374: 5 Ways Illustrators Sabotage Their Success ft. Vanessa Stoilova
The Inspiration Place
Vanessa Stoilova’s story is one every illustrator needs to hear. From mobile games to children’s books and surface design, she has built a thriving career by learning what works and what definitely doesn’t. Too many artists unknowingly sabotage their own success, and Vanessa lays out the five biggest mistakes she sees over and over again. You’ll walk away from this conversation with practical, doable steps to start getting hired for the kind of work you dream about. In this episode, you’ll… Learn why specializing is more powerful than trying to do it all Create a follow-up system...
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373: Fear of Irrelevance
The Inspiration Place
That quiet voice that says you’re falling behind or no one’s noticing anymore—I know it well. Fear of irrelevance creeps in when your worth feels tied to likes, sales, or visibility, and it whispers that if you stop proving yourself, you’ll disappear. In this episode, I open up about my own struggles with this fear and share stories from artists who either hustle harder or vanish altogether when doubt sets in. Together, we’ll look at how to recognize this pattern, where it really comes from, and how to find a gentler, truer way forward. In this episode, you’ll… Discover how fear...
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372: How These Artists Transformed their Art Business [May 2025 Artist Insights Panel]
The Inspiration Place
You’re going to be inspired by these powerful artists who share the real stories behind transforming their art businesses. These artists prove that growth is possible no matter where you’re starting from. You’ll hear how they overcame self-doubt, found the courage to treat their art like a business, and created opportunities that once felt out of reach. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to level up, their stories will give you the clarity and motivation to take bold action in your own art career. In this episode, you’ll… Create accountability by finding the right community...
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371: Taming Artist Overwhelm
The Inspiration Place
Feeling pulled in a thousand directions with your art business? You’re not alone. Between juggling multiple marketing channels, underpricing your art, and filling your days with busywork that doesn’t actually move the needle, overwhelm is inevitable. Once you understand what truly matters, you’ll stop wasting energy and start building momentum toward the art business you really want. In this episode, you’ll… Learn why selling larger, higher-value art can actually be easier than selling small pieces Explore the difference between real work and “fake work” that keeps you...
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370: Stop Ghosting Your Goals ft. Anna Holtzman
The Inspiration Place
Have you ever started a project with excitement only to abandon it after one small setback? My guest Anna Holtzman knows this cycle well and opens up about how her own nervous system responses caused her to walk away from goals too soon. After facing chronic migraines, she discovered powerful mind body tools that helped her heal and finally show up consistently in her creative life. If you want to stop sabotaging your dreams and start sharing your work with confidence, tune in. In this episode, you’ll… Discover how your nervous system influences the way you approach creative goals...
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369: Reaching New Peaks in Art Sales ft. Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan
The Inspiration Place
After leaving a 19-year engineering career, Sangeetha climbed to new heights in her art business, growing her annual sales from $2,500 to over $13,000 in just months. We’re talking all about the big mindset shifts, fearless strategies, and real-world actions that made all the difference, from painting bigger to showing up consistently for collectors. Her story is proof that when you push past fear, you create space for remarkable growth. In this episode, you’ll discover: Learn why scaling up your canvas size can dramatically change how collectors see your work Discover how a...
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368: Finding Creative Clarity After Heartbreak ft. Sarah Dudley
The Inspiration Place
A Canadian-born artist in Berlin, Sarah shares how leaving a 16-year partnership and a beloved printmaking studio cracked her open to a truer, braver voice in paint. I walk her through the inner-work prompts and altar practices we use in my Inner Circle so you can hear how she turned grief into clarity and ritual into momentum. We also talk about the surprising way AI became a gentle mirror that helped her name her why and write stronger statements for grants and exhibitions. In this episode, you’ll discover: Discover how to turn heartbreak into creative fuel through simple...
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367: Art Sales Timing (Too Little, Too Late)
The Inspiration Place
Ever wonder why you’re not closing more sales even when someone shows interest? It might not be your art… it might be your timing. In this episode, I share some laugh-out-loud stories (including one about my daughter’s almost-romance) to help you see how art sales follow the same rules as dating. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at why waiting too long, hesitating, or not following up can quietly kill your momentum and what to do instead. In this episode, you’ll discover: Learn how delayed follow-up sends the wrong message to potential buyers Explore ways to guide the...
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366: From Art Shows to Art Sales: How Bo Sapphire Built a Thriving Artist Business
The Inspiration Place
Bo Sapphire never set out to be a full-time artist but once her art started catching attention at a local framing shop, everything changed. From selling prints at flea markets to building a thriving art business that’s brought in over $100K in just a year, she’s mastered the art of adapting, growing, and making sales in real life. We talked about how she balances her marketing with time in the studio, how she learned to prep for different art show audiences, and why a blue heart in her email subject line has become part of her brand. In this episode, you’ll discover: Learn how...
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365: Artist Tantrums
The Inspiration Place
Have you ever wanted to torch your whole art business to the ground? You’re not alone. I’ve had those moments too, whether it was a show with no sales, ghosting from collectors, or just the crushing weight of feeling like nothing is working. But before you throw it all away, let’s talk about what’s really happening when those emotions take over. More often than not, it’s not your art or your audience. It’s your nervous system crying out for safety. In this episode, I’m sharing true stories, coaching insights, and what to do instead of spiraling. In this episode, you’ll...
info_outlineEver looked at a piece of your art and thought, This one is too special to sell? Or maybe you’ve had the opposite feeling—panicking because you need to make a sale, so you slash prices just to move something fast. If either of those sound familiar, you’re not alone. Artists constantly battle fear, scarcity, and impatience when it comes to pricing and selling. In this episode, we’re unpacking the emotional traps that can sabotage your success—whether it’s overpricing out of attachment, underpricing out of doubt, or rushing into sales out of fear.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
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Discover why overpricing can be a sign of emotional attachment, not value.
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Explore why discounting your work trains buyers to wait for a sale.
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Learn how impatience leads to underpricing and weakens your sales strategy.
For full show notes, go to schulmanart.com/350
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