What does it mean to make a living from art? Does it mean pay the bills? Does it mean it has to come only from art sales?

This is what I talk about in today’s episode.

• What making art a living means
• Whether you can make art a living
• The different ways you can make money and impact from your art

If you want my step-by-step framework so you can learn how to make art your living, I am running a free workshop from September 2 to September 9.

Here are the details:

>> ACCESS FREE WORKSHOP

My book Your Art Matters hit the number one best-seller list within 12 hours of releasing it!

Firstly, thank you if you were one of the people who bought it - you helped make this happen!!

I have been asked, how did you do it?

If you are launching a book, selling art, or having an artwork in a public space that took a lot of work and you want people to know about it, then you need people.

Fact.

People are everything.

I built a strong village of people around me during the whole book writing and marketing process.  

Now, I did create some fun activities during the launch of the book with prizes and made it fun - but ultimately, this only worked as there were a group of people who believed in me.

This is where it all starts - growing your village.

I talk about this in today’s episode, and we will be doing this together in my next FREE workshop: Make Art Your Living which starts on 2nd September.

>> SIGN UP FOR FREE EVENT

The BIG day has arrived.  The publication date of my book, Your Art Matters is 6th August.

Our official book launch event is 16th August - we would love you to join us for this.

In this episode, I share the importance of understanding why your art matters as it relates to the work you make, your purpose in life, who you connect with and how you sell.  

This is why I am so passionate about this book that will help you find your voice, purpose and people.

I explain the book, the event and how I overcame the barrier to create an event in this episode.

Being paid to:

• Have a community of people around you.
• Make art all day.
• Use your studio space.
• Learn from you.
• Have a break.

These are some of the ways you can create a membership platform where people pay you on a monthly, quarterly, 6 monthly, or annual basis.

I know this sounds incredibly daunting and scary to many, as it did for me when I first started! 

I have had many questions about knowing if a membership is the right decision for you and your art - so I am giving the download it today’s episode.

I also take you through the steps Sharon took to create a pop-up membership that earned more that £15,000 in one month.

Stu’s Full Membership Experience Course has opened for enrollment, click >>here<< to learn more:

Wow - this was a bumper LIVE episode as we talked with artist, Bonny Snowdon.

Bonny broke down her whole journey from not making art in 30 years to self-taught, fully booked artist with thousands of students.

Bonny kindly shared how she managed to increase her pricing by building a waitlist and managed to exit her fulltime job to fulltime artist within 12 months.

Celebrating £ 1 million in turnover this year, Bonny has overcome challenges and set backs but found success as she works daily on her mindset and beliefs.

Bonny spoke of her success and credits her mindset and the people she has around her.  

This was such a great episode, we may have to bring Bonny back for a round 2 as we could have kept talking.

If you want to learn more about Bonny, click here:

https://www.bonnysnowdonacademy.com

https://www.instagram.com/bonnysnowdonacademy

Want to learn to draw an otter in 7 days? Bonny is hosting a coloured pencil week where you will do just this :)

https://www.bonnysnowdonacademy.com/coloured-pencil-week-may-2024

This was a live podcast where I brought in my mentor, Stu McLaren.

We talked about my past and how Stu has impacted my life in the most profound way ever.

We talk about how you can use your creativity to impact others and make money at the same time.

Imagine being paid to make art? With money coming in month after month. 

I get paid to make art, and I don’t have to sell it - how crazy is that ?

This episode is super special to me as Stu has shown me ways of living I never knew possible and I have a feeling some of you need to hear this - so enjoy.

Here are what others are saying about this episode:

I am SO GRATEFUL I didn’t miss this - Nikki McDiarmid

I discovered you during a painful moment in my life 4 years ago, you have helped me believe that my art not only matters to me but to others too.  I am following your recommendations and growing as an artist.  Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart - Lia Pintaryrelajar2206 (YouTube)

In today’s podcast, I set out to talk in-depth about how a free training I took back in 2016 changed my life in the most profound way.

