How to Sell Art: The Abundant Artist Podcast

Dispel the myth of the starving artist by learning to sell art online. Interviews with successful painters, photographers, sculptors, and other art business professionals, as well as in-depth explanations of email marketing, social media, and art business practices.

6 Legal Must-Dos for Artists with Kiffanie Stahle 09/28/2023

6 Legal Must-Dos for Artists with Kiffanie Stahle Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining Cory in today’s podcast is Kiffanie Stahle, the “friendly” lawyer who helps artists get the legal side of their art businesses in order. A firm believer in focusing on the “why” rather than the “what”, Kiffanie advises artists to first decide what they actually need to meet their business goals, rather than just investing big in legal matters that may not be required at all in their specific circumstances. In this episode, Kiffanie spells out the six basic rules that every professional artist must adhere to, to avoid getting caught in the legal net. She mentions some free templates available on her website that may be a good starting point for artists just beginning their art career. Kiffanie also talks about how easy it could be to gather tax and other legal information in your state – often just a phone call away. Tune in to today’s episode for more legal insights, a bit about Kiffanie’s minimalist life traveling the western US since 2020, and her goal to make life easier for small creative businesses. Well, legally at least. Key Takeaways: [1:12] Cory asks Kiffanie to tell the TAA audience a little about how she started her journey as a lawyer helping artists with legal dos and don’ts. [3:00] Kiffanie reminisces about how she founded the artist's J.D. as a place to provide legal tools and resources for artists, and how it has now evolved into a membership community, offering books, courses and templates. [4:38] How the year 2020 made a big life change for Kiffanie, and how her minimalist lifestyle impacted her legal thoughts. [6:39] Is getting a trademark necessary? [7:00] Kiffanie believes that there are only six things that are required of artists when it comes to the legal side of their small creative businesses. [9:49] Kiffanie explains how a simple email can also be a valid contract in the eyes of the law. [11:39] Cory asks Kiffanie how Entrepreneur Magazine has a trademark, given that a business name that merely describes what you do is not eligible for a trademark. [16:15] When do you need to do more legal stuff, if you have covered the six necessary tasks already? [17:54] Kiffanie has a free template on her website which artists can use to create a really simple, easy and readable privacy policy and terms of service. [20:04] Cory asks Kiffanie to quickly define GDPR and CCPA. [22:02] If your creative stuff is primarily targeted at children, there’s a whole lot of separate laws that you will need to be cognisant of. [23:25] Cory asks Kiffanie to explain what one needs to do to comply with the various tax requirements. [24:18] Kiffanie often recommends her clients to get in touch with their respective Chambers of Commerce for understanding the tax rules and regulations applicable to them. [31:39] At what point should artists start reviewing their tax affairs on a regular basis? [33:30] Who are enrolled agents, and how are they different from CPAs? [35:35] To decide what legal tasks you must complete, you must know where your business is going. [37:29] Kiffanie has been out of social media for three years now – this is one of her experiments in life minimalism. [38:22] Cory asks Kiffanie how artists would get in touch with her if they are curious to learn more about legal matters or need legal help. [40:06] What is Kiffanie’s takeaway from spending so much time working with creative people? [42:08] Cory thanks Kiffanie for a super-informative episode! Mentioned in This Episode: Kiffanie’s Kiffanie’s Kiffanie’s Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/28165832

Why Personality Matters in Selling Art with Marisa White 09/21/2023

Why Personality Matters in Selling Art with Marisa White Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Our guest today is Marisa S White, an award-winning artist-photographer based in Colorado. A drawing and painting major, Marisa fell in love with photography in college and eventually began to incorporate it into her work, creating mixed media collages. In 2012, she was introduced to Photoshop, and her artistic world changed forever. In this episode, Marisa shares her journey as an artist, why she went from art school to setting up her own payroll business to back in school learning photography, how her “decent personality for sales” has served her well, how she handles her gallery relations, and many more tidbits about her art life. Join us for today’s podcast to learn more about Marisa's “trials-and-errors” in life which, she believes, have got her to the point where she is now. Key Takeaways: [1:20] Cory kicks off the conversation with Marisa asking how she came up with the idea for her series titled Certain These Clouds Go Somewhere. [4:48] Cory reminisces about his growing up years in Utah, and how he resonates with Marisa’s creative feelings emanating from being surrounded by giant mountains and being in and among the clouds. [7:19] How does Marisa describe herself – a photographer, an artist, or a collage artist? [8:12] Marisa shares her art journey with the TAA audience, from art school to where she is today. [11:20] How going to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography and being exposed to Photoshop there changed the course of Marisa’s art career. [14:35] Cory asks Marisa why she decided to sell her payroll business and go back to school to learn photography. [17:22] What does Marisa mean when she says she has “a decent personality for sales?” [19:40] Cory compares the sales cycle in the mid-upper tier of the art market with that of enterprise software solutions. [22:23] How Marisa loves to share the stories behind her artworks with visitors in art fairs. [24:20] Marisa talks about her creative process. [28:48] Why Marisa thinks that making behind-the-scenes videos of their creative process can be a bit frustrating for artists since they do a lot of things “in the moment,” but why she still recommends doing so. [30:43] How do buyers find Marisa? [31:40] Apart from galleries and art fairs, sales through social media have started picking up lately for Marisa. [32:10] How does Marisa choose the art fairs she goes to? [34:14] Why it is important as an artist to keep track of where your sales are coming from. [36:13] Cory asks Marisa whether she has formal contracts with the galleries she is working with. [39:46] Marisa explains how she handles her relationships with multiple galleries. [43:10] Why is Marisa using both Photobiz and ArtStoreFronts for her website? [45:22] Marisa is going to get her own retail space soon. [47:31] Cory thanks Marisa for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Marisa’s series Marisa’s Marisa’s Kelli Erdmann's (kelladactyl) Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/28100201

How Music Shapes Art for Kathy Lajvardi 08/24/2023

How Music Shapes Art for Kathy Lajvardi Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Today’s guest is Kathy Lajvardi, a contemporary mixed media artist based in Laguna Beach, California. Kathy was born in Iran and later migrated to the US when she was nine-years-old – a cultural shift that has shaped her as an artist, designer, author and curator. Her diverse artistic background ranges from reflective resin to large-scale paintings that tell a story, are conceptual, and raise awareness. In this episode, Kathy shares her journey as an artist, from earning her BFA to working with high-profile clients such as Madonna, Beyonce, Lexus, Disney, and Apple. She further talks about how the late night brainstorming sessions with her husband have turned into actual successful projects over the years, and offers her perspective on the Iranian art and culture scene pre and post the 1979 revolution, and how that has influenced her art. Join us in this podcast to learn more about Kathy’s art journey, and why she thinks artists should go all out to promote their art themselves rather than waiting to get “discovered”. Key Takeaways: [0:35] Cory welcomes Kathy to the TAA podcast and asks her to introduce herself to the TAA audience. [1:20] Kathy talks about how she went on from earning her art degree to working on motion graphics projects for celebrity musicians, movies and companies like Apple. [4:35] She transitioned into digital experience post her marriage and the birth of her children, and started managing the Graphics department in her husband’s advertising agency. [6:25] How Kathy and her husband started organizing wine events with winemakers. [6:38] What was the Somxx event and how did it happen? [9:22] Cory asks Kathy about her connection with Iran. [10:57] Kathy explains the connection between her art and the music she likes to listen to, and why she always works with her headphones on. [13:52] Kathy further talks about her background, and how her choice of music was received by her family. [17:50] Cory asks Kathy to describe her series titled “Unbreakable Queens”. [18:52] Kathy further talks about the Iranian singer Googoosh and her struggles, and how that has inspired the artist’s “Unbreakable Queens” series. [22:05] Kathy offers her thoughts on what Iran used to be like before the 1979 revolution. [23:17] Kathy explains in detail how she and her husband organize the events, from visualizing to planning the details to getting sponsors. [30:35] Kathy deep dives into how once she knows what she wants, she plans the steps needed to achieve that. [32:17] Why the “hustle mentality” is important, and how social media can be used as a platform to reach a wider audience. [32:44] Kathy takes her marketing flyers everywhere she goes. [33:29] Art dealers can surely accelerate an artist’s career, but Kathy insists that an artist can be their own art dealer too. [34:21] Cory asks Kathy how her events/parties convert into sales. [37:15] Cory thanks Kathy for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Kathy Lajvardi’s series Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/27837726

