Join us for the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge! We start Monday, June 16 🎉 Join us for the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge! We start Monday, June 16 🎉

Creative Thursday

What I Wish I Knew When I Started Selling Art Online

What I Wish I Knew When I Started Selling Art Online

What if selling your art online could work for YOU?


After 21 years of building a successful art business online, I'm sharing the 5 key insights I wish I'd known from day one. If you're wondering whether it's really possible to sell your art online, this episode is for you.


In this episode, you'll discover:

  • Why selling art is about so much more than just posting pretty pictures
  • The one investment that will make or break your online art sales
  • How to approach pricing from a place of confidence instead of guesswork
  • Why showing up consistently matters more than getting likes or comments
  • The simple strategy that prevents overwhelm when marketing your art
  • Plus, my bonus insight about who's actually buying art online (hint: it might surprise you!)


I started with an email list of 8 people and no podcast listeners, but I believed it was possible and showed up consistently. That belief and consistency built the foundation for everything that followed.

Listen through the lens of "what if this works?" instead of doubt - because it really can work for you too.


Ready to create your plan? Join the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge starting June 16th at profitableartistchallenge.com


 

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Why Planning isn't the Enemy of Creativity

Why Planning isn't the Enemy of Creativity

What if I told you that planning could actually be your creativity's best friend instead of its enemy?

In today's episode, I'm getting real about how my relationship with planning completely transformed - especially as a new mom navigating the biggest identity shift of my life. If you've ever resisted planning because it feels restrictive or anti-creative, this episode is for you.

I used to be that free-spirited creative who thought planning would kill my spontaneity and rob me of those magical moments of inspiration. I believed that "Artists" worked purely from flow, not structure. Sound familiar?

But here's what I've discovered: planning isn't the enemy of creativity - it's actually what creates MORE space for your creative flow to happen.

In this episode, I share:

  • Why I used to resist planning with everything in my creative being (and the fears that held me back)
  • How becoming a new mom made planning absolutely essential for my mental wellness
  • Why "I don't have time to plan" is actually the biggest sign that you NEED to start planning
  • How planning has become part of my creative practice and mental health routine
  • The reframe that changed everything: planning as a container for freedom, not a restriction
  • Practical tips for creatives who struggle with structure, including working with your natural energy rhythms

The truth is, when you have a framework to work within, you actually free up mental energy to focus on what matters most. Planning brings presence, peace, and perceptivity to your creative practice.

As I share in this episode, planning has literally become my best friend during one of the most challenging seasons of my life. It's not about perfection - it's about creating a practice that brings you back to yourself and helps you make progress on what truly matters.

If this episode inspires you, and you're ready to discover how planning can actually amplify your creativity while supporting your mental wellness, join me for the summertime session of the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge.

This is the perfect time to check in on what you set in motion at the beginning of the year, celebrate your progress, and create a sustainable plan for the second half of 2025. We'll go from big picture vision all the way down to your daily practices.


Join us starting June 16th at profitableartistchallenge.com - because the most successful artists aren't the ones who wait for inspiration to strike. They're the ones who create the conditions for creativity to flourish.


As this episode goes live, the new Creative Planner just arrived hot off the presses! It's undated for exactly this reason - so you can start fresh anytime. Grab yours at creativethursday.com before they sell out (they've sold out every edition so far!).

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Artist Success Stories with Molly Ovenden, Anita Driessen, Cindy Scheule, and Jen Duregger

Artist Success Stories with Molly Ovenden, Anita Driessen, Cindy Scheule, and Jen Duregger

Welcome to another edition of Artist Success Stories.


In this episode I'm joined by 4 of our Alumni; Molly Ovenden, Anita Driessen, Cindy Scheule, and Jen Duregger sharing


  • why saying YES is more important than saying NO
  • how to finally stop making excuses and take yourself seriously as an Artist
  • how to show up with consistency
  • how BIG changes in your personal life can be the opening to following your dreams
  • how sharing your gifts as a gift can spark a new career path


 

Doors to Artful Selling 2025 are OPEN starting now through Tuesday, January 21 @ 11:59 pm PST

 

🎨 Transform Your Art Business:

Craft your Art Sales + Marketing Plan for 2025 and beyond. Make more art, sell more art, and turn your dreams into reality.


💡 Get Clarity and Achieve Your Dreams:

This time, it's about follow-through! Having a Sales and Marketing Plan is the most effective way to confidently and consistently sell to your Ideal Collectors online. Let's build a thriving business that supports a life you love.


📆 Your 12-Month Product Launch Plan:

Know what you're creating, when you're launching it, and how to price it for PROFIT.


📱 Create Your Social Media Plan:

Unlock the secrets to impactful social media strategies.


📧 Create Your Email Marketing Plan:

Learn the art of email marketing for successful art promotion.


🌟 Ready to Make Selling Your Art Easy?

 

We can't wait to welcome you!

 

Join us

https://artfulselling.com/


You can find all things

Molly Ovenden @mollyovendencreativity on instagram

Anita Driessen @neetydee on instagram

Cindy Shuele @watercolourbycindy on instagram

Jen Duregger @jensheartstudio on instagram

 

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How I make BIG Business Decisions

How I make BIG Business Decisions

Big changes underway!