Although I do talk about it - I don’t go into detail as I find it emotional to talk about.

To think that back in 2016, when I signed up for a free workshop with Stu McLaren, and how my life is unrecognisable now moves me to tears.

I spent years in emotional turmoil, lost and struggling financially.

Stu taught me not only how to create a membership platform, but how to find myself, teach others, build confidence and armed me with incredible knowledge.

In today’s episode I share insights into how you can use what Stu teaches to not only make more money from your creativity, but to enrich your life

My son was getting quite angry and upset as he wanted to buy an Xbox but didn’t have the money.  We can all relate, I am sure - there are many things I want but don’t have the money :)

So, our motto is every problem has a solution - and so we created a project plan and worked out how he could earn the money.

He decided to sell his art and we broke down the steps of how he could do it.

I share behind the scenes today of what we created as the lessons here relate to us all as it comes down to setting a financial goal and finding a way to hit it.

What if I told you the mistakes you make are increasing the value of your art?

We often disregard our mistakes, which can impact our confidence negatively.  Yet, our trials and errors are what make our art great.

This is what I talk about in today’s episode.

What if you are a beginner? With no trials and errors? Does this devalue your work?? Nope, I also talk about this in the episode.

Making art that sells - a term some people love and for some it brings feelings of guilt, shame and a sense of selling your soul.

This week, I explore this topic as it relates to making art with the intention of selling.

For me two primary considerations contribute towards sales:

1. Making art (or anything) that is like you - by this I mean leaning into what makes you unique.  Your art reflects you, and the more you understand this, the more you can communicate this.  This applies to what you make, identifying what makes your work different to everyone else, and also leaning into your story - as there is a story behind every artist and every artwork.

2. Learning what people want - this means either getting to know your audience, if you have one and learning what sells.  A particular frame?? A certain animal??  Or if you don’t have an audience, it’s about looking at a particular area of art you are interested in and looking around to see what works.  Taking note of scale, frames, patterns, colours and so on.

This what I talk about in today’s episode.

If you haven’t signed up to the next FREE art workshop called The Art Of Your Life, click here to register:

This workshop is run by Nicholas Wilton and it starts on 4th March.  It’s delivered over 3 days and replays are available.

It is an entire week of teaching from Nicholas, designed to help you make art that is stronger and more like you.

A lesson in how to make art that stands out from the crowd.

I remember looking at my painting and wondering what was wrong with my creation. It didn't seem right, but I couldn't determine why.

It was like when I had found an inspirational image and tried to replicate what I saw but failed miserably.

I've taken courses in drawing, acrylic, life drawing, watercolour, textiles, collage, ceramics - the list goes on. The one thing I have learned over time is that art is a language.

It doesn't matter how many courses you take; if you don't learn the fundamental elements that contribute to what art is, you will always struggle.

I’ve learned this is a surprisingly common challenge… 

So common, in fact, that my friend Nicholas Wilton has decided to address it in his upcoming FREE workshop.

Click here to save your seat in the free Art of Your Life Workshop!

Specifically, he will be covering the first 3 (and most important) stages in the Art2Life Process, including

DESIGN:

• Why so many people with lots of education, degrees and experience still struggle to make art they love

• How to master composition in a way that will quickly elevate your art

VALUE: 

• How to strengthen your discernment — that internal compass — that tells you when to go further, pivot, or pull back with your art

• How to create a beautiful kind of depth and balance in your art

COLOUR: 

• How to add a vibrant new level of dimension AND subtleness to your work with a perspective on color you haven’t heard before!

How to feel more confident in your creative choices — so you can begin making art MORE like YOU.

A wonderful talk with artists as we delve into the success they have experienced since working with us.

We discuss hoe they use the Best Year Yet process and how their journeys have evolved over the years from taking action.