Art Licensing Explained with Cherish Flieder 07/13/2023

Art Licensing Explained with Cherish Flieder Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Internationally featured and award-winning artist/designer Cherish Flieder joins TAA founder Cory Huff in today’s podcast. Apart from being a creative entrepreneur, Cherish is also a teacher and the founder of a virtual art licensing community, . In this episode, Cherish explains what is art licensing and how it can actually be a viable business model for artists, talks about her first love i.e. children’s book cover illustrations, and reminisces about her journey of art licensing from greetings cards and book cover to fashion apparel and ultimately launching her own art lifestyle brand. Tune in to listen to Cherish’s journey in art licensing, and what you must know as an artist to potentially adopt this business model. Key Takeaways: [:37] Cory introduces Cherish to TAA podcast listeners [2:20] What is art licensing? Cherish explains how it’s a viable business model for artists [3:35] Different types of products on which Cherish’s artwork has been shown. How she started with children’s book cover illustrations after art school [4:30] Why do most artists start with licensing their artwork for greetings cards? [5:20] How the process of licensing her art to fashion companies ultimately led Cherish to launch her own trademarked art lifestyle brand, [7:37] Cherish describes her artwork as “whimsical elegance” [9:45] Why Cherish believes in partnering with experts for production and marketing [10:22] Cory asks Cherish what she thinks has changed in art licensing in the last couple of years [11:00] How “Fast Fashion” brands are changing trends even on a weekly basis, and what artists need to know while licensing their art to fashion houses [12:03] Why artists licensing their art must be connected with fellow licensing artists or communities [14:51] How can artists position their art in the market to make the most of whatever opportunities come their way? [17:06] Cherish throws some light on what her business planning process looks like [18:30] The Notion App Cherish uses for the business side of her creative venture [22:50] How the Clubhouse social audio network has been a useful community for Cherish [24:35] Why do so few art schools have courses on art marketing? [30:03] Why only ~50% of artists taking a marketing course implement the learning in their art business [32:14] What is a more realistic expectation for an artist who’s just getting started selling their art? [34:53] Why consistency is key while marketing your art [35:43] Size of your social media follower base may not convert to actual sales. What social media strategies Cherish recommends for driving the sale of artwork [43:] What steps does Cherish recommend for artists seeking to license their art to what she calls “companies behind companies”? [45:09] What are Cherish’s favorite trade shows? Why is it important to visit trade shows to understand your chosen niche in the market for licensing your art e.g. gift items or home décor? [47:07] Cherish advises artists to start researching the market first on their own before handing over their licensing business to agents. And it is important to have a lawyer check your licensing agreements [47:32] Cory asks Cherish to explain for the audience what an ASMR video is, and why she recently experimented with creating one [50:25] Cherish talks about her “Gratitude Practice” [51:48] Cory thanks Cherish for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: founded by Cherish Flieder Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/27440895

New Orleans Artist Adam Hall 06/29/2023

New Orleans Artist Adam Hall Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining the podcast today is Adam Hall, who describes himself as “an artist who paints New Orleans''. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Adam's tryst with New Orleans started when he joined Tulane University there to obtain an undergraduate degree in studio art and history. Although later Adam studied in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (MFA), he eventually decided to move back to New Orleans and settle there. The impact of Hurricane Katrina is visible in Adam’s art, especially in his black-and-white, burnt-paper three-dimensional collages that explored themes of loss and upheaval. A visit to Paris in 2009 and the study of impressionist painters convinced him to switch to impressionist oil paintings. In this episode, Adam explains why he calls New Orleans his home, his metamorphosis from a sculptor/installation artist to an impressionist painter, how Hurricane Katrina has inspired his artworks, and how he manages the business side of his art career. Key Takeaways: [:33] Cory reminisces how he has known Adam since 2013. [4:05] Why Adam has found his “artistic home” in New Orleans. [5:45] How Adam’s website captures the fascinating evolution of his artworks. [7:15] Adam was more into sculptures and installations during grad school. Why has he taken up painting after moving to New Orleans? [10:05] How has Hurricane Katrina shaped Adam’s artistic expressions? [12:38] Why it was important for Adam to create artworks that looked similar to oak trees. [20:12] How over time Adam coached himself to make impressionist paintings of New Orleans. [32:30] How Adam has designed his life for selling paintings. [33:40] Adam enjoys the business side of his art career. It’s not “work” for him. [36:40] How Adam’s New Orleans paintings changed over time and why. [38:14] How the pandemic impacted Adam’s choice of subjects for paintings. [41:11] How did Adam figure out what works for him in the business side? How TAA class helped Adam with finding his “voice”. [46:14] What kind of write-ups Adam does regularly for his collectors. How does he decide on what to write? [49:07] Social media and his website helped Adam sell his paintings more than outdoor shows. [51:11] What’s working for Adam on social media? [53:00] What’s Adam excited about his art business at the moment? [55:03] Cory thanks Adam for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/27233409

What does an Art Advisor do with Maria Brito 06/01/2023

What does an Art Advisor do with Maria Brito Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Normally this podcast features professional artists, but this week’s guest has such a vast experience in the art world, we decided to shake up our usual! Maria Brito is an . She has spent more than a decade working with a multitude of well-known artists as well as emerging talent, getting them in touch with her clients and building long-term relationships. She also works with corporate clients, helping foster creativity wherever she can. She comes on the show to discuss her unique perspective on the art business, and how it intersects with the rest of the world. Cory and Maria discuss the revolutionary changes that technology has enabled, decentralizing the art practice and collectors’ markets. They also touch on what artists need to succeed in the free markets as well as in the official art machinery, and how an increasingly polarized world requires open-mindedness and curiosity to move forward. Join in for a lively discussion on the ever-evolving business of art making. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Maria Brito to the podcast and dives right in with a question about failure. [1:30] Always remember that failure is impersonal. Maria shares her perspective on the importance of self-reflection and the piecing together of clues to build future projects. She shares a personal story of learning and growth through failure. [6:50] Maria encourages listeners to take time to review past failures and how they were used to better their practice. [8:11] What does an art advisor do? [11:19] From very unhappy corporate attorney to art advisor, consultant, and curator, Maria talks about how her path diverged almost 14 years ago. [19:22] “Emergent artist” is a term that has changed meaning over time, but belongs to the official machinery of art galleries. Maria speaks about the label “outsider artists,” used for people who evolve away from those official structures. [24:55] Many cities all over the world are brimming with art ecosystems because technology has enabled a wonderful decentralization of opportunities. [26:20] How galleries contact Maria, and what they share as information for consideration. [31:00] A substantial percentage of the art market originates from Instagram, close to $7.5 billion! [33:25] The three things artists should get good at to build their following on Instagram. [35:03] Teaching the creative process to corporate clients was years in the making, Maria shares how it came to fruition and some of what she teaches. [40:00] The starving artist myth needs to be broken. From Picasso to O’Keefe, Maria explains why artists need to stop underestimating themselves as entrepreneurs. [44:23] Maria’s favorite art and entrepreneurship studies. [49:00] Pursuing a career for the sake of happiness and creativity versus that of safety has nurtured in Maria a need to share her knowledge to inspire other people to follow their passion. [53:28] The consistent habits of the creative mind as well as the counter-productive nature of anger and self-righteousness. [1:08:12] Maria’s advice for aspiring artists in a world that is rife with excellent competition: train your eye and choose your platform. [1:15:40] Cory thanks Maria for joining the podcast and sharing so much of her knowledge! Mentioned in This Episode: Maria Brito’s on Instagram on Twitter Maria on Harvard Business School: , by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/26737845

