Explore every episode of the podcast Startist Society

In this episode, Laura and Nikki share big news about the future of Startist Society. After 4.5 amazing years, we are taking a hiatus, but the community, episodes, and resources aren't going anywhere. Listen to why we are pausing, what we've learned, and how you can stay connected with both of us.

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Artists often ask, why do I need an email list when I already post on Instagram? Laura and Nikki share the answers: social media platforms can change their rules overnight, limit your reach, or even disappear entirely. Your email list belongs to you – nobody can take it away or stand between you and your audience. Listen in as we talk about how to get started and what to share with your email subscribers! You can also access a FREE pdf download with our email marketing tips + a template for your first email!

READ SHOW NOTES + DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EMAIL MARKETING TIPS GUIDE:

startistsociety.com/emaillist/

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The days when artists had to rely solely on galleries or craft fairs to get their work seen are long gone. Now we're all constantly wondering if we should be posting reels carousels or just give up and become hermits! Social media can feel like a full time job that none of us signed up for. In this episode, Laura and Nikki break down social media strategies that actually work for artists without eating up all of your creative time.

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startistsociety.com/socialmedia/

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In this episode, Nikki and Laura break down the most popular website platforms for artists and creatives. We'll help you evaluate features, integrations, and costs to choose the best option for your needs, whether you want to sell your work online, create a stunning portfolio or manage your art business. Plus, we'll share a handy comparison chart to simplify your decision-making process.

READ SHOW NOTES & DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ARTIST WEBSITE ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST:

startistsociety.com/platforms/

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In this episode, Nikki and Laura dive into the must-have elements for any artist's website. Whether you're just starting out or revamping your online presence, we break down exactly what you need to showcase your work, connect with your audience and make sales!

READ SHOW NOTES & DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ARTIST WEBSITE ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST:

startistsociety.com/websiteneeds/

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In this episode, Laura and Nikki talk about the importance of branding for artists - beyond just a logo. They provide some great practical tips for building a brand identity and take you through three different levels of branding investment: DIY, mid-tier, and professional -  based on wherever you are at on your business journey. 

READ SHOW NOTES & ACCESS YOUR FREE BRANDING PDF DOWNLOAD:

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In this episode Nikki and Laura tackle the ever-present temptation artists face—buying new supplies—and discuss why embracing the materials you already own can be a game-changer for your creativity and budget. We break down five compelling reasons why using your existing stash benefits both your art and your wallet, followed by ten practical tips to help you extend the life of you supplies, explore new creative possibilities, and stay focused. From mastering your tools to organizing your stash and even hosting a supply swap, this episode is packed with actionable ideas to help you maximize what you already have.

READ SHOW NOTES & ACCESS YOUR FREE TIPS PDF DOWNLOAD:

https://startistsociety.com/useyourstash/

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Technology can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to hold you back from growing your creative business. In this episode, Nikki and Laura share practical strategies and mindset shifts to help artists and creatives overcome their tech fears. From starting small and embracing imperfection to utilizing online resources and celebrating small wins, we break down simple ways to build confidence with technology. Whether you're tackling a new tool, setting up an online shop, or automating tasks, this conversation will help you take that first step with less fear and more curiosity. Tune in for an encouraging, lighthearted discussion—and a few laughs along the way!

READ SHOW NOTES & READ TRANSCRIPT:

https://startistsociety.com/techfears/

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We're ridiculously excited to share this week's episode with you. Why? Because we got to sit down with none other than Bonnie Christine—surface pattern designer extraordinaire, business powerhouse, and one of the best online educators out there. Bonnie is a completely self-taught designer who has created at least 16 fabric collections for Art Gallery Fabrics, built a thriving business, and helped thousands of creatives turn their art into a career. Basically, she's the definition of a Startist.

In this week's episode, we got to pick her brain on everything: How she got started in surface design, the impact of AI on the design world, words of wisdom for anyone just getting started.

We also chat about her free course that's wrapping up soon, and of course, her signature Immersion course, which just opened for registration today. This is one you don't want to miss.

READ SHOW NOTES:

https://startistsociety.com/bonniechristine/

Sign up for Bonnie's Free Pattern Design Playbook Mini-Course

Learn about Bonnie Christine's Immersion Surface Design Course

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Thinking about taking an online course but not sure which ones are actually worth your time and money? We've taken a lot over the years—some amazing, some… not so much. In this episode, we break down the best online learning platforms, memberships, and in-depth courses that have truly helped us grow as artists and creative entrepreneurs. Be sure to listen until the end and hear about a special offer we have just for you!