Lisa shared how she was shaking like a leaf when it came to sharing her only drawing with us - this was 3 years ago.  Today, Lisa sold work and sat in her studio on the call.

You can learn more about today’s featured artists here:

Simone Paterson

Jane Powell

Lisa Potter

Jenny Stevenson 

Enjoy

This was a question that came in last week, and I receive this same question on a weekly basis.

When you ask this question, it’s so broad - it’s like asking, how do I travel? There are so many answers depending on where you are and where you want to go.

So, to answer this question, you must dig deeper under the surface.

‘You can’t be seen until you learn how to see’ - Seth Godin

This is a quote from my new book, Your Art Matters, which explains it beautifully - we have to look inwards.

I explain this in today’s podcast and also invite you to join our next free event: Make Art Your Living.

>> SIGN UP FOR FREE EVENT

A wonderful live podcast episode where we bring in artists who share how they plan their year ahead.

We talk about having goals, not having goal, having a calendar, not having a calendar and all the different ways you can adapt our best Year Yet training to design your life in your own way.

A super session if you are keen to do more of what you love in 2024.

I know this title may make some people feel uncomfortable - those who give give give and never put themselves first, for example.

However, when we break this down - it’s simply connecting with what truly matters in life and focusing on this. You can do more of what makes you happy.

It’s not about greed or hurting people along the way so we can satisfy our needs only.  

When you feel content, fulfilled and happy - this will impact everyone around you. 

In this episode, I will share the steps I take when ‘getting what I want’.

I will talk about 

Wishing and Dreaming 

Planning and focusing 

How to have faith when you don’t believe 

How to handle fear 

IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE EVENT, HERE IS THE LINK 

Let’s reflect on 2023 together.

One of the best ways to move forward and achieve success is by reflecting and today’s podcast was recorded live.

We took time to:

• Consider what you want and don’t want.  

• Get clear on what you really want in 2024.

• Learn from mistakes and from what went well.

Most of all, paying attention to how far you have come.

When you reflect on what’s happened, you can do more of what works, do less of what doesn’t work, and aim for what you REALLY want.

If you want to download the reflection worksheet that accompanies this episode, you can sign up to Best Year Yet and receive instant access here:

>> SIGN UP TO BEST YEAR YET <<

Last year I bought a house, which was a big deal for me.  As a single parent, who used to be in masses of debt and unemployed for years - to get to this point today in my life is mind blowing.

For years I struggled and found life difficult.

Art was my saviour.

Art has taught me so much and that is why I am so passionate about helping others understand why art matters.

This year I am going to be talking about this topic A LOT!!!

This year is the year my book will be published and unveiled to the world.

Owning my own house and writing a book have been on my vision board for a LONG time,  and they materialised because I never gave up.

I have always been very intentional about designing my life and stepping out of my comfort zone.

This has come from years of practice and this is what I want to share with you in my FREE workshop, Design Your Life and Have Your Best Year Yet.

This is the process I follow:

• Reflecting

• Creating a vision 

• Making a plan

• Focusing on the right tasks 

• Taking action 

I can’t want to share these steps with you and take the course myself!!

Here is this week’s Vlogcast where I share my insights from my new living room :)

In this final Vlogast of 2023, I want to wish you a very healthy and ‘happy’ end to the year.

I know it’s not an easy time for some people.  I was reflecting on how I want everyone to be happy.  I want my members, followers, children, friends, family - all to be happy.

I strive to make people happy and fulfilled, but this isn’t always possible.  It’s not realistic.

In this episode, I talk about the term happiness and how it comes and goes in my own life.

Thank you for all of your support in 2023.

I always say you are one person away from an opportunity.

Suvi is a UAS HUb member and last week, she shared her surprise as she was invited to exhibit next year, and it came from a simple act with no expectations.

Suvi had created some lovely cards featuring her artwork and decided to give them to local shop owners as a seasonal greeting.