Traveling to 100 Shores with Wildlife Painter and Fiber Artist Eric Jackson 04/27/2023

Traveling to 100 Shores with Wildlife Painter and Fiber Artist Eric Jackson Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Cory welcomes Wildlife Painter and Fiber Artist Eric Jackson, who specializes in unique batik illustrations of Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic species, in today’s podcast. Eric had had a deep interest in water quality and aquatic life since a young age, especially in and around the Chesapeake region where he grew up. Eric was teaching art in public school when he started selling his art at local art shows in Maryland in 2017. After the 2020 pandemic, he left teaching to pursue his art career full time. In this episode, Eric explains how he conceptualized the One Hundred Shores project, how it connected Art and Ecology, and how it grew in scope – even without much social media presence at that time – to become a huge storytelling project and a successful Kickstarter initiative eventually. Eric also discusses his passion for teaching art, and why he thinks it’s important for kids to learn art in school. Key Takeaways: [:46] Cory mentions how fascinating it has been to watch Eric’s art career evolve over the years. [2:33] The kind of art Eric makes. What led him to make the kind of art he does. [4:22] Eric is an outdoor person, spending his free time hunting and fishing. How does that impact the subject matter of his artworks? [5:17] People are not really familiar with the batik technique and how the pieces are made. Eric often receives questions on that account. [6:53] Cory wants to talk about Eric’s Chesapeake Bay project (i.e. the One Hundred Shores project) as he thinks it’s a really good window into (1) what Eric’s art is about, and (2) how people respond to his work. [7:09] Talking about the audience for his work, Eric identifies two distinct segments. [9:00] Eric discusses the One Hundred Shores project in detail. How the Chesapeake Bay and its ecosystem are connected with the residents in the area. [11:08] How the One Hundred Shores project connects Art and Ecology, and how that resonates with people. [11:48] How did Eric conceptualize the One Hundred Shores project? How did it evolve from the ideation period? [14:04] Eric gives an example of the stories collected during the One Hundred Shores project. [18:32] How Eric got the word out when he initiated the project. [21:00] Eric launched a separate website for the One Hundred Shores project. Why does he keep it distinct from his regular website? [22:40] How the One Hundred Shores project press release helped spread the word further, and made people and organizations reach out to Eric to learn more about his project. How his earlier lesson with TAA helped him put together the press release. [24:19] Cory asks Eric about the latest status of the One Hundred Shores project. [26:29] Where people can buy Eric’s One Hundred Shores project t-shirts from. [28:02] Cory congratulates Eric on the success of his One Hundred Shores project, and mentions that it’s a very interesting example for artists looking for starting a project on a greater scale or planning to take their art to a bigger audience. [30:48] After years of making art privately, Eric started showing his work to people only as recently as 2017. [35:05] Eric talks about his love for teaching. [35:43] Why it is important for kids to learn art in school. [39:07] Advocating for “Art for art’s sake” and maintaining the integrity of Art as a discipline. [39:53] Why Eric considers leaving teaching his biggest professional decision till date. [40:45] What is Eric looking forward to for the rest of 2023? [44:00] Cory thanks Eric for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/26657742

Leaving Social Media: A Human-Centric Business Strategy with Gwenn Seemel 03/30/2023

Leaving Social Media: A Human-Centric Business Strategy with Gwenn Seemel Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. In 2016, social media platforms ruined themselves for artist Gwenn Seemel. That was the year they stole the last bit of agency from their users — replacing chronology with algorithms — and rendered themselves obsolete to her practice. In this podcast, Gwenn talks about her decision to leave social platforms altogether; the personal, professional, and moral reasons behind her choice; and the surprising human and financial outcome of this bold stance. Join Gwenn and Cory in a discussion on the human aspect of relationships, the collective nature of art, Capitalism as a force of destruction in the world, and a few solid tips on how to run your business away from social media, but still online and connected. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes long-time friend and artist Gwenn Seemel to ask her why she recently decided to leave social media. [4:09] Gwenn touches on her business ROI fears without social media as well as some surprising psychological aspects of pulling away from the platforms. [6:14] Increased emotional strength and stable income are Gwen’s current state of business despite using no social platforms. [7:08] Standing up to Facebook’s — and most other social platforms’ — moral grayscale. [12:11] Leaving social media: the need for resiliency and building mental health. [15:15] Building one-on-one relationships with buyers and collectors. Gwen explains how she manages her contact list. [22:34] Tracking inventory when your body of work has grown substantially. [26:48] Patreon — and patronage — is not charity. Gwenn and Cory touch on the underestimated benefits of this type of platform. [33:30] Gwen’s invaluable Patreon tips. [36:06] When you can’t be your own “hype-man” – tips for the socially disinclined. [38:23] Cory probes Gwenn’s thoughtfulness and the process she uses to think through questions in-depth. [42:10] Jobs With Justice and why Gwenn cares about proper pay for anyone in any job. [49:29] Did Capitalism lift the stark majority of the masses out of absolute poverty? Gwenn debates passionately for the dismantling of the aforementioned system! [54:22] The German business example — welcome to the board! Cory shares his own luck as it relates to a discussion on capitalism and the state of the world. [57:06] Why did Cory choose to go to college despite growing up in an ecosystem that didn’t foster it? [58:56] Cory thanks Gwenn for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Gwenn Seemel’s , by Taffy, Amanda. 2021. . Doctoral dissertation, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. , by Erica Smiley and Sarita Gupta Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/26372922

Keeping the Love of Animals Alive Through Art with Will Eskridge 02/23/2023

Keeping the Love of Animals Alive Through Art with Will Eskridge Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining the podcast today to share about his artistic journey is Will Eskridge, a self-proclaimed weirdo that celebrates the ugly, the forgotten, and the voiceless through his art. Growing up with a veterinarian as a father and an artist as a mother carved Will’s path of keeping the love of animals alive through his art. Many of his art pieces feature the less-appreciated animals of the world paired alongside a human vice. He also occasionally explores other realms of art such as abstraction and landscapes. His art can be found on murals throughout the city of Athens, Georgia; social media; the occasional exhibit; and his website. In this episode, Will shares his journey to becoming a fully-fledged artist, how he discovered what he loves to create, and how he navigates the business side of his art career. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Will Eskridge to the podcast and they recount how they originally met. [1:49] Where ‘home’ is for Will. [2:30] Will describes his art and shares his journey to becoming a fully-fledged artist. [6:15] Will’s art journey post-art school. [12:44] In 2014, Will quit his job and began pursuing art full-time. How has his artistic style developed since then? [22:38] Will elaborates on the variety of animal subjects he paints and where his ideas for his paintings generally come from. [29:13] How Will became known for his collection of art that he dubs, ‘Weird animals with low-grade sins.’ [32:02] The importance of creating art you want to create rather than creating to sell. [32:45] How/where Will sells his art. [36:00] Will highlights what he does, in particular, that helps market his artwork. [40:22] Why having more social media followers doesn’t always mean more sales. [43:47] Will discusses his mental diagnoses and how they impact his life and art. [47:11] Will shares how his mental diagnosis impacts his life, art, and business. [50:12] About Will’s pets! [52:05] What’s next for Will? [53:44] Cory thanks Will for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/26007609

