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

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

Be honest: how's your 2024 Social Media plan looking?

Are you feeling ready with a big picture strategy in place, or are you reading this thinking, Marisa what are you talking about "ready", I barely know what to post tomorrow let alone the rest of 2024

Would you like to feel more prepared when it comes to your marketing?

What if this is the year you could change the hamster wheel approach of: overwhelm + procrastinate = now I feel behind so why bother with any sort of plan at all ~

to breathing easier because you feel clear and excited about what you're creating and sharing with the wonderful people who can't wait to see (and collect) what you're working on.

On this first Creative Thursday of the new year, the energy of clarity that comes with a clean slate is on your side which is why I'm excited to welcome you to part 2 of the Time Management series where I'm continuing to answer your questions and sharing tips on how to organize your social media content so that you're not constantly trying to figure out "what to post" and wondering whether what you post will actually help you reach your people and grow your Art business.

When I find myself getting overloaded by a long list of to dos, a simple practice of physical and/or digital organization is the best place to start to catch my breath and clear my head.

With that approach in mind let's get into some practical tips to help you get organized.

In this episode, I share:

• what tools and apps I use to organize and back-up my assets
• how I organize my photos and social media images so that they're easy to find
• what apps I use to enhance and elevate my photography

It's getting close now...let's kick off the new year, with an inspiring planning session together.

We start Monday, January 15

Join the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge + Coaching Week

Join the Artful Selling Waitlist

What does your ideal work day look like?

A question I'm often is what does my the structure of my day looks like and how do I schedule it to support my goals.

Do you know your energy levels throughout the days of a week, at particular times of day?

When it comes to planning your ideal schedule where does your productivity excel?

All important questions to help you be efficient with your time and effective with your focus. But not more important than the one question I come back to asking every time you ask me about how I plan.

In this episode I remind you of that single most important question that you want an answer to that will help you all the rest of your plans fall into place.

I also share with you the full list of responsibilities I have in the business today while stepping you through exactly how my days and week look based upon my answer to the questions above.

In a nutshell, this is how I get things done in my business.

Part 1 of a series on Time Management. Send me your DM's on Instagram @ creativethursday with any time management suggestions and questions you'd like me to answer and I'll include them in the podcast.

And stay tuned for the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge, starting January 8, so we can do some planning together!

If you tuned into the episode on this Thursday the episode dropped, super secret invite you can join us for the last time this year as a Founding Monthly or Annual Member in the brand new Daily Painters Membership where we'll be making Art together all year long!

https://cart.creativethursday.com/daily-painters-founding-member/

Did you hear the news? Not only am I now a happily married Mrs!

During my time away from the podcast I had an epiphany, a realization about what's been missing, what can no longer take a back seat, and the dreams I'm fulfilling in 2024.

I've got a lot to fill you in on and I'm starting by sharing the story of the Cranky Bunny, and the inspiration behind a brand new idea and Artist community I just opened that I've been thinking about since 2006.

I'm also excited to invite you to come have some holiday fun, creative painting time with me starting Monday!

Join me for the Ornament Painting Workshop starting Monday, December 11

https://ornamentpainting.shinepages.com/

Welcome to another installment of Artist Success Stories.

This episode highlights 2 of our Expansive Artist Members sharing stories about how they came to follow their passion and experience breakthroughs with their Art + Creative Businesses.

Artists; Molly Ovenden, Leah Selk join me for this episode where we talk about:

• Molly, a full-time multi-disciplinary Artist, shares how she lets one art from influence another, and how adopting the practice of planning and embracing a business owner mindset, has transformed her creative practice and how she runs her business today with the ability to think long term
• Leah, a watercolor Artist who wasn't sure if being an Artist was meant for her (even after she graduated Art School) shares how she went from wondering if she could actually make sales to people who aren't her friends to knowing she CAN do this, growing in confidence to raise her prices and selling $6K at her first local gallery show which is leading to even more opportunities in her local community

Perfect timing to join our inspiring community of Expansive Artists! Doors are OPEN for the last time to the public this year starting today through next Tuesday, October 3 @ 11:59 pm PDT

Get ready to experience your next Creative + Art Business breakthrough with plenty of support, accountability, and encouragement along the way.

We can't wait to welcome you!

