Thriving Artists Podcast

Today on the podcast we are chatting about applying to exhibitions! For many artists, applications for shows are a regular part of our work. We both have curatorial experience and have worked with hundreds of artists by helping them exhibit their art. We have seen different levels of professionalism with the artists we’ve worked with, and these skills are something artists learn over time. In Episode #45 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, Do These 5 things When Applying to Shows, we give you a headstart on growing your professionalism!

Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Things to Do When Applying to Shows:

Visualize the Commitment and Check Your Schedule: Before you apply, think about what it will take to make the show happen if you get in. Then, check your calendar to make sure you have room for that work alongside your other commitments.

Keep Track of Your Submissions: Keep track of where you apply, total submission fees, and exhibition timelines if you are accepted. This will help you understand the “big picture” in terms of where you are putting your time and money.

Follow ALL Instructions: Application guidelines vary from show to show, so make sure you give them the information they ask for in the format they request it to be in. You are an easy target to be eliminated from a show, no matter how great your work is, if you do not follow the instructions for applying. 

Label Your Images: Most applications have instructions for how to structure the file name of your image.  But in case they don’t, make sure you name your image files with your Last name, First name, and maybe the title of the piece. This way your information will be professional and clear. No file names with a string of confusing random numbers!

Be Patient: Remember that gallerists and curators are humans and they have just received hundreds or thousands of submissions and your work is just one of many of them. They may not have the perfect system worked up and they may make some mistakes along the way. So be patient with them and their process when you reach out.

We hope that is helpful as you put yourself out there and apply for shows! We are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists!  Join the Thrive Together Network to build your network of support! Visit www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

Artists frequently get a bad rap with stereotypes that we are scattered, unorganized, and unprofessional. However, Kaylan and Jamie are proud “Type-A” artists and believe in the power of intentional planning to grow and maintain your art career! There are many areas of our lives as artists that need to be organized, but today we are focusing on the structure of a week in the life of an artist. In Episode #44 of the Thriving Artists Podcast, How to Plan out Your Week, we will talk about the planning tools we both use and our strategies for staying organized.

Jamie and Kaylan’s 4 Steps to Planning Out Your Week Are:

Have a Planning Routine: This could be a weekly planning session right at the beginning of each week to look at schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and any changes to the normal routine. Or, you could close each week by taking time each Friday to acknowledge your accomplishments from the previous week and look toward what is to come the next week

Look at Your Boulders: Your boulders are the big things, the big events, the big tasks, and the heavy lifting you’ll be doing in the week ahead. What are your top priorities, and what has to come first?

Fill in the Pebbles: After you’ve considered your boulders, you can fill in the pebbles! Maybe you won’t have HUGE chunks of studio time in your week but you can block out an hour here or there! Have a Closing Ritual: Planning isn’t always about looking forward! Make sure to take stock of what you have done and find some pride for your accomplishments no matter how they went. 

We hope that is helpful as you work to structure your studio practice! We are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists!  Join the Thrive Together Network to build your network of support! Visit www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

In today’s podcast, Jamie is here to give you a midsummer creative pep talk!  This talk is a reminder that no matter how the summer is going, you are an artist. The magical thing about being an artist is that your art is always there for you, in the good times and the bad. In Episode #43 of the Thriving Artists, Postcast, How to Move from Waiting to Action, Jamie opens up about her personal journey with IVF and what this experience taught her about acceptance and when to push forward.

Jamie describes her show, Mother Time, and her large-scale installation piece that created a fantastical waiting room where she invited others to sit with her in her grief and time of productive re-imagining. She shares how valuable it can be to accept times of waiting or moments we need to pause our work, and also the importance of being tuned in to when to push forward. Most importantly, Jamie reminds us there will be a time when we step out again to face our fears and jump back into our practices, and that we don’t need to do that in isolation! 

Our community sabbatical is almost over, and we are ready to jump into our Virtual Artist Residency in mid-August. Join us to dive into some serious art-making together! We are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists!  Join the Thrive Together Network to build your network of support! Visit www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

We are helping our members get set up for a powerful summer and we wanted to use this episode to do the same for you! We believe breaks are so important for artists so we want to give you tools to help you if you want to keep some art going during the summer. In Episode #42 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, 5 Ways To Set Yourself Up for a Great Summer, focus on talking the summer head on!

Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Ways to Set Yourself Up for A Great Summer:

Write it All Down: In the Thriving Artists Map we have a worksheet on planning out your time, but you can use a journal or a sketchbook and use a page or draw and a box and fill it with everything you want to complete as an artist and in your business this summer!

Get Clear: So we have this huge list now and what we want you to do is to actually pick your precious priorities this summer. Pick three things from this list of things you want to get done and prioritize these important things. 

Get Specific: Look at your three precious priorities and narrow this down to ONE thing you want to get done. We do this because if everything falls apart we want you to have your most important task in mind to hold onto.

