A thoughtful listener sent in a question that resonated deeply with this community: "How have you handled the different seasons of your life while maintaining your business?"
 
As we talk about play and creative freedom, paying attention to sustainability is also incredibly important. There’s a delicate balance that most artists need to find between creative freedom and emotional safety (which also includes financial security).
 
Listed to my five tips for growing a profitable business while also ENJOYING all of it!
 
Making Art Work opens soon! JOIN US
Check out the Artist Path to Success to learn about your unique creative journey and business growth 
Come see the art that's making me happiest on Instagram (the videos are BEAUTIFUL!)
Visit my studio (virtually) :)
The Poem I read by Mary Oliver can be found in this book

But Can You Have Fun AND Make Money?

Empowering artists to live creatively and to THRIVE while doing so!  A Podcast from Emily Jeffords Studio

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Being human is hard.Let your creativity make it easier.








Your creativity is boundless, your imagination is unyielding, and the weight of this world is unrelenting.
 




Vyana Novus joins us in this very tender and open discussion on creativity, trauma, beauty, and safety in this interview-episode. You will walk away feeling so deeply seen and reminded that pain is integral to our growth and often plays a part in the creation of good art. Vyana is one of my dearest friends and we talk like two people who have a deep understanding of one another and a lot of mutual admiration -- but you're also going to hear a lot of curiosity and vulnerability as we get into some deep topics.
 
 
TW: We discuss SA, ED, intimate partner abuse, and trauma. Nothing is described in any graphic detail but I want you to be aware in case you are looking for a purely light episode. I have 100 others you can listen to. However, this episode is BEAUTIFUL and full of safety and love. 
 
Visit Vyana's site (it's gorgeous) and follow them on Instagram 
Find me (Emily Jeffords) at @Emily_Jeffords and emilyjeffords.com

Can You Create Beauty From Trauma? With Vyana Novus

Hey there, friend! Welcome back to the Do It For The Process podcast – it's so great to have you here again. I've been pouring my heart into creating a fresh body of work in the studio and the painting process has taught me SO much -- yet again.
Here's the thing I've realized: pleasure is the goal. Finding joy in the process is everything. Sometimes your own happiness can be the only goal -- in and out of the studio.
Trying things that excite you and feel new can make the entire process come to life. I've learned to embrace imperfection, to savor every moment of creation without worrying about getting it just right. And you know what? It's been so liberating, especially when I start painting within my life rather than trying to carve studio time out of my life. Now I try to create in flow AND flow in and out of my studio as I'm led by desire. Even when that means I involve my little one in the creative process. It's honestly so fun to create and paint WITH him.
 
Perfection is boring. Let yourself create what feels most alive and most alive. Be someone more focused on receiving inspiration rather than how you or your work is affecting others. It's so powerful when I can shed perfectionism and just appreciate the goodness in my work. It feels so good and so alive and freeing! 
 
As always, it is a delight to create and share my practice and this gorgeous collection of work with you.
 
See some behind-the-scenes on Instagram: @Emiy_Jeffords
Explore TikTok with me: @emily_jeffords
Follow my daily musings on Threads (It's genuinely delightful over there)

Emily Is Painting! (and it's going GREAT. For real.)

Get the full experience and tune into the workshops (and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets) HERE. 
The Share the Work videos are available through March 21st! 
MAKING art WORK
Share the Work
Emily Jeffords' art
Instagram
TikTok
if someone buys something for their home or themselves, they want to enjoy that thing. In order to enjoy something, we have to VALUE it. In this episode, we talk about all the ways we might be devaluing our own art and efforts before ever showing our work to someone else! 
As you let your imagination expand, your aspirations will follow.
And your aspirations will soon turn into goals
 
So much of Making Art Work is deeply practical – HOW TO grow a business around your art, when to take certain steps, the methods that make the magic… but so much of the work we do is loosening the mindsets that keep us from creating bravely and sharing our work well. 
This is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! Get all the details HERE

Share the Work -- How To Grow Your Dream Career

Tune into the LIVE workshops and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets HERE. They are available through March 21st! 
MAKING art WORK is OPEN! Learn all about this life-changing and STUDIO-GROWING masterclass HERE. 
 