The Key to Doing Art Full-Time with Catherine Rains 01/12/2023

The Key to Doing Art Full-Time with Catherine Rains Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Full-time artist, Catherine Rains, joins the podcast today to share her incredible journey to full-time artistry, her artistic insights and life philosophies, and the biggest lessons she has learned throughout her career. Self-described as an intuitive mixed media collage artist and spiritual seeker, Catherine creates abstract collages using her intuition and mixed media to inspire, heal, and awaken. In this episode, Catherine highlights important lessons on failure, perseverance, consistency, and the importance of showing up. She lends her insights on what you can do to better understand yourself as an artist, lean into your strengths, and how not to let your brain hold you back from creating the art you are meant to create in this world. Catherine also touches on how she became more connected to her purpose through The Abundant Artist, how she retransitioned into becoming a full-time artist (after stepping away for nearly a decade), her general artistic process when it comes to creating new pieces, and how she markets her art online. This is a not-to-miss episode full of wisdom and valuable insights from Catherine Rains! Be sure to tune in. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Catherine Rains to the podcast! [1:47] Reminiscing on the start of The Abundant Artist podcast in 2015 [2:42] Catherine brings listeners back to 2015 and shares her story of transitioning from her day job to pursuing her artistic passions. [8:44] How failure bred success for Catherine’s business. [10:00] How Catherine’s following has grown since staying consistent and crafting a free course. [12:16] About Catherine’s career with the Myers-Brigg company. [13:27] The value in knowing your personality type (and taking a personality quiz such as the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator). [14:55] Catherine discusses Cory’s personality type and strengths. [17:29] Where Catherine’s passion lies and her ultimate goal with her art. [19:00] What Catherine did before her full-time job with Myers-Brigg. [20:55] Catherine shares her experience traveling around the world with two fifty-pound suitcases in the name of art. [23:33] How Catherine’s time doing art and traveling has continued to benefit her in her art career. [25:10] Going back to 2020, Catherine shares her experience of releasing her best collection that didn’t sell, and the biggest lessons that she learned. [31:22] How to not let your brain work against you when you’re creating art. [36:58] Catherine’s 10-minute rule. [37:36] Why Catherine wasn’t “showing up” until her friend prompted her. [38:38] The magic in creating art you actually want to create rather than creating to sell. [41:41] How ‘showing up’ and being consistent helped Catherine sell more pieces. [44:11] What Catherine means when she says, “When someone buys my art, they’re not just buying my art.” [45:35] Why you don’t need a huge audience to make a living; the concept behind 1000 true fans. [50:11] Catherine’s advice to young artists looking to go full-time. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/25590630

The Artpreneur; How to Make a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity with Miriam Schulman 12/15/2022

The Artpreneur; How to Make a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity with Miriam Schulman Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. In this episode, a longtime friend of Cory Huff joins the podcast – Miriam Schulman! Miriam is a full-time artist, art teacher, and art business coach that helps artists (from amateur to professional) develop their skills, tap into their creativity and grow thriving art businesses. With 20 years of art industry experience, Miriam shares her wisdom on what it takes to be an ‘artpreneur,’ how to make art that sells, and the most important aspects to focus on in your art business. Miriam also gives a preview of her upcoming book, Artpreneur, The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity, and some of its key takeaways on mindset, abundance, pricing to sell, and perfectionism. Key Takeaways: [:30] Odd jobs that Cory and Miriam have had over the years. [3:36] About Miriam’s book that is coming on January 31st, 2023, Artpreneur. [4:41] Why Miriam decided to write Artpreneur and the creative process behind it. [9:45] The technical side: The process of writing her book from setting deadlines to editing and finetuning. [11:29] How Miriam created a work-life balance when she was writing her book. [13:34] How Miriam almost ‘sabotaged’ herself with her book editing. [14:23] Errors happen! Don’t let perfectionism block you from finishing a product. [16:22] Why Miriam dedicated an entire chapter to mindset and abundance. [18:25] Lower cost =/= Selling more product. Why ‘money mindset’ is a crucial piece to being a successful artpreneur. [23:20] Prestige vs. charm pricing. [26:14] The most important aspect behind why art truly sells. [29:29] What makes Artpreneur unique and separates it from other books on the topic of selling your art? [30:27] Miriam’s insights and advice regarding posting your art on social media. [34:48] Why you need to focus on your email list. [36:22] What’s next for Miriam Schulman? [37:04] Where to learn more about Miriam online! [38:45] Cory thanks Miriam for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: – Pre-order today! Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/25334427

Crafting a Photography Collection with Dan Cleary 12/01/2022

Crafting a Photography Collection with Dan Cleary Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining the podcast today is Dan Cleary, a professional portrait and fine art photographer living in Dayton, Ohio. As the owner, operator and photographer of Cleary Creative Photography studio, Dan has served the Dayton region for more than 30 years. He works with various clientele from individuals, families, and small companies to fortune 500 corporations. Additionally, Dan has written and published the book, Wright Brothers: Then and Now, a compelling visual tribute to the pioneers of flight. In this episode, Dan shares about his journey in discovering his passion for photography, how he came to open his own photo studio and build a client base, and the process of creating his newly published book. Key Takeaways: [:30] How Dan Cleary got started in photography. [7:54] Dan’s photography journey post-grad school; How he came to learn his strengths in photography and open up his own photo studio, Cleary Creative Photography. [10:44] About a recent large client of Dan’s. [13:05] Where Dan grew up and his strong connection with Dayton, Ohio. [17:55] About Dan’s photography series and book, Wright Brothers: Then and Now, and how he seamlessly blended historical images with the modern-day images he shot. [25:22] How did Dan orchestrate such a large project both logistically and financially? [29:13] How Dan managed his travel logistics and international flights for this project. [33:36] Dan shares his experiences with marketing and getting his Wright Brothers book on the shelves. [41:33] Why relationships are crucial in any business – especially art – for return customers. [43:20] Cory thanks Dan for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/25146144

Making a Living Creating Digital Fine Art Prints with Patricia Vargas 10/27/2022

Making a Living Creating Digital Fine Art Prints with Patricia Vargas Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. This week on The Abundant Artist podcast, Cory is thrilled to be joined by a return guest – Patricia Vargas! The last time Patricia was on the podcast was about 5 years ago – and suffice to say, a lot has changed since then! If you don’t already know Patricia, she is the owner of the renowned Parima Studio. Currently residing in Chino, CA, with her husband and tabby cat, Arya, Patricia is a visual artist who combines her passions of painting, designing, and technology to create large-scale, custom, abstract art using her computer as her canvas. In this episode, Patricia shares what has changed for her since she was last on the podcast, how her art career has evolved, what her experience was like during the pandemic (and how she has adapted to these changes), and what she does day-to-day to balance her business practices while minimizing distractions. Patricia also offers some advice to other artists who may be interested in getting started in the digital art space and what they can do to market themselves online! Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Patricia Vargas back to the podcast! [:56] What Patricia has been up to for the last five years since she was last on the podcast and how her art career has evolved. [3:00] What Patricia loves about creating digital paintings. [3:45] How Patricia’s “nerdiness” shows up in her professional career as a digital painter. [5:35] How Patricia is selling her digital paintings as prints online. [7:05] Patricia explains what a general licensing deal looks like for her. [8:09] Films that Patricia’s work has appeared in. [8:49] How does Patricia license her work to a hotel? What does that process look like? [10:40] How did Patricia build up relationships with art consultants? [12:07] Patricia shares how she got started in being featured in a variety of magazines. [13:25] Would Patricia agree that blogging in 2010 is what social media is today? [14:09] How blogging helped Patricia get featured in magazines, in turn, helping her be noticed by art consultants. [15:32] Does Patricia still do acrylic painting outside of her career with digital painting? [16:25] Patricia’s favorite tools and technology for digital painting! [17:37] The difference between the iPad Pro and the XP Pen Tablet. [18:34] Does Patricia have any favorite Procreate toolsets? [19:34] What Patricia likes about the XP Pen Tablet. [20:11] What is the desktop device that Patricia connects her tablet to? [21:30] How Patricia pivoted and adapted during the pandemic as a digital artist that sells their prints online. [25:23] How Patricia balances her day-to-day business practices and minimizes distractions. [27:53] Why has Patricia cut down on which social media platforms she focuses on? [28:59] How Patricia leverages Pinterest and Tailwind to get leads. [31:47] How Patricia tracks profitability with her ads. [32:55] What books is Patricia reading right now? [36:26] Patricia shares about a new exciting road opening up for her and her business. [39:49] Cory thanks Patricia for joining the podcast once again! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/24783696

