Ep. 14: The Joy in Art: How Shelly Kim Turned Burnout into Opportunity
Release Date: 11/12/2024
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...
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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 +...
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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...
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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...
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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?”:...
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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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In this inspiring episode, Stacie chats with Carrie Cantwell, a graphic designer turned licensed artist, Skillshare top teacher, podcast host, and creative coach. Carrie opens up about her transformative journey from the high-pressure world of film graphics to finding her artistic voice through art licensing. Her story is one of courage, reinvention, and learning to lean into the things that come naturally. Together, Stacie and Carrie dive deep into the realities of self-doubt, the power of creative bravery, and the freedom that comes with not needing external validation. Today on Art +...
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In this episode, Stacie reveals the system behind her two creative companies generating a combined $5 million in annual revenue: the STAR Productivity Method. Drawing from humble beginnings at her dining room table to leading a powerhouse team, Stacie shares the weekly rhythm that has guided her journey. Whether you're a side hustler or full-time creative, this episode provides an actionable framework to gain clarity, stay focused, and make meaningful progress even with limited time. Today on Art + Audience: The Origins of the STAR Cycle: How Stacie developed the method during her early side...
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In this episode, Stacie answers real listener questions and dives into how artists can move from feeling overwhelmed by possibilities to finding strategic clarity. She offers empowering advice on balancing multiple passions, making smart licensing choices, and evolving your artistic style without confusing your audience. Whether you're at the start of a creative pivot or deep into the licensing world, Stacie's thoughtful insights will help you take confident, intentional steps forward. Today on Art + Audience: Overcoming Creative Overwhelm: Sarah, a graphic designer, dreams of...
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Today on the show, Stacie is joined once again by her long-time business partner and sister, Angie Classen. Together, they pull back the curtain on how consistent email marketing helped grow their handmade brand, Gingiber, from a $100k Etsy shop to a multimillion-dollar enterprise. This episode is a deep dive into ditching the fear of self-promotion, showing up authentically, and embracing email as your most powerful marketing tool. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your product-based business, Stacie and Angie break down actionable strategies and candidly share the...
info_outlineIn this episode, Stacie welcomes the vibrantly passionate Shelly Kim, the artist behind Letters by Shells. Shelly shares her incredible journey from discovering art as a stress-relief hobby to building a thriving business that has embraced a multitude of creative outlets, including lettering, digital art, and DIY projects. Discover how Shelly navigated periods of burnout, found joy in artistic exploration, and learned the invaluable lesson of outsourcing to sustain her passion.
Today on Art + Audience:
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Shelly’s Art Origin Story: How art transformed from a simple hobby into a full-fledged career. Initially, Shelly began lettering to unwind from work stress and found joy in creating without constraints.
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The Evolution of Craft: Shelly explains how experimenting with various art mediums, from watercolors to digital iPad drawings, helped rejuvenate her love for creativity, especially during the pandemic.
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Authenticity Over Niche: Insights into why Shelly chose not to confine herself to a single artistic niche, allowing her work to evolve organically and leading to unexpected opportunities like press-on nail collaborations and partnerships with major brands like Michaels.
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Outsourcing and Support: Shelly candidly shares the turning point when she realized the necessity of asking for help to prevent burnout. She highlights her initial struggle with accomplishing tasks and how hiring a video editor and virtual assistant has positively impacted her workload and creativity.
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Lessons from Mistakes: The importance of not overloading oneself and learning to delegate effectively—crucial takeaways for any creative entrepreneur.
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Advice for Artists: Shelly’s encouragement for artists to celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, and to stay connected to the joy that sparked their creative journey.
Connect with Shelly Kim:
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Instagram: @lettersbyshells
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Website: lettersbyshells.com
Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:
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Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast
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Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com
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Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart
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Facebook: @ShopGingiber
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Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber
- Join the Creative Powerhouse Society and build a profitable art business with Stacie Bloomfield, visit leverageyourart.com/membership or email [email protected]