It's official!! The 40" x 30" painting I've been working on throughout the L.A. Quarantine ~ one of my largest and most detailed pieces to date is complete.

The Artist’s secret to finishing a piece of work: give yourself a deadline​
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Over years of painting characters and animals in different settings I had never painted a Jungle before.

Technically I began this painting on a whim during one of our painting nights when I had my large studio almost 2 years ago.

And it had been sitting, just waiting to be finished all this time.

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​It was the extra time home and a desire not only to complete this painting but to challenge myself as a painter...something I’d clearly been avoiding which is why ahem I stopped shortly after I started... 40” x 30” is a far cry from my familiar small size of 6” x 6” 😳

Working through all the details took much longer than anticipated, and I also unexpectedly discovered how much I love having one large painting to return to day after day.

I've always felt fulfilled with my art through the process of creating and completing a piece in one sitting with my daily painting practice.

Stepping out of my comfort zone opened up a whole new avenue to explore with my work, and I can't wait to see where this leads.
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​I promised myself it would be finished at the end of the quarantine and while we’re not quite there yet, I feel a gentle shift back to some aliveness and (socially distanced) in person connection 💕and it feels like it’s time for this painting to be completed - that, and - I am also ready to begin new work!​
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Because you know what happens when you commit to regular creating- your creative inspiration gains serious momentum. The muse is in the house!

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Voila! a finished painting and a happy Artist (with even longer bangs.)

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Stay well + creative xo Marisa

​Enjoy the Quarantine Jungle!​

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What do you do?

Do you leave it as is or fulfill your original vision?

I held a challenge last week for my members in The Expansive Artists. "Sell a Piece of Art this Week" 

A BIG success! I am in awe of the progress made by the Artists in just one week, technically 3 days!! from opening online shops, posting regularly on social media, going LIVE on social media, getting booked on a podcast, launching books, and online workshops, to emailing announcements to their Collectors, and SELLING WORK!! Wohoo!

And, questions also came up like this one Nadia shared in the Expansive Artists. She shared that her work was "in that awkward teenage stage where she doesn't want to touch them for fear that people won't like them..."

What if your Collector won't like the work once it's finished? 

...I know how the story ends! What did Nadia decide and how did it work out?

Grab your sparkling beverage of choice (I happen to be sipping a glass of Lamarc Prosecco on this episode) or your favorite treat and tune in to hear my thoughts on how I handle this fear, and spoiler alert, we're going to do some celebrating...!!

And YAY!! how cool is this! Now that the blog is back you can listen to this episode right here.

Oh my goodness...why didn't I do this sooner. LOL one step at t time. 

One step at a time leads to progress and momentum that just keeps building. The clarity comes and the pieces do start to click into place, they do!

The choices in my life that I am the most thankful for are when I didn't wait for the "right time", but instead listened to the call of my dreams and decided it was time.

As I venture forward on what I shared with you in last week's podcast, this is a personal message from me to you.

Join the waitlist for The Creative Outliers, re-opening in October 2019

https://www.creativethursdaycourses.com/creative-outliers-waitlist 

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 

Listening to this episode will not only make you want to be a better business owner, artist, and designer, but you'll want to be a better human. Ashley's story will inspire you in so many ways, especially reminding all of us to step out of our bubbles and experience the world with more compassion. I know you are going to love my conversation with Ashley G and the story of her new venture Shop Poirier.

You can find all things Ashley G. and Shop Poirier here

www.ashleygoldberg.com

www.shoppoirier.com

@ashleygoldberg

@shoppoirier

Today, 3/7/19 I'm celebrating 12 years of making a living as a working artist! In this episode, I share more of the story behind the significance of this day, what lead me to that moment of making a consistent living with my art, plus my 7 best lessons, tips, and advice for growing a sustainable creative business.  

No More Excuses! "Cue the Confetti!!!!" Join me for a special conversation (and celebration of the 100th Creative Thursday episode!) with Illustrator and Designer Helen Dardik. One of my very first podcast guests, Helen returns to catch up on life, creativity and work 11 years later. She shares her secrets to success on life as a Working Artist, from how your tribe will find you, what it takes to grow a huge Instagram following, why it's not only about talent, why you MUST show your work even if you're scared and why being slightly discontent leads to you to more happiness.

This episode is brought to you by Helen and my Painting Workshop coming to Los Angeles this December; Opera Florals and Character Blues. Join us for one day or the whole weekend.

http://bit.ly/helenmarisapaint

You can find all things Helen Dardik 

@helen_dardik

Ok, so who started the Starving Artist Mentality? What keeps us from valuing ourselves? Why is it way more than just setting the "right price"? Join me for a conversation with Photographer, Marketing, and Branding Strategist, Named One of the top 30 Pinterest Curators to follow by TIME and Founder of @LoveUNeedSpace Bonnie Tsang We are taking the conversation of Art and Money further and unpacking that Money Mindset...at least make an attempt to unpack it ;) and there might be some studio chaos in this episode...!

Consider this a prelude to a Free Webinar we are hosting together with Claire Van Holland of CV Ledger and Nicole Swartz of Sprout Law.

And you are invited!

Join us Monday, October 15 for  "4 Reasons Why Artists Don't Get Paid: Money Mindset for Empowered Creatives"

http://bit.ly/helloletsgetpaid

You can find all things Bonnie Tsang

bonnietsang.com

@bonnietsang

@loveuneedspace on Instagram

Join us and become a Member of the Creative Outliers here:

bit.ly/creativeoutliers 

Meet Alex Theis speaker, author, and podcaster who loves to help people Win! Alex shares his thoughts on what it means to be Limitless, starting a podcast, and how the willingness to do the work to change your mindset + the practice of daily gratitude changes everything.

You can find all things Alex Theis @

alextheis.com

Amanda Palmer Art of the Ask

https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking?language=en