Designing Sets for Platinum Artists, Nightclubs, and Restaurants with Marina Skye 10/05/2022

Designing Sets for Platinum Artists, Nightclubs, and Restaurants with Marina Skye Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining the podcast today is Creative Director and Set Designer, Marina Skye! Skye does freelance set design and creative projects for restaurants, recording artists, designers, and clothing stores – just to name a few. Her creative designs have caught the attention of the fine art world; platinum recording artist, Jidenna; the infamous Stankonia studios; 2Chainz’ Street Execs, Mike Will’s Studio; and many more! In this episode, Skye shares her journey as a creative professional and set designer, how she began building out her portfolio when she was first starting out, the exciting doors she has opened from always being open to new challenges and opportunities, the business side of how a set design project works from top to bottom, and what’s to come for the future of her business as she moves onwards and upwards! Key Takeaways: [:30] How Skye developed their aesthetic as an artist. [2:02] About Skye’s background and their pathway as an artist. [3:15] What Skye studied in college. [3:29] Skye’s first job out of college and what led them to transition out of it and create their clothing line. [6:18] How Skye began to develop a portfolio for their set design through decorating parties. [8:06] Why Skye was OK with working for free while building her portfolio. [11:28] How Skye’s free work transitioned into paid work. [16:05] Skye shares about the sorts of opportunities that became available to her after her 6-month nightclub set design project. [17:47] About Skye’s 3-month set design project, the Trap Music Museum. [20:55] Skye breaks down the business side of how a set design project works. [21:45] How the process of working on set design looks like from top to bottom. [23:30] How Skye builds her mood boards and mockups for her clients. [25:21] Who pays Skye when it comes to set designs for artists – the label or the artist themselves? [25:55] The challenges of building set designs to be taken apart and put back up on the daily for touring artists. [27:55] What Skye is excited about right now as an artist. [29:50] How did COVID impact Skye’s business? [32:35] Where to find Skye’s work online! [33:17] Skye’s plans for the future on how to possibly expand her business. [35:07] How Skye delegates in her business without being directly hands-on with all of her set designs. [36:05] Cory thanks Skye for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/24579900

Knowing Your Intention: Art and Activism with Genesis Be 09/01/2022

Knowing Your Intention: Art and Activism with Genesis Be Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining the podcast today is one-of-a-kind artist, Genesis Be. Genesis is a critically acclaimed poet, peace activist, and artist from Biloxi, Mississippi; with her work being featured in The Associated Press, New York Times, NY Daily News, Soledad O’Brien, and VICE. Often using theatrical protest during her live performances, Genesis brings attention to both the global and localized issues surrounding racial justice, the peace movement, queer visibility, and gender equity. Her goal with her art is to bring human dignity to the forefront of our divided world; to advocate for compassion, vulnerability, and the burning need for freedom. In this conversation, Genesis highlights and calls attention to the importance of artistic expression from the soul; the connection between activism and art; her personal story of growth, expression, and exploration as an artist; and why it is that she does art. Genesis also shares insights on the importance of trying new things and getting messy, finding the balance in making money while staying true to yourself and discovering solace in solitude. Key Takeaways: [:30] Genesis Be shares about her love for the people of Mississippi and why she sees it as part of her mission to spread the message of love about the people in her state. [2:40] Genesis highlights examples of what makes the Mississippi especially resilient and inspirational. [4:47] How Genesis would describe her art. [6:16] How Genesis’s artistic expression differs in the various mediums she expresses herself in (such as art, music, poetry, theatre, etc). [11:52] Genesis describes what an NFT is and why she began to engage with the blockchain as an artist. [14:34] The importance of trying new things as an artist and not being afraid of getting messy. [15:00] Genesis shares about her favorite videogame. [16:58] About the powerful and important activism work Genesis has been doing throughout her life. [22:09] Why Genesis paints stick figures that interact with barriers; her artistic mission statement. [27:49] Genesis’s insights into why our youths’ mental health is eroding and the main drivers at play. [32:21] Genesis’s experience with finding solace in loneliness and solitude. [36:00] How writing played a key part in Genesis’s journey early on. [37:50] The difference between art on social media vs. in person. [41:24] How Genesis makes a living and supports herself financially as an artist. [43:29] Genesis’s advice to other artists on making money. Mentioned in This Episode: Genesis’s activism work featured: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/24199671

Rediscovering Your Passion and Getting Back to Your Roots as an Artist with Flora Bowley 07/28/2022

Rediscovering Your Passion and Getting Back to Your Roots as an Artist with Flora Bowley Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Returning to the podcast today is Flora Bowley! Flora is a painter, pioneer, permission-giver, and author of four books: The Art of Aliveness, Brave Intuitive Painting, Creative Revolution, and Fresh Paint. She believes that creativity has the power to awaken, empower, heal, and transform; and that you have everything you need right now to reignite your creative fire. Blending over twenty-five years of professional painting experience with her background as a yoga instructor, healer, and lifelong truth seeker, Flora shares her advice for creating art intuitively, letting go, and rediscovering your love of art (without getting caught up in the technicalities and perfectionism). She speaks about what we can do to get unstuck, how she guides artists through artistic exploration in her retreats, her wisdom around staying connected to your creativity, and more. If you’ve been feeling the pressure around creating art and are struggling to let loose, have fun, and reconnect with why you began creating art – this episode is for you! As a retreat leader and guide for other artists, Flora has incredible insight into what it takes to reignite your love for creating and connecting to your artistic expression. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Flora back to the podcast! [:52] Flora shares what she has been up to since her last appearance on the podcast. [2:55] About Flora’s new retreat center. [5:05] What kind of retreats has Flora historically led? How have the retreats that she runs now shifted? Why does she love doing retreats? [12:40] Flora shares what she believes the purpose of art is, and how she guides artists in creating raw, beautiful art from their souls. [14:37] Bringing the art of creativity to non-artists. Flora’s advice on reconnecting to the love of simply creating without getting caught up in the technicalities and technique. [19:37] What inspired Flora to buy her own retreat center? What inspires her to do this work? [26:22] The silver lining of the pandemic with regards to creating, change, and community. [28:27] About the two books that Flora published during the pandemic. [30:26] Flora shares what it was like to transition from writing about painting to writing about ideas for her newest book. [34:23] About Flora’s painting book that she released during COVID, Fresh Paint. [37:03] The artist paradigm. [41:01] Cory’s book recommendations. [42:04] What art may come out of the great resignation? Why are artists and non-artists craving simplicity? [45:19] What mindfulness looks like to Flora and how she engages in it. [47:50] How does Flora exercise/move outside of creating? [50:18] Where to learn more about Flora. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/23865582

