How to Sell Art: The Abundant Artist Podcast

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Joining Cory in today’s podcast is Kiffanie Stahle, the “friendly” lawyer who helps artists get the legal side of their art businesses in order. A firm believer in focusing on the “why” rather than the “what”, Kiffanie advises artists to first decide what they actually need to meet their business goals, rather than just investing big in legal matters that may not be required at all in their specific circumstances.

In this episode, Kiffanie spells out the six basic rules that every professional artist must adhere to, to avoid getting caught in the legal net. She mentions some free templates available on her website that may be a good starting point for artists just beginning their art career. Kiffanie also talks about how easy it could be to gather tax and other legal information in your state – often just a phone call away.

Tune in to today’s episode for more legal insights, a bit about Kiffanie’s minimalist life traveling the western US since 2020, and her goal to make life easier for small creative businesses. Well, legally at least.

Key Takeaways:

[1:12] Cory asks Kiffanie to tell the TAA audience a little about how she started her journey as a lawyer helping artists with legal dos and don’ts.

[3:00] Kiffanie reminisces about how she founded the artist's J.D. as a place to provide legal tools and resources for artists, and how it has now evolved into a membership community, offering books, courses and templates.

[4:38] How the year 2020 made a big life change for Kiffanie, and how her minimalist lifestyle impacted her legal thoughts.

[6:39] Is getting a trademark necessary?

[7:00] Kiffanie believes that there are only six things that are required of artists when it comes to the legal side of their small creative businesses.

[9:49] Kiffanie explains how a simple email can also be a valid contract in the eyes of the law.

[11:39] Cory asks Kiffanie how Entrepreneur Magazine has a trademark, given that a business name that merely describes what you do is not eligible for a trademark.

[16:15] When do you need to do more legal stuff, if you have covered the six necessary tasks already?

[17:54] Kiffanie has a free template on her website which artists can use to create a really simple, easy and readable privacy policy and terms of service.

[20:04] Cory asks Kiffanie to quickly define GDPR and CCPA.

[22:02] If your creative stuff is primarily targeted at children, there’s a whole lot of separate laws that you will need to be cognisant of.

[23:25] Cory asks Kiffanie to explain what one needs to do to comply with the various tax requirements.

[24:18] Kiffanie often recommends her clients to get in touch with their respective Chambers of Commerce for understanding the tax rules and regulations applicable to them.

[31:39] At what point should artists start reviewing their tax affairs on a regular basis?

[33:30] Who are enrolled agents, and how are they different from CPAs?

[35:35] To decide what legal tasks you must complete, you must know where your business is going.

[37:29] Kiffanie has been out of social media for three years now – this is one of her experiments in life minimalism.

[38:22] Cory asks Kiffanie how artists would get in touch with her if they are curious to learn more about legal matters or need legal help.

[40:06] What is Kiffanie’s takeaway from spending so much time working with creative people?

[42:08] Cory thanks Kiffanie for a super-informative episode!

Mentioned in This Episode:

the artist's J.D.

Stahle Law website

Kiffanie’s Website Policy Mad Libs

Kiffanie’s Legal Roadmap book

Kiffanie’s Join me for coffee each Friday

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Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Our guest today is Marisa S White, an award-winning artist-photographer based in Colorado. A drawing and painting major, Marisa fell in love with photography in college and eventually began to incorporate it into her work, creating mixed media collages. In 2012, she was introduced to Photoshop, and her artistic world changed forever.

In this episode, Marisa shares her journey as an artist, why she went from art school to setting up her own payroll business to back in school learning photography, how her “decent personality for sales” has served her well, how she handles her gallery relations, and many more tidbits about her art life.

Join us for today’s podcast to learn more about Marisa's “trials-and-errors” in life which, she believes, have got her to the point where she is now.

Key Takeaways:

[1:20] Cory kicks off the conversation with Marisa asking how she came up with the idea for her series titled Certain These Clouds Go Somewhere.

[4:48] Cory reminisces about his growing up years in Utah, and how he resonates with Marisa’s creative feelings emanating from being surrounded by giant mountains and being in and among the clouds.

[7:19] How does Marisa describe herself – a photographer, an artist, or a collage artist?

[8:12] Marisa shares her art journey with the TAA audience, from art school to where she is today.

[11:20] How going to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography and being exposed to Photoshop there changed the course of Marisa’s art career.

[14:35] Cory asks Marisa why she decided to sell her payroll business and go back to school to learn photography.

[17:22] What does Marisa mean when she says she has “a decent personality for sales?”

