How do you know when your work is done? Or when you are done with a show, or a marketing plan or anything in your life? This episode is about asking the question, “Am I done with this?”

We might lean on instinct or the natural conclusion our material, imagery, or design dictates to determine when a piece is finished but could the work benefit from a conscious questioning of its finished state? We’ll talk about how this can help you avoid overworking as well as underworking your pieces and how these questions apply to how we sell, market, share, and just live as well as our art.

This is also potentially the last podcast of this show. I share my thoughts on why it’s time to at least take a pause and how that might apply to your own questions about things you’ve been doing that might have run their course. We’ll touch on the fear factors and the complications that come with big and possibly necessary changes that could, ultimately, help us grow and find the joy so essential to living a fulfilling and meaningful creative life.

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

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Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

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CREDITS:

Cover design and ICM photo by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

Do you ever get asked why you create, especially if you don’t sell or otherwise do something with the finished work? Have you ever questioned your own reasons for the hard work and effort you put into learning and creating your art work?

Today, I have a very simple answer to a question that can be complex and hard to understand for those who don’t have a particular creative passion. It not only helps others understand why you do what you do, but it can help you understand what draws you to the studio as well as increase your motivation and willingness to take risks.

Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER!

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

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CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

Do you ask yourself “what if?” If you do ask yourself “what if” a lot, then you're not even going to have to think about the answer to that. If you have to think about the answer, then this is an episode for you. And even if you do ask yourself “what if?” a lot, maybe you don't ask it in all the ways that you can as an artist. So, let's look into this phrase and why asking “what if” can be the key to unlocking a lot of creative potential while breaking down creative blocks.

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER!

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

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CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko;

Photo by Lucas Andrade

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

We measure ourselves by many things but mostly by others… how talented or successful others are and how others might see us. You might be surprised to find that your ultimate yardstick is literally in your own hands.

Join me today for a chat about how we judge ourselves, compare others to ourselves, what we can do to avoid the missteps these views can cause, and to discover the yardstick that can not only improve your artwork but your artistic process and artistic life.

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER!

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

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CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

Are you the kind of artist that sets goals and chases them or are you a person who just prefers to dream and enjoy the process of making art? Or maybe you are somewhere in the middle?

Most of us creatives are dreamers, and sometimes we get caught up in the dream but turning a dream into action and that action into reality can be quite a journey. Chasing those dreams can be risky and scary and so it’s no wonder a fair number of people don’t get past the dreaming stage. But for those who do, the lure of goal setting can lead them down a road that may not take them where they need to go.

In this episode, we explore what goal setting is, when it’s useful, when its healthy to not have formal goals, and how to identify their purpose and place in a journey that may be better focused on process than results.

Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER!

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

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CREDITS:

Cover photo and design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

How do you approach your work’s flaws? Do you try to make everything as perfect as possible? Or do you like the imperfections in your work? Do you choose to leave them sometimes or do you resign yourself to the work not being perfect and live with it? If so, how do you live with it? Can you embrace the flaws or do they make you feel inadequate or embarrassed?

The way we deal with flaws in our work can help or hinder our productivity and the joy we find in out art. Let’s talk about the ways to look at flaws, why flaws don’t always need fixing, and how to see what really matters to your buyers and viewers when they encounter your art.

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

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SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER!

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

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CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Deterior Pendant by Sage Bray Varon

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

As creatives, we sometimes go through periods where we lack motivation or question our purpose to the extent that it is difficult to work. Why does this happen and are there things we can do to avoid it? Or is it something that actually needs to be avoided?

I bring Brett (and both the dogs) into the studio with me this week to talk about these difficult periods of malaise and ennui and other things the French are so good at naming. We go through some of the common causes, ways to combat it, and one possible attitude tweek that can make these periods more than just something we have to tolerate.

Other Resources mentioned:

Screen Zen (screen time controller) www.screenzen.co/

Sullivan’s Travels (movie) www.imdb.com/title/tt0034240/

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

-

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER! (Get 2 per order.)

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

-

CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

When you are up against something tricky or it’s something that you don’t have the skill for yet or it’s just find boring, how do you handle it? Do you look for ways to get around it, or maybe you plan to just not do that step, or maybe you give up on the project all together? Or do you look at it as a challenge or, at the very least, shrug and think, that’s just part of what I need to do to get this great result I’m so looking forward to?

Find out why hard work is not always thought of as good work these days, where that idea comes into play in the studio and why it can really diminish your experience and even what you get out of your most accomplished efforts. I’ll also have some of my own tips and tricks to not just get through the hard work but to reset your brain so you see and embrace the value and all the joy that comes from doing “hard” work.

Other Resources mentioned:

And vote! Go here to register in your area and get the info you need on local candidates and propositions:Vote411.org

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

-

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER! (Get 2 per order as of this release.)

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

-

CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

Do you consciously go looking for inspiration or is it usually serendipitous? Do you find inspiration mostly when you are adventuring out in the world, like on trips or day excursions, or is your source primarily online or in books or magazines? Maybe you find it in the people you know or your everyday world, the place you live and the things around you? Most importantly, how do you hold onto those inspirations so they’re ready for you when you need them?

In this episode, I share with you a new practice for not just finding inspiration but recording and using it in the studio. Learn to develop a ready source of inspiration that comes from recognizing your aesthetics, motivations, and joys because in doing so, you tap into your unique artistic eye and feed your unique artistic voice.

Other Resources mentioned:

Matthew Dicks:

https://matthewdicks.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@matthewjohndicks

Random image sources:

https://www.generatormix.com/random-image-generator

https://www.pexels.com/

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after a new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

-

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER! (Get 2 per order as of this release.)

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

-

CREDITS:

Cover design & sketch by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe

Is evolution and change something you strive for in your art or do you aim for steady, predictable work maybe in hopes of steady predictable sales? There is no right or wrong answer to that question, but as you will hear in this conversation with veteran artist Kathleen Dustin, there are advantages as well as risks involved in changing up your art and evolving as an artist.

Come join Kathleen and I for a lively discussion on the subject as well as hearing stories of her creative journey and how the choices and risks that she took brought her a long, successful, and fulfilling artistic career.

Contact my guest:

Kathleen Dustin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleendustin/

Kathleen Dustin’s website https://kathleendustin.com/shop/

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Leave a COMMENT: https://thesagearts.com/episodes/

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CONTACT SAGE

Email: https://thesagearts.com/contact/

And join Sage on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast

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GET WEEKLY PODCAST NOTICES & BONUS MATERIAL:

Newsletter goes out every Sunday after an new episode goes up!

https://sagebrayvaron.com/the-sage-arts-podcast/

-

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

· Buy me a coffee!

· Give back with PayPal

· Buy a STICKER! (Get 2 per order as of this release.)

· Buy polymer art books and magazines

-

CREDITS:

Cover design by Sage; Illustration by Olga Kostenko

Photo: Pod Purses by Kathleen Dustin

Music by Playsound

Get full access to The Sage Memos at sagebrayvaron.substack.com/subscribe