The courage to be an artist: how to stay true to your voice

In this conversation with author and artist Deng Ming Dao, we explore what it really means to live as an artist. He discusses how to find your voice as an artist and reminds us that art is not about sales, fame, or approval—it’s about being true to your inner voice and creating because you must. It can be especially challenging to measure success if no one purchases your art, but Ming-Dao urges us each to hold onto our integrity and believe that the art will win out.

We talk about discipline as a form of love for your calling and how it teaches us to prevail through new and challenging encounters, arming us with the skills and prowess to tackle whatever comes our way. We also talk about the courage it takes to stay authentic when the world misunderstands you, and why art matters as a sacred response to life. This episode is an invitation to trust your innermost voice, keep creating, and measure success by your integrity, not by outside validation.

The art world can be cold and full of criticism, but Ming-Dao’s advice is here to help guide you along your journey to becoming an artist with integrity. Thank you for joining us!

00:00 - Welcome back: Deng Ming-Dao

01:28 - Does my art have value if no one buys it?

05:27 - What if I got popular for the wrong reasons?

14:16 - How do you find your voice as an artist?

20:12 - How can I make money while maintaining my integrity?

30:16 - Who is Jade Snow Wong?

34:46 - Does prestige mean good art?

40:27 - How to reconcile your feelings as an artist

46:23 - It's not easy to make money as an artist

50:33 - Is Ming-Dao a nonconformist?

53:50 - Advice for aspiring writers to get published

56:22 - How to keep up with AI in this busy world

01:02:59 - Where do you get your ideas?

01:08:10 - Is writing joyous if it’s laborious?

01:13:45 - What is the life of an artist?

01:18:24 - What advice would you give your younger yourself?

01:22:00 - Summary of our talk

01:25:50 - Outro

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