One of the shop owners contacted Suvi and asked if they could exhibit the work for 3 months during their busiest season !!

I talk about this in today’s episode, as it has got me thinking about the power of creating digital and physical cards

When you begin to take control of your life to feel more fulfilled and happy, you often realise it’s not about the house, the amount you earn or the studio you have.  These goals are great, but true fulfilment comes from inside.

I know this can sound a little wishy washy, but this has been the biggest lesson towards me finding tons of contentment and happiness in my life.

No matter how many goals I set and achieved, there was always a feeling of not having enough, or fear of it being taken away.

When i work on what really matters - the internal - this is when my life starts to feel easier.

In today’s episode I share a great insight from Mid valley as they share the 3 most important questions to ask yourself when it comes to designing your life.

What do you want to experience ?

How do you want to grow?

How do you want to give back to the world?

The key is to answer in 90 seconds and not overthink. 

You can tune into today’s episode, where I talk more about this:

If you want to go deeper into this process, you can follow the steps on the Mind Valley website:

https://blog.mindvalley.com/3miqs/

• Your art won’t sell

• You should paint flowers, you will make more money 

• You are not good enough 

• People aren’t buying art right now 

Have you ever taken a different direction because of the view of a few??

By this, I mean a couple of people out of the billions of people in the world gave their view, which diminished your dream—diminishing your confidence? Or did they influence a change of direction that doesn’t feel right?

We have to be careful not to accept the view of a few when we have a goal or destination we are passionate about.

Unless the view of a few are aligned with our mission and have great advice.

But, even then - someone who may appear to be in the know and have fantastic insight can be wrong.

I want to talk about this in today’s short bite-sized episode.

If you could live on your own terms with no money, worries, or responsibilities- how would you be REALLY living??

It amazes me how many people live a life they think they should live.  Myself included.  I fall into the trap year after year of making decisions based on what is expected or what I think others will like.

I intentionally reframe this thinking and check in with what I REALLY desire.

This is a question I ponder at this time of year.  I love the cycle of coming towards the end of a year.  It’s time to shed old skin, relight fires that burnt out and re-navigate my compass.

I love reflecting on how I design my life going forward.  I can feel shifts in my own life that have been brewing for a long time, and 2024 is going to be a time of change for me - I have some exciting plans - but these plans are only coming to fruition as I spend time going through the Best Year Yet program!!

I would love you to join me - the event starts on. 

18th January 2024

But, when you sign up, you get access to the Best Year Yet Prep immediately.

Best Year Yet is a process of designing your own life.  

You can learn more here:

I went to an event recently called ‘Chill and Prosper’ by Denise Duffield Thomas.  Denise has a book out with the same name.

We spent 2 whole days talking about money.

I cried, laughed, felt confused, and gained clarity - it was an incredible 2 days of focusing on my money mindset, and I am excited to share my insights with you.

In today’s episode, I share what I took from the event, including why I was given a card that said:

‘It is safe for you to live and travel first class’.

This brought up lots of feelings of not deserving!!!  It's such an exciting topic.

Enjoy

From Sleepless Nights to Starry Heights: How Kristine Richer turned midnight hours into a thriving art career.

Join us for a live podcast talk with Kristine Richer, a Milky Way photographer who transformed late-night parenting challenges into a flourishing career. In this episode of 'Your Art Matters,' Kristine shares he remarkable journey going from selling prints for $50 to $2000!!

Kristine will share how she found her voice and purpose through an unexpected twist of fate, turning sleep deprivation and homebound evenings into opportunities for creative growth. She'll reveal the steps she took to build her niche in Milky Way photography and how she's now helping others do the same.

Expect practical insights on:

• Embracing life's constraints to fuel creativity

• Finding your unique artistic perspective

• Building a successful career from an unusual starting point

• Scaling your art business from hobby to full-time income

• Educating and inspiring others in your field

Whether you're an aspiring artist, a parent juggling responsibilities, or someone seeking inspiration to pursue your passion, Kristine's story will light the path to turning challenges into opportunities. 

