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.

In this episode, life happened. Technology failed, mili-second power outages were at play, user error was in also in the mix, and my Clubhouse talk didn’t get recorded. It can be so frustrating to experience hiccups that get in the way of your best laid plans!

Though this episode did not go as expected, there’s a great lesson to be learned...

Also if you're hearing this first thing in the morning, we're back on Clubhouse today for an episode on Email Marketing for Artists @ 10:10 am PDT in the Creative Thursday Club. See you there!

Click on the link below to go directly to the room when we go live.

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/event/PrWK54Ol

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

Fully trusting your decisions, in every area of your life? How does that sound!

In today's episode, my special guest, Intuition Expert, Lisa K. shares some of the BEST practical guidance and tips on exactly how to recognize when your intuition is guiding you, and how to listen.

Learn more and find all things Lisa K. at

https://lmk88.com/

You can also purchase her beautiful new Intuition deck at:

https://www.lmk88.com/member/product/intuition-inspiration-cards/

Do you feel it? Are you diving into the pool or sitting on the edge waiting to get permission to jump in

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome…hands raised, have you struggled with it? 🙋🏼‍♀️⁣⁣

The photo above is Sean and I opening night at my first official solo Gallery Art show May 9, 2009 (and yes I know Sean has his eyes closed but this is still one of my favorite art career moments and photos of us, because Sean has been such a huge support to me on my Creative journey 💕)⁣

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As a self taught Artist, who didn’t believe I could make a living as an Artist, you can imagine how much I’ve struggled with Imposter Syndrome. ⁣

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Even though I felt it, I didn’t give in, and that’s the only reason I built a business as a Working Artist. ⁣

I trusted myself enough to commit to creating work for, and attending that opening of my first solo Art show.⁣

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That night, with my Art hanging alongside the mural I painted on the gallery wall (see a close-up of the mural below), friends celebrating, some acknowledging my work and new career path for the first time; I wondered, how did I get here? Am I really an Artist? Won’t people judge that I’m self-taught and am only here because I decided to give myself permission to pursue my dream. ⁣

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Yes, and yes. ⁣

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Imposter Syndrome,  judgment or approval from others or not, you are ultimately the one who gives yourself permission to step into your fullest expression and power. ✨💃⁣

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Today on the podcast I’ll be sharing some insight and tips on overcoming it.⁣

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And if you’d like to take this conversation further, join me on Clubhouse @ 10:30 am PST @marisaanne I’ll be hosting a room alongside a special guest, a UK illustrator I connected with on Clubhouse. (Yes, 2 weeks in I'm still a fan of this incredible App…I've got podcast plans with this audio only platform in the works, more details in today's episode.)

I mean EVERYONE, is Clubhouse for you? and especially my Artists.

7 days in this my first review of Clubhouse. Is this (yet) another (audio only) platform that is worth your time? especially if you're a visual Artist.

No eye rolling just yet, ok? Listen in and join me to continue this conversation @4 pm PST on Clubhouse @marisaaanne

What if we get to take this podcast conversation further...!

1 month from today…I made a big announcement to my email friends last Sunday

March 7, 2007 is my Working Artist Anniversary and it was exactly 14 years ago this year, that I started making a living with my Art, and this is also the year I've decided that March 7th I'm retiring Creative Thursday.

There’s been some confusion about what I mean when I say retire. 😅

Not to worry! This isn’t the end of my business or me creating Art, it’s a new chapter and I’ll explain all the details on this week’s podcast.

Until then, it does mean that if you’ve been eyeing a Creative Thursday creation you’ll want to add it to your Collection now 😌

I'm sharing all the details behind this decision and specifically what it means for all of the areas of my business from Art to Podcasting to Mentoring.

What's with all the rushing these days?

Ambition, dedication, focus I get. Rushing, I've learned, actually slows your progress down.

Do you trust the process? or do you feel like you're always trying to get to that next place on the journey?

Have you noticed that when you finally get "there", you have a new dream insight? Are you taking the time to truly appreciate just how far you've come, and how all of the steps that you got here, have been perfect in their unfolding.

On this birthday! I'm sharing with you new discoveries on time and right timing.

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. 

Have you heard of the "Be Do Have Model"? Continuing on with the planning mini-series.

If you're not seeing your plans come into fruition, it might be time for a different approach. Planning is so much more than just putting your goals on a calendar.

Let's close out 2020 with a sense of peace, wholeness and taking all the challenges we've faced into an envisioning a new and brighter future, by answering this question first "How do you want to feel in 2021"?

 Enjoy the new episode and to kick-off your Successful Artist Planning for 2021, get instant access to the mini-course and downloadable worksheet for free!