What It Costs to Run an Art Gallery with Artist and Gallerist Blair Vaughn-Gruler 06/16/2022

What It Costs to Run an Art Gallery with Artist and Gallerist Blair Vaughn-Gruler “I realized that stopping before I was done, especially with the process-oriented thesis where I'm not completely in control. I'm like in peripheral control of what's. Not all mine. That leaves room for the viewer to come into it when everything's locked down and every detail is nailed down. I find that work can often be less engaging. If it's got a little space where you can enter into its imperfections maybe, or it's question marks. That seems to go along well with the idea of being process-driven.” – Blair Vaughn-Gruler In this episode of The Abundant Artist Podcast, we are joined by Blair Vaughn-Gruler, Blair makes paintings that are driven by procedure and process. Accumulation, repetition, erasure, and the physical motions made in the process of mark-making harken back to her many years practicing martial arts and foreground the body’s relationship to painting. A Michigan native and New Mexico transplant, Vaughn-Gruler has been obsessed with painting since childhood. Her spare, non-objective compositions are exercises in organizing space. Even when shapes or lines repeat themselves to excess, a calm arises out of the chaos. As the conceptual love child of Cy Twombly and Agnes Martin, Blair (born in 1955) makes paintings to reconcile her early modernist training with the lived experience of the information age. She holds a BFA in painting from Northern Michigan University and an MFA in Visual Art from Vermont College of Fine Art. She and her husband Ernst Gruler were owners of GVG contemporary located in Santa Fe, New Mexico which has represented evolving abstract and non-objective Arts, fun, figurative, and functional sculpture and are carefully curated for the past 10 years. Join us as Blair, discusses her process-driven works, sharing her thoughts on how art makes her evoke emotions, dealing better ways with gallery owners, and tips for taking yourself seriously as an artist. Let’s tune in to her story! [00:00 - 12:13] A Conversation Between the Media and The Artist: A Process-Driven Work Painting helps you organize your brain chemistry. How it becomes a process-driven work and a conversation between an artist and its medium. Blair describes how her work responds to her and vice versa. She responds emotionally and intellectually The media responds through her process as shown by mark-making. Blair answers how she decides to finish or abandon a piece that is processed. She exhausts all resources. And makes sure to leave a room for the viewer to come into She believes when every detail is nailed down, it would be less engaging than those of that who has A little imperfections and question marks around it. Artist observes that this accessibility comes from the physical sensation of the work, which helps evoke emotion. She shares her breakthrough moment when they were in graduate school and how felt engaged with her paintings “I actually felt like I took them in through my body instead of my intellect” – Blair Vaugh-Gruler [12:14 - 24:10] How to Work Better with Gallery Owners Working with galleries can be difficult. Blair shares tips for avoiding rejection in the Art World. Research to find out if the gallery is interested in artists and if they have a submission process Be ready with a good body of work and be willing to put in the effort to build a relationship with the Gallery. The Many Costs of Running a Gallery and can be difficult to make a profit. [24:11 - 31:40] Expenses of Being an Artist Living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Blair points that there are many expenses associated with being a successful artist in the city. Payroll, advertising networking fees. Shipments and insurance It’s important to established a good gallery relationship if you want to be successful. A good gallery will have salespeople and administrative staff as well as researchers to help you choose the right art pieces for your gallery. [31:41 - 35:31] " Discovering the Art Genealogy of Your Favorite Artists” Genealogy is a passion of Blair Blair’s journey into abstract expressionism was influenced by artists like Jackson Pollock For the author, following the lineage of an artist is important to gaining confidence in one's own work Blair recommends reading books or watching films about the artists mentioned in the show. [35:32 - 38:22] Closing Segment Key Quotes: “You can put water media on there and it's going to suck the pigment into the clay, but you can't control it. So that's what makes it a conversation like I do this, it does that. I go, oh. That's not what I meant. Okay. Now I have to do this and now it does that. And that's where the conversation comes from. That is the fun part for me” – Blair Vaughn-Gruler “You have to do some research. you have to figure out where you might want to be.” - Blair Vaughn-Gruler “I think it's easy to get too focused on the commodity factor, The commodity, getting the physical object and, getting that sold to sort of throwing the baby out with the bath water, because what everybody's looking for in the making and the collecting. Are sort of the connection and the intangible glimpse into the mystery of creativity” – Blair Vaughn-Gruler Resources mentioned: Agnes Martin Jackson Pollock See Blair Vaughn-Gruler works at The Abundant Artist exists to dispel this notion and teach artists like you about all of the other ways that you can make a living from your art. Connect with us: Website: https://theabundantartist.com IG: Facebook: LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to know more about the Art Industry and selling their art. Your ratings and reviews help get the podcast in front of new listeners. /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/23342720

Creating Art Communities that will Make an Impact with Najee Dorsey of BAIA 05/25/2022

Creating Art Communities that will Make an Impact with Najee Dorsey of BAIA Visual artist and entrepreneur Najee Dorsey is known for embracing southern roots in his work by relaying scenes of African American life in the south on canvas. He began his journey as an artist at the age of five, selling his artwork to his mother for candy. From that point on, Dorsey continued making art as a favorite pastime. In his work, as Najee chronicles moments in Black life throughout history, he maintains that “stories untold are stories forgotten”. Far from the days after dropping out of art college, and becoming uncertain about his future in the arts, Najee has forged a successful career as an artist, being featured in numerous solo and group museum shows, television broadcasts, and print publications. As well as these accomplishments, he has skillfully combined his creative edge, and business acumen to develop a steadily growing online community that documents, preserves and promotes the contributions of the African American arts community. Let’s tune in to his story! [00:01 - 07:07] Opening Segment The Poor People’s Campaign A children-centered campaign that brings conversation on environmental racism and injustice The connection of the Poor People’s Campaign with the Civil Rights Campaign [07:08 - 17:55] Black Art in America BAIA: A community and resource in one How BAIA has grown and created its own culture and impact in the art community and society There’s a space for everybody in black art Creating legacies, leaving an impact to the world [17:56 - 29:34] Building Art Communities and Leaving an Impact Tangible level community building Najee’s vision for BAIA’s headquarters Building Communities for Black Artists Utilizing space and bringing more culture in America Participative theaters and galleries Coming Soon for BAIA: School Arts Education Walking around the neighborhood and engaging with people on the ground [29:35 - 38:00] The Creative Economy Najee remembers creative spaces during his childhood The Art in Najee’s Home Why commerce kills creativity Widen your lens and look at people from another perspective [38:01 - 45:01] Closing Segment Najee shares how to support artists of color Challenges in the organizational side Connect with Najee through . Visit or you can also go to his and be a part of our mission of documenting, preserving, and promoting the contributions of the African American arts community. Thanks for tuning in! WANT TO LEARN MORE? Connect with through and . Want to know more? Check out this . If you liked our show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! People Mentioned Kevin Cole Tweetable Quotes “As an artist, there are times where we have to lend our creative energy to something that could be so much more impactful or bring attention to an area that needs so much attention.” - Najee Dorsey “People want to create and they want to be supported. And so part of that has to do with what the artist may naturally be interested in.” - Najee Dorsey “If we could find more ways to be more giving, more loving, and more supportive, it doesn't take big things all the time to do that. That's how we build, that's how we grow. That's how we share and can love on each other and build a community that we all can be proud of want to be a part of.” - Najee Dorsey /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/23210318

Creating Art That is Authentically You with Multidisciplinary Artist Zeph Farmby 05/11/2022