Start Now: What can you do today to help your summer self? From prepping materials to even starting work that you can continue this summer, don’t wait to head into your amazing summer!

Set Your End of Summer Date: Having an end date in mind for your summer plans will help you treat every day as our summer break as a precious one. This can give you a nice container for your plans.

We are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists.  Join the Thrive Together Network to build your network of support! Visit www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

Summer is upon us! It feels like there is always something fun to do and it is hard to stay motivated in the studio! In Episode #41 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, How to Make Art in Small Moments This Summer, we focus on taking advantage of even brief opportunities to make work because that may be all you have over the next few weeks! Don’t underestimate these small moments, they might even transform how you work over the long term!

Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Tips for Making Art in Small Moments are:

Prep an Art Kit: You might not be able to be in the physical studio, so take the time beforehand to prep art supplies in an easy, moveable way so you can take the art studio with you. You might even discover you make more work than normal because you have your kit ready and with you. 

Have Work Ready at the Mid Point: Start now creating a couple pieces of work and get them halfway or close to completion and then leave them for your future summer self to finish. 

Go Small: Sometimes it feels like great work needs to also be a great size but it doesn’t. If you are only able to carry a pad of paper this summer it is worth it to make work. Smaller work is valuable in its own right, but you never know when that small work could lead to something bigger down the line.

Everything Counts: Over the next weeks all of your thinking time, journaling, and sketching counts as part of your art practice. You may not be able to complete masterpieces this summer but take time whenever you can to be thinking about your art practice matters. 

Be Present: You may be overloaded with people and obligations but remember art also happens when we are living and learning in the world. Don’t forget to enjoy your summer and use all your experiences in your work!! Observe, look, think, reflect and enjoy life as it is also our art! 

We are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists. Join the Thrive Together Network to build your network of support! Visit www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

Today on the podcast, Kaylan talks about having more FUN in the studio. We are artists because we love making art, it brings us joy and pleasure and feels good!  But, it is also our job, and sometimes the expectations we put on ourselves can stifle some of the light-ness and we lose sight of the joy that is the foundation of why we do what we do. In Episode #40 of Thriving Artists Podcast, How to Have More Fun in the Studio, connect with what you love about being an artist.

Kaylan’s 4 Things That Connect to Fun in the Studio are:

Set a Season for Fun: As busy artists who are working with timelines for shows, deadlines, and juggling other responsibilities we need to be aware of WHEN we can have some fun seasons in the studio and take note of them! Don’t let an opportunity to tap into a less stressful time of creating pass by!

Have Good Entertainment: Sometimes we need some non-distracting music or even silence in the studio when we really need to focus because a serious deadline is looming. When you are leaning into a fun studio session, find entertainment that matches the mood you are going for. This could be a fun podcast, audiobook, or even just upbeat music.

Enter a FLOW: Limit distractions, put your phone in airplane mode, and just MAKE. Do a little advanced planning, pack a snack, and preserve that precious space to let loose free from responsibilities.

Use Non-Precious Materials: One of the ways we can enter flow and have more fun in the studio is to use non-precious materials to play and experiment. Do a series of studies on cheap paper, use all your collage or scrap material, take a week to have fun in the studio while only using scraps of materials from your “more serious” work. 

Head to thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more about the Thrive Together Network all the various resources we have to offer! As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists.

As artists, most of us struggle with self doubt! Artists see the world differently and often take atypical paths in society. This can affect our confidence. Combine that with all those other artists we can compare ourselves with on social media, and this can really make us doubt ourselves. In Episode #39 of the Thriving Artists Podcast, 5 Ways to Fight Self Doubt, we share some steps to help you face your self doubt head on!

Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Ways to Fight Self Doubt Are:

Identify Why Art is Important: When those pesky voices start whispering in your ear causing you to doubt this whole career, take time to identify why art matters to you! Name it and write it down for yourself. Why does Art Matter? Why do we need art in the world? And, when you’re ready, why does YOUR art matter? 

Name Your Fears & Insecurities: Just like naming why art is important to you can help, naming and writing down what you fear can be beneficial too! Sometimes the lack of clarity around what you are really thinking and feeling is what causes us to spiral and grow our self doubt more than the thing itself!

Clarify Your Expectations: There are so many expectations we place on ourselves and that are placed on us by society. Take some time to get crystal clear on your expectations for yourself as an artist. What are your main goals and priorities? When you know what your goals are, you can calm your own fears in the low times!

Cultivate Patience: Work towards a long-standing career that grows sustainably over time. Envision yourself making work until you are old and gray! It takes time to build trust in your art community, to develop your work, and to grow your career. Focus on sustainability and doing what is valuable in the long run.

Remember How Far You’ve Come: You have already done so much!. You have put in so many hours, you have built something from nothing! Remember this and reflect often on what you have already accomplished before you move on to thinking about all that you hope to do. 

