Startist Society

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! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/backinthegroove/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

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! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/takingbreaks/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

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. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/style/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

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. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/peggystips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

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. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/thepigeonletters/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

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. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/sketchbookpractice/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

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! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/publicationtips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Uppercase Magazine is curated, designed, edited and published by the extremely talented Janine Vangool, a one woman publishing magnate who in addition to putting out her beautiful magazine, has created – and continues to create – an amazing series of books called Encyclopedia of Inspiration. She's also been a shop owner, a bookseller, a gallery curator, a stationery designer, a fabric designer, and an educator. We are kind of exhausted just thinking about all of that! Listen to our interview with Janine and hear her winding Startist story and everything that goes into putting together one of the most beautiful magazines you'll find! P.S. She also drops some great hints on how to get your artwork published in magazines. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/uppercase/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduced you to Alli Koch of AlliKDesign. She shared information about her amazing mix of painting murals, designing all kinds of products, publishing books, teaching, mentoring, and more. If you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, be sure to check it out. Today she's back to share more of her juicy knowledge with us and give us her five best tips for getting started with murals. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/muraltips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Have you ever wanted to paint murals? If so - you will love our interview with today's guest! Alli Koch of AlliKDesign is an artist based in Dallas, Texas who has turned her passion for art and design into a full time career. She is the author of eight published books (and counting!) and is on a mission to inspire others to create as well. You can find Alli's artwork on dozens of murals all around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, on merchandise, and in stores all around the country. When she isn't creating her gorgeous artwork, Alli speaks about business and entrepreneurship through panels and on her own podcast, Breakfast with Sis, which she records with her dad. While Alli has worked with some incredible companies around the country, her favorite part of her job is still drawing from her bed while cuddling her adorable cat and drinking sweet tea. Listen in as we learn about her startist story, how she got started in all the incredible things she does, and a deep dive into getting started with painting murals! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/allik/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

In Episode 64, we introduced you to Dave Conrey, an artist and designer who's always exploring creative new ways to make his own art and share what he's learned with other artists and designers. In that episode, we talked about using print on demand on your own website. So if you haven't heard that yet, it's definitely worth the listen. Today we have Dave back because he has done a deep dive into the crazy new world of NFTs over the last year. There's a lot of confusion about what exactly NFTs are, how they work, how you make money with them, which marketplaces to use, how to market your NFTs, their impact on the environment, and so much more. Listen in as we dive into all of these topics with Dave. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/nfts/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

What do you do when you want to create new art and move forward with your creative business, but life gets in the way? How do you get past the roadblocks? In this episode, we share a glimpse of the crazy things going on in our own lives right now that could easily derail us from our creative journeys and the tools we are using to get past the challenges. If you've ever thought, "There's too much going on in my life right now to ever make any progress"... this episode is for you. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/intheway/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduce you to Jhina Alvarado, a painter who juggles a full time art practice, is represented by multiple galleries across the US, teaches calculus part time, and is raising the most adorable twins. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, be sure to check it out. Today, she's back to share with us her five best tips for getting your work in art galleries.  STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE TIPS PDF DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/gallerytips JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Are you a fine artist interested in having your artwork in galleries? Are you confused about where to even start with getting gallery representation? Today's guest shares her journey from developing her painting style over the years to getting her work in multiple galleries across the US. Jhina Alvarado is a prolific self taught artist with gallery representation across the US. Her work has been featured in international and national magazines, blogs, and art technique books. Her primary mediums are oil and encaustic. She works part time as a calculus teacher and paints full time in her home studio in San Francisco, while also raising the two most adorable six year old twins. We learned a ton from this conversation with Jhina and we know you will too. We cover things like how to know when you're ready, the ins and outs of working with a gallerist,  money matters, marketing, shipping, gallery exclusivity, knowing which galleries to avoid, and much more! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/jhinaalvarado JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Back in episode 23, we shared with you seven books that have helped us in our creative businesses. If you haven't listened to that one yet, go back and check it out. This week, we have another six books on mindset that we think will make a difference for you like they did for us. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/mindsetbooks JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduced you to urban sketcher extraordinaire, James Richards. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode, be sure to check it out. Today he's back to share with us his five best tips for getting started with urban sketching. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/urbansketchingtips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