Connect with Kristine Richer: 

Website: https://kristinerosephotography.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinerosephotography

How do you know when it’s time to give up on a dream/goal or mission???

The feeling of giving up can arise from many situations, such as:

• Working on the same project for a long time

• At a crossroads and not sure which way to turn, 

• A dream you have been following for a while. You don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

Many times in my life, I have wondered whether I should give up or keep going.

The thought of ‘wasting my time’ filled me with dread.  

The truth is, we never really waste time.  Every action we take is leading us somewhere.  It’s adding to the narrative of our lives.

In today’s episode, I share 3 ways I check in with myself. To decide whether to give up or not.

Enjoy

Have you been feeling uninspired recently??  

We have a FREE 7 days of inspiration guide to help you start being creative again if you want a copy, click here:

There have been many times in my life that I fake how I feel and think to push myself to the next level.

If I didn’t do this, I don’t think I would be sat here writing to you today.

In our 7 Keys program we have been exploring mindset a lot, and people are starting to push out of their comfort zones.

This is what I share in today’s episode

Have you ever had moments when you feel like everything is going wrong? Everything you touch seems to turn into a disaster??

I had been experiencing this lately, so many things going wrong that I started to spiral and feel I couldn’t take much more.

I went to see my friend, Sharon in floods of tears.  

In today’s episode I share a huge epiphany that came on my flight to Nashville.

I was reading the book, Think and Grow Rich and in the opening page there was a note to myself from around 5 years ago!

I share what was in the note and why it has been such a shift in how I am now viewing my life.

Last week I felt like everything was going wrong, this week I feel like everything is going right - from one simple statement I read in a book.

I also share my insights from my recent mastermind event in Nashville.

I have been feeling burnt out recently - do you know the feeling??  When it feels like your head is in hundreds of different places, everything is coming at you at once.  It feels like you can’t catch your breath.

I share in today’s episode how I have been feeling this way and how I am overcoming it.

Enjoy

“ Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.  Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for” - Epicurus

But, what if we have big dreams?? Is it wrong to focus on them???

Striking the balance between keeping your feet on the ground and aiming for the stars is what I talk about in today’s episode.

We can often get caught up in what we don’t have and miss the magic that is happening in our lives, right in this every moment.

Have the most amazing week :)

If I asked you to carve out 60 seconds this week, what would you do in that time?? How would you spend it??

We often allocate an hour or a day on tasks, but what if you allocate just one minute? What could you achieve within one minute?

How would you choose to utilise that precious 60 seconds?

Maybe this is the time for you to allocate 60 seconds a day to something you've been putting off? That 60 seconds may eventually become 60 minutes dedicated to something you truly want to pursue in life.

At times, we have to start small.

Perhaps dedicating 60 seconds to yourself or a drawing is all you are capable of... or all you need right now.

This is what I contemplate in today's super short episode!

Enjoy and let me know how you spend your 60-second moment this week.

For some artists, sharing everything about their artistic journey feels natural. They lay bare their motivations, inspirations, and the intricate details of their creative process. 

Others prefer to reveal only a small fragment of their "why," leaving much to the imagination. Then there are those who choose to share very little, allowing their audience to interpret their work entirely on their terms.

The key lies in understanding your "why" and using it as a compass when creating art. 

There is no definitive right or wrong in this matter. You might find yourself pondering whether divulging too much will rob the viewer of their interpretation or sharing too little will miss the chance to connect deeply.

It's a balancing act, and the equilibrium is unique for each artist and their audience. The more intimately you understand your "WHO," the better you can gauge the experience they seek from your work.

This is what we explore in today’s episode:

Join Michelle and award-winning artist Ronelle Reid as they talk about how Ronelle transitioned from being made redundant from her work to becoming a full-time artist.

