Artist Intelligence
First-person posts from artists, organizers, microbusinesses & creators of all types. Our archive of more than 1200+ posts offers inspiration and insight into how to make creative life work.
Pyragraph LIVE: John Fugelsang
John Fugelsang is in Albuquerque to perform “Unpresidented: The true story of a comedian trying to raise a toddler while…Getting Your Shit Together as an Artist
Even if you went to art school or you’ve been making art for years, think of the day you get…It’s Time to Start Playing with Toys Again
Too many grown-ups feel like growing up means ceasing to play. We get distracted with things like work, and bills,…
Latest Posts
All our posts, in reverse chronological order.
Women’s Sports Don’t Need Saving
Anti-trans groups who claim they want to save women’s sports are all full of shit.
Tokyo Canvas Takedown: T-Shirt Design Theft and How I Fought Back
“Holy shit, they stole your art!” I discovered that one-line…
Why I Love This Monthly Conceptual Art Class at the Art Students League of New York
For the first time in 150 years, art students don’t…
Hello Internet: Meet the Creator Who Turned His Furry Friends into a Yuletide Hit
Hello Internet, My friend Hudson recently asked me to sing…
Music
The people who make the music.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
Now that I’m wrapping up a year of gainful employment, I realize that my touring was not unsuccessful—it was just not something that made me wealthy.
Dear Little Bobby: Anxious, and Jobless Boyfriend
Your love for him does not mean that he can continue to live off of you, unless you want to enable him.
Feature: Music Makers
The people who make the music.
Pyragraph TV
Moving pictures and experiments in streaming.
Pyragraph LIVE From The Albuquerque Press Club: Inaugural Debut
Our new videocast: Pyragraph LIVE from The Albuquerque Press Club! Peri Pakroo and Clark Conde stumble through technology challenges in our inaugural debut.
THE CANCELED SHOWS 4: Weedfeeder, Miranda and The Beat, Reporter Damian Garde on Hydroxychloroquine on Pyragraph TV
The Canceled Shows includes a demo of how I suit…
No More Excuses
Being an artist means putting yourself out there. The deeper…
Pyragraph LIVE from the Albuquerque Press Club: Mauro Woody
We chat with Mauro about the scene for women-led experimental…
Feature: Brandish
Artists and their favorite tools.
Music & Creativity
Dear Little Bobby: Compassion for Fascists?
I get very upset thinking about our president and how he mistreats people. This whole disgusting administration makes me angry…
Pyragraph Presents: 24 Hours of Art Colloquium
As part of 24 Hours of Art and Umbrella Week, Pyragraph is hosting two panel discussions to help working creatives…
Lying Through Your Lyrics: Fact And Fiction in Songwriting
I want to have the freedom to write about my experiences without causing unintended stress to those who are listening.
The Time I Did a Winter Tour With Almost No Local Support and No Guarantees
You have to research your tour like you’re doing a fucking PhD on it, no kidding.
Free Resource
Contracts and Agreements 101
The more that you are actively working in your field — whether that means writing for magazines, playing music at clubs, hosting gallery events or building furniture for a hotel — the more you’ll find yourself needing to execute contracts…
Design
Build a New World with Zines
Zine fests make small cracks in the foundation of authoritarian, nationalist, dictatorial power that hides under progress of the digital age.
Music
8 Ways I Keep My Body Rockin On Stage
Nobody wants to see their favorite musician gasping for air, too sick to play or having their guitar parked due to carpal tunnel.
Film/Stage
Eva Shares More Songs on ‘The Canceled Shows’ on Pyragraph TV
Eva Avenue shares more songs from bands who’ve had to COVID-cancel shows or tours. If you like what you hear, go to their page and support an artist today! Titles and links below.
Not to Be Dramatic, But It’s Time to Save Democracy Now, Okay?
We’ve got to focus. We are at a point before the election where the actions of the next few weeks have the potential to impact our lives — and the lives of immigrants, children and the disenfranchised, as well as our allies and others around the world — for years to come.
How to Photograph the Most Photographed Event in the World
The Balloon Fiesta offers a photographer a challenge unlike any other – How do you photograph the most photographed event in the world? Why would you, some may say, but does an actor ignore Shakespeare because it has been done before?
