Martina Flor’s Open Studio

🎙️ Episode 191 – 3 Things I’d Do Differently If I Started My Career Today

In this episode of Open Studio, I (Martina Flor) look back on over a decade as a lettering artist and creative business owner to share the three key things I would do differently if I had to start my career all over again.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow your creative practice, these lessons will help you avoid common mistakes and build a more sustainable, joyful, and profitable path.

✨ In this episode, I talk about:

Why I’d build my email list from day one

The power of pitching yourself and doing client outreach consistently

How investing in mentorship and coaching transformed my business

To access the full show notes for this episode, click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://martinaflor.com/podcast

🔗 Click here to join Workshop Week for FREE – the creative event that brings thousands of artists from around the world together!

👉 https://beccacourtice.samcart.com/referral/martinaflor/zLx1kNRjKkpMMcVT

✨ Welcome back to Open Studio with Martina Flor!

In today’s episode, I sit down with the incredible Becca Courtice—modern calligrapher, educator, and founder of Workshop Week—to dive deep into the power of community and how it can transform your creative journey.

If you’ve ever felt isolated as a solo artist or struggled to find your people in the creative world, this episode is for you.

🎙️ We cover:

🧩 How Becca went from learning calligraphy to teaching thousands

🚀 The behind-the-scenes of creating Workshop Week (and the chaos that came with it!)

🎯 Building intentional creative communities

💬 The real-talk about growing a personal brand online

💡 And why community is greater than competition—every time.

This conversation is packed with laughs, wisdom, and actionable advice for any lettering artist, illustrator, or creative building a business around their craft.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

→ Workshop Week: https://www.workshopweek.co

→ Follow Becca:

Instagram: @thehappyevercrafter

Workshop Week IG: @theworkshopweek

In this episode of Open Studio, Martina Flor dives into one of the most common questions creative professionals face in 2025: Is social media still worth the effort?

📉 Tired of pouring hours into content that doesn’t perform?

🎯 Unsure how to grow an audience or reach clients online?

💡 Feeling like the algorithm is working against you?

Martina shares her unfiltered thoughts and practical strategies for artists, illustrators, and designers to build a healthy and effective relationship with social media—without burning out.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The mindset shift that changed how Martina uses social platforms

✅ Why visibility matters more than virality

✅ How to stop letting the algorithm control your creativity

✅ The key difference between owning your audience and renting it

Whether you're building your creative brand or trying to grow your freelance business, this episode is your reminder that you can use social media on your terms—and still grow.

🎙 Welcome to another episode of Open Studio with Martina Flor!

Ever feel like your work is being ignored, no matter how much effort you put in?

In today’s episode, Why You’re Not Getting Noticed (and How to Fix It), I uncover the real reasons why many talented creatives are struggling to get seen—and the exact steps you can take to change that. Whether you're a lettering artist, illustrator, or creative entrepreneur, this episode will help you build visibility without selling out or burning out.

🧠 You’ll learn:

- The #1 mindset trap that holds artists back

- How to build visibility even if you’re just starting

- The key difference between posting and showing up strategically

- Why being “discovered” is not a strategy—and what to do instead

- What to do when the algorithm isn’t your friend

Whether you’re trying to get your first client or make your next big leap, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to wait for permission to be seen—you just need the right approach.

In this episode of the Open Studio Podcast, Martina Flor sits down with James Hughes, the illustrator, educator, and founder of The Illustrator’s Guide, to talk about the real, behind-the-scenes journey of building a sustainable creative career.

James shares how he turned his freelance illustration practice into an educational platform that helps artists learn the skills traditional schools often skip—like pricing, outreach, and real-world business strategy. You’ll hear why newsletters have become one of his most valuable tools, how teaching helped him reconnect with his own creative goals, and the importance of creating your own path in a competitive industry.

Follow James!

⁨@TheIllustratorsGuide⁩

https://www.instagram.com/theillustratorsguide/

To access the full show notes for this episode, click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://martinaflor.com/podcast

🎧 This is Part 2 of my conversation with The Angry Designer Podcast! If you missed Part 1, check out Episode 185 first.

In this episode, we dive into the power of personal projects, how they can unlock unexpected opportunities, and why creating work just for yourself might be the smartest investment in your creative career. I also talk about mentorship, leading a creative team, and how to build a sustainable career doing what you love—even with all the chaos of everyday life.

To access the full show notes for this episode, click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://martinaflor.com/podcast

This week, you're in for something different: I’m sharing Part 1 of a powerful conversation I had on The Angry Designer Podcast. We dive into the misconceptions about typography, the truth about lettering, and how I carved my own path in a crowded creative industry.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the sea of sameness as a designer—or wondered how to turn your passion for letters into a thriving career—this episode is for you.

🎧 In this episode:

The difference between type, font, and lettering (and why it matters)

My leap from generalist to global lettering artist

Why “waiting to be discovered” is a lie

How designers can stand out by going deep, not wide

And one mindset shift that changed everything for me

💬 QUOTE TO REMEMBER:

"You don’t need to be discovered—you need to decide."

Hello and welcome to another episode of Open Studio. I'm your host Martina Flor and in this show I have honest conversations with artists, designers and creatives to uncover their story and the specific tactics they use to build a successful career around their skills and the work they love doing.🌟 Ready to Join to The Lettering Seminar?Enrollment is open now until Tuesday, April 15.🔗 Sign up at theletteringseminar.comTo access the full show notes for this episode, click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://martinaflor.com/podcast

In today’s episode of the Open Studio Podcast, host Martina Flor shares everything you need to know about The Lettering Seminar — her signature, once-a-year program that helps creatives turn their passion for lettering into a thriving career. If you've ever dreamed of becoming a lettering artist, this episode might just be your sign.🌟 Ready to Join?Enrollment is open now until Tuesday, April 15.🔗 Sign up at TheLetteringSeminar.com💬 Want to hear student stories?👉 Visit the testimonial page at TheLetteringSeminar.com📲 Connect with Martina:Website: martinaflor.comInstagram: @martinaflor🎧 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review if this episode inspired you!

In today’s episode of the Open Studio Podcast, host Martina Flor shares everything you need to know about The Lettering Seminar — her signature, once-a-year program that helps creatives turn their passion for lettering into a thriving career. If you've ever dreamed of becoming a lettering artist, this episode might just be your sign.

🌟 Ready to Join?

Enrollment is open now until Tuesday, April 15.

🔗 Sign up at TheLetteringSeminar.com

💬 Want to hear student stories?

👉 Visit the testimonial page at TheLetteringSeminar.com

📲 Connect with Martina:

Website: martinaflor.com

Instagram: @martinaflor

🎧 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review if this episode inspired you!