[19:40] Cory compares the sales cycle in the mid-upper tier of the art market with that of enterprise software solutions.

[22:23] How Marisa loves to share the stories behind her artworks with visitors in art fairs.

[24:20] Marisa talks about her creative process.

[28:48] Why Marisa thinks that making behind-the-scenes videos of their creative process can be a bit frustrating for artists since they do a lot of things “in the moment,” but why she still recommends doing so.

[30:43] How do buyers find Marisa?

[31:40] Apart from galleries and art fairs, sales through social media have started picking up lately for Marisa.

[32:10] How does Marisa choose the art fairs she goes to?

[34:14] Why it is important as an artist to keep track of where your sales are coming from.

[36:13] Cory asks Marisa whether she has formal contracts with the galleries she is working with.

[39:46] Marisa explains how she handles her relationships with multiple galleries.

[43:10] Why is Marisa using both Photobiz and ArtStoreFronts for her website?

[45:22] Marisa is going to get her own retail space soon.

[47:31] Cory thanks Marisa for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Marisa White’s website

Marisa’s series Certain These Clouds Go Somewhere

Marisa’s Instagram

Marisa’s Facebook

Kelli Erdmann's Instagram (kelladactyl)

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Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. 

Today’s guest is Kathy Lajvardi, a contemporary mixed media artist based in Laguna Beach, California. Kathy was born in Iran and later migrated to the US when she was nine-years-old – a cultural shift that has shaped her as an artist, designer, author and curator. Her diverse artistic background ranges from reflective resin to large-scale paintings that tell a story, are conceptual, and raise awareness.

In this episode, Kathy shares her journey as an artist, from earning her BFA to working with high-profile clients such as Madonna, Beyonce, Lexus, Disney, and Apple. She further talks about how the late night brainstorming sessions with her husband have turned into actual successful projects over the years, and offers her perspective on the Iranian art and culture scene pre and post the 1979 revolution, and how that has influenced her art.

Join us in this podcast to learn more about Kathy’s art journey, and why she thinks artists should go all out to promote their art themselves rather than waiting to get “discovered”.

Key Takeaways:

[0:35] Cory welcomes Kathy to the TAA podcast and asks her to introduce herself to the TAA audience.

[1:20] Kathy talks about how she went on from earning her art degree to working on motion graphics projects for celebrity musicians, movies and companies like Apple.

[4:35] She transitioned into digital experience post her marriage and the birth of her children, and started managing the Graphics department in her husband’s advertising agency.

[6:25] How Kathy and her husband started organizing wine events with winemakers.

[6:38] What was the Somxx event and how did it happen?

[9:22] Cory asks Kathy about her connection with Iran.

[10:57] Kathy explains the connection between her art and the music she likes to listen to, and why she always works with her headphones on.

[13:52] Kathy further talks about her background, and how her choice of music was received by her family.

[17:50] Cory asks Kathy to describe her series titled “Unbreakable Queens”.

[18:52] Kathy further talks about the Iranian singer Googoosh and her struggles, and how that has inspired the artist’s “Unbreakable Queens” series.

[22:05] Kathy offers her thoughts on what Iran used to be like before the 1979 revolution.

[23:17] Kathy explains in detail how she and her husband organize the events, from visualizing to planning the details to getting sponsors.

[30:35] Kathy deep dives into how once she knows what she wants, she plans the steps needed to achieve that.

[32:17] Why the “hustle mentality” is important, and how social media can be used as a platform to reach a wider audience.

[32:44] Kathy takes her marketing flyers everywhere she goes.

[33:29] Art dealers can surely accelerate an artist’s career, but Kathy insists that an artist can be their own art dealer too.

[34:21] Cory asks Kathy how her events/parties convert into sales.

[37:15] Cory thanks Kathy for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Kathy Lajvardi’s website

Sommx event

Drive Through Napa

Drive Through Paso Robles

Unbreakable Queens series

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. 

Internationally featured and award-winning artist/designer Cherish Flieder joins TAA founder Cory Huff in today’s podcast. Apart from being a creative entrepreneur, Cherish is also a teacher and the founder of a virtual art licensing community, ArtLicensingShow.com.

In this episode, Cherish explains what is art licensing and how it can actually be a viable business model for artists, talks about her first love i.e. children’s book cover illustrations, and reminisces about her journey of art licensing from greetings cards and book cover to fashion apparel and ultimately launching her own art lifestyle brand.