READ SHOW NOTES:

https://startistsociety.com/immersion/

Sign up for Bonnie's Free Pattern Design Playbook Mini-Course

Learn more about Bonnie Christine's Immersion Surface Design Course

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Money doesn't have to be scary—or boring! In this episode, Nikki and Laura share practical, relatable tips to help creative entrepreneurs take control of their finances. From tracking expenses to maximizing income and tackling debt, we're covering all the essentials to make managing your money feel less daunting and more empowering.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & **FREE TIPS PDF DOWNLOAD**:

https://startistsociety.com/money/

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In this episode, Nikki and Laura kick off the new year with a deep dive into their planning process for 2025. We reflect on our personal and creative wins and struggles from 2024, share the lessons we've learned, and discuss our goals for the year ahead. From building habits to embracing the chaos of creative business, we outline actionable steps for balancing our personal lives, creative work, and podcast goals. We also discuss our Words of the Year—and explain how these intentions will shape our year. Packed with humor, relatable challenges, and practical advice, this episode is a motivational guide for Startists looking to start the year strong.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & **FREE TIPS PDF DOWNLOAD**:

https://startistsociety.com/planning/

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In our last episode, we introduced you to Heather Bourque of Paper and Wings, an artist and illustrator that sells physical products via wholesale. Did we mention she does this all on her own while still having time to travel the world each year? Heather is back this week to share her five best tips on getting started with a wholesale art business. We know you'll be inspired to give wholesale a try after you hear Heather's great advice! 

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & **FREE TIPS PDF DOWNLOAD**:

startistsociety.com/wholesaletips/

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In this episode, we continue our accountability group series by introducing you to Heather Bourque, an artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, who illustrates her love of coastal living and travel through her wholesale and retail online shop, Paper and Wings. We travel deep into Heather's world of creating and distributing wholesale products alongside her online retail shop. We know you'll love Heather's Startist story – and Heather – as much as we do!

Oh - and did we mention she created a solo-run wholesale business that still allows her to travel globally several months out of the year? We know you'll be inspired to give wholesale a try after you hear Heather's great advice! 

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/paperandwings/

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In episode 49, we introduced you to Elizabeth Silver, a surface pattern designer and educator who is the creator of a fantastic course called Start Your Surface Pattern Business. This week, Elizabeth is back to talk to us about reasons you might not be getting your art in front of potential paying clients. We know you'll love Elizabeth's frank, no fluff business advice as much as we do! 

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/gettingseen/

CHECK OUT ELIZABETH'S COURSE:

Start Your Surface Pattern Design Business Course

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In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki share 5 quick tips to help improve your artwork and take it to the next level. We discuss strategies that can help elevate your artwork and set you apart from the crowd and share some really fun tools, websites and products that can help with implementing these techniques!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD:

startistsociety.com/arttips/

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In our last episode, we introduced you to Maria Brophy, an author, teacher, art consultant, agent and brand manager who wrote the incredible book Art Money Success. This week, Maria is back to share her 5 best tips for achieving success with your art.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD:

startistsociety.com/mariastips/

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In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki interview Maria Brophy, the author of Art Money Success. Maria discusses her journey from corporate cubicle life to becoming a successful art business owner and coach. She is a proven expert at marketing, licensing,  and selling artwork, having played a key role in growing husband Drew Brophy's successful art career.  We chat about tangible and proven strategies you can use to network in-person, getting your artwork in front of potential buyers and how to battle money mindset issues.  We know you're going to learn so much from Maria who has literally written the book on art, money and success!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/mariabrophy/

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In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki explore the basics of professionally presenting your art business - both online and in person. We cover everything from communication etiquette to curating your portfolio, creating artist statements and a consistent brand identity, prepping physical artwork for galleries and more. We know you'll walk away with some great tips to put into action as you grow your art business. 

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/presenting/

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This week, Laura and Nikki do a deep dive into getting professional high resolution images of your artwork. Do you need a fancy camera or will a phone camera do? How do you prep your space and art for the best images? What are key things you should know before hitting the shutter button to ensure you get clear, well-lit photos?  When are scans useful and how do you properly scan artwork?  We'll cover all of this and more in today's episode.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/photographingyourwork/

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Grab a cup of coffee (or bourbon) and join Laura & Nikki as they review what went well last year, what could have gone better, and what their plans are for the upcoming year (both for their personal/professional lives and for the Startist Society podcast).

