Empowering artists to live creatively and to THRIVE while doing so! A Podcast from Emily Jeffords Studio
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 12, 2020
Wednesday Feb 12, 2020
How do you know if your work is "worth selling"? In this video, I break down exactly how I evaluate my work, my collections, and my voice in the world.
While this title might sound intimidating, keel listening! I think you're going to find that your creativity WANTS TO REWARD YOU. It wants you to be successful. It wants to live boldly and beautifully in the world.
10 tips for evaluating your work
- Does it resonate with you?
- Does the concept excite you?
- Can you sit with it in peace for a few moments?
- Did it feel good to create on an emotional and physical level?
- Did you enjoy the creative process?
- Were your motives pure in the creation phase? If you are creating from a place of peace and abundance, the work will reflect that.
- Do you enjoy living around the work? If I can spend time with the work then I am proud to sell it
- Does it feel true to your vision, worldview, and voice?
- With all the history you have accumulated as an observer, how does this match up? Is it a rough first attempt? Is it a masterpiece? Something in the middle?
- Does it feel different from everything else you've seen? We’re all drawing from the same big, beautiful pot of inspiration. However, draw upon that inspiration from your own perspective. Pursue originality! It is worth the struggle, learning curve, and the pursuit of purity!
WHEN YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR WORK YOU CAN TAKE GREATER RISKS
"This course [Making Art Work] was so unbelievably comprehensive, it really didn’t miss the mark on anything. My website is new and stunning and I feel like I have all the tools to kickstart this adventure immediately. In fact, a few weeks into the course I decided to quit my day job. Thanks to the course I have a plan and I’m feeling confident in myself in a way I never did before." -- Maria Wigge
Join the Share the Work Challenge! We begin on Feb 12th!
Download a beautiful image or graphic and SHARE on your IG Stories!
Want to make sure you get notified? Join my the Creative's Club Email List and add learn@emilyjeffords.com to your contacts so you're sure to see the email! xox
Monday Feb 10, 2020
Monday Feb 10, 2020
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE VIDEO SERIES, you still can! The videos are live until Feb 25th, 2020.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAKING ART WORK? This is my signature 12-week course for Creative Entrepreneurs and it is full of all the goodness and direction you need to thrive in your creative career.
Began simply but with a vision.
- Your website is your gallery, but start simple. Less is more and the most important thing is that you share your gorgeous work with the world. Don’t let a website hold you back (that’s what MAW is for — hint hint)
- Your collectors won’t find you unless you invite them into your gallery (marketing, social presence, art shows, craft fairs, gallery shows, email marketing… use your compelling storytelling, showing up on behalf of your work because it is worth your support and love).
- Your work will only be attractive if you are actively attracting people to your work (story, brand vibe + photography)
DON’T BE BORING.
The key to attracting people to your work is twofold:
1. YOUR STORY:
You are selling so much more than a painting or a pot or a shirt or photograph. You are selling a lifestyle. You’re selling connection. You’re selling a way of being in the world. You’re selling a FEELING. A STORY.
Daisy Faith: "I’m now on day 19 of 100-day project. Since the start of project I’ve sold 3 of those paintings. I’ve received 3 commissions, 2 of which I’ve completed and one big one I’m about to start. Also, one more commission request directly connected to the 100-day project."
It’s fine to be a wandering generalization but it’s much more helpful if you can be a meaningful specific (Seth Godin)
2.YOUR BRAND'S AESTHETICS:
this expands way beyond the artwork itself — we get into that in MAW but it includes your fonts, colors, photography, booth displays at art shows, business cards… everything that surrounds your work needs to ELEVATE your art.)
Erika Haskett: "Finally figured out how to combine my photography & paintings under one Instagram account & have been loving it, learned a ton about myself and how/what/why I create, have gained more opportunities since I’ve been in a much better mind state thanks to this course, have just overall learned a ton & am so grateful for this course!!<3"
Ella Stonefield: "I used to share every bit of inspiration that came my way but I realized that I was scattered, my art was scattered, and my audience had no clue what was going on! Really defining my collection themes, brand vibe and how I want to show up in the world made all the difference in my business. We’re talking $$$! I just sold my first actual collection and it made more income than my whole first year at my job!"
Coming up:
How Do You Know If Your Art Is Worth Selling?
5 Ways to Share Your Work To Get the Attention of Collectors.
5 Lies Artists Believe (+5 Ways to Overcome Those Blocks)
Subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode! xo
Learn more about Emily Jeffords, artist, educator, retreat host, mother of three, and multi-six figure entrepreneur.
Friday Feb 07, 2020
Friday Feb 07, 2020
Welcome to Share the Work! This is a 4 part series + challenge
and by the end of this short series you will feel empowered and excited to share your work in the most vibrant and passionate way possible.
Over the next few episodes we’re going to dive into:
— 3 things you must know to sell art online
— How do you know if your art is worth selling?
— 5 ways to share your work and get the attention of collectors
— Breaking the mold: The 5 most hurtful lies artists believe (and 5 ways we can overcome those blocks).