We are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists, even when you feel that self doubt! Join the Thrive Together Network to build your network of support! Visit www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

We have been leading art communities and been leaders in the arts for many years now and we decided to pool our experience and think about the “art world” as a whole. As we did this, we realized there are some unfortunate aspects of the art world but, spoiler alert, we also see a lot of these as very positive things. In Episode #38 of the Thriving Artist Podcast,  5 Unfortunate Art World Truths, we discuss how if artists recognize these truths exist they can avoid discouragement and use these truths to their advantage.

Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Unfortunate Art World Truths Are:

Art Takes Time: Art doesn’t do well being forced or pushed. But the more we accept this truth and not fight it, the more patience and calm we can bring to our studio practices

The Art Market is Oversaturated: Yes, there is a ton of art out in the world right now BUT your voice is unique. Your voice might feel small amid all of it, but small is mighty and we live in a time where with tools like social media that allow our voice to take up space. 

Being an Artist and Being an Entrepreneur are Two Different Things: There is a push and pull of making work and trying to sell work. Accepting that these are two completely different skill sets can help free your inner artist during studio time and release her from figuring out the business side. Then you can adopt our business persona when you are working on some of the more outward facing strategic work.

Stories Sell: It can feel exhausting to make the work and then figure out how to share the story.  But this is the marketing side of the business that is truly essential to drawing people into your “art world”. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to figure out how to share your work, but making it a story can be so fulfilling. 

A Lone Artist is a Lonely One: We have been fed a story that the artist is a rebel, an outcast and often portrayed alone making their work. But what we have definitely learned over the years is that artists REALLY need people! You will get further faster when you have a strong network and community backing you up!

We hope you have found these unfortunate art world truths actually freeing! As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists. Head to www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more!

As our community puts on dozens of exhibitions this May as part of our Taking Up Space Initiative, we hope you are getting out and attending any of the shows in your area! Generally, we hope you make it a part of your art practice to plug in to your local community and support the artists in your city or state. Here in Episode #37 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, Do’s and Don’ts for Attending Gallery Shows, we are sharing some quick tips in the form of things to DO when you go to an art show and things NOT TO DO.

Jamie and Kaylan’s Do’s and Don’ts for Attending Gallery Shows are:

Sign In: Make your presence known and provide documentation that you were there to the artist and the gallerist. Sign the artist’s book with a thoughtful comment and sign up for the gallery newsletter.

Help Promote the Show: Share promotional Instagram posts about the show you are attending and post about being there. The gallery and the artist will really appreciate it if you spread the word.

Attend the Artist Talk: If the exhibition or gallery is hosting an artist talk, definitely go to this!! You’ll be inspired and you are making your presence known again. 

Ask the Artist or Gallery a Thoughtful Question: Ask a thoughtful question at any artist talks or at the opening. Everyone appreciates when someone wants to engage with the work more deeply. 

Don’t ask for your own show: This is not a good way to form an authentic connection and build a relationship. Don’t ask the artist to help you get a show at their opening and definitely don’t directly ask the gallery owner for a show there. 

Don’t go to the show expecting an outcome for yourself: Attending shows is about relationship building, making yourself known, and establishing yourself as a reliable member of your local art community over time. Be patient and build some trust and authentic connection with the gallerists and artists instead of just expecting a hand out or immediate result for yourself.

Don’t forget to follow up: Send a note, email, or even an Instagram message to the artist and gallerist and just tell them how much you loved the show. A little support can go a long way!

We hope this is helpful on your journey to becoming a confident and considerate member of your local art community. As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists. 

There is power in planning your studio time! That way you know the milestones you would like to hit as you move through the amazing studio time. With a plan, your brain can focus on making the work, not on what you should or shouldn’t be doing with your time! In Episode #36 of Thriving Artist, Podcast, How to Get the Most Out of Your Studio Hours, we talk about why structuring your studio time in advance creates a really strong creative loop that you can use over and over again. 

The 4 parts of a studio plan’s creative loop are:

Rumination: Create time for your ideas and concepts to ruminate in your brain while you are not at the studio. Think about your work and come up with some “moves” you want to make mentally, then implement physically the next time you are in your space. When you next head to the studio your brain will already be activated and knows the next step.

Preparation: Prep materials or even food in advance! Do small tasks outside the studio at convenient times so you are ready to go when you arrive. Are there any small tasks you could do in down time outside the studio like prepping materials while watching TV? Don’t dread the blank canvas in your studio! Prepare!

Production: By showing up with the idea ruminating and materials prepped, you are ready to go! The production part of the process is actually easy! Heading into the studio to play and explore is amazing, but what we want to avoid is heading into the studio and feeling lost. Ruminate and prep to create space for that amazing studio flow time where you make, make, make!

Return: Create a meaningful return to the studio by starting a plan for the next session before you leave. That way this creative loop will continue to feed itself! Consider your return when you are leaving space for your future self to come in and feel activated and inspired. 

Join us at the Thrive Together Network and you can plug into the resources and get started planning your studio time with intention! Visit our website thrivetogethernetwork.com to get signed up!