If you've ever had an interest in hitting the road with your artwork and sketching the world, you're going to love this episode. James Richards is one of the best urban sketchers on the planet. He has a background as an urban designer, artist and professor, and spent decades designing urban places and experiences to make cities more walkable, livable and beautiful – the perfect career background for becoming an urban sketcher. A big part of learning his craft involved traveling the world and sketching the world's most interesting places; 45 countries so far. Jim is now a full-time traveling artist and spends most of his time sketching on location and teaching workshops around the world for veteran and aspiring sketchers, university design programs, art groups, and travel companies. He even has online classes on platforms like Craftsy and Skillshare. We know this conversation with Jim is going to leave you inspired to pick up your pen and sketchbook and head outdoors!   STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/jamesrichards JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week we introduced you to artist, educator and toolmaker, Elizabeth Schowachert, and learned all about her e-commerce shop where she sells her art, her handmade brushes and other art supplies. Today, she is back to share with us her best tips for starting and growing your e-commerce shop. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/ecommercetips JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Today we're speaking with Elizabeth Schowachert, a self-taught artist who has built a beautiful creative life combining a successful handmade art supply e-commerce shop, with her own art practice, and teaching both in person workshops and online. Elizabeth has a passion for travel, ink and encaustic painting and creates insanely cool brushes and tools for artists. If you have ever had an interest in creating your own e-commerce business, we know you'll learn some great tips from Elizabeth on resources and steps you can take to just get started. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/elizabethschowachert JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduced you to Mel Armstrong, a surface pattern designer, children's book illustrator and top Skillshare teacher, among many other things. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, be sure to check it out. Today, she's back to share with us her five best tips for getting started with children's book illustrations. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/childrensbooktips/ Sign up for Mel's new Joy of Surface Pattern Design Course and get 25% off with coupon code "STARTIST2022"! The Art & Joy of Surface Pattern Design Course JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Today's guest calls one of Laura's favorite countries on the planet home, New Zealand. Mel Armstrong has had an amazing life journey. She's gone from being a professional ballet dancer to a web designer, award winning illustrator and surface pattern designer. She's illustrated 15 children's books so far, she's a top Skillshare teacher, works with an agent to license her work globally and she's a mom of two amazing kids. In this interview, we discuss her varied career, her new course, her Spoonflower shop and a lot more, but we are especially excited to share with you all about her experience with illustrating children's books! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/melarmstrong/ Sign up for Mel's new Joy of Surface Pattern Design Course and get 25% off with coupon code "STARTIST2022"! The Art & Joy of Surface Pattern Design Course JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

ALast week, we introduced you to artist and designer Brittney Lewis. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode, be sure to check it out. Today she's back to share with us her five best tips for making sales on Society6. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES AND YOUR FREE TIPS PDF DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/society6tips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

