When I started ARHtistic License, I had one goal: to encourage and inspire people to create. I hoped to do that by giving you permission to experiment with your art, providing practical advice, and connecting artists in all genres. I still think that’s a great goal, but I worry that…

When I taught elementary general music, one of the objectives for Grade 1 was to be able to recognize march music. So, of course, we practiced conducting in cut time, and marched to the music of John Philip Sousa. …

I’ve been entering writing contests for decades. Once, I even placed third runner-up in a Novel First Chapter contest-the highest level that had no prize attached to it. I really want to win a contest. You know those short pieces you write, the poems, short stories, and essays? It’s so…

Zirconium Today is my 26th post for the 2022 A to Z Blogging Challenge. My goal was to stick to my theme, the arts and the creative process, but it’s hard to think of something arts- or creativity-related that starts with Z. …

Today’s prompt is to write a poem in which you muse on the gifts you received at birth, as well as a “curse” you’ve lived with. Princess I was blessed with dark, dark eyes and shining hair and long, thick lashes and rosebud lips a princess with a sippy cup…

Today’s prompt is to write an epic simile. The Kiss it flowed like a river increasing in intensity making my heart lurch like a raft in the midst of rapids momentarily suspended airborne only to descend to the depths and finally to ebb into gentle buoyancy like a magnet his…

Today’s prompt is to write a poem in the style of Kay Ryan, whose poems tend to be short and snappy. Imaginary Garden The day started out with the trumpeting of butter-colored daffodils overtaken by the fragrance released by purple-blue lilacs laughing in the breeze. The roses thorned their way…

Creativity is vital to the artist. But creativity is the starting point. In order to achieve your artistic goals, you are going to need skill. To be skillful is to do something well. No one is born with skills; they are acquired through practice. So, the good news is that…