Art + Audience

In this episode, Stacie welcomes the vibrantly passionate Shelly Kim, the artist behind Letters by Shells. Shelly shares her incredible journey from discovering art as a stress-relief hobby to building a thriving business that has embraced a multitude of creative outlets, including lettering, digital art, and DIY projects. Discover how Shelly navigated periods of burnout, found joy in artistic exploration, and learned the invaluable lesson of outsourcing to sustain her passion.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Shelly’s Art Origin Story: How art transformed from a simple hobby into a full-fledged career. Initially, Shelly began lettering to unwind from work stress and found joy in creating without constraints.

• The Evolution of Craft: Shelly explains how experimenting with various art mediums, from watercolors to digital iPad drawings, helped rejuvenate her love for creativity, especially during the pandemic.

• Authenticity Over Niche: Insights into why Shelly chose not to confine herself to a single artistic niche, allowing her work to evolve organically and leading to unexpected opportunities like press-on nail collaborations and partnerships with major brands like Michaels.

• Outsourcing and Support: Shelly candidly shares the turning point when she realized the necessity of asking for help to prevent burnout. She highlights her initial struggle with accomplishing tasks  and how hiring a video editor and virtual assistant has positively impacted her workload and creativity.

• Lessons from Mistakes: The importance of not overloading oneself and learning to delegate effectively—crucial takeaways for any creative entrepreneur.

• Advice for Artists: Shelly’s encouragement for artists to celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, and to stay connected to the joy that sparked their creative journey.

Connect with Shelly Kim:

• Instagram: @lettersbyshells

• Website: lettersbyshells.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Join the Creative Powerhouse Society and build a profitable art business with Stacie Bloomfield, visit leverageyourart.com/membership or email [email protected]

Black Friday is just around the corner! In this solo episode, Stacie takes us behind the scenes of her journey through Black Friday successes—and some not-so-successful moments. Sharing candid stories about her early days selling on Etsy, Stacie highlights the lessons she learned from a disappointing Black Friday and offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs preparing for the holiday shopping season. Whether you’re a seasoned seller or just getting started, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you strategize, promote, and maximize your Black Friday sales.

Today on Art + Audience:

• A Black Friday Wake-Up Call: Stacie reflects on her early business missteps when an unprepared Black Friday left her anxiously refreshing her Etsy page—learning the hard way that effort and strategy are essential.

• The Power of Early Advertising: She emphasizes the importance of promoting Black Friday sales weeks in advance using email newsletters, social media, and ads to build anticipation.

• Email Marketing is a Must: Stacie shares her passion for newsletters and urges listeners to overcome their hesitation about self-promotion. She explains that sending frequent newsletters is key to staying top of mind, especially during the holiday season.

• Discount Strategies That Work: Drawing from her experience with Gingiber, Stacie offers advice on pricing your products strategically—whether with 20-30% off discounts, free shipping, or bundled deals.

• Consistency Builds Connection: Through personal anecdotes, Stacie explains how consistently showing up online has cultivated a loyal customer base for her brand.

• What If You’re Just Starting? Practical suggestions for new entrepreneurs—such as offering custom artwork or leveraging scarcity tactics like countdown timers to create urgency.

• Post-Event Evaluation: Stacie encourages listeners to reflect on what worked (and what didn’t) after the holiday season to refine their approach for next year.

Resources:

• Sign up on Shopify using Stacie’s affiliate link

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

In this special episode, Stacie joins Shirlee Fisher for a presentation within The Tillage Village Membership. In her talk, Stacie delves deep into the intricacies of procrastination, exploring how to turn it from a foe into a powerful ally. She shares her personal journey with procrastination, distinguishing between negative and positive procrastination, and emphasizes the transformative potential of structured delay. Through candid stories and practical advice, Stacie provides listeners with strategies to embrace procrastination intentionally, boosting productivity and creativity in the process.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Introduction to Positive Procrastination: Stacie explains the concept of positive procrastination, which involves postponing non-urgent tasks to make space for more fulfilling and meaningful activities. She describes how this approach can help creatives harness their natural tendencies for better outcomes.