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/anewyear/

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In this episode, Laura and Nikki dive into the deep sea of art sales, but not in the way that you might think. They take you off the beaten path, exploring 12 unconventional, out-of-the-box methods to help you sell your art and turn your passion into profit. If you've ever felt stuck or unsure of how to get your art into the world, this episode is crafted just for you!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/unconventional/

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We talk a lot about just getting started. But what about finishing?

Do you have trouble finishing projects? Do you have a million half done or barely started projects lying around the studio?  

Today, Nikki and Laura dive deep into the world of unfinished projects, sharing their personal stories and advice to help you muster the inspiration and motivation to bring unfinished projects to a close (or release the ones that no longer serve you)!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/finishing/

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In our last episode, we introduced you to Charly Clements, an illustrator and mentor who licenses her art to clients all around the world, is a top teacher on Skillshare, and has a great new course called Out of This World Portraits. She does all of this while traveling the world. This week she is back to give us her top tips on building an engaged audience. Listen to the episode and don't forget to download the free PDF with her tips!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

startistsociety.com/charlystips/

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Charly Clements is an illustrator and mentor who has built a thriving illustration business, licensing her art to amazing clients all around the world, and has taught tens of thousands of students through her online classes as a top teacher on Skillshare and through her new course, Out of This World Portraits. She is the founder of Facetober and has built an incredible online community. And she's done all of this as a digital nomad, currently living and working in Thailand!

Listen in as we learn all about her journey and how she has grown her business, an engaged audience, and a large community of artists who love to learn from her, participate in her portrait art challenges, and much more...

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/charlyclements/

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In episode 104, we introduced you to Elli Milan, an artist, educator, speaker and founding owner of Milan Art Institute and Art Social. If you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, definitely go back and check it out. Elli is back to share her 10 best tips on getting past perfectionism as an artist and entrepreneur. 

MILAN ART INSTITUTE:

Milan Art Institute Mastery Program 

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Today's guest is Elli Milan, an artist, author, educator, and founding owner of Milan Art Institute and Art Social – an online art education program, social learning, and art patronage platform. She has been a successful artist since 1996, selling over 10,000 pieces of original art. She is passionate about empowering artists and has transformed the lives of thousands of artists worldwide, helping them find their voice and turn their passion for art into a profession. 

Aside from hearing all about Elli's Startist story and Art Institute, Nikki and Laura chat with her about perfectionism and how it can hold you back as an artist / entrepreneur. We know you'll love this conversation with Elli, who has clearly not let anything hold her back!

MILAN ART INSTITUTE:

Milan Art Institute Mastery Program 

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startistsociety.com/ellimilan/

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A lot of us become artists because we want to express ourselves, we have something to say and sometimes we want to stand out from the crowd. But we often see a lot of work in the art and design worlds that looks alike. Why is that? Are people following trends because they think they'll sell? Are they copying others because they don't have their own style yet? Do we need to think about these things if we want to have a career in art or design? Should we follow what's on trend – what we see that selling? Or should we go our own way and just do what feels most like us?

What dictates a trend? How do you know what the next big trend is before it's gone? Do trends even matter if you have a strong signature style? How can you use trends to your advantage? Will you be able to sell more artwork if you pull trends into your designs? We discuss all of this and more in this episode.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/trends/

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As artists who are putting ourselves and our work online hoping to make connections and sales, we can be really vulnerable to all kinds of scams, because we are being very optimistic in thinking that people are really interested in our art. It's important to be aware of the types of scams that exist and what you can do to avoid becoming a victim to one of them.

From NFT and payment scams to art contests and vanity galleries... listen in as Laura and Nikki discuss the types of art scams you might encounter, what to look for and how to avoid getting scammed!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/artscams/

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So why is it so hard for us to answer the question, "Oh, you're an artist. What do you do?" When that happens, do you freeze? Do you shrink and mumble under your breath something about how you're both an artist and you do other things and you're working on several projects right now but it's too hard to explain? Do you go on and on for about five minutes without actually answering the question?

If you identify at all with this, it's time to learn how to talk about your art. If you can't describe succinctly what you do, you're going to lose people's interest. And people don't want to promote or buy artwork that they can't connect to. They want to feel your enthusiasm and have a clear picture of the beauty that you offer to the world. Enter the elevator pitch.