I suspect that, because you’re here, you create beautiful work that you are proud of and want others to appreciate
You are a little tired of artwork stacking up around your studio or in the corner of your spare bedroom
Your creative vibe is THRIVING but your business is withering
If you have a creative business, you wonder HOW LONG will this thing keep sustaining me? Can I really make this a life-long career?
HERE’S THE DEAL
Hoppin creative careers don’t just happen to people.
Vibrant creative businesses are crafted and designed and there is enormous amounts of LOVE poured into them.
- Intentional planning
- Listening to your energy
- Knowing that your inspiration is dependable and that it WILL show up
- Serving your collectors and community so well that they will support you in kind
I want you to leave out time together feeling so connected to and confident in your work that you are proud to share it with the world (ps. this is marketing - and it’s fun)
Stop holding back your work!
Your artwork is your heart and your love in physical form.
And art is an expression of love
Love is incredibly powerful.
Love is incredibly attractive.
Love is an easy and generous thing to share.
The algorithm is not screwing your art career
Your collectors are not too poor
YOU can market your work super effectively and easily. — You don’t need a rep or gallery or agent to do this for you. YOU are the most effective voice your art has in the world.
Your creativity is abundant and it is asking you to also live abundantly
When you feel confident and empowered to share your work with your growing audience you are spreading love and connection and beauty with the world.
Marketing (aka, sharing your work) is an ACT OF GENEROSITY.
Next week we are going to further dive into the things you need to know to bring your work to the world elegantly and sustainably:
— 3 things you must know to sell art online
— How do you know if your art is worth selling?
— 5 ways to share your work and get the attention of collectors
— Breaking the mold: The 5 most hurtful lies artists believe (and 5 ways we can overcome those blocks).
Subscribe and listen in then!
WANT TO JOIN SHARE THE WORK? Watch the free video series here.
Friday Jan 31, 2020
Friday Jan 31, 2020
Imagine creating artwork for weeks, without thinking about selling.
Imagine putting your whole vision into the world clearly and beautifully.
...And what if there were also eager collectors ready and waiting for your work? AMAZING, right?
When I began my creative career I did what most (if not ALL) artists do: we create something and then sell it. Create, then sell. And repeat. In fact, I did that flow on high speed because I began my career by doing a painting each DAY and selling it the next day! This is fine for a while, but I soon found that I was creating and hustling far more than I needed to!
Here's what happens when you DON'T work in collections:
It can be very easy to create from the WRONG HEADSPACE
- Creating it for the single sale rather than for the idea.
- Creating artwork for $$ rather than the message or vision behind the work
- Never getting to spend time with your work and feel a sense of ownership over it
It can also really mess with your artistic flow to have to interrupt your process to focus on sell, packaging, shipping, customer service... fine art requires a lot of creative energy which can be draining on your physical energy. Don't sacrifice that beautiful energy when it is needed most.
In this episode, we dive into the HOW to create collections:
- Thinking through the themes + ideas
- Planning for sizes + profits
- Meeting your audience's demand
- Price points
- Cost of producing the collection
- Location of release (online, gallery, third party site, pop-up shop, house show…)
LINKS
The Artist's Year of Growth - the PERFECT tool to help you plan your collections for the year
Making Art Work - my 12-week course designed to enable artists to THRIVE, to sell their work, and create sustainable businesses.
xox
Emily Jeffords
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
Progress is Quiet and Slow. Lasting growth rarely happens in a flash -- if it did, it would be far too painful.
I began supporting my family with my artwork business in 2013, selling originals, commissions, and prints. Once that shift happened in my mind and in our lives, a whole world of possibility was opened to me. The next seven years brought consistent and gentle growth -- more profits, exciting opportunities, saying YES to things that felt just a tiny bit outside of my comfort zone, scaling, stretching...
All that growth has brought tremendous blessings and profitability, but it has also led to a lot of personal development (which is rarely comfortable) and pretty intense "growing pains" (aka anxiety) as I stretch to fit my new role and be the person my work needs me to be.
In this episode, I bring you through that journey step by step from 2013-now (running two separate businesses, making well over 6-figures, doing things that thrill and excite me daily.)
LINKS
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
TEN YEARS as a professional fine artist! Woohoo! What a surreal moment this is for me. What a journey it has been!
But it hasn't been easy. Would you believe me if I told you I sold my first painting for $1? The $2?
In this episode, I bring you through the early years of my creative career, from spare bedroom studios and $1 paintings, to West Texas and the start of my (old) blog BeautifulHelloBlog.com, to Charleston and my new creative adventures as a REAL artist making $400 a month, a failed art show, the beginning of my Instagram account, waves of bounty and poverty... it was a hard start with a lot of growing pains, but a beautiful, expansive journey.
In the summer of 2013, after what felt like a true crucible and test of my resolve, I began supporting our family with my art.
I am so thankful that art kept me grounded. Otherwise, where would we be today? Maybe the risks are the reason we are here today and the reason art feels so deeply beautiful.