 

Tune into this episode to get all of the latest happening behind the scenes of Creative Thursday.

 

A "Direct Pep Talk", this is a transparent share on

  • what it takes to build a Creative Business online today, and have lasting success as a Professional Artist
  • how to choose the right support to grow your business from courses, to memberships to coaches
  • plus I step you through how I prioritize and make big decisions about the direction we're taking after 20 years in business

 

This is also a time-sensitive invite ending TONIGHT @ 11:59 pm PDT, the last + only chance to get Creative Business Coaching + Consulting support from me this year before the baby comes!

 

Join us in The Red Dot Society

https://thereddotsociety.com/

 

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Artist Success Stories - Transforming Self-Doubt and Fear into Turning Points with Lisa Kurt, Jessica Tepora, Dionna Vereen

Artist Success Stories - Transforming Self-Doubt and Fear into Turning Points with Lisa Kurt, Jessica Tepora, Dionna Vereen

Welcome to another edition of Artist Success Stories!

In this episode I'm joined by three of our Artful Selling Alumni; Lisa Kurt, Jessica Tepora, and Dionna Vereen sharing how

  • they transformed self doubt and feeling scared into turning points in their creative business
  • fear may be a clue to what's actually calling you
  • making what you love affects your sales
  • following your dream impacts the people in your life, especially your children
  • it's never too late to come back to your dream
  • developing your muscle for planning also develops so many invaluable life skills
  • making Art helped heal during tragedy
  • practicing 2 specific qualites can make all the difference in how you sell your Art

 

 

Doors to Artful Selling are OPEN for a special summer session starting now through Wednesday, May 29 @ 11:59 pm PDT

Join us!

https://artfulselling.com/

🎨 Transform Your Art Business:

Craft your Art Sales + Marketing Plan for 2024 and beyond. Make more art, sell more art, and turn your dreams into reality.

💡 Get Clarity and Achieve Your Dreams:

This time, it's about follow-through! Having a Sales and Marketing Plan is the most effective way to confidently and consistently sell to your Ideal Collectors online. Let's build a thriving business that supports a life you love.

📆 Your 12-Month Product Launch Plan:

Know what you're creating, when you're launching it, and how to price it for PROFIT.

📱 Create Your Social Media Plan:

Unlock the secrets to impactful social media strategies.

📧 Create Your Email Marketing Plan:

Learn the art of email marketing for successful art promotion.

🌟 Ready to Make Selling Your Art Easy?

 

You can find all things 

Lisa Kurt @lisakurt

Jessica Tepora @jessteporaart

Dionna Vereen @dionnarama

 

Marisa Cummings @creativethursday

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12 Ways to Create Income in Your Creative Business

12 Ways to Create Income in Your Creative Business

You know the feeling you get when a dream that's been in the works for a while becomes a reality?

 

That's the unbridled enthusiasm you're hearing in my voice for this episode.

 

I'm thrilled to announce that the first official Shiny Squirrel Summit for Visual Artists looking to create multiple revenue streams is happening, and kicking off this Sunday, April 28 @ 1 pm PDT!

 

And you're invited to this free event. Just head over to https://shinysquirrelsummit.com/ to get your free ticket.

 

This vision inspired the first Shiny Squirrel podcast episode #271 is bigger than me.

 

The event includes hearing from 11 additional Creative Expert Speakers on a variety of topics that are all ways you can create more income in your Art business, so you can avoid burnout and have more time to do what you best, make the Art you love making most.

 

In this episode, I introduce you to all 12 speakers, myself included, and the topics that we'll be covering so you can start thinking about ideas and possibilities to incorporate new revenue streams into your Creative business.

 

It's going to be a fantastic week!

 

See you there!

 

If you're listening after the event happened, and are interested in getting access to the replays please reach out to us at support@creativethursday.com

 

Click here to join the Shiny Squirrel Summit

 

Click here to download the 20 Ways + Product Ideas to Make Income with Your Art

 

Listen to the Shiny Squirrel Podcast episode #271

 

Say hello and follow all the speakers on their Instagram below

Joy Cho @ohjoy

Bonny Snowdon @bonnysnowdonacademy

Josie Lewis @josielewisart

Heidi Easley @texasartandsoul_

Kristine Richer @kristinerosephotography

Dylan Mierzwinski @bydylanm

Mim Jenkinson @mimjenkinson

Karen Abend @karenabend

Michelle Lloyd @unitedartspace

Alex Cole @alexcolestudio

Alyssa Van Guilder @apothecaflowers

 

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Why Creatives are Crushing it in the Membership Space with Special Guest Membership Expert, Stu McLaren

Why Creatives are Crushing it in the Membership Space with Special Guest Membership Expert, Stu McLaren

What qualities do Creatives have in common that make adding a membership model to their business a perfect fit?

 

We'll tell you! In today's episode I'm joined by my friend and Mentor of 5 years and Membership Expert Stu McLaren to talk about the wild success Artists are seeing in the membership space.

 

And by success we mean, growing 7 figure memberships in just a few years, while inspiring art and creativity, and creative business skills for thousands of people across the globe.