Tune in to listen to Cherish’s journey in art licensing, and what you must know as an artist to potentially adopt this business model.

Key Takeaways:

[:37] Cory introduces Cherish to TAA podcast listeners

[2:20] What is art licensing? Cherish explains how it’s a viable business model for artists

[3:35] Different types of products on which Cherish’s artwork has been shown. How she started with children’s book cover illustrations after art school

[4:30] Why do most artists start with licensing their artwork for greetings cards?

[5:20] How the process of licensing her art to fashion companies ultimately led Cherish to launch her own trademarked art lifestyle brand, Something to Cherish®

[7:37] Cherish describes her artwork as “whimsical elegance”

[9:45] Why Cherish believes in partnering with experts for production and marketing

[10:22] Cory asks Cherish what she thinks has changed in art licensing in the last couple of years

[11:00] How “Fast Fashion” brands are changing trends even on a weekly basis, and what artists need to know while licensing their art to fashion houses

[12:03] Why artists licensing their art must be connected with fellow licensing artists or communities

[14:51] How can artists position their art in the market to make the most of whatever opportunities come their way?

[17:06] Cherish throws some light on what her business planning process looks like

[18:30] The Notion App Cherish uses for the business side of her creative venture

[22:50] How the Clubhouse social audio network has been a useful community for Cherish

[24:35] Why do so few art schools have courses on art marketing?

[30:03] Why only ~50% of artists taking a marketing course implement the learning in their art business

[32:14] What is a more realistic expectation for an artist who’s just getting started selling their art?

[34:53] Why consistency is key while marketing your art

[35:43] Size of your social media follower base may not convert to actual sales. What social media strategies Cherish recommends for driving the sale of artwork

[43:] What steps does Cherish recommend for artists seeking to license their art to what she calls “companies behind companies”?

[45:09] What are Cherish’s favorite trade shows? Why is it important to visit trade shows to understand your chosen niche in the market for licensing your art e.g. gift items or home décor?

[47:07] Cherish advises artists to start researching the market first on their own before handing over their licensing business to agents. And it is important to have a lawyer check your licensing agreements

[47:32] Cory asks Cherish to explain for the audience what an ASMR video is, and why she recently experimented with creating one

[50:25] Cherish talks about her “Gratitude Practice”

[51:48] Cory thanks Cherish for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Cherish Flieder’s Website

Art Licensing Community founded by Cherish Flieder

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. 

Joining the podcast today is Adam Hall, who describes himself as “an artist who paints New Orleans''. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Adam's tryst with New Orleans started when he joined Tulane University there to obtain an undergraduate degree in studio art and history. Although later Adam studied in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (MFA), he eventually decided to move back to New Orleans and settle there.

The impact of Hurricane Katrina is visible in Adam’s art, especially in his black-and-white, burnt-paper three-dimensional collages that explored themes of loss and upheaval. A visit to Paris in 2009 and the study of impressionist painters convinced him to switch to impressionist oil paintings.

In this episode, Adam explains why he calls New Orleans his home, his metamorphosis from a sculptor/installation artist to an impressionist painter, how Hurricane Katrina has inspired his artworks, and how he manages the business side of his art career.

Key Takeaways:

[:33] Cory reminisces how he has known Adam since 2013. [4:05] Why Adam has found his “artistic home” in New Orleans. [5:45] How Adam’s website captures the fascinating evolution of his artworks. [7:15] Adam was more into sculptures and installations during grad school. Why has he taken up painting after moving to New Orleans? [10:05] How has Hurricane Katrina shaped Adam’s artistic expressions? [12:38] Why it was important for Adam to create artworks that looked similar to oak trees. [20:12] How over time Adam coached himself to make impressionist paintings of New Orleans. [32:30] How Adam has designed his life for selling paintings. [33:40] Adam enjoys the business side of his art career. It’s not “work” for him. [36:40] How Adam’s New Orleans paintings changed over time and why. [38:14] How the pandemic impacted Adam’s choice of subjects for paintings. [41:11] How did Adam figure out what works for him in the business side? How TAA class helped Adam with finding his “voice”. [46:14] What kind of write-ups Adam does regularly for his collectors. How does he decide on what to write? [49:07] Social media and his website helped Adam sell his paintings more than outdoor shows. [51:11] What’s working for Adam on social media? [53:00] What’s Adam excited about his art business at the moment? [55:03] Cory thanks Adam for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Adam Hall’s Website Adam’s Blogs

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Normally this podcast features professional artists, but this week’s guest has such a vast experience in the art world, we decided to shake up our usual!