Please know that if you are feeling adversity, art very well might be your source of hope!
LINKS:
Making Art Work (opens for enrollment Feb 18th!)
Beautiful Hello Blog
Artwork mentioned: To The Stillness (2013) and Coming storm (2013)
JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR THE FREE VIDEO SERIES beginning Feb 4th!
Friday Jan 10, 2020
Friday Jan 10, 2020
here’s the deal,
YOUR DREAMS DON’T COME TO LIFE BY CHANCE.
THEY COME TO LIFE WHEN YOU WORK YOUR MAGIC AND AIM TOWARDS A GOAL.
In this episode:
- we plan out the year season by season
- discuss dates you should avoid
- tips for planning out your year
- advice to increase your creativity + profitability
I also share a look into my year-calendar and insight into how a thriving creative business.
Download the 28-page workbook and plan some brilliance! Download the booklet here.
2020, The Artist's Year of Growth!
Thursday Jan 09, 2020
Thursday Jan 09, 2020
Welcome to 2020! The Year of growth and expansion.
In this podcast, we explore the importance of dreams (how can you grow without vision?) and then dive into practical ways to grow your business, nourish your creativity, and fall in LOVE with the process.
There is a BEAUTIFUL free 28-page workbook that goes along with this two-part episode series. Download it here. It is designed for your success and I can't wait to hear how it impacts your bottom line + creativity this year!
Friday Dec 13, 2019
Friday Dec 13, 2019
Whew! We're nearly there. It's almost time to stuff some stockings and eat fruit cake -- the holiday sales season is wrapping up soon!
I first shared this exercise with The Collective (a mentorship I offer for creatives and artists) but I wanted to share it with you too!
Regardless of how you are taking on this season (aiming for record sales goals or sitting this one out) the energy in the air can be a bit much sometimes. Am I right?
And here's a little secret for you: the energy you feel affects your work.
And the energy you bring to your creative process affects the quality of the work.
And the energy you feel towards your work affects its success in the world.
Did you follow all of that?
It's a whole cycle of input and output and if you are not keeping yourself well balanced the cycle fails.
So we're going to take a moment in the middle of all the hubbub and come back to the heart of it all. Now. In the craziness. Because this is when we need it most.
This creative prompt is a simple one -- but I know that it will also be transformative!
Give yourself 1-2 hours of creative time for this project (more if needed) and get ready to feel free!
There are four parts. Ready?
- Daydream. Don't let yourself to go the studio for at least an hour (you can wait up to a week or so if needed). During this time, envision what you will create. Get a clear piece of inspiration (this is not another artist's work -- this is your own pure inspo gathered through thought and magic). ;) What colors will you use? What medium? How detailed will it be? What size? What will you listen to while creating? What will you think about? Get detailed with your daydream!
- Set the tone for your creative space. Clear an area of your studio or table so you can focus, turn on the right music, light a candle, set the mood.
- Set an intention. Give yourself 30 seconds. Quiet your mind. Say "I will create something good today." "I will allow something beautiful to happen." Repeat as often as needed until you feel it deep down.
- CREATE. Not for a buyer. Not for sales. Not to prove anything. Not to add to your collection... just because, for the next hour or two, your hand and your brain deserve to be celebrated. Let them play. Get your ambitions and ego out of the way (they are useful at a different time) and see what beauty your body will make in this space.
Create with positivity and love for yourself and your art and just see what beauty will come of it!
I often think of this practice as a creative cleanse. If you create something pretty, that's awesome, but THAT IS NOT THE GOAL. The goal is to reconnect your hands, heart, and mind and to let your body know that it is allowed to be free.
This is not woo-woo. This is psychology. The more you can learn to trust your body and mind to work in harmony the more you will be pleased with the results you get when you create.
Afterward: Hop over to Instagram and check out the hashtag #EJCollectiveCreative.
This is where The Collective Students are sharing their creative work and it is a DELIGHT to behold.
But, remember, do it for the process (not the likes) ;)
xo,
Emily Jeffords
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
The holidays are (nearly) here and it's time for your creativity to SHINE!
In this episode, I share 5 tips that will majorly increase your holiday sales:
1. Think of your website like a storefront. Make it beautiful, tidy, enchanting, and easy to navigate.
2. Be consistent and constant. Remember that, during normal times of the year, if you say something five times, your audience is just beginning to hear you. During the holidays I recommend saying something at least 7 to 10 times in order to be heard! It might feel like too much to you, but it doesn't feel that way to your customers.
3. Photography, photography, photography! You can do it yourself or hire a pro, but having good photos is really the only way to stay in business these days.
4. Offer a variety of price points to meet a variety of your customer's needs
5. Make your gifting easy. Curated collections, suggestions for different people, bundles…
BONUS: find joy in the season. You really have to store up energy and bring it during this time of year, but remember, your audience can sniff out disingenuous emotion! Store up your energy, nourish yourself, and when you show up, be radiant.
LINKS and RESOURCES:
@Emily_Jeffords on Instagram
Creative Retreats, Willow Gathering