The Inspiration Place

Vanessa Stoilova's story is one every illustrator needs to hear. From mobile games to children's books and surface design, she's built a thriving creative business by learning what works—and what doesn't. In this episode, Vanessa reveals the five biggest mistakes artists make when trying to get hired and how to replace them with habits that lead to steady, exciting work.

• Why specializing is more powerful than trying to do it all

• How to build a follow-up system that opens real opportunities

• Ways to align your art with what the market actually wants

🎧 Whether you're just starting out or ready to level up, this episode will help you build a sustainable illustration career without burnout or guesswork. 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/374

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

That quiet voice that says you're falling behind or no one's noticing anymore—I know it well. In this intimate episode, Miriam opens up about her own experiences with the fear of irrelevance and shares stories from artists who either hustle harder or disappear when doubt creeps in. Together, you'll uncover where this fear really comes from and how to replace self-pressure with presence, purpose, and creative peace.

• How fear of irrelevance shows up in artists' lives and why it's more common than you think
• Simple strategies to stay connected to your art without overperforming or burning out
• A short grounding meditation to release pressure and reconnect with your creative self

🎧 A heartfelt episode for any artist who's ever wondered, "Am I still being seen?" 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/373

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

🔥 Real artists. Real stories. Real growth—proof that transformation is possible at every stage of your creative journey.

In this inspiring episode, Miriam shares powerful conversations with artists who turned self-doubt into momentum and learned to treat their art like a business. You'll discover how community, consistency, and courage helped them create opportunities they once thought were out of reach and how you can apply their lessons to your own career.

• Build accountability through the right creative community and support system
• See how email marketing and publicity can turn visibility into sales
• Find encouragement to embrace your artist identity with confidence and clarity

🎧 Whether you're just beginning or ready to level up, this episode will motivate you to take bold, strategic action in your art business. 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/372

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

😩 Feeling pulled in a thousand directions with your art business? You're not alone and the fix is simpler than you think.

In this solo episode, Miriam breaks down how to escape creative overwhelm and focus on what truly moves the needle. From pricing your art with confidence to ditching "fake work" that keeps you spinning your wheels, you'll learn how to redirect your energy toward the art business you actually want.

• Why selling larger, higher-value art can be easier than selling small pieces
• How to spot the difference between real work and busywork that keeps you stuck
• Ways to move forward with clarity, even when you're unsure of the perfect next step

🎧 Tune in and learn how to trade burnout for focus and turn your creative chaos into purposeful progress. 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/371

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

🧠 Ever start a creative project full of excitement—only to abandon it after one small setback? You're not alone.

In this powerful episode, Anna Holtzman, a mind-body coach and writer, shares how her nervous system used to sabotage her creative dreams and how healing from chronic migraines taught her to stay consistent, calm, and confident. You'll learn how understanding your body's stress responses can unlock greater resilience, visibility, and follow-through in your art career.

• How your nervous system shapes your creative patterns and progress
• Why uncertainty feels harder than failure and how to navigate it with compassion
• Practical ways to stay visible and grounded even when rejection or criticism appears

🎧 Tune in to stop self-sabotage, trust your creative rhythm, and show up with confidence for the work that matters most.

Guest: Anna Holtzman, mind-body coach, writer, and host of Reclaim Your Nervous System

🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/370

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

🚀 What happens when you trade your comfort zone for your canvas?

After leaving a 19-year engineering career, Sangeetha took a leap of faith into her art business and grew her annual sales from $2,500 to over $13,000 in just months. In this inspiring conversation, she and Miriam break down the exact mindset shifts, fearless strategies, and consistent actions that fueled her rapid growth, from painting bigger to showing up regularly for her collectors. Her journey is living proof that when you push past fear, you make space for remarkable growth.

• Why scaling up your canvas size can instantly elevate how collectors see your work
• How a well-timed FOMO email can fill your next show with eager buyers
• The power of consistent email marketing to build trust and long-term sales momentum

🎧 A must-listen for artists ready to go bigger, bolder, and more intentional in their creative business.