As part of our ongoing print on demand series, we've been introducing you to different companies and marketplaces and are supplementing our own experience by interviewing artists with expertise in different areas. In this episode, we're excited to introduce you to Brittney Lewis, an artist, photographer and outdoor enthusiast obsessed with travel, journaling and being in nature. Her colorful, bold work includes surface design, typography, photography, ink and more. We specifically invited her to talk to us today about her experience with Society6, how she developed her style, and how she created a successful Society6 shop during the pandemic opening the door to some really amazing licensing opportunities with Target, Smartwool and more! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/brittneylewis/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Dave Conrey is an artist and designer from Southern California, currently working towards building a client free creative business model. When he isn't working on his own creative projects, he spends his time exploring new resources for creating and selling art and then shares what he learns with his fellow designers and artists. He also makes cool things so others can go make their things and put more cash in their pockets. The number of things Dave does makes our heads spin. He paints, he designs posters, t-shirts, typefaces, magazines, he blogs, makes YouTube videos, now he's even exploring NFTs, and about a zillion other things. There are so many things that we could talk about with Dave that we could record for hours and hours. But today, we want to introduce you to him and focus on print on demand and creating art and design challenges. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/daveconrey/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Back in episode 9, we talked about how we just might be art supply addicts and have WAY too many of them. When you live in small spaces or have limited real estate to park your art supplies, organization becomes really important. Laura's condo is an organized chaos of supplies, while Nikki's has historically just been chaos! In this episode, we share our best ideas for keeping our supplies organized and accessible in small spaces – and Nikki tries to figure out what she'll do in her new bus studio! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/organizingsupplies/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduced you to Danielle Harris, who helps creative entrepreneur focus on marketing strategies and tactics that will give them ethical and sustainable growth in their business. Today, she's back to share with you her five best tips for marketing your business without feeling overwhelmed. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE TIPS DOWNLOAD PDF: startistsociety.com/marketingtips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

The focus of this podcast is helping artists who are getting started with their art businesses. We tend to keep things lighthearted, but with the events that have happened in the last week in Ukraine, we felt drawn to use this platform we have grown to help support those in need. We have decided to donate 100% of the profits on our Startist Society shop, as well as both of our individual POD shops on our own websites through the end of March 2022 to TogetherRising who are supporting organizations on the ground in Ukraine right now that are providing much needed support. We will personally DOUBLE the final amount of profit from our shops when we make our donation to Together Rising. Every little bit helps. JOIN US IN SUPPORTING UKRAINE: startistsociety.com/ukraine JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/  

Danielle Harris helps creatives prioritize marketing so they can share their gifts with the world. Helping creative entrepreneurs focus on the marketing strategies and tactics that will give them ethical and sustainable growth in their business is her goal. In addition to her 10 years of experience, Danielle has a BA in Marketing, a Master of Science in Marketing and an MBA. If she's not qualified to talk to us about marketing, we don't know who is!  STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/danielleharris/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduced you to selling print on demand products on your own website. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, be sure to check it out. Today, we're back to share with you five tips for profitable print on demand sales on your own site.  STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE TIPS DOWNLOAD PDF: startistsociety.com/podtips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Now that we've explored print on demand marketplaces like Society6 and Spoonflower in more detail, we want to dive into how you can add Print on Demand products to your own website through providers like Printful, Printify, Gooten, and more. In episode number 50, introducing you to print on demand, we talked about all of the pros and cons of the different options and having print on demand products through your own website gives you the most control over your pricing, your profitability, and your overall customer experience. Nikki has a ton of experience in this area and Laura has just gotten a few products launched on her own website. So we're really excited to share our experience and advice with you. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/podsetup/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we introduced you to Ashley Beasley of Presutti Design. Ashley is a surface pattern designer who's kicking ass on Spoonflower and Minted, among other things. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, be sure to go back and check it out. Ashley offers a beautiful and meaty guide on her website to everything Spoonflower, but today she's going to share a little taste of her best tips for getting started and making sales on Spoonflower, which we're also providing to you as a downloadable PDF. Read the show notes & download your FREE SPOONFLOWER TIPS PDF: startistsociety.com/spoonflowertips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

A few episodes ago, we introduced you to print on demand marketplaces, specifically Society6 and Spoonflower. Today, we're excited to introduce you to Ashley Beasley of Presutti Design. Ashley is a surface design artist based in Houston, Texas with a focus on repeat patterns, stationery and print on demand. She believes in keeping things fun and authentic and sharing how she juggles working full time, being a new mom and keeping up with her passion for design. Since she started participating in weekly Spoonflower design challenges in 2020, Ashley has already had 19 designs land in the top 50 and made over 600 sales. She's also participated in Minted challenges and has won seven of their challenges. It's proof that you can succeed in a market that we really tend to think is already oversaturated. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/presuttidesign/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we interviewed Jenni Kowal of Anytime Creative and we talked to her specifically about her Kickstarter campaign for her Self Care Adventure Cards. We wanted to add some extra tips on getting started with your own Kickstarter campaign, so we asked Jenni to come back and share her best tips and tricks, which we're also providing to you as a downloadable PDF. Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/kickstartertips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

