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Chapter one of the physical storefront era: completed
This October, I paid off my physical storefront in Holly MI. I officially own the building! I’ve been selling woven jacquard tapestries, art prints, woven tote bags, pillows and more on a seasonal basis there. My revenue has skyrocketed and my vision for my career has expanded tenfold. Let’s talk about the last 3 years and my journey establishing myself in this chapter of the art business. Adding an art business to my art business You could say I stumbled upon the opportunity to buy another existing art business by being in the right place at the right time, but anyone who has stumbled upon an opportunity that they took…
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What does it mean to be the artsy friend?
The artsy friend: you might’ve seen one, you might be one. They’ve got that quirky but irresistible charm, that Pisces/Scorpio energy (even if that’s not their sign), and usually a lot of incredible ideas. The artsy friend is the creative type. You’ve got big dreams, hobbies galore and an attitude that miiiiight just tie it all together into something truly world-bending. People say you’re a little strange, but you feel like being an oddity in today’s world is a superpower. You see things from a perspective most don’t, which gives you ideas most don’t have. And you want to use that power to make life more beautiful, inspiring, and open…
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My art studio photoshoot experience
An art studio photoshoot was always on my bucketlist. I admired those moody and serious shots I saw plastered on Tumblr and in magazines of an artist with their work spread around them. All the professional photos I’ve seen featuring great creatives of the past looked insane: giant messy workdesks, serious faces looking directly into the camera, windows letting in natural light, perfectly angled easels and varying degrees of works in progress. And always – an absolutely iconic artist in their element. I knew I would have my own version someday. Finally, I can say that I do. ART STUDIOS OF THE PAST I’ve had “art studios” in the passenger…
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The link between tapestries and painting
In 2023 I added tapestries to A Cup of Cloudy’s arsenal of artwork. Unlike many of the other decor items I sell, tapestries demanded a lot more hands-on work outside of the usual painting, surface design, and click “order.” Suddenly I was sewing, ironing, and working with woven fabric – a totally new medium to me. Of course I was still painting and designing for these. But I was also involved in the weaving, sewing, stuffing, and attempting to translate my illustrations onto a completely different surface. I felt strange going from painter-illustrator to tapestry maker. I love painting, drawing, and digital art. But when I started sewing I fell…
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Wall calendars and your family culture
Little practices have always set the foundation for our family culture: washing your hands and feet when you come inside for dinner, adhering to the chore chart stuck to the fridge, and paying attention to the wall calendar. Family culture is often happening routinely and without thought, but it glues everyone together in a similar mindset, shared habits, and common priorities. When my mom said, “We don’t do that,” it meant it was against this culture. Relationships thrive when you remember In our house the wall calendar hung in the kitchen. Everyone’s birthday was on it, and how old they were turning, written in red. Doctors appointments, get-togethers, babysitting schedules…
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Three areas every working artist must focus on – in order
You’re done being a hobby artist. If you decided today to officially put your ALL into your career as an artist, what would that look like? There are three phases every working artist masters. You’ll focus on these three things (in order): NOT THE ONLY, BUT THE BEST WAY Before we get into details about the phases, I want to mention that I used to have a different take on the process of becoming an artist. In this article, First four steps to take to become an artist, I talk about how the first things you should do are make it known, make a sale, sell at an art show,…
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Should you DIY, outsource, or invest in education?
Artists are creative entrepreneurs. In the beginning that can mean juggling all parts of your business solo. And there are A LOT of moving parts. Handling all them all with grace is ideal. There are different ways to handle each piece of your art business. Sometimes it’s best to learn how to do a task all by yourself. That’s DIY. And sometimes it’s best to pay someone else to do it for you, also known as outsourcing. Other situations call for a mix of the two: paying someone to teach you how to do it faster. Learning art business is split into these three paths. Let’s talk about it. Best…
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Start selling art online without feeling gross
Often I hear from artists that they don’t want to be pushy, they don’t want to bother people and they don’t want to sell. Even though they seriously would love to make a living from selling art. So let’s talk about how to start selling art without feeling bad about it. REMEMBER THE VALUE YOU PROVIDE It’s a fair trade. When you focus only on what they’re giving up (money) and not on what you’re giving up (valuable art) then it’ll feel bad. Remember it’s an even exchange. If the other person didn’t think it was an even exchange, they wouldn’t buy it. That’s why it’s so important to take…
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Fears you have of being a full-time artist (that aren’t true)
Since becoming a full-time artist in 2021, I hear a lot of other artists project their fears about it onto me. Many of these creatives also want to go full-time, but they’re simply afraid that something bad might happen if they do. Today I’m going to dispel a few of these fears so you can move forward with your art journey and know that it’s possible for you, too. “I won’t be able to keep up with demand” This fear is the equivalent to a physical trainer hearing someone say, “I just don’t want to get too bulky in my shoulders.” It assumes that it will be so quick and…
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Big 5 lessons from traveling full-time as a solopreneur
Running an art business while traveling full time is an absolute trip – figuratively and actually. I was on the road for over two years while operating A Cup of Cloudy as a solo entrepreneur, and I learned a few lessons with my traveling business that will be helpful for all artists. When I quit my day job, I focused on increasing revenue AND cutting expenses drastically. For us that meant selling all our belongings, leaving our rental house, and moving into a tiny home. My husband and our two dogs lived in a travel trailer and then transitioned into hotel-hopping in the second year. We saw so much of…
