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Ep. 11: Finding Your Creative Voice with Genna Blackburn: Building a Cohesive Brand and Audience

Art + Audience

Release Date: 10/01/2024

Ep. 37: Vanessa Piche on Starting Over as an Artist: What Happens When You Lose Your Audience? show art Ep. 37: Vanessa Piche on Starting Over as an Artist: What Happens When You Lose Your Audience?

Art + Audience

In this refreshingly honest episode, Stacie is joined by fine artist Vanessa Piche (pronounced “cliché”) for a raw conversation about what it feels like to start over again. Vanessa opens up about her unexpected move from a thriving art career in Rhode Island to rural Indiana, and the challenges of rebuilding her audience from scratch in an increasingly unpredictable online landscape. Together, Stacie and Vanessa reflect on what’s not working anymore in creative business. This episode is a candid exploration of transition, vulnerability, and resilience. If you’ve been feeling lost or...

info_outline Ep. 36: Madison Phipps on Side Hustling, Print Clubs & Speaking Dreams Out Loud show art Ep. 36: Madison Phipps on Side Hustling, Print Clubs & Speaking Dreams Out Loud

Art + Audience

Today on the show, Stacie chats with artist Madison Phipps of Madison Phipps Studio, who is building a thriving creative business in the margins of her full-time job and motherhood. Madison shares how her mantra, “What’s the best that could happen?”, has helped her push past fear, pitch big ideas, and grow her audience organically on TikTok. From launching a print club with over 100 subscribers to selling original botanical artwork through consignment, Madison is a powerful example of what’s possible when you stop waiting and start sharing. This episode is packed with practical...

info_outline Ep. 35: Justice for Artists: How Daniel Lachman Helps Creatives Fight Art Theft show art Ep. 35: Justice for Artists: How Daniel Lachman Helps Creatives Fight Art Theft

Art + Audience

In this powerful episode, Stacie talks with Daniel Lachman, founder of Justice for Artists, about the heartbreaking and unfortunately common experience of having your artwork stolen. Daniel shares his journey from viral t-shirt success to fighting counterfeiters, and how he turned a personal struggle into a full-blown mission to help other artists get the justice (and compensation) they deserve. If you've ever hesitated to share your work for fear it might be ripped off, or if you're unsure what to do when it happens, this episode is essential for you. Daniel pulls back the curtain on...

info_outline Ep. 34: Why Laura Holley Only Draws Melbourne—and Why It Totally Works show art Ep. 34: Why Laura Holley Only Draws Melbourne—and Why It Totally Works

Art + Audience

In this episode, Stacie chats with Melbourne-based artist Laura Holley of Lawz Drawz. Laura has built a thriving art business by focusing on one very specific niche: drawing the best bits of Melbourne. From pubs to murals to wildly popular calendars, Laura’s story is a testament to the power of embracing what you love, trusting your instincts, and building community around your art. They dive into how niching down to one city has become Laura's superpower, how a simple calendar project sparked a loyal cult following called "Pub Club," and how her background in event planning has helped her...

info_outline Ep. 33: How Georgia Norton Lodge Turned $35 House Sketches Into a Million-Dollar Art Business show art Ep. 33: How Georgia Norton Lodge Turned $35 House Sketches Into a Million-Dollar Art Business

Art + Audience

In this episode, Stacie sits down with Australian artist and entrepreneur Georgia Norton Lodge to explore the winding road from drawing houses as a side hustle to running multiple thriving businesses. Georgia shares how transparency, pricing strategy, creative pivots, and an unshakeable community-first mindset have helped her build a million-dollar business. Whether you're drawing houses or dreaming big, Georgia brings both the tough love and encouragement creatives need to hear. Today on Art + Audience: The Accidental Beginning: How a botched book cover project sparked a booming business...

info_outline Ep. 32: Why Diversification Is the Key to Surviving as a Creative Entrepreneur with Sophie Timms show art Ep. 32: Why Diversification Is the Key to Surviving as a Creative Entrepreneur with Sophie Timms

Art + Audience

Today, Stacie sits down with UK-based embroidery artist and educator Sophie Timms, founder of Mindful Mantra Embroidery and the Bloom Embroidery Academy. Sophie shares her inspiring journey from studying law to building a thriving creative business with multiple income streams, including a high-retention membership of nearly 200 embroidery enthusiasts. Whether you're dreaming of making a living from your art or already on your way, this episode is packed with wisdom about following your intuition, building a community, and crafting a business that supports your life.   Today on Art +...