So far we’ve talked about The 3 things you must know to sell art online, how to know if your art is worth selling, and TODAY, I’m sharing 5 super practical, actionable tips that you can use to support your work in the world.
Marketing your art in 2024 is very different than marketing in 2014, 1924, 1400...  We have had to evolve exponentially as Creative Entrepreneurs.  We have SO much freedom and creative control over our work and careers.  The ability to meet collectors on our own -- the ability to grow and expand our work as we would like...  it's all very exciting!
 
Wondering where you can go to meet all these amazing, elusive collectors? 
Let's talk about marketing your work in 2024!  If I were to choose only 5 areas to market, it would be these:
Email Marketing
Make your studio emails a vibrant and exciting place.  Share behind the scenes, your inspiration, offer a peek inside your studio, stories and insights...  This is an intimate space! 
Create a “studio email list” of people who are interested in you + your work
Nurture those people with a beautiful “welcome sequence” — a collection of 2-10 emails that are automatically sent to your subscribers sharing:
Send early access to artwork or collections
 
Social Media
Show up on social media as a fine artist, designer, maker, PROFESSIONAL
Understand why you are there and why you are posting. Choose 1-2 platforms and get to know the culture and content that is doing well on those platforms. 
Share your work beautifully and consistently: photograph it well, bring people into the studio, allow them to get to know your story (as it relates to your creative work), and don’t be afraid to share/sell your work! 
Share your work regularly – when someone comes to your account, is your “highest” work front and center.
Many more practical tips inside of Making Art Work on growing your social media accounts, creating effective content, and maintaining a marketing calendar. Come find me on Instagram and TikTok! 
 
Use the magic of Pinterest
Pinterest is one of the VERY best places to share your work as a visual creative!
Pins tend to mature over age and offer benefits to your work 1-12 months after they are pinned.
Pinterest ads are also something to consider if you're ready to invest some $$ and thought into marketing.
Pin your work directly to Pinterest from the listing or blog post.  Also, pin your Instagram posts!  Why not reuse that glorious content? 
 
Vary the content you pin: original content from your site or other platforms, photos, videos, as well as pins from other sites that will compliment your work.
 
COLLABORATE 
Working with another creative, a designer, blogger, editor, podcaster… be your best advocate and PR.
Cross-promote, share platforms, go live with your friends, offer value to other brands and media.
Reach out to designers in your local community and offer them a trade discount (10-20% off).  You can also request or barter for amazing photographs!  
I didn't mention this in the video, but you can also with designers to rent your artwork for staged homes.  Some wonderful passive income!  
Commercial designers: restaurants, offices, hotels...
 
Show up IRL
Find ways to share your work in real life – in the real world. This could be at art shows, galleries, craft fairs, wholesale your work in shops, liscence your work and be known in your community. 
The connections you can make in-person are so much greater and more effective for both marketing and for sales. One in-person meeting is worth at least 10 online meetings.  Be warm, welcoming, intentional, and get ready to welcome new people into your community!
MARKETING and growing your studio is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk

Share the Work -- Where *I* Am Marketing in 2024

Join the LIVE workshops and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets HERE. They are available through March 21st! 
 
Let’s get to the heart of the issue: You need to elevate your BRAND.
Yep. You. You have a brand.
I know… It's weird. 
And also kind of fancy!
Let's talk about what a brand is before we get all bristly and closed off. A brand is far more than a logo. It is far more than your website. It's not your icons, graphics, images, the tiny alligator on your shirt, the label inside of your coat…
 
Your brand is the feeling people experience when they come in contact with your work. How cool is that! Now, allllll the things mentioned above absolutely matter and help to convey your brand, but they are not the brand.
>>>> You are in charge of bringing value to your work.
Your work might be lovely and you are authentically sharing it with your audience, but if you’re not presenting it beautifully and effectively, they won’t have the chance to appreciate it.
As you create a brand, you have space to elevate and grow.
 
This is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! Get all the details HERE

But Can You Have Fun AND Make Money?

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