• Stacie’s Personal Anecdote on Podcast Launch: Stacie recounts her struggle with launching her podcast. After months of feeling pressured and uninspired, she chose to delay the launch. Once she relieved herself of the rigid deadline, her creativity flowed, and she was able to record the podcast with renewed energy.

• The Difference Between Negative and Positive Procrastination: Stacie discusses the characteristics of negative procrastination, such as avoidance and unintentional delays, and contrasts them with the intentional nature of positive procrastination, where tasks are postponed for strategic reasons.

• Harnessing Structured Procrastination: Drawing from Dr. John Perry's research, Stacie shares how structured procrastinators get more done by completing smaller, less urgent tasks while delaying bigger projects—without guilt or shame.

• Setting Up for Success with Intentional Delays: Stacie advises on how to plan tasks effectively, allowing ideas to mature over time. She emphasizes the importance of aligning deadlines with personal work rhythms, rather than forcing early starts that may lead to unnecessary stress and subpar work.

• Practical Tips for Overcoming Negative Procrastination: Stacie offers actionable steps, such as breaking tasks into smaller steps, setting "smarter" goals, and integrating rituals that can help shift from negative to positive procrastination.

Resources:

• Dr. John Perry's Work on Structured Procrastination

• Book: Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

• Arthur C. Brooks' Insights on Positive Procrastination

Learn more about The Tillage Village:

The Tillage Village is a community membership hosted by Shirlee Fisher for artists and creative entrepreneurs who desire support, mentorship, and professional development on their journey. 

Shirlee Fisher is an illustrator and owner of the stationery brand, Quiet Lines Design, where she sells her products in over 250 shops in the US and Canada, including Paper Source and Anthropologie. She also hosts the beloved show, "The Tillage Podcast, " which has become a place providing mindset shifts, self-development, and encouragement to the creative entrepreneur. 

Connect with Shirlee Fisher:

• Instagram: @quietlinesdesign 

• Website: quietlinesdesign.com

• Podcast: thetillagepodcast.com | @thetillagepodcast 

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

Today, Stacie is joined by her good friend and illustrator, Genna Blackburn, for an insightful conversation about finding your signature style and growing a loyal audience. Genna shares her journey from graphic design to surface design, how she overcame creative blocks, and the challenges she faced while transitioning into art licensing. They discuss the importance of developing a cohesive Instagram feed, building an email list, and consistently showing up for your audience. Genna's story serves as an inspiring roadmap for artists looking to balance creativity with audience growth.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Introduction to Genna Blackburn: Genna shares her background as an illustrator and surface designer based in Detroit. From ballroom dancing to graphic design, she’s found her niche in creating childlike designs for kids' products, such as diapers and puzzles.

• Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Style: Genna talks about the transition from graphic design, where creativity often took a back seat, to discovering her voice as an illustrator. She candidly discusses the self-doubt she faced and how she developed her signature style over time.

• Building an Email List: Genna emphasizes the importance of creating a lead magnet (like her free guide to finding your style) as a way to organically grow an audience. She shares how she built an email list of 4,500 subscribers without ads by simply offering value.

• Developing a Cohesive Instagram Feed: Cohesiveness, Genna explains, is key to growing on Instagram. She talks about limiting color palettes and planning her posts to create a feed that attracts both art directors and potential clients.

• Authenticity and Engagement: Stacie and Genna dive into how authenticity—being vulnerable about struggles and real experiences—helps build genuine relationships with an audience. Genna shares tips on how to keep talking about your work, overcoming the fear of self-promotion.

Connect with Genna Blackburn:

• Instagram: @gennablackburn

• Website: gennablackburn.com

• Download her Free Guide: gennablackburn.com/style

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

Today, Stacie sits down with Sandra Mejia, a Colombian-born, Canadian-based illustrator and pattern designer. Sandra shares her incredible journey of leaving a corporate career, pursuing her creative passions, and learning important lessons along the way. They discuss the challenges artists face when starting a business, the importance of focusing on one thing before expanding, and how artists can regain focus after trying to do too much. Sandra’s story is a testament to the power of taking risks, listening to your body, and building a sustainable business without burning out.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Sandra’s Journey from Corporate to Creative: Sandra describes how she left her stable job in Colombia to pursue art, selling everything she owned and moving to Argentina to find her creative path.