Come join us!

https://theexpansiveartists.com/

You can find all things

Molly Ovenden

Mollyovenden.com

@Mollyovendencreativity on Instagram

Leah Selk

Leahselk.ca

@leahselkart on Instagram

To get the latest updates, click here to join the Creative Thursday List

Specifically, what keeps you from putting your work out in the world for sale?

Is it:

• that it's hard for you to part with your originals?
• you're afraid of the response how it will be received?
• you're concerned it might not sell?

And what does it mean if your work doesn't sell?

Welcome to another session of Creative Business Coaching over coffee where Artist Una Marz courageously, and vulnerably answers the questions above when she asked for coaching help to understand her fears around releasing her original works.

Una and I talk through her fears after I share several announcements from

• Sell A Piece of Art Challenge starting this Monday! to
• Opening registration to my first in-person painting workshop in Los Angeles this November
• To the story of how the opportunity to design my first box of cards for Papyrus came to be.

Join us for Sell A Piece of Art this Week

sellmyartthisweek.com

Join me, with my dear friend and award-winning floral designer Alyssa Van Guilder of Apotheca Flowers for our in-person floral design + painting event and creative business brunch.

Save your spot for 1, 2, or 3 days

Floral Design + Painting Workshop

You can find all things Una Marz at @una.marz

 Card box featured above Creative Thursday by Marisa for Papyrus cards.

Hi! It's me Marisa, your Creative Biz Bestie sharing the scoop on

• why
• how and
• when to get support as a Creative especially if you're pursuing Creativity as your career.

I break down the possibilities for learning in my multi-layer cake approach to education, along with

• the choices you'll make when it comes to investing in your education
• how to be discerning when getting support from experienced Mentors
• and how to know if they are right for you
• how to determine your budget for investing in your support

I also talk about the importance of when and how to choose a Mentor who has Coaching expertise,

• the skills that make a good Coach
• the training needed
• to practical and intuitive guidance

And in response to an Expansive Artist member request for more Mindset recommendations from podcasts to books I share some of my favorites with you.

Join us for Sell A Piece of Art this Week Challenge + Coaching

https://sellmyartthisweek.com/

Want to know when spots open up for 1:1 Coaching again

email us at support@creativethursday.com

See you over on Instagram for some Creative Business Coaching @creativethursday

Did you get a chance to listen to episode 317 (part 1) and 318 (part 2)

WARNING: Don't listen to part 3 until you've listened to parts 1 and 2 in order.

I kid, and yet I don't.

I'm guessing you're a freedom seeker like me and you like to do things your way, and I get that.

I can't make you listen to these episodes in order. You are free to listen to them, however, whenever you like. But if you really want to get the most from tuning into this series of episodes, listen to them, and journal your honest answers to the prompts in order.

Ok, I've said my peace. On with part 3! :)

So you've been doing "all the things" to sell your work and you're still not having the success you want?

You're trying to make changes in your "Mindset" but the changes aren't sticking? WHY?

And the defeat you're feeling is starting to get you down and making you question whether this Artist life is actually meant for you?

What can you do about it?

While we have access to a lot of education around the practical steps to selling your Art + Creations, there aren't enough conversations around this very important piece to selling your work ~ mastering your ENERGY.

Let's keep the conversation going with part 3, the final installment of a 3-part series.

In today's episode, I'm sharing how to change the habits that may be holding you back from finding consistent success + sales with your Creative Work.

Spoiler Alert: Don't skip ahead! Did you get a chance to listen to episode 317 (part 1)

So you've been doing "all the things" to sell your work and you're still not having the success you want?

You're trying to make changes in your "Mindset" but the changes aren't sticking? WHY?

If you haven't listened yet, to get the most of this series talking about how to find more success at selling your work, be sure to go back and journal your answers to the prompts I share in part 1.

While we have access to a lot of education around the practical steps to selling your Art + Creations, there aren't enough conversations around this very important piece to selling your work ~ your ENERGY.

Let's keep the conversation going with part 2 of a 3-part series.

There's a lot of talk around Mindset when it comes to success, specifically making Money, but what creates your Mindset?

When does it start?

What if your mindset isn't working for you?

How do you change it?

There's a foundational piece you don't want to miss if you want to create lasting transformation that will help you create the life you envision.

I'm talking about the foundation in part 2 of this 3-part series.