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!

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 <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more!

How to Move From Waiting to Action

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!

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 <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more!

5 Ways to Set Yourself Up For a Great Summer

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!

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 <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more!

How to Make Art in Small Moments This Summer

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.

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 <a href="https://thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> 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.

How to Have More Fun in the Studio

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 &amp; 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!

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 &amp; 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 <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more!

5 Ways to Fight Self Doubt

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!

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 <a href="https://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more!

5 Unfortunate Art World Truths

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. 

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.

Do's and Don'ts for Attending Gallery Shows

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!

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 <a href="https://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to get signed up!

How to Get the Most Out of Your Studio Hours

At the Thrive Together Network, we host an annual retreat for our community where we come together in person to rest, get inspired, and bond. In addition, and especially since this experience is not going to work for everyone every year, we recommend all artists do a personal retreat once or twice a year. In Episode #35 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, How to Plan a Personal Art Retreat, we break down the steps on how to create a retreat experience for yourself that works for your circumstances. Jamie and Kaylan’s Six Steps to Creating your Own Personal Retreat Are: Block your Time: Check your schedule for available time. This should be 6 to 48 hours. Pick a day where you can push all the other to-do’s aside or a night or two where you can totally unplug from your normal responsibilities and get away. If you don’t claim the time, it will never happen! Name What Matters: Think about what you are needing most right now. What sounds MOST nourishing to you?  Is it reconnection with your body or nature? Is it seeing art in person?  List one or two things as a guidepost for yourself as you plan. Remember, not every retreat should be the same, we get to tweak them based on what we are craving during this season.  Plan Ahead So You Feel Cared For: If you were planning the retreat for a friend, what steps would you take to make them feel special? Do those things for yourself!! Buy your favorite bottle of wine, pack a bag of your favorite snacks, get ready to crack open that book you’ve been dying to read. Pack well and do it when you feel calm and thoughtful about the retreat.  Do Some Writing and Reflection: We are huge believers in taking stock through quiet moments of writing. We wrote a whole workbook for our community to follow for a YEAR that is full of this stuff! Take time to follow some of the writing prompts from this episode to reflect on your practice. It pays off! Prioritize Something You “Never Have Time For”: This is the time to do that thing that you just have been putting off. Not a task or to-do, but something for PLEASURE and joy. Just go do it! Make it a part of your plan and be nourished by it.  Let Go of Expectations and Have a Plan B in Your Pocket: This retreat will not go perfectly. And perfect is not the goal here. The point is to prioritize yourself, take up some space and make the claim that you matter. Come up with a plan B in case your dream retreat scenario doesn’t work out.  Don’t forget to get signed up for our newsletter so you don’t miss the Artists Summer Toolkit that is going to drop June 12th. It’s a packet of info to help you plan your retreats and get set up for a great summer. Go to www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to sign up.  As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists. 

At the Thrive Together Network, we host an annual retreat for our community where we come together in person to rest, get inspired, and bond. In addition, and especially since this experience is not going to work for everyone every year, we recommend all artists do a personal retreat once or twice a year. In Episode #35 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, How to Plan a Personal Art Retreat, we break down the steps on how to create a retreat experience for yourself that works for your circumstances. Jamie and Kaylan’s Six Steps to Creating your Own Personal Retreat Are: Block your Time: Check your schedule for available time. This should be 6 to 48 hours. Pick a day where you can push all the other to-do’s aside or a night or two where you can totally unplug from your normal responsibilities and get away. If you don’t claim the time, it will never happen! Name What Matters: Think about what you are needing most right now. What sounds MOST nourishing to you?  Is it reconnection with your body or nature? Is it seeing art in person?  List one or two things as a guidepost for yourself as you plan. Remember, not every retreat should be the same, we get to tweak them based on what we are craving during this season.  Plan Ahead So You Feel Cared For: If you were planning the retreat for a friend, what steps would you take to make them feel special? Do those things for yourself!! Buy your favorite bottle of wine, pack a bag of your favorite snacks, get ready to crack open that book you’ve been dying to read. Pack well and do it when you feel calm and thoughtful about the retreat.  Do Some Writing and Reflection: We are huge believers in taking stock through quiet moments of writing. We wrote a whole workbook for our community to follow for a YEAR that is full of this stuff! Take time to follow some of the writing prompts from this episode to reflect on your practice. It pays off! Prioritize Something You “Never Have Time For”: This is the time to do that thing that you just have been putting off. Not a task or to-do, but something for PLEASURE and joy. Just go do it! Make it a part of your plan and be nourished by it.  Let Go of Expectations and Have a Plan B in Your Pocket: This retreat will not go perfectly. And perfect is not the goal here. The point is to prioritize yourself, take up some space and make the claim that you matter. Come up with a plan B in case your dream retreat scenario doesn’t work out.  Don’t forget to get signed up for our newsletter so you don’t miss the Artists Summer Toolkit that is going to drop June 12th. It’s a packet of info to help you plan your retreats and get set up for a great summer. Go to <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to sign up. As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists.

How to Plan A Personal Art Retreat

Today, we are going to chat about the importance of retreats and why we believe they are integral and necessary, not just to us as human beings, but specifically for us as artists. The reasons we discuss are relevant for all types of retreats, and there are so many options depending on where you are in life. You could do a solo retreat, a connection building retreat, a retreat far away or one close by. Regardless of how you choose to retreat, in Episode #34 of the Thriving Artists Podcast, Why Artists need to Retreat, we discuss what they all have in common as a way to build you up as an artist. Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Reasons Artists need to Retreat are:  Remove yourself from the juggle: We juggle so much in our everyday lives like relationships, caregiving, jobs, bills and meetings. The list can feel endless and fitting all of these into our days like a chaotic puzzle can be exhausting. Retreats offer a break from this juggle, because when you show up to a retreat everything is ready and prepped. Invest in your nourishment: Retreats offer a specific time to nourish ourselves, to give ourselves the food, fuel, and inspiration we so desperately need. To nourish literally means to give ourselves the substances we need to grow and be healthy. Retreats give us what we need to be healthy as artists as well, such as rest, pleasure, experimentation, exploration, discovery and connection.  Experience a new environment: There is something magical when you wake up somewhere different and get into a different landscape. It’s like our sense of awareness and “noticing” is heightened. We are pulled back into the practice of attention, rather than being bored or saturated by what is familiar to us. This helps encourage our creative processing.  Making connections: When you join in retreats you make connections! Experiencing something with new people outside of your comfort zones is one of the most ultimate ways to bond. You form an instant connection and the energy flows in such a nice way. Artists who bond at retreats frequently go on to future collaborations and mutual support.  Resist grind culture: JUST BE. Retreats are a portal to JUST BE. Attending a retreat does not make you lazy. You are investing in your nourishment, making a claim that you deserve to have moments of peace, rest, rejuvenation and re-alignment. You deserve to JUST BE with a group who gets you.   If you’d like more information on how to attend our Thrive Together Network retreat in Black Mountain, North Carolina the weekend of June 3rd, 2023, we would LOVE to have you! Head to www.thrivetogethernetwork.com/retreat  

Today, we are going to chat about the importance of retreats and why we believe they are integral and necessary, not just to us as human beings, but specifically for us as artists. The reasons we discuss are relevant for all types of retreats, and there are so many options depending on where you are in life. You could do a solo retreat, a connection building retreat, a retreat far away or one close by. Regardless of how you choose to retreat, in Episode #34 of the Thriving Artists Podcast, Why Artists need to Retreat, we discuss what they all have in common as a way to build you up as an artist. Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Reasons Artists need to Retreat are: Remove yourself from the juggle: We juggle so much in our everyday lives like relationships, caregiving, jobs, bills and meetings. The list can feel endless and fitting all of these into our days like a chaotic puzzle can be exhausting. Retreats offer a break from this juggle, because when you show up to a retreat everything is ready and prepped. Invest in your nourishment: Retreats offer a specific time to nourish ourselves, to give ourselves the food, fuel, and inspiration we so desperately need. To nourish literally means to give ourselves the substances we need to grow and be healthy. Retreats give us what we need to be healthy as artists as well, such as rest, pleasure, experimentation, exploration, discovery and connection. Experience a new environment: There is something magical when you wake up somewhere different and get into a different landscape. It’s like our sense of awareness and “noticing” is heightened. We are pulled back into the practice of attention, rather than being bored or saturated by what is familiar to us. This helps encourage our creative processing. Making connections: When you join in retreats you make connections! Experiencing something with new people outside of your comfort zones is one of the most ultimate ways to bond. You form an instant connection and the energy flows in such a nice way. Artists who bond at retreats frequently go on to future collaborations and mutual support. Resist grind culture: JUST BE. Retreats are a portal to JUST BE. Attending a retreat does not make you lazy. You are investing in your nourishment, making a claim that you deserve to have moments of peace, rest, rejuvenation and re-alignment. You deserve to JUST BE with a group who gets you.  If you’d like more information on how to attend our Thrive Together Network retreat in Black Mountain, North Carolina the weekend of June 3rd, 2023, we would LOVE to have you! Head to <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com/retreat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com/retreat</a>

Why Artists Need to Retreat

The Thriving Artists Podcast, co-hosted by Jamie Smith and Kaylan Buteyn, offers support and strategies for artists. The art world can feel like a lonely place. Thriving Artists Podcast provides a network of support, impactful strategies, and an abundance of encouragement to help you grow your authentic art career.Jamie &amp; Kaylan also run a community of thriving artists on the Thrive Together Network an online space for female and non-binary identifying artists and artists who are caregivers. Go to www.thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more.

You might not have thought of it this way, but buying art can help your art career and help you thrive as an artist! Purchasing work by other artists can leave you feeling inspired, empowered and feeling good that you have put your money where your mouth is by living your values. When you bring art into your home, it tells a story about who you are, and in  Episode #33 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, Why Artists Should Buy Art, we discuss how it can feed you as an artist, bringing about so many good things that support you and your career! Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Reasons Why Artists Should Buy Art: Walk the Walk: If we are going to ask other people to value our work and buy it then we need to do the same. We need to value art enough to spend our hard earned art dollars on it as well, and there are many ways to do this in an affordable way.  Study buyer behavior: When we buy art we get the opportunity to be on the other end of the transaction and consider why we are buying the work and what made the purchase happen. Then we can use the experience to better position ourselves to make our own sales happen. Experience a customer journey: When artists buy art, we get to see what the experience is like from purchase to delivery. We can use this experience to make our customer journey even better. This firsthand look at the communication the artist should give the buyer and how to guide the buyer through the customer journey helps us improve our own practices. Build confidence: Seeing the power of original artwork in your own home will help you be confident as you go out to sell your own work. When you spend your money on artwork, it reminds you that the art is a true gift for the collector. Support your community: Putting your money into what you love and where your values are does only good things. This will always come back to you in good ways! We hope you will find a way to celebrating and supporting other artists by having their work in your in my home. We want to support you in your art career as well! Join our community, the Thrive Together Network, at www.thrivetogethernetwork.com.

You might not have thought of it this way, but buying art can help your art career and help you thrive as an artist! Purchasing work by other artists can leave you feeling inspired, empowered and feeling good that you have put your money where your mouth is by living your values. When you bring art into your home, it tells a story about who you are, and in  Episode #33 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, Why Artists Should Buy Art, we discuss how it can feed you as an artist, bringing about so many good things that support you and your career! Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Reasons Why Artists Should Buy Art: Walk the Walk: If we are going to ask other people to value our work and buy it then we need to do the same. We need to value art enough to spend our hard earned art dollars on it as well, and there are many ways to do this in an affordable way.  Study buyer behavior: When we buy art we get the opportunity to be on the other end of the transaction and consider why we are buying the work and what made the purchase happen. Then we can use the experience to better position ourselves to make our own sales happen. Experience a customer journey: When artists buy art, we get to see what the experience is like from purchase to delivery. We can use this experience to make our customer journey even better. This firsthand look at the communication the artist should give the buyer and how to guide the buyer through the customer journey helps us improve our own practices. Build confidence: Seeing the power of original artwork in your own home will help you be confident as you go out to sell your own work. When you spend your money on artwork, it reminds you that the art is a true gift for the collector. Support your community: Putting your money into what you love and where your values are does only good things. This will always come back to you in good ways! We hope you will find a way to celebrating and supporting other artists by having their work in your in my home. We want to support you in your art career as well! Join our community, the Thrive Together Network, at <a href="https://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a>.

Why Artists Should Buy Art

All of us can have those feelings of doubt creep in when we start sharing our work or talking about ourselves as artists! At Thrive Together Network we believe we can be confident in our art practices and speak about our work with certainty. Episode #32 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, 5 Tips for Speaking More Boldly About Your Art, we go over 5 tips to put aside your second guessing and fearlessly own your artist identity.  Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Tips for Speaking More Boldly About Your Art are:  Call Yourself an Artist: Claiming your artist identity is just something you have to put into practice, even when you aren’t feeling it! Choose to believe it… YOU are an artist. Accept it, know it, proclaim it, and it will help you be more confident and speak more boldly about your art!  Have a Pitch: When someone asks you what you do, it’s totally ok to have a rehearsed response ready! Be ready to say, “I am an artist and I make work about this, this or that…”, when you meet someone in the elevator or at the park.  Make it Relatable:  After you have shared your simple answer to “what do you do”, think of a way to make it relatable to whoever you are talking to so they can engage. Pulling someone into your art by asking them to relate to it at the end with the question turns topics of your work into an engaging conversation.  State What You’re Proud Of: When you are talking about your work, literally use the prompt “I’m really proud of….______”. It’s a great way to boost your confidence while you are speaking, and to own your accomplishments. Write, Reflect, and Practice: Do some writing. Read your artist statement occasionally. Don’t just write it once, stick it on your website and never look at it again. Reflect on the writing you do and practice saying it outloud in different ways. It helps when it’s time to speak to people about your work! Head to thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more about the Thrive Together Network resources that help build your confidence as an artist such as the Thriving Artist Map and our live Art &amp; Tea sessions. As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists. 

All of us can have those feelings of doubt creep in when we start sharing our work or talking about ourselves as artists! At Thrive Together Network we believe we can be confident in our art practices and speak about our work with certainty. Episode #32 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, 5 Tips for Speaking More Boldly About Your Art, we go over 5 tips to put aside your second guessing and fearlessly own your artist identity.  Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Tips for Speaking More Boldly About Your Art are:  Call Yourself an Artist: Claiming your artist identity is just something you have to put into practice, even when you aren’t feeling it! Choose to believe it… YOU are an artist. Accept it, know it, proclaim it, and it will help you be more confident and speak more boldly about your art! Have a Pitch: When someone asks you what you do, it’s totally ok to have a rehearsed response ready! Be ready to say, “I am an artist and I make work about this, this or that…”, when you meet someone in the elevator or at the park.  Make it Relatable:  After you have shared your simple answer to “what do you do”, think of a way to make it relatable to whoever you are talking to so they can engage. Pulling someone into your art by asking them to relate to it at the end with the question turns topics of your work into an engaging conversation. State What You’re Proud Of: When you are talking about your work, literally use the prompt “I’m really proud of….______”. It’s a great way to boost your confidence while you are speaking, and to own your accomplishments. Write, Reflect, and Practice: Do some writing. Read your artist statement occasionally. Don’t just write it once, stick it on your website and never look at it again. Reflect on the writing you do and practice saying it outloud in different ways. It helps when it’s time to speak to people about your work! Head to <a href="http://thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more about the Thrive Together Network resources that help build your confidence as an artist such as the Thriving Artist Map and our live Art &amp; Tea sessions. As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists.

5 Tips for Speaking More Boldly About Your Art

By the end of March, many of us at the Thrive Together Network are working on our solo and group art shows that are happening in May 2023 for the Taking Up Space Initiative. To support this amazing work we have recorded 2 other episodes all about putting on your own art show:  Episode #23, How to Put on Your Own Art Show in 5 months and Episode #29, How to Get People To Come to Your Art Show. Today, in Episode #31 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, The Checklist You Need for Every Art Show, Jamie tackles the final details you need to do to get ready for your opening once the work is on the walls. Jamie’s Checklist You Need for Every Art Show Is: Plan for Future You: One of our favorite ways of self-care is caring for a future version of yourself. Earlier in the week try to plan ahead as much as you can for "You on Exhibition Night". This could mean picking out an outfit in advance, finding a babysitter, or tackling meal plans ahead of time. Prepare for Conversations: Try practicing your responses to the comments you may receive on the night of the exhibition. It will greatly help with those butterflies and insecurities that could rise up in the moment! Work on being able to confidently describe your show in 2 or 3 sentences.  Pick an Exhibition Event Mantra:  We easily let nerves, insecurities or persistent perfectionism get in the way from remaining present and confident in our accomplishments. Choose a mantra to help you stay grounded on the night of the event. Examples are: “My work is worthy of this exhibition.” or “I belong here.” We can’t wait to see the exhibitions our community puts together for the Taking Up Space Initiative in 2023, and as always we are here for you, cheering you on and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists! Join us at www.thrivetogethernetwork.com

By the end of March, many of us at the Thrive Together Network are working on our solo and group art shows that are happening in May 2023 for the Taking Up Space Initiative. To support this amazing work we have recorded 2 other episodes all about putting on your own art show:  Episode #23, How to Put on Your Own Art Show in 5 months and Episode #29, How to Get People To Come to Your Art Show. Today, in Episode #31 of the Thriving Artist Podcast, The Checklist You Need for Every Art Show, Jamie tackles the final details you need to do to get ready for your opening once the work is on the walls. Jamie’s Checklist You Need for Every Art Show Is: Plan for Future You: One of our favorite ways of self-care is caring for a future version of yourself. Earlier in the week try to plan ahead as much as you can for "You on Exhibition Night". This could mean picking out an outfit in advance, finding a babysitter, or tackling meal plans ahead of time. Prepare for Conversations: Try practicing your responses to the comments you may receive on the night of the exhibition. It will greatly help with those butterflies and insecurities that could rise up in the moment! Work on being able to confidently describe your show in 2 or 3 sentences.  Pick an Exhibition Event Mantra:  We easily let nerves, insecurities or persistent perfectionism get in the way from remaining present and confident in our accomplishments. Choose a mantra to help you stay grounded on the night of the event. Examples are: “My work is worthy of this exhibition.” or “I belong here.” We can’t wait to see the exhibitions our community puts together for the Taking Up Space Initiative in 2023, and as always we are here for you, cheering you on and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists! Join us at <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a>

The Checklist You Need for Every Art Show

Today on the podcast we are talking about confidence, which is something almost every artist has to work on throughout their careers. Join us for Episode #30 of the Thriving Artists, Podcast, 5 Strategies to Have More Confidence in Your Art as we tackle how to approach this challenge! This topic is so important, especially in the age of Instagram where we see the curated version of everyone’s studio practice. It can be hard to navigate the ups and downs of being an artist when there is so much great art out in the world readily available at our fingertips. At the Thrive Together Network, we believe there is room for everyone, but sometimes we can become intimidated and it gets hard to be confident when we see such amazing things all around us! Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Strategies to Have More Confidence in Your Art are: Travel back in time: Use your own story as an example of growth and inspiration, and this will help you start to see how far you’ve come. Faming your work in the context of everything you have already accomplished will grow your confidence. We tend to always look outwards with social media, so this is a great way to ground and center inwards.  Write about your work: Take the time to think about your work and what you are saying with your practice so that you will be able to then speak about it and share your work confidently. Taking time to work through your concepts and ideas helps you remember why you make what you make and why it is important. Know where you fit in the cannon: Know your historical influences and the other artists that have influenced your work. This is the story of where you came from as an artist. By mentally putting yourself alongside these art heroes, you will build your confidence in the value of what you are doing. Get feedback: Self doubt and insecurity thrive in isolation. This is when your inner critic takes over! Building confidence is about you in relationship with others. Engage with other artists to build them up and allow them to do the same for you. Join a community online or locally and start to connect and receive feedback! Keep going: Nothing builds the confidence muscle like time! Show up again and again and again. Continue to keep learning and improving. Practice a growth mindset that focuses on all the improvements you are making by continuing to show up.As always we are here for you, cheering you on and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists! Join us at www.thrivetogethernetwork.com

Today on the podcast we are talking about confidence, which is something almost every artist has to work on throughout their careers. Join us for Episode #30 of the Thriving Artists, Podcast, 5 Strategies to Have More Confidence in Your Art as we tackle how to approach this challenge! This topic is so important, especially in the age of Instagram where we see the curated version of everyone’s studio practice. It can be hard to navigate the ups and downs of being an artist when there is so much great art out in the world readily available at our fingertips. At the Thrive Together Network, we believe there is room for everyone, but sometimes we can become intimidated and it gets hard to be confident when we see such amazing things all around us! Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Strategies to Have More Confidence in Your Art are: Travel back in time: Use your own story as an example of growth and inspiration, and this will help you start to see how far you’ve come. Faming your work in the context of everything you have already accomplished will grow your confidence. We tend to always look outwards with social media, so this is a great way to ground and center inwards.  Write about your work: Take the time to think about your work and what you are saying with your practice so that you will be able to then speak about it and share your work confidently. Taking time to work through your concepts and ideas helps you remember why you make what you make and why it is important. Know where you fit in the cannon: Know your historical influences and the other artists that have influenced your work. This is the story of where you came from as an artist. By mentally putting yourself alongside these art heroes, you will build your confidence in the value of what you are doing. Get feedback: Self doubt and insecurity thrive in isolation. This is when your inner critic takes over! Building confidence is about you in relationship with others. Engage with other artists to build them up and allow them to do the same for you. Join a community online or locally and start to connect and receive feedback! Keep going: Nothing builds the confidence muscle like time! Show up again and again and again. Continue to keep learning and improving. Practice a growth mindset that focuses on all the improvements you are making by continuing to show <a href="http://up.As" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">up.As</a> always we are here for you, cheering you on and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists! Join us at <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a>

#30- 5 Strategies To Have More Confidence in Your Art

In Episode #29 of the Thriving Artists, Podcast, How to Get People To Come to Your Art Show we discuss small actions that have a huge impact on attendance at your exhibitions. We have hosted a number of art shows on our own and it is a lot of hard work, but getting people there is so important. We use the phrase “the final 5%” when we talk about this type of work. You’ve made the art, found a venue, and have generally done so much, but the last few tasks are so important for success. These are “the final 5%”. By taking these steps to make sure you have good attendance at your exhibit, you are going to get the most you can out of all your hard work. Jamie and Kaylan’s 4 Tips for how to get people to come to your art show are: Tell people a lot of times: When we say a lot…we mean a lot. It’s important to start sharing early and start prepping your audience for what they can expect to see. Don’t feel like you are annoying people if you do multiple posts on social media, not everyone will see every post. Tell people in a lot of different ways: Have a plan for when you send our newsletters, post on socia media, send out a press release and drop off flyers in different places. Get organzied to get the word out and have multiple ways to spread your message! Tell people everything they need to know: Include the address, time, date and any other important information in your communication. These simple details can be so easily forgotten when you are busy trying to get everything done for your show. We want there to be no barriers for attending your event!  Invite people in personal ways…and tell them to bring a friend: Sending personal emails and messages to people you want at your show goes a long way. Feeling personally invited to something gives the invitation more weight and people are more invested in going to that event.   For all of our Taking. Up. Space. 2023 artists this is such a good reminder to get sharing and get people excited about your upcoming show!!

In Episode #29 of the Thriving Artists, Podcast, How to Get People To Come to Your Art Show we discuss small actions that have a huge impact on attendance at your exhibitions. We have hosted a number of art shows on our own and it is a lot of hard work, but getting people there is so important. We use the phrase “the final 5%” when we talk about this type of work. You’ve made the art, found a venue, and have generally done so much, but the last few tasks are so important for success. These are “the final 5%”. By taking these steps to make sure you have good attendance at your exhibit, you are going to get the most you can out of all your hard work. Jamie and Kaylan’s 4 Tips for how to get people to come to your art show are: Tell people a lot of times: When we say a lot…we mean a lot. It’s important to start sharing early and start prepping your audience for what they can expect to see. Don’t feel like you are annoying people if you do multiple posts on social media, not everyone will see every post. Tell people in a lot of different ways: Have a plan for when you send our newsletters, post on socia media, send out a press release and drop off flyers in different places. Get organzied to get the word out and have multiple ways to spread your message! Tell people everything they need to know: Include the address, time, date and any other important information in your communication. These simple details can be so easily forgotten when you are busy trying to get everything done for your show. We want there to be no barriers for attending your event! Invite people in personal ways…and tell them to bring a friend: Sending personal emails and messages to people you want at your show goes a long way. Feeling personally invited to something gives the invitation more weight and people are more invested in going to that event.  For all of our Taking. Up. Space. 2023 artists this is such a good reminder to get sharing and get people excited about your upcoming show!!

How to Get People to Come to Your Art Show

It’s easy to get distracted by shiny new things or follow a fad that is supposed to bring you success, but we believe the keys to success as an artist are found in some very basic principles that build longevity and bring wins over time. In Episode #28 of Thriving Artist, Podcast, 5 Things Successful Artists Do we are sharing some of these foundational practices. We have seen these practices time and time again with the hundreds of artists we have worked with.  Jamie and Kaylan’s list of 5 Things Successful Artists Do: Commit to creating  - Artists who are successful in their work and career all have a certain level of commitment.These artists figure out what they can commit to during the season of life they are in and they really go for it. They make their art as big of a priority as they can and develop habits and routines that create growth for their careers.   Develop an art language or art voice - The most successful artists are the ones who have really dug in deep and figured out their artistic language. This can mean many different things, but it means knowing what you make and why you make it and having a visual vocabulary that is strong, succinct and recognizable. Have a Strong Network - Support cannot be underrated. Not only do fellow artists validate your identity as an artist, they appreciate your work and join in supporting you around the challenges of figuring out your art career. A strong and diverse network is crucial to keeping you going in your practice.  Consistent Self Promotion -  Putting yourself out there and sharing your work in a consistent way creates trust between you and your audience. This promotion builds momentum for your career. Some of the most successful artists are ones sharing their work without feeling ashamed and without apology. Despite any doubt, do the work anyway -  Commit, move forward and do not let your doubts get in your way! We really believe that everything else will follow if you prioritize your work and do it even when you feel uncertain or full of doubt.  Head to thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn how we can support you as you build and grow your foundation as an artist! As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists. 

It’s easy to get distracted by shiny new things or follow a fad that is supposed to bring you success, but we believe the keys to success as an artist are found in some very basic principles that build longevity and bring wins over time. In Episode #28 of Thriving Artist, Podcast, 5 Things Successful Artists Do we are sharing some of these foundational practices. We have seen these practices time and time again with the hundreds of artists we have worked with.  Jamie and Kaylan’s list of 5 Things Successful Artists Do: Commit to creating  - Artists who are successful in their work and career all have a certain level of commitment.These artists figure out what they can commit to during the season of life they are in and they really go for it. They make their art as big of a priority as they can and develop habits and routines that create growth for their careers.  Develop an art language or art voice - The most successful artists are the ones who have really dug in deep and figured out their artistic language. This can mean many different things, but it means knowing what you make and why you make it and having a visual vocabulary that is strong, succinct and recognizable. Have a Strong Network - Support cannot be underrated. Not only do fellow artists validate your identity as an artist, they appreciate your work and join in supporting you around the challenges of figuring out your art career. A strong and diverse network is crucial to keeping you going in your practice.  Consistent Self Promotion -  Putting yourself out there and sharing your work in a consistent way creates trust between you and your audience. This promotion builds momentum for your career. Some of the most successful artists are ones sharing their work without feeling ashamed and without apology. Despite any doubt, do the work anyway -  Commit, move forward and do not let your doubts get in your way! We really believe that everything else will follow if you prioritize your work and do it even when you feel uncertain or full of doubt.  Head to <a href="http://thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn how we can support you as you build and grow your foundation as an artist! As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists.

5 Things Successful Artists Do

In the last episode, we talked about 4 relationships every artist needs, and in this episode Kaylan tackles how to network and actually build those relationships in ways that are sustainable. So, go back and listen to Episode #26 if you missed it and then dive in to Episode #27 of Thriving Artists, Podcast, 5 Sustainable Strategies for Networking. Networking is hard work and can be time consuming. Having a plan to develop your network means you are intentional, you are motivated, and you are invested in your career and the art careers of others!  Kaylan’s 5 sustainable strategies for networking are: Identify your relationship layers- Take the 4 layers of relationships we outlined in episode #26. Who are the people in those categories? Write down their names! If you have even one person in each category, that’s great! Target the gaps- Find places those relationship layers feel a little thin. Maybe you have many people in your audience but could use some close art friends in your inner circle. Maybe you have lots of close friends and artist mentors and peers but you need some art professional connections.  Pick a time frame and time amount- Make time for networking and consider it part of your work. Pick a time frame, this is when you will network and for how long. You probably naturally already have some networking built into your life. This could be a monthly studio date with a friend or a crit crew meeting through TTN. It all counts! Share consistent content- Share consistent content and share that content consistently across all layers of your network. Did a museum acquire a new work of yours? That’s something to share! Spread the news to your close friends, your mentors and peers, your followers and your professional contacts. Identify your outlets- Identify your outlets for each layer of your network, this means asking how you best communicate with each layer. For your close friends, you may use text messages. Maybe for peers, you use the Thrive together Network. It might be best to communicate with your audience and followers through Instagram or a newsletter. For professional connections it might be email or a postcard. Head to thrivetogethernetwork.com to download your Artists Networking Toolkit and join us for the FREE SESSION of Art &amp; Tea on Tuesday March 14th where we are going to be working all this out together. 

In the last episode, we talked about 4 relationships every artist needs, and in this episode Kaylan tackles how to network and actually build those relationships in ways that are sustainable. So, go back and listen to Episode #26 if you missed it and then dive in to Episode #27 of Thriving Artists, Podcast, 5 Sustainable Strategies for Networking. Networking is hard work and can be time consuming. Having a plan to develop your network means you are intentional, you are motivated, and you are invested in your career and the art careers of others!  Kaylan’s 5 sustainable strategies for networking are: Identify your relationship layers- Take the 4 layers of relationships we outlined in episode #26. Who are the people in those categories? Write down their names! If you have even one person in each category, that’s great! Target the gaps- Find places those relationship layers feel a little thin. Maybe you have many people in your audience but could use some close art friends in your inner circle. Maybe you have lots of close friends and artist mentors and peers but you need some art professional connections.  Pick a time frame and time amount- Make time for networking and consider it part of your work. Pick a time frame, this is when you will network and for how long. You probably naturally already have some networking built into your life. This could be a monthly studio date with a friend or a crit crew meeting through TTN. It all counts! Share consistent content- Share consistent content and share that content consistently across all layers of your network. Did a museum acquire a new work of yours? That’s something to share! Spread the news to your close friends, your mentors and peers, your followers and your professional contacts. Identify your outlets- Identify your outlets for each layer of your network, this means asking how you best communicate with each layer. For your close friends, you may use text messages. Maybe for peers, you use the Thrive together Network. It might be best to communicate with your audience and followers through Instagram or a newsletter. For professional connections it might be email or a postcard. Head to <a href="https://thrivetogethernetwork.com/toolkits" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to download your Artists Networking Toolkit and join us for the FREE SESSION of Art &amp; Tea on Tuesday March 14th where we are going to be working all this out together.

5 Sustainable Strategies for Networking

Today we are chatting about relationships!! Relationships in the art world can sometimes feel tricky, but we really need other artists, arts professionals, and people in our communities to support our work. No artist thrives in total isolation. In Episode #26 of Thriving Artist, Podcast, 4 Relationships Every Artist Needs, we break down the different types of relationships you need to to have a well-rounded and supportive community for your studio practice. Jamie and Kaylan’s 4 Relationships Every Artist Needs are: Your closest art friends: These are people in your closest orbit. They just “get it”. You can text them last minute, ask any question, or get quick feedback on your work. Your mentors and peers: Right outside of your inner circle are peers and mentors. We need quite a large number of peers in order to feel supported as an artist. These relationships can range from acquaintances to closer friends. You need to have artists in your community who support your work. Your audience and collectors: This is the third layer of relationships. These are the people who follow you on social media accounts and comment, like, and share your work. They buy your art and hang it in their homes, and they generally follow along with what you are doing. These people may or may not be artists, but they certainly are art-appreciators, and we need people like this in our lives to support our careers!  Your professional connections: This is the last layer. These are folks like gallery owners, curators, people who run podcasts or have other platforms. They work in the press or at publications. These are people who can do the work of sharing, supporting and giving opportunities to an artist that can really take your career to the next level.   If you want to dive more into understanding the relationships in your life as an artist, we have a FREE GIFT for you called The Artist’s Networking Toolkit. Included are worksheets and activities, plus 2 free sessions of our popular Art &amp; Tea weekly network programming on this topic! These are “open house” style sessions where you don’t have to be a member but you can join us to check it out! These two sessions are on March 14th and March 21st, 2023 at 1:00pm EASTERN or 10am PACIFIC.  Head to our website thrivetogethernetwork.com to find out more, download Your Artists Networking Toolkit and find the Zoom links to the corresponding open house sessions in our Instagram link in bio. 

Today we are chatting about relationships!! Relationships in the art world can sometimes feel tricky, but we really need other artists, arts professionals, and people in our communities to support our work. No artist thrives in total isolation. In Episode #26 of Thriving Artist, Podcast, 4 Relationships Every Artist Needs, we break down the different types of relationships you need to to have a well-rounded and supportive community for your studio practice. Jamie and Kaylan’s 4 Relationships Every Artist Needs are: Your closest art friends: These are people in your closest orbit. They just “get it”. You can text them last minute, ask any question, or get quick feedback on your work. Your mentors and peers: Right outside of your inner circle are peers and mentors. We need quite a large number of peers in order to feel supported as an artist. These relationships can range from acquaintances to closer friends. You need to have artists in your community who support your work. Your audience and collectors: This is the third layer of relationships. These are the people who follow you on social media accounts and comment, like, and share your work. They buy your art and hang it in their homes, and they generally follow along with what you are doing. These people may or may not be artists, but they certainly are art-appreciators, and we need people like this in our lives to support our careers!  Your professional connections: This is the last layer. These are folks like gallery owners, curators, people who run podcasts or have other platforms. They work in the press or at publications. These are people who can do the work of sharing, supporting and giving opportunities to an artist that can really take your career to the next level.  If you want to dive more into understanding the relationships in your life as an artist, we have a FREE GIFT for you called The Artist’s Networking Toolkit. Included are worksheets and activities, plus 2 free sessions of our popular Art &amp; Tea weekly network programming on this topic! These are “open house” style sessions where you don’t have to be a member but you can join us to check it out! These two sessions are on March 14th and March 21st, 2023 at 1:00pm EASTERN or 10am PACIFIC.  Head to our website <a href="http://thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to find out more, download Your Artists Networking Toolkit and find the Zoom links to the corresponding open house sessions in our Instagram link in bio.

4 Relationships Every Artist Needs

What comes to mind when you hear the word “critique”? As artists, the idea of putting our work out there and receiving feedback can be daunting, if not completely scary! We’ve all heard the stories of artists getting their work verbally ripped to shreds in a grad school critique. Here at Thrive Together Network, we believe that critique can be respectful and caring, providing a deep and transformative experience that pushes your work forward. We model this approach in our Crit Crew program, so we wanted to do a deep dive here in this episode to discuss all of the benefits of feedback in a small group setting like our Crit Crews. Join us for Episode #25 of Thriving Artists, Podcast, 5 Ways Critique Can Change Your Practice, as we discuss and demystify…the dreaded critique.  Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Ways Critique Can Change Your Practice are: Helps you understand what others are seeing when they look at your work: Being part of a critique where others are simply sharing with you what they see when they look at your work can be SO powerful. It can guide you towards making decisions within your work that you would never have arrived at on your own. This helps you get your concepts across! Roots you more deeply in your art lineage: We don’t always have the knowledge for understanding exactly where our work fits into the canon of art history. We have to learn these things through research, lots of time spent in galleries and museums and we aren’t always able to tune in to those narratives. Others can contextualize your work and jumpstart your understanding of where you fit into the bigger picture of the art world. Opens you to new materials or processes: Deep knowledge of materials and processes comes with time and experience. As independent artists, we reach for the materials we know and the processes we are familiar with. However, when we open ourselves to critique and let other artists and mentors look at our work and studio practice, they help us see that there are new materials or ways to make our work that might help make our work stronger! Guides you toward your next steps: Working in your studio alone day after day can send you into ways of working that become habitual, familiar and known. Critique can shake things up and guide you to new exciting places! Nourishes your artist identity: Establishing a relationship with other artists who give you productive feedback is nourishing to you because YOU are developing your skills talking about your work. You are making connections, learning, and that nourishes your artist identity in immeasurable ways.  If you want to join our crit crew program, we would love to extend the invitation. These groups are truly life changing, and getting feedback like this on your work can revolutionize your career! Our enrollment is currently open and spots are filling fast! Our program is limited to 40 artists so sign up before the deadline of February 26th to ensure you get to participate.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “critique”? As artists, the idea of putting our work out there and receiving feedback can be daunting, if not completely scary! We’ve all heard the stories of artists getting their work verbally ripped to shreds in a grad school critique. Here at Thrive Together Network, we believe that critique can be respectful and caring, providing a deep and transformative experience that pushes your work forward. We model this approach in our Crit Crew program, so we wanted to do a deep dive here in this episode to discuss all of the benefits of feedback in a small group setting like our Crit Crews. Join us for Episode #25 of Thriving Artists, Podcast, 5 Ways Critique Can Change Your Practice, as we discuss and demystify…the dreaded critique.  Jamie and Kaylan’s 5 Ways Critique Can Change Your Practice are: Helps you understand what others are seeing when they look at your work: Being part of a critique where others are simply sharing with you what they see when they look at your work can be SO powerful. It can guide you towards making decisions within your work that you would never have arrived at on your own. This helps you get your concepts across! Roots you more deeply in your art lineage: We don’t always have the knowledge for understanding exactly where our work fits into the canon of art history. We have to learn these things through research, lots of time spent in galleries and museums and we aren’t always able to tune in to those narratives. Others can contextualize your work and jumpstart your understanding of where you fit into the bigger picture of the art world. Opens you to new materials or processes: Deep knowledge of materials and processes comes with time and experience. As independent artists, we reach for the materials we know and the processes we are familiar with. However, when we open ourselves to critique and let other artists and mentors look at our work and studio practice, they help us see that there are new materials or ways to make our work that might help make our work stronger! Guides you toward your next steps: Working in your studio alone day after day can send you into ways of working that become habitual, familiar and known. Critique can shake things up and guide you to new exciting places! Nourishes your artist identity: Establishing a relationship with other artists who give you productive feedback is nourishing to you because YOU are developing your skills talking about your work. You are making connections, learning, and that nourishes your artist identity in immeasurable ways.  If you want to join our crit crew program, we would love to extend the invitation. These groups are truly life changing, and getting feedback like this on your work can revolutionize your career! Our enrollment is currently open and spots are filling fast! Our program is limited to 40 artists so sign up before the deadline of February 26th to ensure you get to participate.

5 Ways Critique Can Change Your Practice

This is week one of Thrive Together Network’s Virtual Artist Residency, and in Episode #24 of Thriving Artists, Podcast, How to Plan Out Your Studio Time we talk about how to set yourself up for good time management in the studio. Having a plan and being intentional with your time in small ways can really help you reap big rewards. We think planning out your studio time and implementing some structure is especially important and not something we really hear people talk about!  Jamie and Kaylan’s 3 steps for planning out your studio time are: Name what Matters Most: Prioritization is key to spending our studio time in a way that is fruitful. Putting in a few minutes to think through what matters to us right now can ease up some of the mental “mess” help us identify our guideposts for each studio session. Make time to pause and connect your mind, your priorities, and your calendar to the actual work you are doing in the studio to help keep you on track! Divide and Conquer: Take one large project or task and break it down into smaller tasks by category and complete those tasks in one session. Break down the parts of your process and get into the flow of one method for each session. Limit the materials you are getting out and the clean up! Create a Closing Routine: Create a closing routine anywhere from 10-20 minutes in length to wrap up your session. This could mean tidying up your work space, prepping materials for your next studio session, doing a little art reading, or journaling about your studio time. You could use this time to do a short meditation or even one minute of conscious and deep breathing before you transition back to your other responsibilities and out of “artist mode”.  You can sign up to join us in our Virtual Art Residency, and experience a whole month of dedicated studio time with the support of other artists!! Head to thrivetogethernetwork.com to sign up! Also, follow the residency on instagram to see what other artists are doing by going to the hashtag #thrivetogetherartres

This is week one of Thrive Together Network’s Virtual Artist Residency, and in Episode #24 of Thriving Artists, Podcast, How to Plan Out Your Studio Time we talk about how to set yourself up for good time management in the studio. Having a plan and being intentional with your time in small ways can really help you reap big rewards. We think planning out your studio time and implementing some structure is especially important and not something we really hear people talk about!  Jamie and Kaylan’s 3 steps for planning out your studio time are: Name what Matters Most: Prioritization is key to spending our studio time in a way that is fruitful. Putting in a few minutes to think through what matters to us right now can ease up some of the mental “mess” help us identify our guideposts for each studio session. Make time to pause and connect your mind, your priorities, and your calendar to the actual work you are doing in the studio to help keep you on track! Divide and Conquer: Take one large project or task and break it down into smaller tasks by category and complete those tasks in one session. Break down the parts of your process and get into the flow of one method for each session. Limit the materials you are getting out and the clean up! Create a Closing Routine: Create a closing routine anywhere from 10-20 minutes in length to wrap up your session. This could mean tidying up your work space, prepping materials for your next studio session, doing a little art reading, or journaling about your studio time. You could use this time to do a short meditation or even one minute of conscious and deep breathing before you transition back to your other responsibilities and out of “artist mode”.  You can sign up to join us in our Virtual Art Residency, and experience a whole month of dedicated studio time with the support of other artists!! Head to <a href="http://thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to sign up! Also, follow the residency on instagram to see what other artists are doing by going to the hashtag #thrivetogetherartres

How to Plan Out Your Studio Time

I’m 14 mins into the only episode I’ve ever listened to. I’m hearing you talk about business and repeating the same thing over and over. Can you catch up with one another before you begin recording?

Get on with it

This podcast has become a big part of my art support system... I am continually learning really valuable tools and practices from listening to Tara, Jamie and their guests. It also has been a godsend to realize that I am not alone in my struggles and challenges as I develop my art practice and begin to sell my work. I am not yet a member of their mastermind, but it is now one of my goals for 2020. Thank you ladies!

My Thrive Tribe

The Thriving Artists Podcast, co-hosted by Jamie Smith and Kaylan Buteyn, offers support and strategies for artists. The art world can feel like a lonely place. Thriving Artists Podcast provides a network of support, impactful strategies, and an abundance of encouragement to help you grow your authentic art career. Jamie &amp; Kaylan also run a community of thriving artists on the Thrive Together Network an online space for female and non-binary identifying artists and artists who are caregivers. Go to <a href="http://www.thrivetogethernetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thrivetogethernetwork.com</a> to learn more.

Thriving Artists Podcast

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