 

It's inspiring, to say the least, to see this rapid growth of PROSPERITY and THRIVING in an industry that was once known for its starving, struggling mentality.

 

Days of the Starving Artist are gone as Creative Business owners today, myself included are changing the narrative forever more.

 

It turns out there is one single quality many of us share that makes Artists especially successful at starting, building, and running memberships.

 

In today's episode, we share

  • what that one quality is among others that makes Artists perfectly suited to add a membership to their revenue streams
  • how many different kinds of creative memberships there are with very specific skills being taught
  • how to know if starting a membership might be something you want to do
  • what owning a membership, not 1 but now 2! has done for me both personally and professionally

 

If this episode has thinking about what it might be like to start a membership or you have one going already but don't know how to grow it effectively, you're in luck because Stu's free workshop is happening now:

How to Turn What You Already Know, Love, and Do into a Profitable Business

Just click here to join the workshop for free

 

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20 plus Lessons Learned from 20 Years in Business

20 plus Lessons Learned from 20 Years in Business

If I could go back and mentor my younger business self, the one who said yes to her dream of becoming a Professional Artist, the lessons learned that I share in this episode is what I would say.

 

Today, March 7 marks a celebration of not only 17 years of making a consistent living with my Creative Business but this February 2024 I celebrated 20 years since the very first Creativethursday.com site went live, featuring my Art work.

 

Back then I was so busy trying to make it all a go, that I didn't even know (or think I had the time) to intentionally hold a vision and actually plan out where I wanted to be 20 years ahead. For the longest time I was living in a pinch me state, wondering if what I was building wasn't just a temporary dream.

 

Turns out it wasn't a temporary dream, but one that would grow to help and support you in your Creative dreams too.

 

What would it have been like if I had the insight I have now when I first started?

 

That's the wish right, and yet it's the 20 years of lived experience starting, building, and growing my own business that was the ONLY way to gain this insight.

 

And now I get to share this wisdom with you, while also applying it to my vision for the next 20 years.

 

So, let's go! Together

 

In this episode I share 20 plus lessons I learned in 20 years of building Creative Thursday, covering a variety of topics from

  • the power of intention
  • keys to Creative Business Success
  • how to navigate your business boundaries
  • why knowing and tracking your numbers is essential
  • what I wish I had known sooner

 

Gift for you! Download the 20 ways to make income as a Visual Artist

Click here to Download

 

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Artist Success Stories from Courage to Consistency with Heather Harrington, Joanna Smith and Marissa Parsons

Artist Success Stories from Courage to Consistency with Heather Harrington, Joanna Smith and Marissa Parsons

Get excited! welcome to another favorite edition of Artist Success Stories.

 

In this episode I'm joined by three of our Alumni; Heather Harrington, Joanna Smith, and Marissa Parsons sharing

  • how they first decided to follow their passion
  • what's helped them find and keep the courage to pursue the professional Artist life
  • how they show up with consistency
  • the value of self-discovery + authenticity in the art-selling process
  • the benefits of personalized mentorship
  • the significance of community and support in building an art business
  • why it's so important to celebrate accomplishments and stay grateful for the process
  • and the transformative effects of choosing to join us in Artful Selling

 

Hip Hip Hooray! It's here! Only Open Once a Year!

Doors to Artful Selling are OPEN starting now through Tuesday, January 23 @ 11:59 pm PST

 

🎨 Transform Your Art Business:

Craft your Art Sales + Marketing Plan for 2024 and beyond. Make more art, sell more art, and turn your dreams into reality.

 

💡 Get Clarity and Achieve Your Dreams:

This time, it's about follow-through! Having a Sales and Marketing Plan is the most effective way to confidently and consistently sell to your Ideal Collectors online. Let's build a thriving business that supports a life you love.

 

📆 Your 12-Month Product Launch Plan:

Know what you're creating, when you're launching it, and how to price it for PROFIT.

 

📱 Create Your Social Media Plan:

Unlock the secrets to impactful social media strategies.

 

📧 Create Your Email Marketing Plan:

Learn the art of email marketing for successful art promotion.

 

🌟 Ready to Make Selling Your Art Easy?

 

We can't wait to welcome you!

 

Join us!

https://artfulselling.com/

 

You can find all things

Heather Harrington @lifeandwhim on instagram

Joanna Smith @joanna.smith.5876 on facebook

Marissa Parsons @marissaparsonsstudio on instagram

 

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Favorite Organization Tools for Social Media Planning + Project Management

Favorite Organization Tools for Social Media Planning + Project Management

Spontaneous creation or being prepared ahead of time with your content? which do you prefer?

 

Continuing on with our series, part 3, of answering your Time Management questions; I'm opening this episode with a few more social media creation tips, specifically for video, while also sharing more tools to help you get and stay organized with your assets, marketing plan and project management.

 

  • what and when I record behind the scenes to use in my social media marketing
  • app recommendations for video editing
  • my favorite project management tools and how I use them specifically for my social media planning

 

 

Yay! it's almost go time!

We start Monday, January 15

Join the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge + Coaching Week

 

Join the Artful Selling Waitlist

 

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