artists is open! We’re bringing a vibrant, community-centered mural to Sanford and inviting Great Lakes Bay muralists to help create inspiring public art together. Visit the website for more information. Deadline is February 5.
Sloss Furnaces Foundation offers 8-week Visiting Artist residencies with housing, stipend, materials, and 24/7 studio access, culminating in an exhibition and collection donation; open to U.S. and self-visa international artists. Learn more at the website. Deadline is February 6.
ArtWalk Liberty Station is a highly marketed San Diego fine art festival drawing 20,000+ attendees, offering corner booths, strong artist support, and benefiting ArtReach’s arts education programs. For more information, visit the website. Deadline is February 6.
Praxis Center is here for the good times – and here for the bad. We know all to well that even the most carefully planned art career can go off the rails, and we know what a blow that can feel like. Take a deep breath, smooth your feathers, and let’s get this thing going again.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics and is currently faculty at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. He has written seven books for artists, including Making it in the Art World. His seventh book, The Problems in the Art World: An Artist’s A-Z Action Guide, is available now.
Photo credit: Midland Foundation