In November 2018 I had an idea around how to support + celebrate independent Artists more... and this Sunday, August 29 it's game on!

First things first! You're invited! Join us for our FIRST (what we hope to be the first of many) virtual art event + pop-up gallery; Small Studio Sunday.

It's free to attend, just be sure to register here for your invite so you'll be first to view the pop-up gallery as soon as it goes live on Sunday, August 29, along with the link to join us for our privately hosted LIVE events lead by our participating Artists, including creative demos, studio tours and art talks, including one over on Clubhouse with myself + our Artists!

In today's episode I share with you the full story of the inspiration behind Small Studio Sunday and the vision I have for supporting independent artists, and this event going forward.

If you're an Artist who would like the opportunity to apply for future events, at this time Small Studio Sunday is open exclusively for our Expansive Artists members, so be sure join the Waitlist here to be the first to know the next time we open the doors. 

Register for the invite to attend Small Studio Sunday, August 29

Join the Expansive Artists Waitlist for the opportunity to apply for future events

Cheers to an inspiring + creative weekend!  See you Sunday!

Radical Transparency + No Justification

I reached a point in my creative journey when I realized I had been subconsciously asking for “permission” for a lot of choices in my life. I wondered if other creatives were feeling the same, and how could I support them in breaking through the need to seek opinions + approval from others.

While I continued to move forward in my dreams year after year, there was so much more hesitancy + second guessing than I realized along with a strong desire to please, to not unintentionally offend, or polarize.

But you can't confidently stand for something and still appeal to everyone, not in your art or your message.

Maybe you can relate? but I would say that many of us Creatives still have a disconnect around embracing “Marketing” “Selling” and “Making Money” while still making our Art (with heart). Proudly making money and creating Art that lights you up are not mutually exclusive.

I'm going to explore this topic more in the coming weeks, and I'm kicking off the conversation in today's podcast episode where I very clearly explain a shift in my business for the first and last time ;)

Enjoy and let's do this! 

It's official, my first Clubhouse recorded podcast! 

Part 2 in my 3 part series around Selling Your Work as an Artist.

Passionate about changing that narrative, Since March 12, 2010 almost exactly 11 years to the date, when I first posted about the concept of a Thriving Artist on my blog, not only for myself as a Self-Taught Artist but for every Artist I have the opportunity to come in contact with.

That's why in this episode, I open up about my truths around selling and making money as an an Artist.

The episode is at the top and then if you'd like to hear the conversation that followed with a number of Artists who joined me LIVE after the recording you can listen.

We talk about everything from dismantling the stories and beliefs around "selling" "making money" and being a Woman Artist, to what this means for our daughters and new generations, going forward.

If you are ready to put your new story around Selling into Practice, join me for the Sell A Piece of Art this Week Challenge. We start Monday, March 22

sellmyartthisweek.com

Listen to this week's episode, and if you see this before 10:10 am PDT click here to join me today on Clubhouse! LIVE for part 3 ~ from $4 > $24K in 4 weeks in Art Sales

With endless "advice" opinions and guidance out there how do you really know what will work for you, your Art practice + business.

2 tips for you on this Creative Thursday, with more to come!

I'll see you today @ 11 am PST on Clubhouse @marisa anne

And join me for the Sell A Piece of Art this Week Challenge starting Monday, March 22

sellmyartthisweek.com

Is now a print and a podcast!

Today's episode is 3 Social Media Marketing Tips for you! especially for my Artists. These are the steps that can lead to a viral post, and Art sales.

Enjoy!

After 10 years on Instagram who knew? this would be my most liked post EVER, (so far 😉 )

I heard you! and I listened, and turns out this illustration of Bernie + his mittens sitting with the Creative Thursday characters is bringing a lot of joy to you, so much so you want one in your home! By request, Bernie is now officially a print!

If you don't know the backstory to this piece. “The Gang Celebrates” is one of my most popular images and prints. Originally painted in 2007, it went on to become a Papyrus greeting card, the cover of my book and the theme of my very first fabric collection ~ these are the Creative Thursday characters that built my business + brand as an Artist.

I was just recounting the story today on a call with my members and that is this; These characters were born through the practice of daily painting and I didn't know it at the time but looking back I know they were there to gently cheer me on with my dream of becoming a Working Artist.

I was self-taught, going into debt, filled with more self-doubt then confidence and totally unsure if this dream was possible, let alone knowing how I could actually make a living with my Art~  and these characters, holding hands in hoodies, hats and mittens (because I don't like to draw hair or hands or feet lol) believed in me ~ and creating this style of Art is what kept me going through really exciting and very challenging times.

And as they made their way out into the world, it turns out a lot of collectors felt the same support and encouragement from those characters.

They are! cheering you on too!  bringing joy to your and/or your little ones, present in thousands of nurseries as a quiet reminder to follow your dreams and keep believing in what is possible.

Last Friday when I sat down to digitally paint Bernie sitting with them, I thought you might get a chuckle but I had no idea this image would be such a hit.

In honor of Bernie Sander's public service and dedication to supporting community, 20% of the proceeds of each print will be donated to the L.A. Food Bank. 

This one shift of how keep track of my daily priorities transformed my To Do List into a Done List.

 It's called the TONIGHT LIST!

More on today's podcast! ;)

Enjoy

Are you ready? To commit to this life filled with work you love and by work you love ~ I mean working for yourself. No, maybe you're not ready to turn your passion into the self-employed life because it absolutely can also be fulfilled in a job with the best kind of boss, but if you are ready to take your work into your own hands? then this episode is for you! As you can imagine, this conversation is much deeper than a podcast episode but these 4 tips will kickstart your commitment.

Join me next Thursday to take the conversation further

"How to Grow Your Income so that You will Have More Time to Make your Art" creativethursdaycourses.com/moreincome

Get your pen and paper ready, because you're going to want to take notes, and listen back a couple of times. Alina generously shares what became more than a podcast episode, but a Class on Marketing and Finding Your Right Customers. This episode may dramatically change your perspective on Marketing. How you market your business will never be the same.

Join me today, 3 pm PT, for my very first Creative Roundtable and Masterclass "Finding Your Right Customers" where Alina is my special guest.

http://bit.ly/creative-roundtable

Today, March 28, is the LAST day to join us in the Creative Outliers 

http://bit.ly/thecreativeoutliers 

You can find all things Alina at

Alina.work 

Meet Iris Scott, a Brooklyn-based Oil Finger Painting Artist since 2009; dedicated to creating and building a business that stays true to her vision. Iris is an artist who creates from Joy. In our conversation, she shares her journey that began with a year of making art in Taiwan, selling paintings for $150 to selling them 9 years later for $50,000. We talk about everything from what it means to "make Art for Art's Sake" the movement towards collecting Joyful Art, how to connect with your collectors, how not to be an Art Brat, and what it takes to become a Thriving Artist in today's possibility filled marketplace. 

"Go practice, just go make stuff and focus on what's working and make more of it. And you will inevitably innovate in ways no other human has innovated in that specific thing." - Iris Scott

You can find all things Iris Scott at:

http://irisscottfineart.com

instagram: @irisscottart