Oh do I feel ya...but it's time to get real about some truths you need to know as an Artist who wants to a grow a business and successfully sell work online.

In today's episode I share with you a BIG mistake I made about 6 years back, adopting a certain attitude shall we say...when it comes to working with the inevitable changes of the internet and specifically social media.

As someone who once complained about the time it took to keep a regular blog posting several times a week, my how we've grown!

This is a feisty one, get ready...and enjoy! and let's CELEBRATE 250 episodes!! BOOM! Not gonna lie, I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment and THANK YOU for LISTENING! If you're a fan, a quick reminder and request if you haven't yet! you can help me celebrate by leaving a 5 star review on ITunes. Consider it the best tip ever, as a thank you for years of creating the podcast for you, because you know those pesky algorithms, they work really well on ITunes when a podcast gets positive reviews. And as my mission of inspiring + empowering my fellow Artists is growing, it would be incredible if the Creative Thursday message was reaching even more amazing Artists like you. Appreciate you, grateful in advance. ❤️

And pssst...a quick head's up, we're opening the doors to The Expansive Artists tomorrow, Friday September 17. To be the very first to know be sure to join the Waitlist here.

If you care about about INTEGRITY, the value of creative work, and rights for Artists, this should make you angry.

I have a documentary to recommend, along with a personal story about a collaboration that almost went very wrong.

If any of what I share is a shock to you, then we as Artists haven't been truthful about our experiences.

One of the reasons Artists continue to find themselves in these kind of predicaments is because we're not talking honestly, and making educated business decisions, especially when it comes to collaborating.

It's time for that to change.

Here's to empowering Independent Artists and helping you to build a Thriving Business Online.

Join me for the Sell A Piece of Art Challenge starting Monday sellmyartthisweek.com

Are you afraid of making a “wrong” decision when it comes to building your online shop?

One of the questions I get asked the most by the Artists I mentor is “what website, e-commerce platform do I choose for my online shop?” followed by “how do I know for sure, that it's the right one for me?”

So often our fear of making the wrong decision keeps us from making any decision at all, which in turn keeps us in a holding pattern ~ what I refer to as paused versus progressing.

In this week's episode, I'm getting super practical and sharing my top 3 online platforms, and I step you through exactly why these are my favorites.

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!

What did I hope having my own Art business would make possible for me?

I was recently reminded of the power in answering 1 simple question.

As I continue to explore new directions with my painting, I've been re-connected to that feeling of beginning, anticipation and enthusiasm for what's next with trepidation over all the uncertainty. 

I had NO idea, if I could actually create this career as an Artist, but I knew I had to try.

On today's podcast episode I share with you, what the beginning was like for me, why I really started my Art business and if it's lead to where I thought it would, while also sharing what I think having an Art business today could make possible for you!

If you caught my last email, I shared some Creative Thursday changes that are going into effect this summer. Our 4 day work weeks M- Th, are happening! And I'm podcasting and emailing you the Creative Thursday 3 every other week, instead of every week, through August. I also unintentionally took a long pause from posting to Instagram.

What I did do, is make art! I took a weekend painting workshop in Sonoma, California that lead to some pretty inspiring discoveries in my work, see the sneak peek above and more details were sent out in the Creative Thursday 3 today. Are you on the list? Join here at creativethursday.com

Letting go + stepping back, and getting more support is not my comfy place ~ I've been a do it all myself kind of girl who also prides herself on a strong work ethic (which is all fine + good unless the work rarely pauses)

I most definitely hustled my way to this place in my business (more on today's podcast episode below), and it's not how I plan to grow from this point forward. 

For the record; the choice to hustle less is not to be confused with sizing down on my BIG vision for Creative Thursday, for us! It just means that more wonderful people will be invited along for the journey to help bring that vision for uplifting our creative community into reality, while I also continue with my art.

Taking these gentle steps forward with a focus on designing a business that supports me, instead of bringing me close to burnout ~ feels pretty incredible so far.

I hope to be an example of what's possible when it comes to building + growing a thriving online business today. 

As always I intend to keep you in the loop with new discoveries, which is what today's podcast is about, inspired by a question one of our EA members Dana asked “How much do you have to hustle as an Artist?”

What's it really take to be a professional Artist?

How many hours are you supposed to work to make your dream a reality.

In this episode I share the truth of what's involved to growing an online business in today's climate and how the landscape is starting to change.

This season, you know the one with the laid back summer vibes (or chill winter vibes for my Southern Hemipshere friends) not usually known for planning....however what I've found... is that this is actually one of the the BEST times of year to peacefully check-in and do a little pre-planning for the next 6 months of the year ~ and specifically prepare your Holiday season collection, my business Artist friend!

In this episode I'm sharing 3 simple steps to do a mid-year check-in that will set you up for a successful + satisfying second half of the year!

Ready to re-connect with your vision + plans for 2021 alongside a group of dedicated Artists (both emerging and established) you can still join us for a mid-year check-in and creative dreaming + planning session, click here to to join us for the Profitable Artist's Planning Challenge.

Call all high-achieving and heart-centered Artists. Want to to turn your passion into an Art career, here are the top qualities I believe it takes to thrive as an Artist, selling online today.

I know, I know ~ when I was coming up with this title High-Achieving Artist (not to be confused with over-achieving) that pairing of words sounded so unfamiliar, downright strange. 

In my desire to support Artists in building a thriving business around a practice of creating Art they love, I never connected High-Achieving with Artist before,  but in recent months it's become increasingly clear the stakes have been raised. As author, Steven Pressfield says, it's time to step into the role of the Professional. Here's how!

Ready to re-connect with your vision + plans for 2021 alongside a group of dedicated Artists (both emerging and established) next week, starting Monday June 14 to have a mid-year check-in and creative dreaming + planning session, click here to to join us for the Profitable Artist's Planning Challenge.

If this is your attitude, chances are I'm not the right Mentor for you.

When I constantly say that the opportunity to become your Mentor is an honor I do not take lightly, it's not just polite lip service ~ I mean it and this is why.

I take your trust in me very much to heart. The more years I do this work, the more I want to become an even better Mentor, which means that behind the scenes, I'm now constantly learning and refining my skills as a coach, to show up my best for you.

Mentoring looks a little different for me now than when I started teaching again 3 years ago. 

And as I continue to grow as a coach, I always want to keep you posted on my intentions and how I think I can best support you so that you can decide if working together is the right fit for you, at this time.

Enjoy!

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!