Season Two Opener - we discuss setting creative goals for the new year. Are resolutions mandatory?

We talk about what has worked for us and what just doesn't.  Do you like a guiding word? A focus? A monthly goal?

Sources Mentioned:

Ali Edwards - One Little Word concept
Trello
The 100 Day Project
Maker's Tech U - Doors Open again for a limited time in late February 2020


OUR LINKS
Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching
Instagram

Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U
Instagram

Roben-Marie and Sandi wrap up their first season podcast with their highlights, bloopers, memories and most popular episodes including our favorite episode of the season. We will return on January 9, 2020 for Season Two.

The episodes we mentioned:
- Episode 9 - The 24 Hour Rule
- Episode 11 - Branding as Storytelling
- Episode 24 - How Creatives Benefit from a Challenge
- Episode 25 - 5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Instagram Profile
- Episode 12 - What Holds You Back

LINKS
Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U

Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching

In this episode, Sandi & Roben-Marie discuss gift ideas for the creative in your life or let's get real - for you!! This fun episode includes: ideas for others, a splurge item, items from our own Amazon wishlist, and a stocking stuffer.

Links for items mentioned:

DIY Watercolor Flowers by Marie Boudon
Mijello Mission Gold watercolor set
Camtasia
How to Draw Inky Wonderlands by Johanna Basford
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
Creative Color Mixing - color wheel
Volcano Blue reed diffuser
Ceramic palette with 7 wells

Disclaimer: We use affiliate codes where available for linked items and will earn a small commission on sales.

OUR LINKS
Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching
Instagram

Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U
Instagram

In this episode, Roben-Marie & Sandi discuss Morning Pages by Julia Cameron from her book, The Artist's Way.

•What are Morning Pages and how do they help the creative mind?
•How to declutter your brain before starting a creative pursuit
•Consider an accountability partner
•Fun alternatives to a notebook
•How the broad strokes of a new idea can surface

LINKS
Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U

Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching

In this episode, Sandi & Roben-Marie discuss tips for the artist who is ready to dive into in person teaching.  These tips are valuable if you are just starting out...beginners!

Key Points
•Why is teaching in person is a necessary step before teaching an online course?
•Knowing your own needs as an instructor.
•How to make sure your students get what they paid for.
•How being a student yourself is important research.
•Where to hold your first class?
•How to prep for a class and learning time management.

Find the podcast on Youtube.

OUR LINKS
Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching
Instagram

Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U
Instagram

Want to get your Instagram profile working for you?  Check out this episode where Roben-Marie and Sandi share five things you can easily do to improve your profile today!

1. Your Profile Name:

Choose a "name" that is searchable and relevant to what you do and who you are.  If you want to use your name, be sure to add a little more to clarify what you do or who you serve.

2. Something Personal:

Add in one or two "personal" things about yourself.  For example: coffee lover, world traveler, food bank volunteer, avid reader, etc. Sprinkle one or two more after step 3 or 4.

3. Who are You?:

It is important that your visitors know what it is you do and who you serve.  Share a short statement sharing what you do and why.  What makes you different? Be specific and drive home your uniqueness.

4. Meaningful Hashtags:

Add in one or two relevant hashtags.  If you have a "signature" hashtag that you use often,  then add it to your profile.

5. Call to Action:

Add a call to action so visitors can explore more of your offerings.  Examples: blog, website, shop, latest challenge, freebie, etc.

Resources mentioned:

Linktree

LINKS
Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U

Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching

Participating in an art challenge will help you grow as a creative, not to mention they are fun and inspiring.  In this episode Sandi and Roben-Marie discuss the benefits of participating in an online creative challenge. It is one of our favorite ways to push ourselves creatively.

BENEFITS OF DOING AN ART CHALLENGE
•Developing a creative habit
•Inspiration
•Working from a prompt
•New friends/community
•Stretching creatively

HOW TO FIND AN ART CHALLENGE
•Annual repeaters
•Save a promo image to your collections on Instagram
•Watch those who do them regularly
•Ask on one of your posts

Challenges mentioned:

The 100 Day Project
March Meet the Maker
Inktober
CaptureYour365 Photo Challenge
21 Days in My Art World

HOW TO GAIN THE MOST FROM PARTICIPATING IN AN ART CHALLENGE

• Just join in and have fun.
•  Make sure you use the challenge hashtag every time you are publishing a post.
• To encourage engagement, leave comments on challenge posts from other participants. 
• Boost the confidence of those you can see are beginners by leaving thoughtful comments on their posts.
• Share the challenge with your followers and be sure to express your thanks to the challenge host(s).
  
  

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• If a challenge prompt doesn’t resonate with you then change it. Be creative. Don’t stay stuck. Do something that suits you.
• Challenges are not timed, and they are not tracked. You can always start them when you are ready and work through them on your schedule.
• When you join a challenge, you can either start from the first prompt or jump in where everyone else is and move forward.

OUR LINKS
Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching
Instagram

Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U
Instagram

In this episode we are discussing the use of Mind Maps as a creative and visual option to organize information.

Key Points:
•They are great for organizing a large project
•They are an optimal way to see the big picture
•Helps you see the missing elements 

Supporting Links:
Popplet
Mind-Meister


LINKS
Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U

Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching

I think I am ready to teach an online class - HELP!  In this episode, Roben-Marie and Sandi discuss:

•When are you ready to teach online?
•How do you know you have a class-worthy idea?
•Protecting your idea in the Social Media world.
•Equipment and skill sets needed
•Basic editing skills needed
•Teach for yourself vs teaching for an organization/online group

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Salvaged Journal Workshop
Pocket Journals Workshop
Camtasia
IMovie
Maker's Tech U
Popup Art Classes


OUR LINKS
Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching
Instagram

Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U
Instagram

Are you considering turning your hobby into a business? How do you know if you are ready or have the skill set you need?

Roben-Marie & Sandi discuss 10 ideas to give you a small taste of business life:

- See what you like, what you never want to do again.
- Research what you think you want to do. What is really involved?
- Where do your skills lie? What do you need to improve?

Supporting Links:
Canva
Challenge Ideas

LINKS
Roben-Marie:
Website
Courses
Maker's Tech U

Sandi Keene:
Website
Popup Art Classes
Coaching