We have a lot more to share with you about print on demand, but we are taking a short break from this series to talk about another way to get your art and products made without investing a whole lot of your money up front. As artists and designers, many of us are interested in finding ways to get our artwork on products in the world. Rather than waiting for the perfect collaboration with a company, you can create those opportunities yourself with crowdfunding. It can be very confusing where to even start with something like a Kickstarter campaign, so today we're going to talk to someone who has done just that. Designer, photographer and creative guide, Jenni Kowal created a Kickstarter to fund her Self Care Adventure Cards, which she was able to not only fully fund, but get three times more than she was asking for! We're really excited to learn more about that process, her Startist journey and the advice that she can give to others who are just getting started. Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/jennikowal JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Last week, we shared all about getting started with print on demand marketplaces and how you can create either a Society6 or Spoonflower Shop. This week we share 10 of our best tips for increasing your POD marketplace sales. Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/podsalestips/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

For the first episode of our second year, we're taking you back to where we left off with print on demand. In Episode 50, we introduced you to the different types of print on demand services and talked about the pros and cons of each. This week, we're going to go into more detail about print on demand marketplaces... specifically Society6 and Spoonflower. Marketplaces are great when you don't know where to start and you just want to get your art out in the world without having to manage the tech side on your own website. These platforms handle the customer service, the order fulfillment and the shipping. All you have to do is upload your art and add tags and descriptions. Oh, yeah, and tell everyone that you actually have a shop! Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/podmarketplaces/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week marks one full year of Startist Society podcasting for Laura and Nikki! They share how they plan to celebrate - Nikki with bourbon, naturally. In this episode they look back over their first year of podcasting and talk about what they've learned and what challenges they've experienced. They reminisce about some of their favorite episodes and share some plans for the upcoming year. TOPICS DISCUSSED: What Laura and Nikki have learned from one year of podcasting Clips from some of their favorite podcast interviews Their biggest challenges What they appreciate in each other... …and tease each other about their quirks! And finally, what to expect from Startist Society in the upcoming year Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/celebrate/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week Laura and Nikki take a break from the usual interviews and educational topics and get more personal with a studio and life update. They share the latest projects they are working on, things they've accomplished both individually and as a team, some of the challenges they've faced over the last year, and they give some hints about what's coming up in the next year and beyond. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Things we committed to on the podcast and how we did with them The new Instagram feature we are super excited about (and you should be too!) Podcast news - we've recorded 51 episodes! Laura and Nikki's business and personal accomplishments from the past year Some of the challenges we've been dealing with lately A few things we've learned about ourselves  Nikki shares a HUGE life change she's in the process of making And finally, we hint at what we have planned for YOU in the coming year! Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/updates/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