Creating Art That is Authentically You with Multidisciplinary Artist Zeph Farmby Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Multidisciplinary artist Zeph Farmby joins the podcast today to share his journey as an artist from tagging on the streets to selling his shirts in major stores, being noticed and commissioned by A-list clients, creating original pieces for broadcasts worldwide, and showcasing his work in exhibitions. Combining his graffiti skills with his formal art education, Zeph’s unique art style stands out in the crowd. In this episode, Zeph shares about the major influences in his life and art, how he stays true to art, his experiences with getting a formal art education, his entire art journey, and his advice to young artists on how to build a sustainable art business that allows you to make a living. Key Takeaways: [:30] How Zeph and Cory first met. [1:46] Would Zeph describe himself as a “collage artist”? [2:37] How Zeph first got started as a graffiti artist. [6:03] Zeph explains some of the culture and terms of graffiti. [13:05] Major influences on Zeph’s style and how his art journey led to where he is today. [17:45] Zeph’s journey from not being able to sell a T-shirt at the local flea market to having his shirts solid in one of the hottest stores in Chicago. [27:43] How wanting a hat influenced Zeph and his art in a major way. [31:49] Zeph shares about his journey and development of marrying his two styles together. [40:13] Zeph shares more about his art journey after moving out of Chicago and one of the pivotal pieces he created that helped him not only stand out in the crowd but get noticed by big-time music producer, Swizz Beatz. [49:48] Zeph shares his experiences and experimentations with art exhibitions and installations in Chicago and New York from 2016 onward. [54:30] Zeph’s business breakdown and his main sources of income as an artist. [56:16] Zeph’s advice to young artists on how to build a sustainable art business that allows you to make a living. [58:08] How does Zeph manage to balance murals, originals, commissions, merchandise, etc? Is it difficult or enjoyable to switch between these different aspects of business? [1:00:09] Cory thanks Zeph for joining the podcast. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/23062004

Existentialism & Augmented Reality with Cesar Biojo 04/27/2022

Existentialism & Augmented Reality with Cesar Biojo Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of ‘the starving artist’ and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. This week, Cesar Biojo joins the podcast! Cesar is a Barcelona-based Colombian oil painter and co-founder of Kaleido, an online network that supports artists, collectors, and art galleries alike. In their conversation together, Cesar shares about his process of creating his unique existential artwork, why existentialism fuels his work, and his invaluable advice on growing as an artist, becoming a better communicator, delving deeper into your work, and discovering your purpose. He also shares about Kaleido, its mission, and its fascinating augmented reality feature that allows users to virtually explore an artist’s gallery. Key Takeaways: [:30] Why Cesar often quotes Sartre alongside his work. [6:04] How did Cesar find/create his purpose? [10:55] How Cesar creates his work and how the concept of existentialism influences his process. [14:44] How art and therapy collide. [17:19] Cesar’s advice to young artists around the intersection of therapy, making a career of art, and inspiration. [19:28] Cesar’s tips for growing and exploring as an artist. [21:40] Why being able to explore existentialism, emotion, and philosophy can make you a better communicator but not necessarily a better artist. [22:48] Cesar’s insights on whether or not you need a formal education to “make it” as an artist. [24:22] What Kaleido is, what its mission is, and why Cesar is a part of it. [28:47] About the augmented reality feature that is unique to Kaleido [30:00] Cesar’s involvement in Kaleido and how Kaleido protects artists. [33:06] Cesar’s predictions on NFTs. [35:44] Cesar discusses the progression and future of augmented reality. [39:55] Where they are planning on heading with Kaleido regarding augmented reality. [42:50] Where and how to learn more about Kaleido. [47:25] Cory thanks Cesar for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/22910573

What it's like to sell 100,000 paintings with Jose Trujillo 04/01/2022

What it's like to sell 100,000 paintings with Jose Trujillo Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. This week, Cory welcomes Jose Trujillo to the podcast! Jose is an impressionist painter that is one-of-a-kind in that he has been selling his art on eBay for over 10 years and has sold over 100,000 original art pieces online. Considered a modern Monet, Jose’s art has been described as “dream-like,” fast-paced, musical, and a “fantasy of colors.” Jose shares both the highlights and the lowlights with his experiences of selling his artwork on eBay, how he keeps up with selling only original paintings online, his personal approach to painting, his journey and discovery with impressionist painting, and his unique philosophy on “finding the gems in the volume.” Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Jose Trujillo to the podcast! [:47] Cory reads a quote about Jose on his website. [1:28] Jose shares his experiences with selling his art on eBay for the last 10 years. [5:22] Why does Jose consider himself “not known” in the art world even though he’s sold over 100,000 art pieces in the last 10‒12 years? [7:10] Jose shares about his 4,000 square foot art studio space and his team behind the scenes. [9:56] Why and how Jose only sells original artwork, and the system he created to keep up with his eBay sales. [12:25] Where does Jose’s work ethic come from? [14:41] Why Jose and his wife opened a clothing shop. [16:14] When and why did Jose begin to sell his art on Craigslist? [20:21] Jose shares his thoughts on Cory’s theory on whether or not impressionist artists are more willing to approach different ways of selling. [23:22] How and why Jose learned how to paint and why impressionism, in particular, interested him. [31:22] When did Jose begin to paint? How did he initially start practicing? [33:38] Jose’s philosophy on “finding the gems in the volume” regarding art. [35:22] What Jose’s schedule looks like now vs. earlier on in his career. [36:16] Jose explains the quote on his website, “To see without the interruption of thought.” [40:30] How Jose feels about his current work/life schedule. [42:00] About Jose’s regular gratitude practice and how it helps him with his art. [45:30] Cory thanks Jose for joining the podcast. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/22652669

The Politics of Fiber Art with Sam Hunter 03/16/2022

The Politics of Fiber Art with Sam Hunter Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of ‘the starving artist’ and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Oregon-based fiber artist and quilt designer, Sam Hunter, joins the podcast today to discuss her journey as a full-time artist, the important messages she stands behind, and powerful advice to those looking to go full-time but not burn out. Sam is not afraid to put her voice out there and speak her mind! In this episode, she speaks about the importance of knowing your worth as an artist, receiving fair compensation for your work, equality in the arts (and tech!), how to overcome decision fatigue and “the loser hangover,” hiring for your team and making money as a fiber artist. Don’t miss out! Key Takeaways: [:30] How Sam would describe her art. [1:46] What fiber art is, the type of fiber art Sam does, and what guided her path as an artist. [5:35] Sam discusses the prejudices towards women who sew and quilt. [8:53] The statements that Sam makes with her art pieces and why she supports women in tech. [14:52] The one piece of advice that Sam would give to all artists. [17:14] How Sam makes a living as an artist. [19:05] How many quilt patterns has Sam released? [19:55] Sam shares about the process of writing her quilting pattern book. [22:08] How to sell and make money from quilting patterns. [24:22] How COVID has impacted Sam’s business. [25:55] Why Sam is considering no longer doing lectures. [27:28] Sam shares her perspective on paying artists what they deserve and how purchasing art is a luxury; not a right or a need. [34:45] How Sam expanded her team. [37:53] Decision fatigue and why it is so important to delegate as a creative. [42:14] “The loser hangover” and how to combat it. [47:24] How to know who to hire for your team. [52:00] The biggest challenge of being an artist in 2022. [53:56] Cory thanks Sam for joining the podcast and Sam shares where to follow up with her and her art online. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/22446551