Ronelle also shares her tips on getting grants, how to network and find your WHO, plus some golden information on what artist residencies are.

This was a live recording, so in some parts, we mention dates that have passed, and it is part of a longer interview, so we may notice we cut rather abruptly at the end. Ronelle shares so much gold though, we had to share it with you.

Enjoy! 🙂

Learn more about Ronelle:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronellereidart/ 

About The 7 Keys Course:

Ronelle used the 7 Keys Course and our United Artspace Members Hub to help build a career as a full-time artist.

The 7 Keys Course is currently open for enrollment, but we only run this live course once a year, so click below if you want to join the class of 2023. The eight-week course starts on Monday 2nd October - doors close on Monday 25th September.

Sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/7-keys

Collage and book artist Jenny Stevenson joins us to share her experience working through our 7 Keys framework.  She shares how she:

• Developed her voice

• Dreamt of a solo show and made it happen

• Sold her marketing material and sold out in one day

We had a great discussion about Jenny's journey over the years and how she now has lots of opportunities coming her way.

Learn more about Jenny:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennystevensonart/ 

Website: www.jennystevenson.com

Make Art Your Living Workshop Reminder:

If you want to learn more about standing out from the crowd, I invite you to join the Make Art Your Living workshop as we delve deeper into this topic together. I dedicate two whole weeks towards sharing everything I know with you. We've already started, but there's plenty of time to jump in and catch up!

The workshops will take place from 7th-21st September (with replays available!). I'd love to see you there.

Sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

P.S. Our signature program, The 7 Keys Course, starts on 2nd October, so please keep a look out for further announcements, as we only run this course once a year.

Should you stick to drawing one thing? Or creating art only using pencils?

This is a topic that can make people really angry! I understand why because some people think that niching down artwork means focusing on one thing for the rest of your life and nothing else.

But it doesn’t have to mean that.

I saw someone share a post the other week saying, ‘DON’T NICHE YOUR ARTWORK’.

This is such a broad statement that it really doesn’t mean anything. If you want to niche your art and become known for something specific, do it. If you don’t want to focus, you don’t have to.

I talk more about this in today’s episode.

JOIN MICHELLE FOR A LIVE PODCAST RECORDING!

This week, Michelle recorded a bumper live podcast episode to kick off the Make Art Your Living Workshops that start on Thursday, 7th September.

In this episode, Michelle explores the meaning of Making Art Your Living, says hello to people joining live in the chat, shares their comments and takes a few questions (about 34 minutes in).

If you haven't signed up for the FREE online MAYL workshops yet, and you'd like to join us, you can find out more information and sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

Isn’t it frustrating when you post to Instagram and only a few people see your post?

My friend, Jay Kingman from Aniko Branding, did an experiment recently and posted to Instagram, and only 5 people out of 3500 people saw his post!!  He posted the same post to Linkedin and over 1000 people saw it.

So, how do you stand out in today’s world?

I talk about this in today’s episode, and I have set you a small challenge to get you thinking out of the box when it comes to standing out from the crowd.

Make Art Your Living Workshop Reminder:

If you want to learn more about standing out from the crowd, I invite you to join the Make Art Your Living workshop as we delve deeper into this topic together. I dedicate 2 whole weeks towards sharing everything I know with you.

The workshops will take place from 7th-21st September (with replays available!). I'd love to see you there.

Sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

P.S. Our signature program, The 7 Keys Course starts on 2nd October, so please keep a look out for further announcements as we only run this course once a year.

As I have been delving into my creativity recently it has left me feeling vulnerable.

I am delving into a new way of making art and am very conscious of my lack of ‘skill’ and where I want to be.

I am also writing my heart out as my book's words finally flow.

This burst of creative energy has had me feeling all the feels.

Not directly about the work I am creating, but hiding in other ways.  I have been having crazy imposter syndrome thoughts.  Wondering if I am good enough to help people.  