We've been teasing everybody about this topic for months and months, but today we're finally going to begin our print on demand series! There's so much to cover that we're going to break it up into several episodes. There are two options for printing: traditional analog-type printers and digital printing. With traditional printers you typically have to do large quantities of each item and there's usually a hefty setup fee. In this digital age, it's become a lot easier to simply print direct to garments or make giclée or inkjet art prints. So companies have started offering these services, combined with shipping the products either to you or directly to the customer. They can basically do one or many products at a time with no crazy setup fees and no boxes of unsold inventory sitting in your living room! Today we dig into the different types of print on demand services available and why artists might want to consider them. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Traditional vs digital printing The definition of print on demand Different types of print on demand services available Specific online printers we have experience with Public marketplaces vs printers that integrate with your website The pros and cons of each type Nikki's licensing deal with a new POD curated art marketplace How to get started with POD and choosing the right option for your brand Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/printondemand/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This episode is perfect for any of our listeners who are interested in surface pattern design. Today we're speaking with Elizabeth Silver, a professional surface pattern designer and a licensed artist for the stationery, gift and textile markets. With 18 years in the industry and hundreds of designs in her portfolio, she also teaches beginner surface pattern designers how to move past overwhelm and obstacles to create a profitable creative business. She's passionate about keep it real business advice, and moving forward even in a messy way. She's also passionate about ice cream. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Elizabeth's Startist story and favorite ice cream flavors Her path to discovering surface pattern design and becoming a freelancer Balancing freelance work and growing a licensing portfolio The process of working on clients briefs How to know when you're ready to put your work out there. Hint: don't overthink, just do it! What you should include in your first art portfolio Transitioning from freelance work to teaching Elizabeth's Start Your Surface Pattern Design Business course and what's included (contracts, websites, portfolios, pricing and more!) How to decide which product categories and markets you want to work in and Elizabeth's helpful "Design Niche" quiz What we can do to get past fear and just get started Elizabeth's personal design challenge (prompted by our interview with Lisa Glanz!) and how to get past a creative funk  How to identify industry trends Elizabeth's amazing free resources on her website and YouTube channel (interviews, tutorials, trend reports, business advice and more!) Elizabeth's words of advice to those just getting started Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/elizabethsilver JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