Standing Out in the Crowd As A Hyperrealist Artist with Brie Hayden 02/24/2022

Standing Out in the Crowd As A Hyperrealist Artist with Brie Hayden Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of ‘the starving artist’ and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. Joining the podcast today is American realism artist, Brie Hayden. Brie is based in Arlington, Virginia; just outside of DC. She is a self-described left-brained artist who is obsessed with detail and shading; leaning further in hyperrealism with every piece that she creates. With her experience working from home during the pandemic; busking internationally in Melbourne, Australia; and gaining notoriety from Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson himself, Brie has a truly unique story of finding success in the art world. In this conversation, she shares her journey of going from 700 to 20,000 followers overnight, discovering herself as an artist, and marketing herself to an audience that connects with her work. Key Takeaways: [:30] Where Brie Hayden is based. [1:30] Brie shares about her busking in Melbourne, Australia. [3:26] Is Brie a self-taught artist? [4:19] Brie’s early days as an artist. [7:34] How Brie’s career shifted with the pandemic. [8:19] How Brie began to sell her art and some of her exciting early breakthroughs. [15:00] How Brie’s time busking in Australia changed the way she operated as an artist. [15:48] What it felt like to go from 700 to 20,000 followers overnight, and the doors that it opened for Brie’s career. [16:52] How Brie describes her artistic style. [17:15] How Brie takes on commissions and the timeline for her current waitlist. [18:19] The motivation behind Brie’s current focus on alcohol bottles. [20:00] The key differences between photography and hyper-realism. [21:27] The beauty in ‘human error’ with regard to art. [22:26] Why Brie describes herself as a ‘left brain artist’ and how this impacts her art process. [25:56] Brie shares her joy for getting non-artists to appreciate art. [27:00] What’s next for Brie? [28:06] Does Brie sell prints of her work? [28:36] Cory thanks Brie for joining the podcast. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/22238249

Creating a Profitable Mural Art Business in Rural Utah with Jordan Clark 02/09/2022

Creating a Profitable Mural Art Business in Rural Utah with Jordan Clark Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of ‘the starving artist’ and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. This week, your host, Cory Huff, is joined by Jordan Clark, a professional murals and signs artist based in Vernal, Utah; a small town with a population of approximately 15,000. In this episode, Jordan shares what life is like as a mural artist (and the unique challenges that it brings), how he came to be a mural artist, the full process of creating a mural from scratch to completion, and his advice and insights on those looking to get started with murals themselves. Jordan also gives a look into the backend of his business, sharing what he has learned from online advertising, finding his audience, and creating an art business that generates over $150k a year with 4 employees. Key Takeaways: [:31] Where Jordan Clark is based. [3:24] The unique challenge that painting murals bring. [4:43] How Jordan originally got into painting murals and his journey of how he has gotten to where he is today. [10:59] How Jordan balanced his family, work, and painting murals. [17:08] About a special mural Jordan painted for a friend and how his mural painting business began to snowball. [19:00] Why Jordan hates the “starving artist” stereotype. [20:50] How Jordan continued to grow his business in a small town by identifying his customer base. [24:23] What Jordan learned from experimenting with online ads. [30:35] What worked vs. what didn’t work with the advertising Jordan tested. [32:18] Jordan’s thoughts on being commissioned to do political artwork. [34:44] The audience that Jordan tries to target with his business and the process of how he creates artwork on a commission basis. [36:13] Jordan’s main goal as a mural artist, his advice to those who also want to make a living as a mural artist, and about the biggest murals he has ever completed. [38:08] The process of creating a mural. [43:57] Jordan shares how mural painting is for everyone. [46:45] Why you don’t need a ton of followers to create a business for yourself, create jobs, and support your community. [48:00] What Jordan would do differently if he had to start over. [49:14] Cory thanks Jordan for joining the podcast. Mentioned in This Episode: (Jordan Clark’s business) Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/22047635

Zsudayka Terrell on Serendipity in Art, Opening an Art Gallery, and Celebrating Black Culture 01/19/2022

Zsudayka Terrell on Serendipity in Art, Opening an Art Gallery, and Celebrating Black Culture Welcome back to The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of ‘the starving artist’ and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. In this episode, Cory is joined by Zsudayka Terrell; a multi-faceted person and artist with an emphasis on African American figurative work. As a mixed media artist and designer, Zsudayka’s aim is to capture and archive the history and culture of Black Americans. Her work seeks to normalize the day-to-day of Black Americans and celebrate culture while also highlighting moments shared by all humans. Zsudayka shares her journey and self-discovery as an artist; her process with commissions, selling her artwork online, and marketing through social media; her advice on promoting your artwork and converting fans of your work into paying customers; how she navigates politics and controversy as an artist; how she came to open her own art gallery, and the inspiration behind the pieces she creates. Key Takeaways: [:30] Cory welcomes Zsudayka Terrell to the podcast! [1:22] Zsudayka shares about her background and how she has become the multi-faceted person and artist that she is today. [3:59] How Zsudayka taught herself art. [7:24] Zsudayka shares about her transition from journalist to artist. [11:57] Does Zsudayka believe that serendipity in an art piece happens more often for self-taught artists than those who are classically trained? [13:57] Does Zsudayka feel she has more freedom with her art than those who have been through classical training? [15:45] The value in both classical training and being self-taught. [17:25] Why Zsudayka chose to move to a predominantly black neighborhood in DC and open an art gallery. [24:02] How Zsudayka navigates politics and controversy as an artist. [31:09] Zsudayka describes the art that she is doing now, the inspiration behind them, and the messages she wants to share through her art. [34:55] Zsudayka’s process with commissions, selling her artwork online, and marketing through social media. [41:03] Why it is so important to foster relationships as you’re marketing and selling your artwork. [43:46] How Zsudayka fosters relationships in her business to help promote her art. [47:34] Cory thanks Zsudayka for joining the podcast and sharing her wisdom. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/21828002

Finding Yourself as a Very Online Artist with Yakira Carter AKA CyberL0ve 01/05/2022

Finding Yourself as a Very Online Artist with Yakira Carter AKA CyberL0ve Welcome to the first episode of The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of ‘the starving artist’ and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time. In this episode, Cory speaks with Yakira Carter AKA CyberL0ve. Yakira is an Atlanta, GA-based artist (that’s soon to move to NYC) with influences from Kazuto Nakazawa, Akira, and Studio Ghibli films. Yakira’s ethereal art comes to life both through digital and traditional mediums and mainly captures the beauty of women of color. Yakira shares how she brings her art to life, how she has found success online, her goals and plans for the future, her process for creating art, and the influences that inform the decisions she makes as an artist. Key Takeaways: [:36] Yakira’s influences and the formative experiences that shaped her overall style and artistic aesthetic. [3:22] How Yakira creates her work on a typical day. [4:39] Does Yakira wait for inspiration to strike before painting? [6:07] Is Yakira self-taught? [6:55] Yakira’s insights into why there is such a strong artistic presence and incredible booming black artist community in Atlanta, GA. [9:02] Why did Yakira make the decision to leave Atlanta? [11:37] The business side of Yakira’s art: how she makes her money, markets herself, and receives projects and commissions. [14:23] How Yakira has grown her instagram to 36k+ followers. [18:57] What ‘failing towards success’ means to Yakira. [20:05] What being an online artist means to Yakira, and how understanding internet culture plays into how Yakira presents herself as an artist and informs her art. [26:09] How Yakira emulates a traditional style using digital mediums. [28:47] Yakira reflects on her progress and shares what she is excited about regarding her career going forward. [30:15] Why Yakira wants to move to NYC. [31:10] A future goal of Yakira’s: getting into galleries. Mentioned in This Episode: Find More Episodes Over on /episode/index/show/theabundantartist/id/21673316

Interview with Patrick Hall 08/07/2019

Finding Your Thing with Maggi McDonald 07/11/2019

Interview with Nancy & Jarrod, Founders of Art Lovers Australia 06/11/2019

Trusting Yourself with Amica Whincop 05/16/2019

How to Sell Art: The Abundant Artist Podcast

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