• The Danger of Doing Too Much: Sandra shares how she started her business by creating too many products at once, which led to exhaustion and a lack of focus. Stacie relates, emphasizing how starting small with one product is often more effective.

• Finding Focus After a Creative Leap: After moving to Canada, Sandra learned the value of narrowing her focus. She discusses how limiting her product offerings and honing her skills led to more success.

• The Importance of Strategy Over “Hope Marketing”: Stacie and Sandra both agree that hope marketing—creating products and hoping they sell without a clear strategy—can be a trap for new artists. Instead, they advise focusing on one signature product or service and building from there.

• When to Shift and Pivot: Sandra talks about learning when to let go of products that aren’t selling and redirect energy toward what works, rather than stubbornly sticking with a failing approach.

Connect with Sandra Mejia:

• Instagram: @artbysandramejia

• Website: artbysandramejia.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

In this engaging episode, Stacie sits down with Jehane, an accomplished art licensing agent and artist, to discuss the nuances of transitioning from a freelance artist to an agent. Jehane shares her 30-year journey in the creative industry, highlighting the importance of relationships, resilience, and authenticity in both art creation and business. They delve into the challenges artists face when navigating licensing, the vital role of relationship building, and how Jehane’s unique path led her to represent artists with her agency, Jehane Ltd.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Jehane's Journey: Jehane shares her evolution from a full-time freelance designer to founding her own illustration agency. With 30 years of industry experience, she reflects on how being an artist has informed her approach as an agent.

• The Role of Illustration: Jehane discusses the significance of illustration in various applications like books, branding, and packaging, emphasizing how it's often more about the narrative and commissioning process than just licensing existing work.

• Transitioning to Agent: Jehane talks about the pivotal moment of transitioning from artist to agent, driven by her love for collaboration and connection, and the need to continue working after becoming a mother.

• Building Relationships: Both Jehane and Stacie stress the importance of relationship building over sheer volume in pitching artwork, sharing personal anecdotes about mistakes and learning curves that shaped their careers.

• The Importance of Authenticity: Jehane advises artists to focus on originality and authenticity, steering away from following trends just for the sake of commercial success.

• Challenges in the Industry: The conversation touches on the unpredictability of the art licensing industry, the importance of perseverance, and how artists can sustain themselves creatively and financially without putting all their eggs in one basket.

• AI Art and Industry Evolution: Jehane shares her thoughts on AI-generated art, reassuring artists that the demand for authentic, human-created work remains strong, even as technology evolves.

Connect with Jehane:

• Instagram: @jehane_ltd

• Website: jehane.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

In this inspiring episode, Stacie chats with Rebecca Woolbright, a dear friend and successful artist who has transformed her art business from selling washi tape to running a thriving enterprise. Rebecca shares her journey from owning a snorkel shop in Maui to becoming a successful artist and businesswoman. They discuss the power of automation in scaling an art business, the importance of setting boundaries, and practical advice for artists looking to grow their businesses.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Introduction to Rebecca Woolbright: Stacie introduces Rebecca, highlighting their friendship and Rebecca's impressive growth since taking Stacie's "Leverage Your Art" course in 2020.

• Rebecca’s Journey: From running a snorkel shop in Maui to launching her art business, Rebecca shares how she started with washi tape inspired by her honeymoon in Japan.

• The Power of Automation: Rebecca explains how automating her email pitches with tools like Streak helped her grow from 30 to 170 shops, saving her time and increasing efficiency.

• Embracing Challenges: The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, systemizing your processes, and setting boundaries to manage your time effectively.

• Advice for Artists: Encouragement to stop overthinking and just start pitching your work, using automation to depersonalize and streamline the process.