Networking is Coming: The Seven Kingdoms of Connection-Building For Creative Professionals
Networking sounds business-y AF, and therefore fundamentally inapplicable to those of us in creative occupational fields. Right? Aren’t we artists precisely to avoid this kind of selling out to the Man and “kissing ass in order to get a job”?
Expo Events: B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E (Or obnoxious; they’re probably the same thing)
I think overcoming a possibly uncomfortable situation by doing something other than just standing there was a big step.
What The Slamdance Film Festival Means to Me
Slamdance is like one big family. You build friendships that last the week of and continue after the festival’s end.
Tokyo Canvas Takedown: T-Shirt Design Theft and How I Fought Back
“Holy shit, they stole your art!” I discovered that one-line message when I opened Facebook a few weeks ago. A friend sent it, along with a screenshot of an ad that had randomly appeared in her feed.
Dear Little Bobby: Trapped With Right-Wing Radio, and Threesome With Dogs
Do we just have to wait until our animals die…
Blank Pages
The blank page or canvas can be both exciting and…
COUNTDOWN TO MEMORY #5: With Big Installations, Less Is More
When my solo biennials are done, I will make my…
Tokyo Canvas Takedown: T-Shirt Design Theft and How I Fought Back
“Holy shit, they stole your art!” I discovered that one-line message when I opened Facebook a few weeks ago. A friend sent it, along with a screenshot of an ad that had randomly appeared in her feed.
What’s Your Deal, Karsten Creightney?
Trial and error is important. Re-contextualizing pieces of pictures into…
Book Clients: Winners, Whiners and Wanderlust
Following the progress of a book from concept to completion…
A Country Girl in Oakland
I can make soap anywhere I have space for production…
Hello Internet: Meet the Creator Who Turned His Furry Friends into a Yuletide Hit
Hello Internet, My friend Hudson recently asked me to sing the lyrics to his new song Kitty Cat Christmas over some music. It’s not unusual he’d write a song about…
Social Media: The Best Friend A Musician Never Wanted
I hated MySpace. I hate Twitter. I hate Instagram. God…
Money: Talk About It
I was handing her a CD and not saying a…
Dear Little Bobby: Bummed by Bitches and Squeezed in San Francisco
I hate my bandmates’ partners’ thinly veiled bitchiness. I’m considering…
Hello Internet: Meet the Creator Who Turned His Furry Friends into a Yuletide Hit
Hello Internet, My friend Hudson recently asked me to sing the lyrics to his new song Kitty Cat Christmas over some music. It’s not unusual he’d write a song about…
How To Make Cruelty-Free Burlesque Feather Fans
Having located my cruelty-free ostrich feathers, I not only had…
Do I Need a Booking Agent?
Trust me, filling a ticketed show is hard work. Getting…
Apparently, Other Countries Think We’re Either Workaholics or Just Spazzes
“You Americans! You always have to push so many events…
Women’s Sports Don’t Need Saving
Anti-trans groups who claim they want to save women’s sports are all full of shit.
Art in the Age of Trump
We artists are typically the subversives, and in many ways…
Peri Here: It’s Pyragraph Pledge Week!
Mainly what I’d say to my friend is this: Imagine…
Storytelling in Design: Telling Stories Through Your Work
In his video, Sagmeister tears apart some roller coaster designer…
Women’s Sports Don’t Need Saving
Anti-trans groups who claim they want to save women’s sports are all full of shit.
5 Things You Need to Know About Creatives
We have ONE job. And that ONE job is to…
An Experiment in Survival: Organizing Creatives in Pricey Boston
The first event was supposed to be a one-off thing…
How the Travel Ban Impacts Our International Theater Festival, Artists and Humanity
Guest Blogger Juli Hendren: “Artists are not insignificant trinkets that…
Tokyo Canvas Takedown: T-Shirt Design Theft and How I Fought Back
“Holy shit, they stole your art!” I discovered that one-line message when I opened Facebook a few weeks ago. A friend sent it, along with a screenshot of an ad that had randomly appeared in her feed.
Specialty Spam: Guest Blog Requests
It’s really kind of fascinating to see these adaptations and…
Background Art: ‘Lover Skulls’ by Jesse Littlebird
Our latest background image is a painting by artist, photographer…
Want to Support the Arts? Start a Nonprofit!
We artists and writers can’t afford to passively watch all…