I know these thoughts are ridiculous as I have been helping people for over 7 years, with great success - yet the thoughts still arise.

It is because of this creative work these crazy thoughts are presenting themselves.

In today’s episode, I share why this is happening and what I am doing to overcome them.

Make Art Your Living Workshop Reminder:

If you want to learn more about standing out from the crowd, I invite you to join the Make Art Your Living workshop as we delve deeper into this topic together. I dedicate 2 whole weeks towards sharing everything i know with you.

If you would like to join me for my next free Make Art Your Living workshop series from 7th-21st September. I'd love to see you there.

Please sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

P.s. Our signature program, The 7 Keys - Making Art Your Living starts on 2nd October, so please keep a look out for further announcements as we only run this course once a year.

Why should we care about your art?

Ouch.

This can be a hard question to swallow.

I was given this advice recently: whenever I write a headline or have something I want to present to the world, I should ask the question, ‘So What?’

This golden advice can help you:

• Communicate with others

• Get clear on what to say yes and no to

• Convert sales 

• Discover whether your ideas have legs

I explain how to do this in today’s episode.

Enjoy

Make Art Your Living Workshop Reminder:

If you would like to join me for my next free Make Art Your Living workshop series from 7th-21st September. I'd love to see you there.

Please sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

Episode References:

How I Built 5 Multi-Million Dollar Companies: Marcia Kilgore | E99

I sat at the kitchen table and as all was quiet in the house, I had time to sit and contemplate.  I poured my oat milk onto my cereal and read the milk carton before me for the first time in years!

The milk carton shared a tip: How to be curious by using the Q&Q method.  Asking a curious question and answering by asking another curious question.

I love this concept as I think it can help us learn more about our art, the art of others, life - anything.  

This is what I share in today’s super short episode.

Enjoy

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If you would like to join me for my next free Make Art Your Living workshop series from 7th-21st September. I'd love to see you there.

Please sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

Life is a tapestry of highs and lows, triumphs and tribulations. It can be difficult to see beyond the pain and frustration during our most challenging moments. 

During these trying times, we are pushed to our limits and tested in ways we never imagined. While we may get caught in the whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties, it's important to remember that every struggle carries the potential for immense growth and resilience.

Think back to some of the most challenging moments you've faced in your artistic journey. It could be a period of creative block, a rejection, or a project that didn't turn out as planned. During those moments, it may have felt like the world was against you, but in hindsight, they shaped you into the artist you are today.

In today’s episode, I discuss the power of seeing every day as your best day.

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If you would like to join me for my next free Make Art Your Living workshop series from 7th-21st September. I'd love to see you there.

Please sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

I recall times when I wanted to do something, but it felt so far out of reach that I procrastinated or felt frustrated that I wasn’t getting anywhere.  

One of those times was setting up United ArtSpace, and it annoyed me that I never had time to work on my dream.  I was pushed and pulled in all directions.

Then I made one simple change.  A change that felt insignificant at the time but changed my life years later.  

In today’s episode, I want to invite you to consider what one change you can make that may impact your life five years from now.

Enjoy

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If you would like to join me for my next free Make Art Your Living workshop series from 7th-21st September. I'd love to see you there.

Please sign up here: https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/mayl/

As artists, we often face unique challenges and moments of uncertainty. In those moments, we must have a network of individuals we can turn to - an S.O.S. list. 

This episode delves into the power of having trusted allies who can provide guidance, support, and encouragement during those times of need.

Just like we have a list of people we turn to when we have a leaking pipe, a broken car or a hole in our tooth - creating a little black book of contacts to help navigate life has been vital for me.

This super short episode will delve into this topic so you can create your little black book.

In our fast-paced lives, it's all too easy to get caught up in the worries of the future or dwell on the regrets of the past, inadvertently neglecting the present moment—the very source of our creative potential. 