In the last few episodes, Nikki and Laura have been talking about selling for the holidays and one thing that can really make or break your customers' experience of your products is how you ship them. And when we say shipping, we mean a lot more than just the service and logistics you use to ship. We're talking about the way your products are presented in the package, as well as the protection and container you use for the package to ensure that your products arrive safely. You want them to be presented beautifully, but you also need to do this within your own budget. There are so many things to consider, so we break them down for you in this episode and give you some helpful tips we've learned along the way. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Ideas and products for packaging your art and presenting a great unboxing experience How to protect your products and fine art during packing and shipping Matching packaging to brand values Setting up shipping on your online shop Calculating packaging / shipping costs Ways to reduce shipping costs Using a mail service/plugin for your website Communicating your shipping and returns policies on your website Offering free shipping above a certain dollar amount Support/returns/replacing items that were lost or damaged Automated or personal emails to connect with your customer Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/shipping JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week Laura and Nikki interview Luan Jardine, a feminist mental health advocate and ambitiously creative Facebook and Instagram marketing consultant that Nikki met in Quinn Tempest's Create Your Purpose Collective. When we decided to dive deeper into Facebook and Instagram advertising we immediately thought of Luan. We often think the goal of advertising is to sell all the things, but it's also really important to make sure you're reaching the right audience in a way that aligns with your values and brand. Luan has a holistic approach that not only looks at your bottom-line numbers, but focuses on amplifying meaningful messages of creative business owners who are striving to make others' lives better. We know that art does that beautifully and our Startists are the perfect people to learn what she has to share. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Luan shares her Startist story, reminding us just how old we really are! How to get started with FB and IG advertising in a simple, not-so-scary way The definitions of cold, warm and hot audiences and how to market to each What types of ads might work for different goals Defining your audience and deciding how much to spend and for what time period What a Facebook Pixel is Suggestions on testing audiences and modifying your campaign Setting up the FB Pixel and defining look-alike audiences  Interpreting the results of your ad campaigns Average cost per click rates for different types of conversions (and what the heck "conversions" means!) The types of ads Luan recommends for each platform within a campaign And finally, what services Luan offers, how to get her freebies and a bit of general advice about getting started Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/luanjardine JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Does it seem like the holidays come sooner and sooner every year and with it the pressure to get your holiday marketing plan in order? In this episode, Laura and Nikki chat about social media marketing, email campaigns and sales, breaking it down so it's not so intimidating and feels more doable. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Social Media The two main categories of social media and which ones you should choose Types of posts to consider How often to post Tools that can help you create video and plan / schedule your posts Ways to expand your social media reach Email Marketing What to say in emails to engage your audience Selling without being overly salesy Providing free value Thoughts about coupons and sales Importance of consistency Announcing product launches Read the transcript in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/holidaymarketing JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week Nikki interviews Laura about her experience with designing, making and selling greeting cards. Laura has been making handmade greeting cards for over 15 years and has professionally designed over 100  greeting cards for manufacturers and publishers in the craft industry. She believes there's something really special about receiving something handmade or custom printed in the mail, especially in the digital age that we're in. She shares some great tips and resources to help you get started if you want to make and sell greeting cards yourself this holiday season. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Laura shares how she got started making handmade greeting cards Her transition from hobbyist to professional greeting card designer for craft manufacturers and publications How she began selling her own card designs Types of greeting cards you can make and what sells well for the holidays - you might be surprised! What makes a greeting card design stand out Some of Laura's favorite card designers Recommended supplies for hand making and printing cards Standard greeting card sizes and shapes Packing and shipping your cards The quickest way to produce handmade cards Using purchased images vs illustrating your own  Turning finished original artwork into printed cards Using a print on demand service Pricing your cards Licensing your card designs to other companies Laura's plans for her own card designs Read the transcript and grab Laura's free greeting card resource download in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/greetingcards JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week, we're continuing our series about selling art for the holidays. Nikki shared last week that calendars have been her best-selling item ever. This week we're taking a deep dive into creating and selling calendars, with Laura interviewing Nikki about her experience. TOPICS DISCUSSED: How Nikki got started with calendars The timeline and process for designing calendars Different types of calendars you can create  Designing your own vs using templates / online tools Nikki's fav print on demand company for calendars Pricing - Nikki shares real numbers! How many to order and if you should offer pre-sales Shipping, marketing, and selling your calendars online and off What to do with your extra stock Nikki's 2022 calendar Read the transcript and grab Nikki's free calendar resource download in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/calendars JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week, Laura and Nikki begin the first of a series about selling for the holidays. We have episodes coming up about calendars, greeting cards, holiday marketing, packing and shipping your products and even a deep dive into print on demand! Today we're starting off with a  discussion on products that are proven sellers for artists and designers during the holidays. If you don't know where to start... these ideas will help lay the foundation. Take a listen and let us know in the Facebook group which ideas resonated with you the most and if you'll be creating any artwork or products to sell during the holiday season this year! Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/holidaysales JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week Laura and Nikki chat with one of Laura's favorite artists, Lisa Glanz. Lisa is a full-time illustrator with a passion for helping others achieve their creative goals. She loves producing professional resources for creatives, her textures and Procreate brushes are by far some of Laura's absolute faves. Mostly self-taught, Lisa has created a thriving art business and is a rock star on sites like Design Cuts and Creative Market. She thrives on sharing knowledge she's gained, both as a business owner and an artist, with others through online courses and tutorials. And we're super excited to share her story with you! TOPICS DISCUSSED: Lisa's journey from graphic designer to illustrator and teacher Facing the fear and taking the leap from working for an agency to full-time freelancer How she started making and selling her own digital art and assets Developing her style and skills and the moment when everything clicked Discovering the true driving force behind what she does Expanding from large online marketplaces to selling through her own website Filming tutorials and classes and getting past the fear of being on camera Getting started with the Honest Designers Podcast Taking small steps outside your comfort zone Her newly released Easy-peasy Animal Drawing Kit Laura and Lisa geek out on drawing with Procreate Lisa shares a breakdown of her income and compares selling digital products to licensing your art Tips on how to get found on marketplaces What it's like to work with Design Cuts Dealing with having your work stolen Building community and the importance of knowing your end customer Lisa's advice for artists who are just getting started Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/lisaglanz JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week Laura and Nikki talk about how important it is to take the time to celebrate your wins – big or small. With all the comparison traps we find ourselves caught in, we tend to rush past our successes and jump right to the next hurdle we want to conquer and don't congratulate ourselves for what we've accomplished. In this episode, we talk about the importance of celebrating, the mindset you need to create in order to do so and share some of our recent wins and what we did to celebrate.   Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/wins JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