Join Laura and Nikki as they share keys to crafting a great elevator pitch and follow along as they share their own pitches with you!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE DOWNLOADABLE ELEVATOR PITCH TEMPLATES:

startistsociety.com/elevatorpitch/

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Join Nikki and Laura and help us celebrate the huge milestone of our 100th episode! Listen in as we have a very chatty episode about our lives in the last few months, our art practices, our jobs, and the future of the podcast. You'll hear lots of talk about bourbon (naturally) and hear a funny story about a recent episode upload faux pas! You won't want to miss our 100th episode!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/100episodes/

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FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM:

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In episode 98, we introduced you to Jennifer Long, who started with the dream of becoming a fabric designer for her favorite company, Riley Blake Designs, and she did just that. Jennifer is a Riley Blake Designs fabric designer, quilt and doll pattern writer, machine embroidery digitizer and online educator. She is the creator of the Bee Sew Inspired Makers Club, and is also a wife, a mom to four and lives on a hobby farm in the prairies in Manitoba, Canada.

Here she shares her five best tips on becoming a fabric designer.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/fabricdesigntips/

JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP:

facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/

FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM:

instagram.com/startistsociety/

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buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

As we mentioned in the first of our accountability group series of episodes, most of our interviews have been with people who are much further along in their creative businesses. But one of our basic premises of starting this podcast was to have you come along with us on the journey of just getting things started. The women in our accountability group all began with goals, but they didn't know where to begin. In the last couple of years they've achieved big things by putting one foot in front of the other and just getting started.

This week we're excited to introduce you to another member of our accountability group, Jennifer Long, who started with the dream of becoming a fabric designer for her favorite company, Riley Blake Designs, and she did just that.

Jennifer is a Riley Blake Designs fabric designer, quilt and doll pattern writer, machine embroidery digitizer and online educator. She is the creator of the Bee Sew Inspired Makers Club, and is also a wife, a mom to four and lives on a hobby farm in the prairies in Manitoba, Canada. We know you'll enjoy our chat with her!

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/jenniferlong/

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Whether you're a fine artist or a surface pattern designer, you may have heard about the importance of creating in collections. If you're at the start of your art journey, you may be creating a lot of one off pieces of art. So how do you go about starting to work in collections?

And how many pieces do you need to have to be able to call it a collection? How do you create in a cohesive way? Do you need collections to have your work shown in a gallery? Are collections necessary to have your shown to art directors for licensing? We'll tackle all of this and more in today's episode.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/collections/

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In our last episode, we introduced you to Isabelle Wood, a perfect example of a Startist and one of the women in Laura and Nikki's accountability group.

One of Isabelle's big goals was to create digital products and sell them on Design Cuts. She made that goal happen and today she's going to share with us her five tips for getting started selling on digital marketplaces.

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES:

startistsociety.com/digitalproducts/

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facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/

FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM:

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We've spoken many times about how we met in an accountability group for Bonnie Christine's Surface Design Immersion course. Today, and in a few upcoming episodes, we want to introduce you to the other women in our group and tell their inspiring Startist stories. In our peer group, each of us had one or two main goals that we hope to accomplish with our creative careers, and we want to share what we've all been doing to reach those goals.

We've interviewed quite a few experienced artists who have tons of products, licensing deals and courses, and a lot to share with us for sure. People like Lisa Glanz, who is a master at selling her digital designs, brushes and tools on digital marketplaces like Design Cuts. But we often feel that they're so far ahead of most of us that will never catch up.

We also want to share stories from some artists who are not quite as far down that path. They may be more relatable to those of us that are at the Startist stage. So today we're going to begin our accountability group series with Isabelle Wood, graphic designer, digital creator, online educator and self-proclaimed forever-student from Montreal, who is just getting started putting her work out there and has already begun to reach her goals. But we'll let her tell you all about that...

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Last week, we introduce you to Larry Pile, a prolific kiln-formed glass artist who has displayed and sold his artwork in over 250 art festivals. Today Larry's back to share his six best tips on getting started with art festivals. 

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Larry Pile is a talented, generous, open-hearted and creative kiln-form glass artist in Dallas, TX who loves bold color, form and texture. He consistently explores new techniques , doing amazing things like weaving glass, and generously shares his knowledge with others. You feel completely inspired after spending time with him, whether you are an absolute beginner or are attending one of his master workshops.

Larry hosts amazing in-person and online classes. He's the founder of Lunch with a Glass Artist and Second Saturday Table Times virtual classes and has created an incredible kiln forming glass art community that spans the globe. But what we're most excited to share with you today is Larry's  prolific experience with art festivals. Over the last 20 years, Larry has displayed and sold his artwork in over 250 of them, and he is here to share all of his hard-earned experience and advice with you!

If you've ever wanted to sell your art in a festival - this is the episode you've been waiting for!

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Last week, Laura interviewed Nikki all about how she has gone big with her art in public spaces like the front of a downtown building (now covered in Nikki's gorgeous butterflies) and a recent commission she won inside her local airport. This week, Nikki shares her 5 best tips with you so you can go BIG with your art too!