Maria Brito is an Art Advisor, Art Consultant, and Curator. She has spent more than a decade working with a multitude of well-known artists as well as emerging talent, getting them in touch with her clients and building long-term relationships. She also works with corporate clients, helping foster creativity wherever she can.

She comes on the show to discuss her unique perspective on the art business, and how it intersects with the rest of the world. Cory and Maria discuss the revolutionary changes that technology has enabled, decentralizing the art practice and collectors’ markets. They also touch on what artists need to succeed in the free markets as well as in the official art machinery, and how an increasingly polarized world requires open-mindedness and curiosity to move forward.

Join in for a lively discussion on the ever-evolving business of art making.

Key Takeaways:

[:30] Cory welcomes Maria Brito to the podcast and dives right in with a question about failure.

[1:30] Always remember that failure is impersonal. Maria shares her perspective on the importance of self-reflection and the piecing together of clues to build future projects. She shares a personal story of learning and growth through failure.

[6:50] Maria encourages listeners to take time to review past failures and how they were used to better their practice.

[8:11] What does an art advisor do?

[11:19] From very unhappy corporate attorney to art advisor, consultant, and curator, Maria talks about how her path diverged almost 14 years ago.

[19:22] “Emergent artist” is a term that has changed meaning over time, but belongs to the official machinery of art galleries. Maria speaks about the label “outsider artists,” used for people who evolve away from those official structures.

[24:55] Many cities all over the world are brimming with art ecosystems because technology has enabled a wonderful decentralization of opportunities.

[26:20] How galleries contact Maria, and what they share as information for consideration.

[31:00] A substantial percentage of the art market originates from Instagram, close to $7.5 billion!

[33:25] The three things artists should get good at to build their following on Instagram.

[35:03] Teaching the creative process to corporate clients was years in the making, Maria shares how it came to fruition and some of what she teaches.

[40:00] The starving artist myth needs to be broken. From Picasso to O’Keefe, Maria explains why artists need to stop underestimating themselves as entrepreneurs.

[44:23] Maria’s favorite art and entrepreneurship studies.

[49:00] Pursuing a career for the sake of happiness and creativity versus that of safety has nurtured in Maria a need to share her knowledge to inspire other people to follow their passion.

[53:28] The consistent habits of the creative mind as well as the counter-productive nature of anger and self-righteousness.

[1:08:12] Maria’s advice for aspiring artists in a world that is rife with excellent competition: train your eye and choose your platform.

[1:15:40] Cory thanks Maria for joining the podcast and sharing so much of her knowledge!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Maria Brito’s website

@MariaBrito_NY on Instagram

@MariaBrito_NY on Twitter

Maria on Facebook

Hiscox Online Art Trade Report 2021

Harvard Business School:

“Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Art of the Entrepreneur”

“Theaster Gates: Artist as Catalyst for Community Development”

“Building an Aspirational High-End Brand through Cultural Engagement: Absolut Vodka's Love Affair with Art”

The Warhol Economy: How Fashion, Art, and Music Drive New York City, by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett

Paducah Kentuky art scene

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Cory welcomes Wildlife Painter and Fiber Artist Eric Jackson, who specializes in unique batik illustrations of Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic species, in today’s podcast. Eric had had a deep interest in water quality and aquatic life since a young age, especially in and around the Chesapeake region where he grew up. Eric was teaching art in public school when he started selling his art at local art shows in Maryland in 2017. After the 2020 pandemic, he left teaching to pursue his art career full time.

In this episode, Eric explains how he conceptualized the One Hundred Shores project, how it connected Art and Ecology, and how it grew in scope – even without much social media presence at that time – to become a huge storytelling project and a successful Kickstarter initiative eventually. Eric also discusses his passion for teaching art, and why he thinks it’s important for kids to learn art in school.

Key Takeaways:

[:46] Cory mentions how fascinating it has been to watch Eric’s art career evolve over the years. [2:33] The kind of art Eric makes. What led him to make the kind of art he does. [4:22] Eric is an outdoor person, spending his free time hunting and fishing. How does that impact the subject matter of his artworks? [5:17] People are not really familiar with the batik technique and how the pieces are made. Eric often receives questions on that account. [6:53] Cory wants to talk about Eric’s Chesapeake Bay project (i.e. the One Hundred Shores project) as he thinks it’s a really good window into (1) what Eric’s art is about, and (2) how people respond to his work. [7:09] Talking about the audience for his work, Eric identifies two distinct segments. [9:00] Eric discusses the One Hundred Shores project in detail. How the Chesapeake Bay and its ecosystem are connected with the residents in the area. [11:08] How the One Hundred Shores project connects Art and Ecology, and how that resonates with people. [11:48] How did Eric conceptualize the One Hundred Shores project? How did it evolve from the ideation period? [14:04] Eric gives an example of the stories collected during the One Hundred Shores project. [18:32] How Eric got the word out when he initiated the project. [21:00] Eric launched a separate website for the One Hundred Shores project. Why does he keep it distinct from his regular website? [22:40] How the One Hundred Shores project press release helped spread the word further, and made people and organizations reach out to Eric to learn more about his project. How his earlier lesson with TAA helped him put together the press release. [24:19] Cory asks Eric about the latest status of the One Hundred Shores project. [26:29] Where people can buy Eric’s One Hundred Shores project t-shirts from. [28:02] Cory congratulates Eric on the success of his One Hundred Shores project, and mentions that it’s a very interesting example for artists looking for starting a project on a greater scale or planning to take their art to a bigger audience. [30:48] After years of making art privately, Eric started showing his work to people only as recently as 2017. [35:05] Eric talks about his love for teaching. [35:43] Why it is important for kids to learn art in school. [39:07] Advocating for “Art for art’s sake” and maintaining the integrity of Art as a discipline. [39:53] Why Eric considers leaving teaching his biggest professional decision till date. [40:45] What is Eric looking forward to for the rest of 2023? [44:00] Cory thanks Eric for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Eric Jackson’s Website One Hundred Shores Story narrated by Eric in the podcast

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

In 2016, social media platforms ruined themselves for artist Gwenn Seemel. That was the year they stole the last bit of agency from their users — replacing chronology with algorithms — and rendered themselves obsolete to her practice.

In this podcast, Gwenn talks about her decision to leave social platforms altogether; the personal, professional, and moral reasons behind her choice; and the surprising human and financial outcome of this bold stance.

Join Gwenn and Cory in a discussion on the human aspect of relationships, the collective nature of art, Capitalism as a force of destruction in the world, and a few solid tips on how to run your business away from social media, but still online and connected.

Key Takeaways:

[:30] Cory welcomes long-time friend and artist Gwenn Seemel to ask her why she recently decided to leave social media.

[4:09] Gwenn touches on her business ROI fears without social media as well as some surprising psychological aspects of pulling away from the platforms.

[6:14] Increased emotional strength and stable income are Gwen’s current state of business despite using no social platforms.

[7:08] Standing up to Facebook’s — and most other social platforms’ — moral grayscale.

[12:11] Leaving social media: the need for resiliency and building mental health.

[15:15] Building one-on-one relationships with buyers and collectors. Gwen explains how she manages her contact list.

[22:34] Tracking inventory when your body of work has grown substantially.

[26:48] Patreon — and patronage — is not charity. Gwenn and Cory touch on the underestimated benefits of this type of platform.

[33:30] Gwen’s invaluable Patreon tips.

[36:06] When you can’t be your own “hype-man” – tips for the socially disinclined.

[38:23] Cory probes Gwenn’s thoughtfulness and the process she uses to think through questions in-depth.

[42:10] Jobs With Justice and why Gwenn cares about proper pay for anyone in any job.

[49:29] Did Capitalism lift the stark majority of the masses out of absolute poverty? Gwenn debates passionately for the dismantling of the aforementioned system!

[54:22] The German business example — welcome to the board! Cory shares his own luck as it relates to a discussion on capitalism and the state of the world.

[57:06] Why did Cory choose to go to college despite growing up in an ecosystem that didn’t foster it?

[58:56] Cory thanks Gwenn for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Gwenn Seemel’s website

All My Friends Live in My Computer: Trauma, Tactical Media, and Meaning, by Samira Rajabi

Taffy, Amanda. 2021. The Role of the Arts During COVID-19: Gendered Expressions of Resilience & Empowerment. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Artwork archive

Jobs With Justice

The Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in the Twenty-First Century, by Erica Smiley and Sarita Gupta

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Joining the podcast today to share about his artistic journey is Will Eskridge, a self-proclaimed weirdo that celebrates the ugly, the forgotten, and the voiceless through his art.

Growing up with a veterinarian as a father and an artist as a mother carved Will’s path of keeping the love of animals alive through his art. Many of his art pieces feature the less-appreciated animals of the world paired alongside a human vice. He also occasionally explores other realms of art such as abstraction and landscapes. His art can be found on murals throughout the city of Athens, Georgia; social media; the occasional exhibit; and his website.

In this episode, Will shares his journey to becoming a fully-fledged artist, how he discovered what he loves to create, and how he navigates the business side of his art career.

Key Takeaways:

[:30] Cory welcomes Will Eskridge to the podcast and they recount how they originally met.

[1:49] Where ‘home’ is for Will.

[2:30] Will describes his art and shares his journey to becoming a fully-fledged artist.

[6:15] Will’s art journey post-art school.

[12:44] In 2014, Will quit his job and began pursuing art full-time. How has his artistic style developed since then?

[22:38] Will elaborates on the variety of animal subjects he paints and where his ideas for his paintings generally come from.

[29:13] How Will became known for his collection of art that he dubs, ‘Weird animals with low-grade sins.’

[32:02] The importance of creating art you want to create rather than creating to sell.

[32:45] How/where Will sells his art.

[36:00] Will highlights what he does, in particular, that helps market his artwork.

[40:22] Why having more social media followers doesn’t always mean more sales.

[43:47] Will discusses his mental diagnoses and how they impact his life and art.

[47:11] Will shares how his mental diagnosis impacts his life, art, and business.

[50:12] About Will’s pets!

[52:05] What’s next for Will?

[53:44] Cory thanks Will for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in This Episode:Will Eskridge’s Art Website

1,000 True Fans Essay

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com

Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Full-time artist, Catherine Rains, joins the podcast today to share her incredible journey to full-time artistry, her artistic insights and life philosophies, and the biggest lessons she has learned throughout her career. Self-described as an intuitive mixed media collage artist and spiritual seeker, Catherine creates abstract collages using her intuition and mixed media to inspire, heal, and awaken.

In this episode, Catherine highlights important lessons on failure, perseverance, consistency, and the importance of showing up. She lends her insights on what you can do to better understand yourself as an artist, lean into your strengths, and how not to let your brain hold you back from creating the art you are meant to create in this world. Catherine also touches on how she became more connected to her purpose through The Abundant Artist, how she retransitioned into becoming a full-time artist (after stepping away for nearly a decade), her general artistic process when it comes to creating new pieces, and how she markets her art online.

This is a not-to-miss episode full of wisdom and valuable insights from Catherine Rains! Be sure to tune in.

Key Takeaways:

[:30] Cory welcomes Catherine Rains to the podcast!

[1:47] Reminiscing on the start of The Abundant Artist podcast in 2015

[2:42] Catherine brings listeners back to 2015 and shares her story of transitioning from her day job to pursuing her artistic passions.

[8:44] How failure bred success for Catherine’s business.

[10:00] How Catherine’s following has grown since staying consistent and crafting a free course.

[12:16] About Catherine’s career with the Myers-Brigg company.

[13:27] The value in knowing your personality type (and taking a personality quiz such as the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator).

[14:55] Catherine discusses Cory’s personality type and strengths.

[17:29] Where Catherine’s passion lies and her ultimate goal with her art.

[19:00] What Catherine did before her full-time job with Myers-Brigg.

[20:55] Catherine shares her experience traveling around the world with two fifty-pound suitcases in the name of art.

[23:33] How Catherine’s time doing art and traveling has continued to benefit her in her art career.

[25:10] Going back to 2020, Catherine shares her experience of releasing her best collection that didn’t sell, and the biggest lessons that she learned.

[31:22] How to not let your brain work against you when you’re creating art.

[36:58] Catherine’s 10-minute rule.

[37:36] Why Catherine wasn’t “showing up” until her friend prompted her.

[38:38] The magic in creating art you actually want to create rather than creating to sell.

[41:41] How ‘showing up’ and being consistent helped Catherine sell more pieces.

[44:11] What Catherine means when she says, “When someone buys my art, they’re not just buying my art.”

[45:35] Why you don’t need a huge audience to make a living; the concept behind 1000 true fans.

[50:11] Catherine’s advice to young artists looking to go full-time.

Mentioned in This Episode:Catherine Rains’ Website

Catherine Rains’ Instagram

Kelly Rae Roberts’ interview on The Abundant Artist

Myers-Brigg

60 Songs That Explain the 90s Podcast

The Art of Effortless Living (Taoist Documentary)

1000 True Fans: Use Kevin Kelly's Simple Idea to Earn A Living Doing What You Love, by Kevin Kelly

Betty Franks Art

Ira Glass Quote

Find More Episodes Over on TheAbundantArtist.com