Guest: Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan, Artist 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/369

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

A Canadian-born artist in Berlin, Sarah shares how leaving a 16-year partnership and a beloved printmaking studio cracked her open to a truer, braver voice in paint. I walk her through the inner-work prompts and altar practices we use in my Inner Circle so you can hear how she turned grief into clarity and ritual into momentum. We also talk about the surprising way AI became a gentle mirror that helped her name her why and write stronger statements for grants and exhibitions.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Discover how to turn heartbreak into creative fuel through simple self-inquiry and reflection.

• Learn a grounding studio ritual to create focus and momentum even on hard days.

• Explore a clear way to articulate your why so you can write stronger statements, apply for grants, and make freer work.

For full show notes, go to schulmanart.com/368

🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

📚ARTPRENEUR

📘 Grab your copy of Artpreneur plus exclusive bonus package at ArtpreneurBook.com

🤩 Start reading Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" absolutely FREE at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE

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If you loved this, I've got more inspirational episodes coming your way! Please make sure you hit the subscribe or follow button in your podcast app. And if you're feeling extra generous- leave me a review-- https://schulmanart.com/review-podcast

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💘 What if selling art has more in common with dating than you think?

Ever wonder why you're not closing more sales even when collectors seem interested? It might not be your art—it might be your timing. In this eye-opening episode, Miriam shares real-life stories (including one about her daughter's almost-romance!) to reveal how art sales follow the same emotional patterns as dating. You'll learn how hesitation, delayed follow-up, or fear of being "too pushy" can quietly kill your momentum and exactly what to do instead.

• Why delayed follow-up sends the wrong signal to potential buyers
• How to guide the sale confidently without ever feeling pushy
• The real reason hesitation comes from self-doubt, not poor strategy

🎧 Tune in for a mix of humor, psychology, and proven sales wisdom that will help you turn casual interest into genuine collectors. 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/367

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

💙 What started with a single sale at a local framing shop turned into a six-figure art business.

When Bo Sapphire's artwork began catching attention in her hometown, she never imagined it would lead to $100K in annual sales. From selling prints at flea markets to mastering art fairs and email marketing, Bo has learned how to adapt, listen, and build real relationships with collectors. In this episode, she shares the strategies behind her rise — including how she balances studio time with sales, connects authentically with audiences, and why a blue heart emoji became her signature brand symbol.

• How Bo built momentum at art fairs by tuning into her audience
• The batching system that keeps her productive and consistent
• How email marketing helped her stay connected and increase repeat sales

🎧 Tune in for an inspiring conversation that proves creativity, consistency, and heart can lead to extraordinary growth.

Guest: Bo Sapphire, artist and entrepreneur who grew her art business to six figures in one year

🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/366

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart

🔥 Ever want to burn your whole art business to the ground? You're not the only one.

We've all been there — a show with no sales, collectors ghosting, or the weight of feeling like nothing's working. But before you give up, let's look at what's really going on. In this episode, Miriam shares true stories and coaching insights to help you understand the emotional crash points every artist faces. You'll learn why these meltdowns often come from your nervous system's cry for safety, not failure and how to recover your calm, focus, and confidence before you spiral.

• How to spot an artist tantrum before it derails your progress
• The difference between a strategic pivot and an emotional spiral
• Practical tools to reset, recalibrate, and recommit instead of quitting on your goals

🎧 Tune in for real talk, real tools, and the reassurance that your low moments don't mean you're broken, they mean you're human. 🎙️About Miriam Schulman Miriam Schulman is an artist business coach, working artist, and author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, published by HarperCollins Leadership. After building her own multiple-six-figure art business, Miriam created The Inspiration Place, a podcast ranked among the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide by Listen Notes. Through her coaching programs, podcast, and book, she has helped thousands of visual artists strengthen their marketing, attract collectors, and build sustainable art businesses.

Full Show Notes: schulmanart.com/380

📩Check out our FREE Masterclass "How to Sell More Art" at schulmanart.com/sellmoreart 📘 Read Artpreneur: Grab your copy + bonuses at ArtpreneurBook.com 💙 Start Free: Read Chapter 1 "Choose to Believe" at SchulmanArt.com/BELIEVE 📺 Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@schulmanart 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @schulmanart 💼Connect on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/schulmanart