The point I'd like to make is this: no matter what niche of art (or life in general) interests you, there are sages out there with lifetimes worth of wisdom and advice.

I recently had the pleasure of getting a one-on-one skateboard deck shaping tutorial from Paul Schmitt. For the uninitiated, Paul has been manufacturing high-end skate decks since 1983. He's widely considered to be one of the most knowledgeable and skilled deck crafters in the skateboarding industry, and I've personally worked with him for nearly a decade: me supplying art for boards and Paul handling the fabrication. Yet, somehow, I had never actually witnessed the process of a board being shaped, cut out and sanded. It's funny to know so little about something you love so much. I left the session with my mind buzzing, amazed at how much I'd learned in a few short hours.

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Probably the majority of people reading this column don't skate and have no interest in the subject matter. So what's in this article for you? Seek those people out, as it’s surprising by how many are eager and willing to impart wisdom. If you spend your life studying something, chances are you're going to relish the opportunity to talk about it.

There's a flip side to this as well: I think all of us should be willing to take time out of our lives to educate younger generations of artists. Whether that be by simply replying to emails and social-media queries or by participating in mentoring programs—share your knowledge, people! Pursuing art as a career can be a pretty solitary/isolating existence, and getting feedback from contemporaries or elders in your field can go a ridiculously long way in terms of bolstering motivation. Let's open up the lines and open up some minds! Was that too hippie? If so, my apologies. I'm getting pretty "one love" in my 40s. If you see me trying to grow dreads, please ask my wife to slap me back into reality. Thanks in advance. —Michael Sieben

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Originally published in the February, 2015 issue of Juxtapoz, available here.