Connect with Rebecca Woolbright:

• Instagram: @rebecca_jane_woolbright

• Website: manufactureawesome.com | rebeccajanewoolbright.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

In this solo episode, Stacie tackles a counterintuitive yet vital topic: the importance of taking a hard break when your art business hits a roadblock. Drawing from her personal experiences, including a transformative sabbatical, Stacie emphasizes the necessity of stepping back to rejuvenate, gain clarity, and ultimately, unlock new opportunities for growth. She shares how burnout and overworking can stifle creativity and progress and provides actionable advice on how to recognize the need for rest and implement it effectively.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Personal Experience with Burnout: Stacie shares her own story of reaching severe burnout in 2023, which led to a two-month sabbatical. She candidly discusses the emotional and physical toll overworking had on her, and how stepping away provided a much-needed reset.

• The Benefits of Taking a Break: Highlighting her sabbatical in Europe, Stacie explains how disconnecting from work allowed her to recharge and return with a renewed perspective, resulting in new opportunities and success in her art licensing business.

• Advice for Artists Facing Burnout: Encouraging listeners to recognize the signs of burnout, Stacie advises taking a genuine break—detaching from all work-related activities to focus on personal well-being and mental health.

• Personal Anecdotes and Practical Tips: Stacie shares practical tips for effectively taking a break, including delegating tasks, planning, and creating a supportive environment that allows for true rest.

• Reconnecting with Your Passion: The episode wraps up with Stacie urging artists to create for joy, take staycations, and seek inspiration outside their usual routines to reignite their creativity and passion for their work.

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

In this episode, Stacie sits down with Ashley Paggi, the creative force behind Ash Cascade Design. Ashley shares her journey from stay-at-home mom and graphic designer to successful surface pattern designer and business owner. Their conversation delves into the significant 'uh-oh' moment in Ashley's career involving a licensing lapse, how she navigated it, and the invaluable lessons learned. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring artists looking to build their audience and protect their work.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Introduction to Ashley Paggi: Ashley introduces herself, her business Ash Cascade Design, and her transition from graphic designer to surface pattern designer.

• Building a Personal Brand: Ashley discusses how her personal story and environment influence her art, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in connecting with an audience.

• Engaging an Audience: Tips on building an engaged audience through storytelling, brand photography, and intentional sharing.

• Navigating Licensing Challenges: Ashley shares a major licensing mishap, the importance of contracts, and how she turned a potential disaster into a learning experience.

• Advice for Artists: Encouragement to embrace mistakes, seek community support, and advocate for oneself in professional relationships.

Connect with Ashley Paggi:

• Instagram: @ash_cascade_design

• Website: ashcascade.com

Resources:

• In-Depth Contract Walk-Through with Jason Aquilino

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

On this special episode, Stacie chats with the multifaceted artist and educator Peggy Dean. Peggy shares her journey of embracing authenticity, overcoming imposter syndrome, and finding her true creative path. They delve into the challenges and rewards of building an art business, the importance of being genuinely yourself, and the pitfalls of trying to fit into someone else's mold. Peggy's story is a testament to the power of self-trust, radical authenticity, and the joy of continuous learning.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Introduction to Peggy Dean: Stacie introduces Peggy Dean, highlighting her diverse artistic talents and her significant impact in the creative community.

• Authenticity and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Peggy discusses the importance of staying true to oneself and the struggles of imposter syndrome.

• Building an Audience Organically: Peggy shares how she grew her audience authentically without ad spend, focusing on genuine engagement and valuable content.

• The Power of Mistakes: Peggy talks about how mistakes can reignite passion and help artists return to their core.

• Teaching and Lifelong Learning: Peggy discusses her love for teaching, the courses she offers, and the joy of seeing her students excited about learning.

• Personal Anecdotes: Stacie and Peggy share personal stories about their creative journeys and significant milestones.

• Advice for Aspiring Artists: Peggy offers advice on trusting your ideas, creating more than consuming, and connecting with your target audience.

• Peggy's Creative Course Lab: Peggy introduces her course, Creative Course Lab, to help artists create their own online courses.

Connect with Peggy Dean:

• Instagram: @thepigeonletters

• Website: thepigeonletters.com

• PRE-ORDER: Jungle Tigers Tea Towel by Peggy Dean

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber