Episodi
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Have you ever been rejected?
It can be tough hearing no after no after no.
Imagine being rejected 9 years in a row! This is what happened to the amazing artist Lloyd Lewis. He was rejected year after year when applying to be on Portrait Artist of The Year! Then, in the 10th application, he was accepted.
We are going live on Monday to talk with Lloyd about this incredible journey of repeatedly applying and what it was like being on the show.
We will dive into why he was so persistent, what he’s learnt from the rejections and experience, plus what’s next!
You can watch Lloyd on Portrait Artist Of The Year series 11, episode 1 on Sky Arts or Now TV.
You can learn more about Lloyd Lewis here:
https://www.instagram.com/lloydlewisartist
https://www.youtube.com/c/LloydLewisArtist
To see the submitted artwork that was accepted in Portrait Artist Of The Year, click here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0BiQeGIJHB/?hl=en&img_index=1
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Have you ever imagined a life where paying your bills is easy? Where you walk into your solo show with confidence, sell 80% of your work, and have people knocking on your door to feature you? Or maybe you picture a life where you simply feel comfortable in your own skin, creating art that resonates with others…
But then, you shoot down the dream because you realize you're “not qualified enough,” “not consistent enough,” or “not confident enough.” Maybe you even find yourself thinking, that life is for others, not for me.
Well, you’re not alone. Many of us in this community feel exactly the same way—and it’s completely normal.
But we don’t want you to hold yourself back when there’s another question you could ask: Why not me? Why not look at all the reasons it is possible?
Part of that shift is learning to feel your dream instead of just seeing it.
I love having these conversations because this kind of thinking turned my life around—from a dark place of despair to a life filled with fulfillment and excitement for what I do.
So, here’s today’s episode—enjoy!
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Episodi mancanti?
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I was doing an exercise with my 7 Keys students this week, where we challenged ourselves to ask, “What will life look like when I hit my big money goal, or 10x my dream?”
I made a list of what I would be, do, and have, and it was amazing to see all the ways I would live my life. This got me thinking—why am I not doing this now?
Yes, a lot of it comes down to money. But, sometimes we have a perception that we need money, time, or resources to make something happen, and a dream turns into a 10-year plan, when in fact, we can make it happen today! Or at least, we can start taking small baby steps now.
The point is not to delay and wait for a day that may never come.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about in today’s episode.
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I was driving down the motorway/highway at 70 miles per hour on my way to the Lake District in the UK, along with hundreds of other drivers all driving at the same pace - wondering how on earth we all got to this point.
If we stop to think about it, it's a speed that is pretty dangerous. You’re in a metal box, moving faster than our bodies were ever designed to go. Yet, most of us do this daily without a second thought. We become so used to it that our perception of danger fades away. This is a perfect example of tolerance. The first time you drove on the highway, it probably felt intimidating, right? But with time, you adjusted. Your tolerance level for that speed increased, and what once seemed risky is now just another part of how we commute.
I then had a conversation with a friend about buying a second home. It was interesting to hear the tolerance levels as she spoke of all the many reasons why buying a second home would be problematic and difficult.
This is what I talk about in today’s episode, how you can notice your tolerance levels and start increasing them.
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Have you ever felt guilty as you are not making art on a regular basis? or, you didn’t post on social media for a while? Or, that you were doing so well with reading a book every week, and now you have stopped??
I think this pressure to be consistent all the time can put enormous pressure on us. Actually, I have huge periods where I am inconsistent, and it’s great!
I talk about why in today’s episode.
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Summer found us a few years ago at a time when she wasn’t sure why she just couldn’t seem to sell her art.
She loved creating, that wasn’t an issue - but she was forever finding it difficult to make money doing what she loved.
We are celebrating hard as just a few months Summer made the leap to full-time selling artist and makes more money now than when she was employed full time!!!
She has built an incredible life, making money from what she loves.
Summer took part in our 7 Keys program and that’s when she started to break through blocks and learn the next steps she needed take.
Guess what, she doesn’t stick to the same subject matter either !! She paints all sorts of things - listen in to find out how she is able to do this.
Despite all the crazy set backs, and she had a lot of those !! Listen to the full story now!
Click here to learn more about of 7 Keys to Make Art A Living course:
>> LEARN MORE ABOUT 7 KEYS HERE
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What does it mean to make a living from art? Does it mean pay the bills? Does it mean it has to come only from art sales?
This is what I talk about in today’s episode.
What making art a living means Whether you can make art a living The different ways you can make money and impact from your artIf you want my step-by-step framework so you can learn how to make art your living, I am running a free workshop from September 2 to September 9.
Here are the details:
>> ACCESS FREE WORKSHOP
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My book Your Art Matters hit the number one best-seller list within 12 hours of releasing it!
Firstly, thank you if you were one of the people who bought it - you helped make this happen!!
I have been asked, how did you do it?
If you are launching a book, selling art, or having an artwork in a public space that took a lot of work and you want people to know about it, then you need people.
Fact.
People are everything.
I built a strong village of people around me during the whole book writing and marketing process.
Now, I did create some fun activities during the launch of the book with prizes and made it fun - but ultimately, this only worked as there were a group of people who believed in me.
This is where it all starts - growing your village.
I talk about this in today’s episode, and we will be doing this together in my next FREE workshop: Make Art Your Living which starts on 2nd September.
>> SIGN UP FOR FREE EVENT
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This was a question that came in last week, and I receive this same question on a weekly basis.
When you ask this question, it’s so broad - it’s like asking, how do I travel? There are so many answers depending on where you are and where you want to go.
So, to answer this question, you must dig deeper under the surface.
‘You can’t be seen until you learn how to see’ - Seth Godin
This is a quote from my new book, Your Art Matters, which explains it beautifully - we have to look inwards.
I explain this in today’s podcast and also invite you to join our next free event: Make Art Your Living.
>> SIGN UP FOR FREE EVENT
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From Sleepless Nights to Starry Heights: How Kristine Richer turned midnight hours into a thriving art career.
Join us for a live podcast talk with Kristine Richer, a Milky Way photographer who transformed late-night parenting challenges into a flourishing career. In this episode of 'Your Art Matters,' Kristine shares he remarkable journey going from selling prints for $50 to $2000!!Kristine will share how she found her voice and purpose through an unexpected twist of fate, turning sleep deprivation and homebound evenings into opportunities for creative growth. She'll reveal the steps she took to build her niche in Milky Way photography and how she's now helping others do the same.
Expect practical insights on:
Embracing life's constraints to fuel creativity
Finding your unique artistic perspective
Building a successful career from an unusual starting point
Scaling your art business from hobby to full-time income
Educating and inspiring others in your field
Whether you're an aspiring artist, a parent juggling responsibilities, or someone seeking inspiration to pursue your passion, Kristine's story will light the path to turning challenges into opportunities.
Connect with Kristine Richer:
Website: https://kristinerosephotography.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinerosephotography
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Should you stick to drawing one thing? Or creating art only using pencils?
This is a topic that can make people really angry! I understand why because some people think that niching down artwork means focusing on one thing for the rest of your life and nothing else.
But it doesn’t have to mean that.
I saw someone share a post the other week saying, ‘DON’T NICHE YOUR ARTWORK’.
This is such a broad statement that it really doesn’t mean anything. If you want to niche your art and become known for something specific, do it. If you don’t want to focus, you don’t have to.
I talk more about this in today’s episode.
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Today’s podcast is a little different. I hosted it live and made it an open Q&A. I had no idea what we would talk about, which is always a nice surprise.
The conversation ended up going in the direction of:
What happens when you don’t quite believe you are good enough to write, make art, or whatever you create - and you feel you have extensive areas of improvement?
What happens when you pour your heart and soul into your work and the fear of it being criticised - or just the fear of sharing it full stop can make you feel incredibly anxious?
Whether critique sessions actually work
Why it’s important to understand why your art REALLY matters.
We also talked about how external pressures can influence the work we create and we pondered this question together:
If you could make any art without fear, judgement or external pressures - what art would you really make???
I don’t actually know the answer to this myself, but when I ponder this question, I do know that there is a part of my art-making or creativity that hasn’t been released. I know there is a part of me that would make art against the norm—whatever that is.
A seed has been planted for sure.
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Have you ever felt like one of your goals is just impossible?
A money goal you just can’t seem to achieve, or a level of standard in your work you just can’t get close to?
Last week, I had an experience with a mattress that really got me thinking about how to make impossible goals possible.
When you feel you repeatedly hit a wall, and then BAM - the answers present themselves.
I share this in today’s episode, plus two ways to immediately start moving from impossible to possible.
Enjoy!
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Have you ever worried about falling victim to an online scam as an artist?
We share a real story from our community about a member who fell victim to a scam but handled it with remarkable resilience. We discuss practical steps to identify and avoid scams, such as verifying email domains, checking for legitimate websites, requesting references, and using secure payment methods.