This week we interview Crystal Marie, an artist and author with a passion for teaching others how to find and discover their own unique voice. Crystal has an established career as a professional artist with gallery representation, a published book on the art of collage, and she's currently writing a book about the intuitive voice. She teaches online workshops and runs a community for creatives called Canary Rising. You'll want to listen closely as Crystal share so many great insights about listening to your intuitive voice and pushing through fear to find the gold. I know you're going to love Crystal as much as we do. TOPICS DISCUSSED Crystal's Startist story beginning her art career in her 30s after a nervous breakdown How a co-worker transformed her life with one simple action How Crystal rediscovered her inner artist and gave herself permission to play How she started selling her art and connecting with others through eBay and blogging Her shift from whimsical collages to abstract collage Crystal's exposure to art retreats and how she began teaching at them How Crystal got an offer from a publisher attending an art retreat and how long it took her to submit a book proposal Crystal's process of writing and photographing her first book, The Art of Expressive Collage How Crystal got gallery representation How to move past fear and go after what you want How Crystal ended up giving Nikki her first encaustic teaching gig in Paducah Living as an artist with chronic illness and autism and how they can affect your ability to teach/work Creating her community, Canary Rising, on Facebook (shifting from Patreon) How Canary Rising grew during Covid when Crystal moved to teaching online, starting with free workshops in her Facebook group Her new website canaryrising.com and the shift to her own teaching platform And finally, Crystal's best advice for artists getting started and following their intuition Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/crystalmarie JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

Nikki and Laura share some fears they both have in relation to their creative careers… and not just Nikki's fear of running out of bourbon! Listen to 6 fears that can stop you in your tracks and some tips for getting past them. Do you relate to any of these?  Share your experience with us in the Startist Society Facebook group! TOPICS DISCUSSED What if I'm not good enough? What if I have nothing original to say? I'm afraid someone will steal my work. I'm afraid to put myself out there and really be seen. Fear of success. Fear of the unknown. Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/fear JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/

In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki interview artist, illustrator, musician, self-proclaimed mad scientist and D&D geek, Tyler Thrasher. Tyler has an undying love for nature and its respective curiosities, and there are few things Tyler's brain isn't obsessing over. Between his pursuits to crystallize the world, opalize everything and hunt down some of the most unique plants, his passion to combine art and science every step of the way is his fire and fuel. He applies his brand of hopeful, angry optimism to everything he does. As you'll hear during this interview, Tyler has the ability to take his curiosities and quickly turn them into amazing products... from crystalized cicadas to plant-growing journals, custom art t-shirts and even plushies! He sees what's missing in the marketplace, courageously takes action, and puts his work out in the world for all of us to enjoy. We know you'll love our conversation with him and be inspired to see where your own curiosities will lead you! TOPICS DISCUSSED Tyler's Startist story  How he began combining his interest in art and science and developed his unique crystallized insects What happened to Tyler's Instagram after requesting an art trade with an illustrator he loves Being spontaneous vs. planning things out Using Kickstarter and pre-sales to fund products Working with DFTBA for fulfillment, shipping and creating new products Making, selling and shipping t-shirts to raise money for The Bail Project and other black causes What Tyler's online community did when his house burned down How people react on social media when you focus on one thing vs following many different passions The process of designing his cicada plushie and the ridiculous number he sold in one week! Asking for what you want to grow your career Getting real about his anxiety and insecurity and how he doesn't let that stop him from following through with his ideas… which led to his existential discussion with his cicada! Tyler shares a few product ideas he's working on, including a whole bunch of plushies, his plans for a bigger lab and conservatory in partnership with a nanotech scientist in Tulsa. And caves, Tyler loves caves! Tyler shares his obsession with sour candy and Nikki gives him a brilliant idea for a new product! And finally, Tyler shares his best advice for people who are just getting started. Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/tylerthrasher JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/ FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/ LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/