Creative Thursday

What if you could go from doubting you're a "real artist" to actually getting excited about your weekly newsletter? In this inspiring Artist Success Stories episode, I'm sharing conversations with three incredible artists - Rochelle, Jessica, and Linda - who've transformed their creative practices and businesses over the past year. These aren't overnight success stories - they're real examples of what consistency and community can create.   Meet the artists and discover: How Rochelle started growing her email list and now wakes up excited about her newsletter content Why Jessica calls planning "a container for freedom" and how she learned to love every mark in her art - even during the "ugly phase" How Linda shifted from economics to art and now believes in the possibilities available to her as she builds her art sales on the side The surprising mindset shift that helped these artists embrace marketing as relationship-building, not selling Why starting with friends and family as your first collectors is actu

What if selling your art online could work for YOU?   After 21 years of building a successful art business online, I'm sharing the 5 key insights I wish I'd known from day one. If you're wondering whether it's really possible to sell your art online, this episode is for you.   In this episode, you'll discover: Why selling art is about so much more than just posting pretty pictures The one investment that will make or break your online art sales How to approach pricing from a place of confidence instead of guesswork Why showing up consistently matters more than getting likes or comments The simple strategy that prevents overwhelm when marketing your art Plus, my bonus insight about who's actually buying art online (hint: it might surprise you!)   I started with an email list of 8 people and no podcast listeners, but I believed it was possible and showed up consistently. That belief and consistency built the foundation for everything that followed. Listen through the lens of "what if this works?" instead of d

What if I told you that planning could actually be your creativity's best friend instead of its enemy? In today's episode, I'm getting real about how my relationship with planning completely transformed - especially as a new mom navigating the biggest identity shift of my life. If you've ever resisted planning because it feels restrictive or anti-creative, this episode is for you. I used to be that free-spirited creative who thought planning would kill my spontaneity and rob me of those magical moments of inspiration. I believed that "Artists" worked purely from flow, not structure. Sound familiar? But here's what I've discovered: planning isn't the enemy of creativity - it's actually what creates MORE space for your creative flow to happen. In this episode, I share: Why I used to resist planning with everything in my creative being (and the fears that held me back) How becoming a new mom made planning absolutely essential for my mental wellness Why "I don't have time to plan" is actually the biggest sign th

What if times of economic uncertainty could actually be opportunities for your art business to grow? In today's episode, I share my 21 years of experience surviving (and thriving) through recessions, pandemics, and everything in between as a professional artist. If you've been wondering, "Is anyone still buying art right now?" - this episode is especially for you. The answer is YES - people absolutely buy art in all economies! In fact, during challenging times, people crave the inspiration, joy, and perspective that only art can provide. In this episode, I share: My personal story of how I pivoted during the 2008 recession to create my first online course when art sales dipped Why having multiple revenue streams is crucial for weathering economic storms (and how I quickly created new income during the pandemic) The importance of looking for opportunities rather than dwelling on negative news How research shows creativity impacts our mental and physical wellbeing, creating even MORE opportunity for artists A

Welcome to another edition of Artist Success Stories.   In this episode I'm joined by 4 of our Alumni; Molly Ovenden, Anita Driessen, Cindy Scheule, and Jen Duregger sharing   why saying YES is more important than saying NO how to finally stop making excuses and take yourself seriously as an Artist how to show up with consistency how BIG changes in your personal life can be the opening to following your dreams how sharing your gifts as a gift can spark a new career path     Doors to Artful Selling 2025 are OPEN starting now through Tuesday, January 21 @ 11:59 pm PST  

No goal setting necessary.   12 months from now how would you like to feel about your time spent in 2025?   What matters most to you that you want to prioritize and focus on?   My first podcast back after welcoming home Baby Shay!   Four weeks in as a parent with a newborn, and already so much new insight on time management, and even more passion for the power of planning that I can't wait to share.   In this episode I step you through the 3 ways I'm defining what matters most in 2025 - no pressure, no goal setting -just creating a clear path forward.   And if you'd like to feel lighter, get more clarity and feel confident about where you're focusing first this year, I'm hosting my annual Profitable Artist Plan, a fun and inspiring week together to help you create your ideal plan for 2025,   We start this Monday, January 13!   Save your spot here https://profitableartistchallenge.shinepages.com/   You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creative

Do you relate? One of the biggest challenges Creatives have is having the TIME to make their Art.   So if we say we want to find the time, and making Art is incredibly important to us then why does it feel so hard to fit it in, to sit down, get out our Art supplies, and start creating? - not just once but regularly.   In this episode, I'm exploring the answer to this question, and talking about what's kept me from making Art along with what I've discovered to help me prioritize what matters most in my life, especially when it comes to my creativity.   I'm sharing 3 tips to help you not only make time for your Art but KEEP making time for your Art.   And if you want to get started with a renewed commitment to your consistent practice, join us for the first official Daily Painting Week, and together we'll focus on making our Art all week.   Register for FREE for this workshop at https://dailypaintingweek.com/   You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebo

Big changes underway!   Tune into this episode to get all of the latest happening behind the scenes of Creative Thursday.   A "Direct Pep Talk", this is a transparent share on what it takes to build a Creative Business online today, and have lasting success as a Professional Artist how to choose the right support to grow your business from courses, to memberships to coaches plus I step you through how I prioritize and make big decisions about the direction we're taking after 20 years in business   This is also a time-sensitive invite ending TONIGHT @ 11:59 pm PDT, the last + only chance to get Creative Business Coaching + Consulting support from me this year before the baby comes!   Join us in The Red Dot Society https://thereddotsociety.com/   You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday

Want the secret to my success as a Professional Artist?   Yes! Great, because this is the episode that breaks down the strategy that grew my business from 1 card sale during an entire holiday season to a 6 figure business with multiple revenue streams.   Simple, not easy or more Artists would find the success they're wanting.   In this episode I share 3 ways my favorite strategy helped me grow as an Artist the ONE key to making this strategy work for you an invitation + all the details on you can join me in implementing the strategy I'm sharing with you   Join me for the Summer of Fun! from a Daily Painting Challenge to following along with my own Art creation as I share new work!   Join us in the Daily Painters by jumping on the Wait List opening June 10 https://creativethursday.myflodesk.com/dailypainters   Click the link below to join the Art "Postcard" list for the Summer of Fun by getting the first peek at 12 new originals over 30 days   https://creativethursday.myflodesk.com/summeroffun     You can fi

Welcome to another edition of Artist Success Stories! In this episode I'm joined by three of our Artful Selling Alumni; Lisa Kurt, Jessica Tepora, and Dionna Vereen sharing how they transformed self doubt and feeling scared into turning points in their creative business fear may be a clue to what's actually calling you making what you love affects your sales following your dream impacts the people in your life, especially your children it's never too late to come back to your dream developing your muscle for planning also develops so many invaluable life skills making Art helped heal during tragedy practicing 2 specific qualites can make all the difference in how you sell your Art     Doors to Artful Selling are OPEN for a special summer session starting now through Wednesday, May 29 @ 11:59 pm PDT Join us! https://artfulselling.com/

You know the feeling you get when a dream that's been in the works for a while becomes a reality?   That's the unbridled enthusiasm you're hearing in my voice for this episode.   I'm thrilled to announce that the first official Shiny Squirrel Summit for Visual Artists looking to create multiple revenue streams is happening, and kicking off this Sunday, April 28 @ 1 pm PDT!   And you're invited to this free event. Just head over to https://shinysquirrelsummit.com/ to get your free ticket.   This vision inspired the first Shiny Squirrel podcast episode #271 is bigger than me.   The event includes hearing from 11 additional Creative Expert Speakers on a variety of topics that are all ways you can create more income in your Art business, so you can avoid burnout and have more time to do what you best, make the Art you love making most.   In this episode, I introduce you to all 12 speakers, myself included, and the topics that we'll be covering so you can start thinking about ideas and possibilities to incorporate

What qualities do Creatives have in common that make adding a membership model to their business a perfect fit?   We'll tell you! In today's episode I'm joined by my friend and Mentor of 5 years and Membership Expert Stu McLaren to talk about the wild success Artists are seeing in the membership space.   And by success we mean, growing 7 figure memberships in just a few years, while inspiring art and creativity, and creative business skills for thousands of people across the globe.   It's inspiring, to say the least, to see this rapid growth of PROSPERITY and THRIVING in an industry that was once known for its starving, struggling mentality.   Days of the Starving Artist are gone as Creative Business owners today, myself included are changing the narrative forever more.   It turns out there is one single quality many of us share that makes Artists especially successful at starting, building, and running memberships.   In today's episode, we share what that one quality is among others that makes Artists perfe

If I could go back and mentor my younger business self, the one who said yes to her dream of becoming a Professional Artist, the lessons learned that I share in this episode is what I would say.   Today, March 7 marks a celebration of not only 17 years of making a consistent living with my Creative Business but this February 2024 I celebrated 20 years since the very first Creativethursday.com site went live, featuring my Art work.   Back then I was so busy trying to make it all a go, that I didn't even know (or think I had the time) to intentionally hold a vision and actually plan out where I wanted to be 20 years ahead. For the longest time I was living in a pinch me state, wondering if what I was building wasn't just a temporary dream.   Turns out it wasn't a temporary dream, but one that would grow to help and support you in your Creative dreams too.   What would it have been like if I had the insight I have now when I first started?   That's the wish right, and yet it's the 20 years of lived experience st