Additionally, we emphasize the importance of staying engaged and building trust with potential buyers while encouraging artists not to let fear prevent them from sharing their work.
Join us as we offer guidance, support, and inspiration to help you navigate these challenges and continue thriving as an artist.
P.S: This is where you can get more support and information on scamming and protecting yourself, this is a UK site but the advice is relevant to all.
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In the book 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan and another co-author, the idea of aiming for goals that are ten times larger than your current ones is explored. This concept challenges you to think and act on a much larger scale, whether it’s creating more artwork, earning more money, or collaborating with more people.
Applying this to my own goals, such as selling 5,000 copies of my book, I found the idea both exhilarating and intimidating. The fear of aiming higher reveals internal barriers that might also be hindering smaller goals. By setting a 10X goal of 50,000 copies, I started asking different questions, considering new strategies, and thinking creatively about reaching larger audiences.
This shift in mindset normalizes the original goal, making it seem more achievable. Even if the 10X target isn’t reached, the process of aiming higher transforms your approach, potentially leading to greater achievements than initially expected.
I challenge you to 10X your goal. Reflect on the thoughts and fears that arise, and explore how you could make the seemingly impossible possible. Share your journey with friends or within your accountability group, and let’s support each other in breaking through our self-imposed limits.
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I‘ve had the same big financial goal for the last 3 years, and for a long time, it has felt like I’m getting further away from it than closer to it.
Have you ever experienced this? You set a financial, art-related or personal goal, and you just can’t seem to hit it.
It might be that you want to make your first sale, be more visible, or make more money.
I reflected on this extensively in January and significantly changed how I approach my financial goal. I am starting to see a shift and am getting closer to hitting it.
Three big factors have helped me, and I shared them in this week's podcast.
You can watch or listen here
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The BIG day has arrived. The publication date of my book, Your Art Matters is 6th August.
Our official book launch event is 16th August - we would love you to join us for this.
In this episode, I share the importance of understanding why your art matters as it relates to the work you make, your purpose in life, who you connect with and how you sell.
This is why I am so passionate about this book that will help you find your voice, purpose and people.
I explain the book, the event and how I overcame the barrier to create an event in this episode.
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Being paid to:
Have a community of people around you. Make art all day. Use your studio space. Learn from you. Have a break.These are some of the ways you can create a membership platform where people pay you on a monthly, quarterly, 6 monthly, or annual basis.
I know this sounds incredibly daunting and scary to many, as it did for me when I first started!
I have had many questions about knowing if a membership is the right decision for you and your art - so I am giving the download it today’s episode.
I also take you through the steps Sharon took to create a pop-up membership that earned more that £15,000 in one month.
Stu’s Full Membership Experience Course has opened for enrollment, click >>here
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Wow - this was a bumper LIVE episode as we talked with artist, Bonny Snowdon.
Bonny broke down her whole journey from not making art in 30 years to self-taught, fully booked artist with thousands of students.
Bonny kindly shared how she managed to increase her pricing by building a waitlist and managed to exit her fulltime job to fulltime artist within 12 months.
Celebrating £ 1 million in turnover this year, Bonny has overcome challenges and set backs but found success as she works daily on her mindset and beliefs.
Bonny spoke of her success and credits her mindset and the people she has around her.
This was such a great episode, we may have to bring Bonny back for a round 2 as we could have kept talking.
If you want to learn more about Bonny, click here:
https://www.bonnysnowdonacademy.com
https://www.instagram.com/bonnysnowdonacademy
Want to learn to draw an otter in 7 days? Bonny is hosting a coloured pencil week where you will do just this :)
https://www.bonnysnowdonacademy.com/coloured-pencil-week-may-2024
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This was a live podcast where I brought in my mentor, Stu McLaren.
We talked about my past and how Stu has impacted my life in the most profound way ever.
We talk about how you can use your creativity to impact others and make money at the same time.
Imagine being paid to make art? With money coming in month after month.
I get paid to make art, and I don’t have to sell it - how crazy is that ?
This episode is super special to me as Stu has shown me ways of living I never knew possible and I have a feeling some of you need to hear this - so enjoy.
Here are what others are saying about this episode:
I am SO GRATEFUL I didn’t miss this - Nikki McDiarmid
I discovered you during a painful moment in my life 4 years ago, you have helped me believe that my art not only matters to me but to others too. I am following your recommendations and growing as an artist. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart - Lia Pintaryrelajar2206 (YouTube) - Mostra di più
