Beth Pickens

Pickens investigates the critical role art plays in personal resilience and identity, particularly for marginalized communities. Her work is dedicated to empowering artists to navigate and overcome creative challenges. Drawing from her background in counseling psychology, Pickens combines practical advice with psychological insights to offer artists strategies for sustaining their creative practices. Her books, such as "Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles", address common obstacles faced by artists, while her pamphlets like "Making Art During Fascism" engage with political and emotional issues impacting the arts.\n\nFocusing on themes of survival, identity, and social context, Pickens's work is deeply informed by her own identity as a queer woman. Her bio highlights her commitment to supporting queer and trans artists, women, and artists of color. In addition to her writing, she contributes to the arts community through her podcast "Mind Your Practice", teaching entrepreneurship at the California Institute of the Arts, and leading workshops nationwide. These efforts provide artists with tools to thrive in their careers, enhancing their personal well-being and creative success.\n\nReaders, particularly those within the arts community, benefit from Pickens's straightforward and supportive style, which offers both encouragement and practical strategies. Her work fosters a deeper understanding of how art intersects with identity and socio-political realities, making her an influential voice in advocating for the power of creativity as a tool for personal and social change.