Get excited! welcome to another favorite edition of Artist Success Stories.   In this episode I'm joined by three of our Alumni; Heather Harrington, Joanna Smith, and Marissa Parsons sharing how they first decided to follow their passion what's helped them find and keep the courage to pursue the professional Artist life how they show up with consistency the value of self-discovery + authenticity in the art-selling process the benefits of personalized mentorship the significance of community and support in building an art business why it's so important to celebrate accomplishments and stay grateful for the process and the transformative effects of choosing to join us in Artful Selling   Hip Hip Hooray! It's here! Only Open Once a Year! Doors to Artful Selling are OPEN starting now through Tuesday, January 23 @ 11:59 pm PST  

Spontaneous creation or being prepared ahead of time with your content? which do you prefer?   Continuing on with our series, part 3, of answering your Time Management questions; I'm opening this episode with a few more social media creation tips, specifically for video, while also sharing more tools to help you get and stay organized with your assets, marketing plan and project management.   what and when I record behind the scenes to use in my social media marketing app recommendations for video editing my favorite project management tools and how I use them specifically for my social media planning     Yay! it's almost go time! We start Monday, January 15 Join the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge + Coaching Week   Join the Artful Selling Waitlist   To get the latest updates, click here to join the Creative Thursday List   You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday  

Be honest: how's your 2024 Social Media plan looking?   Are you feeling ready with a big picture strategy in place, or are you reading this thinking, Marisa what are you talking about "ready", I barely know what to post tomorrow let alone the rest of 2024   Would you like to feel more prepared when it comes to your marketing?   What if this is the year you could change the hamster wheel approach of: overwhelm + procrastinate = now I feel behind so why bother with any sort of plan at all ~ to breathing easier because you feel clear and excited about what you're creating and sharing with the wonderful people who can't wait to see (and collect) what you're working on.   On this first Creative Thursday of the new year, the energy of clarity that comes with a clean slate is on your side which is why I'm excited to welcome you to part 2 of the Time Management series where I'm continuing to answer your questions and sharing tips on how to organize your social media content so that you're not constantly trying to fig

First ~ thank you for your kind messages about our recent loss.   Holiday time, depending upon how you like to approach this season, can be filled with long to-do lists, countless visits, parties, and celebrations, or if you're like me, a perfect time for a peaceful reset.   Very intentional about how we choose to spend Christmas, Sean and I often opt for a quiet celebration which leads to a perfect opening to dream, plan, and prepare for what's next.   Over the past few years of a rapidly growing business, this has been the best time to get caught up and reset, from organizing to planning along with getting a head start on upcoming projects, especially those happening at the start of the new year (get excited and save the date! the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge and Coaching week starts Monday, January 15)   On the last episode I invited you to send me your questions about time management, and this is the first in a series of 3 answering what you asked about the most with today's part 1 focusing on a v

What does your ideal work day look like?   A question I'm often is what does my the structure of my day looks like and how do I schedule it to support my goals.   Do you know your energy levels throughout the days of a week, at particular times of day?   When it comes to planning your ideal schedule where does your productivity excel?   All important questions to help you be efficient with your time and effective with your focus. But not more important than the one question I come back to asking every time you ask me about how I plan.   In this episode I remind you of that single most important question that you want an answer to that will help you all the rest of your plans fall into place.   I also share with you the full list of responsibilities I have in the business today while stepping you through exactly how my days and week look based upon my answer to the questions above.   In a nutshell, this is how I get things done in my business.   Part 1 of a series on Time Management. Send me your DM's on Insta

Did you hear the news? Not only am I now a happily married Mrs!   During my time away from the podcast I had an epiphany, a realization about what's been missing, what can no longer take a back seat, and the dreams I'm fulfilling in 2024.   I've got a lot to fill you in on and I'm starting by sharing the story of the Cranky Bunny, and the inspiration behind a brand new idea and Artist community I just opened that I've been thinking about since 2006.   I'm also excited to invite you to come have some holiday fun, creative painting time with me starting Monday!   Join me for the Ornament Painting Workshop starting Monday, December 11 https://ornamentpainting.shinepages.com/   To get the latest updates, click here to join the Creative Thursday List   You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday

Welcome to another installment of Artist Success Stories.   This episode highlights 2 of our Expansive Artist Members sharing stories about how they came to follow their passion and experience breakthroughs with their Art + Creative Businesses.   Artists; Molly Ovenden, Leah Selk join me for this episode where we talk about: Molly, a full-time multi-disciplinary Artist, shares how she lets one art from influence another, and how adopting the practice of planning and embracing a business owner mindset, has transformed her creative practice and how she runs her business today with the ability to think long term Leah, a watercolor Artist who wasn't sure if being an Artist was meant for her (even after she graduated Art School) shares how she went from wondering if she could actually make sales to people who aren't her friends to knowing she CAN do this, growing in confidence to raise her prices and selling $6K at her first local gallery show which is leading to even more opportunities in her local community