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startistsociety.com/nikkistipsforgoingbig/

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We hinted this was coming in a previous episode, but this week Laura is super excited to interview Startist Society's very own Nikki May on how she has literally gone big – as in three stories tall – with her artwork over the last year. She's now working on another special BIG commission for her local airport. She is the perfect example of a Startist! We know many of you are curious about how to even get started with getting your artwork in public spaces, and today's episode will be all about that!

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startistsociety.com/goingbig/

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Last week, Nikki and Laura talked about the fear of putting yourself out there on video and gave some helpful suggestions on how to get past these fears. Today we are sharing five helpful tips that can help you put these suggestions into action!

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We've touched on fears in several past episodes, including discussions about the fear of calling yourself an artist, fear about not being good enough, about having nothing to say. We even briefly mentioned being afraid to put ourselves out there and really be seen, and that's what we are talking about in today's episode.

With Facebook and Instagram posts rarely being shown to your followers unless they include video, we know just how important video is in today's world. Video helps people get to know you much better than simply text or photos and increases the know, like and trust factor that's so important in helping people want to work with you.

In this episode, we list some of the reasons we think you might be afraid to show your face on video and give you some of our best suggestions for overcoming those fears!

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There's currently a lot of buzz around AI Art. Many think Artificial intelligence may become the new normal. It's been used for everything from chat bots to creation of artwork, and it has the ability to composite hundreds of thousands of images into elaborate new pieces of art in less than 60 seconds.

So what does this mean for the art world? Should we be scared? Is our intellectual property being stolen? Will art directors no longer want to pay artists for their commercial work? Will galleries be filled with AI art? And will human artists become obsolete? Is there a way for us to use AI art to our advantage? Nikki and Laura chat about all of this and more in today's episode. 

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Startist Society is back from our extended fall break and ready to get back in the groove! In this episode, Laura and Nikki talk about what they've been doing during their break, catch you up on what's new in their lives, and talk about how difficult it can be to get back to being creative and productive after a long break.

Listen in as they share tips about getting into the right mindset and habits to get your creative groove back!

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startistsociety.com/backinthegroove/

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We live in a society that seems to praise busyness and burning the candle at both ends, but it's time for us to shift this paradigm and begin to recognize the importance of rest, of pacing yourself and preserving your energy. And when it comes to social media, podcasting, marketing and more, folks are so worried that they'll be forgotten if they take a break.

In this week's episode, we talk about how this shows up in our own lives, the future of the Startist Society podcast and the importance of giving yourself a well-deserved break to avoid overwhelm and burnout!

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Everyone talks about the importance of discovering or developing your signature style in art or design. When you're just starting out, or if you have many different interests or media, this kind of feels impossible to figure out. In this episode, we talk about the reasons for having your own style, whether or not it's important, and provide you with some tips and exercises that might help you develop your signature style.

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Last week, we introduced you to Peggy Dean of The Pigeon Letters, an artist, author and educator extraordinaire. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, definitely check it out. Peggy gave us such great advice on growing a successful business while breaking all the rules that this week, we've invited her back to share with us five tips on being a successful multi-passionate creative over the usual advice of niching down.

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This week's guest is Peggy Dean of The Pigeon Letters. Peggy is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, an artist, author and educator. And she is a great example of a Startist!

Peggy is the author of eight books, a top teacher on Skillshare with over 50 classes on drawing, painting, lettering, digital art and more. She has her own creative membership called The Flock Cooperative. She created her own line of synthetic cruelty-free watercolor brushes and monoline pens, and has created Lightroom presets and Procreate brushes.

As a self-taught artist born into creativity through a struggle with mental health, Peggy promotes embracing imperfections and living out loud. She has a soft spot for ensuring that anyone with a passion feels empowered to be able to create.

In a world where we're told to specialize - Peggy shares how you can build a successful creative career that encompasses all of your passions.

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In episode 9, we talked about our love of art supplies and our addiction to purchasing sketchbooks. Every once in a while we actually fill some up. Have you ever wanted to start a sketchbook of your own? In this episode, we are going talk about our own sketchbook practices, why we have them, suggestions on how to choose the right sketchbook and more to get you started on your own sketchbook journey.

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Last week, we introduced you to Janine Vangool, designer and publisher of Uppercase Magazine. She shared her Startist story with us and all about launching and publishing her gorgeous magazine. Today she's back to share her five best tips for getting your artwork published in magazines, maybe even in hers!

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