In this episode, we delve deep into mindfulness teachings, exploring how grounding ourselves in the present moment can elevate our artistic practice, connect us to our intuition and helps us gain more control over our brains.

Limiting the mental chatter!

This is a super short episode you can watch, listen or read in just a few minutes.

Be thankful for what you have, and you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you’ll never have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

Today I have recorded a super short episode and will do so for the next few weeks as a MINDSET MINUTES series.

The aim is to give you a small action each week to help you make a change in your life for the better!

Small mindset shifts over a few weeks can impact mental health, success, progress and more.

In this episode, I share a super tip on reframing thoughts around lack of time, money, skill, space, and help - the list goes on.

Today’s podcast is a little different. I hosted it live and made it an open Q&A. I had no idea what we would talk about, which is always a nice surprise.

The conversation ended up going in the direction of:

• What happens when you don’t quite believe you are good enough to write, make art, or whatever you create - and you feel you have extensive areas of improvement?

• What happens when you pour your heart and soul into your work and the fear of it being criticised - or just the fear of sharing it full stop can make you feel incredibly anxious?

• Whether critique sessions actually work 

• Why it’s important to understand why your art REALLY matters.

We also talked about how external pressures can influence the work we create and we pondered this question together:

If you could make any art without fear, judgement or external pressures - what art would you really make???

I don’t actually know the answer to this myself, but when I ponder this question, I do know that there is a part of my art-making or creativity that hasn’t been released. I know there is a part of me that would make art against the norm—whatever that is.

A seed has been planted for sure.

Have you ever felt like you're living a life on autopilot? Going through the motions day after day, but deep down, something feels off?

Well, you're not alone. Many of us find ourselves drifting along the current of societal norms and expectations, but what if we could change that? What if we can consciously design a life that aligns with our values, passions, and purpose?

In this podcast, we'll dive into the concept of living a life by design, not default.
So, if you're ready to step out of the default mode and embrace a life that's intentional, purposeful, and truly your own, here is the replay.

If you want to do this exercise with me, our BEST YEAR YET - MID YEAR REVIEW starts today and is available on a replay this week.

You can click here to sign up:

https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/byy/

Together, we'll unlock the potential within ourselves and unlock a world of possibilities.

Enjoy

If only I had more time, it would make such a difference.

I would be able to keep on top of my house work, finish my book, spend more time with friends, exercise more - the list goes on!!!

We either need to cut back on what we add to the ‘to-do’ list, or we need to use our time wisely.

As I prepare for our Mid-Year Best Year Yet workshop in 26th June (the link is below if you haven’t signed up) it has been thinking about how I can carve out more time to complete all my 2023 goals. 

In today’s episode, I share my top tips for carving out more time.

https://unitedartspace.lpages.co/byy/

We are fast approaching the midway point towards this year, halfway through the year, can you believe how fast the time is going? I want to talk today about how I'm starting to get ready for planning the rest of the year and how you can too. So as we approach the midpoint, I like to do a mid-year review. And in fact, I'm going to be doing a free workshop for you all where I'll be reviewing my year and I'll be using a worksheet to review the six months gone and what I wanna be doing going forwards and doing a big reflection.

And if you want to join me, it's completely free. The link is below. And this time of year I really like to stop and reflect and just pause for a moment. I feel like sometimes we get swallowed up in life and we've maybe set goals in January. If you've set goals before, you might not have set goals. But for those who took part in Best year yet, which is a big event we do in January, in that we set three big goals for the year and get really intentional around creating our success on purpose and designing our own lives. 

If you know anybody that would like to take part, please do let them know and have a wonderful, inspiring motivating week. 

I'll be back next week. Take care.

After moving house recently, I realised that I had been living in my previous home with serious self-doubt, fear and wild stories that held me captive.

In today's episode, I shed light on how easily we become trapped in the monotonous cycles of life, often failing to recognise the profound impact that an unsatisfying situation can have on our overall happiness.

Enjoy