info_outline Ep. 31: Creative Growth Tips for Artists: Crockpot Ideas, Side Projects, and Sustainable Success with Andy J. Pizza show art Ep. 31: Creative Growth Tips for Artists: Crockpot Ideas, Side Projects, and Sustainable Success with Andy J. Pizza

Art + Audience

In the second half of this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Stacie and Andy unpack the often unseen tension between creative expression and strategic thinking. They dive into what it means to be a “whole-brain” artist, someone who thrives in both creative exploration and structured planning, and why that's not a contradiction but a powerful gift. Andy shares his love for storytelling structure, the metaphor of crockpots for creative timing, and the concept of having a “main band” and a “side band” to stay creatively flexible. Meanwhile, Stacie gets real about balancing artistry...

info_outline Ep. 30: Andy J. Pizza on How to Build a Creative Career as a Neurodivergent Artist show art Ep. 30: Andy J. Pizza on How to Build a Creative Career as a Neurodivergent Artist

Art + Audience

In this first part of a powerful two-part conversation, Stacie sits down with the creative and deeply introspective Andy J. Pizza, illustrator, speaker, and host of the beloved Creative Pep Talk podcast. They dive headfirst into the personal side of creativity, exploring how neurodivergence, mental health, and family background shape the way we show up in our art. Andy and Stacie share candid moments about their diagnoses (ADHD and OCD), how their creative rhythms differ from traditional productivity models, and why embracing your authentic self is the first step to making art that truly...

info_outline Ep. 29: Is Leverage Your Art Worth It? Alumni Share Their Honest Results show art Ep. 29: Is Leverage Your Art Worth It? Alumni Share Their Honest Results

Art + Audience

In this special episode, Stacie brings together a panel of alumni from her signature program, Leverage Your Art. These artists, from illustrators to surface pattern designers to product-based business owners, share their honest experiences, big “aha” moments, and how the course helped them grow thriving creative businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your art career, this conversation is packed with encouragement, practical advice, and powerful stories from artists who have walked the path before you. Today on Art + Audience: “Does this work for me?”:...

info_outline Ep. 28: What No One Tells You About Licensing: Juliana Tipton on Boundaries, Burnout, and Creative Joy show art Ep. 28: What No One Tells You About Licensing: Juliana Tipton on Boundaries, Burnout, and Creative Joy

Art + Audience

In this enlightening episode, Stacie sits down with surface pattern designer Juliana Tipton to talk about launching a creative career in your 40s, navigating art licensing, and staying grounded through the highs and lows of the design world. From graphic design and higher education to licensing with top retailers like Target and Barnes & Noble, Juliana shares how she pivoted careers, learned to trust her gut, and built a successful business centered around authenticity and perseverance.   Today on Art + Audience: Juliana’s Unconventional Start: How she launched her surface design...

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Today, Stacie is joined by her good friend and illustrator, Genna Blackburn, for an insightful conversation about finding your signature style and growing a loyal audience. Genna shares her journey from graphic design to surface design, how she overcame creative blocks, and the challenges she faced while transitioning into art licensing. They discuss the importance of developing a cohesive Instagram feed, building an email list, and consistently showing up for your audience. Genna's story serves as an inspiring roadmap for artists looking to balance creativity with audience growth.

 

Today on Art + Audience:

  • Introduction to Genna Blackburn: Genna shares her background as an illustrator and surface designer based in Detroit. From ballroom dancing to graphic design, she’s found her niche in creating childlike designs for kids' products, such as diapers and puzzles.

  • Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Style: Genna talks about the transition from graphic design, where creativity often took a back seat, to discovering her voice as an illustrator. She candidly discusses the self-doubt she faced and how she developed her signature style over time.

  • Building an Email List: Genna emphasizes the importance of creating a lead magnet (like her free guide to finding your style) as a way to organically grow an audience. She shares how she built an email list of 4,500 subscribers without ads by simply offering value.

  • Developing a Cohesive Instagram Feed: Cohesiveness, Genna explains, is key to growing on Instagram. She talks about limiting color palettes and planning her posts to create a feed that attracts both art directors and potential clients.

  • Authenticity and Engagement: Stacie and Genna dive into how authenticity—being vulnerable about struggles and real experiences—helps build genuine relationships with an audience. Genna shares tips on how to keep talking about your work, overcoming the fear of self-promotion.



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