Great podcast! Totally speaks to where my mind is right now. I feel like I’ve kinda hit a good point in where I want to be artistically. I think sometimes we put validation as an artist on the “demand” for our work and the amount of money we can bring in from it. Being patient with the journey it takes to be full time can be hard. And you guys being up front about the other tasks and stresses helps us see what we would be trading if we transitioned. The example of the Home Depot guy was great. Basically, if you are happy where you are, stop worrying about the amount of work you are getting and focus on the art you want to make, and then make incredible work!

I don’t think I’ll ever be full time. But if I had to choose the amount and type of work that I would do, it’s almost what I have now. I have a store that wants new seasonal notecards. Which is what I love to paint. And my friend needs spot food illustrations for her cooking school for kids. There are more projects I want to do within those clients, but I’m good for now.

I would love to have an open house and workshop this November. I want to teach a class and then have my work on display for people to purchase. So.... @Lee-White share all the frame knowledge you got! I really don’t want to go to micheals or ikea for adorable frames!

And the business classes from lee are amazing! Make sure you guys check those out! I feel everyone who is trying to make this work and especially transition to full time needs to listen to those!

@Chip-Valecek right! I hate the routine come April. But now I’m so excited to have a plan and structure again. I’m even excited for carpool 5 minute sketches. I don’t know how long that will last.

I love this so much! The artwork is wonderful and this story is just a pure piece of you and your mom! Amazing! Can't want to see layout #2 painted. Love the use of depth of field. You really move through the image.

Okay, I really really loved this article and wanted to share it with all my art friends. I read it to my girls last night. I have been struggling lately with a few things. While the summer was amazing with my kids, I really missed the regular time devoted to creating. I managed to squeeze a little time in, but more often than not I just didn't make it a priority. I will make sure I do something for at least 10 minutes a day next summer.

The article spoke to how important hobbies are to our mental and emotional wellness. It was directed at teenagers and explaining the difference between TV and something that required you to think. How important and wonderful it is to lose track of time because you are enjoying something. It just really spoke to the "why" I had such a void in my life lately. And I'm not saying that spending time with my kids and husband this summer was bad. It was wonderful. But it was super stressful and fast paced. Having something you can focus your mind on outside of our daily challenges only makes the rest of your life better. You are functioning at a higher level. You can release stress that comes from the other area of life.

Here's a silly thing that happened on the drive home from Florida last week. For the first three hours of the trip no one asked for a movie or to play their iPads. Only a few "turn it ups" were mumbled from the teenager in the back when a good song came on. They all had gotten wikki six (wax coated bendy yarn things) and created stuff with them. They got them at the restaurant the night before. And my 13 year old got little magnetic beads at the store with her spending money. You can make all kinds of shapes, or just line them up and they stick together. Our brains crave to create.

So- just wanted to share with all you creatives. I plan on putting aside the money of this business, put away the marketing and the followers and all the things that muddy the joy of creating. at least for a little while and just paint! no matter where each of us are on this art journey, GOOD JOB! This hobby of ours is doing more for each of us than we realized!

(don't be scared that the article is from a church magazine, I don't remember any religious stuff being mentioned)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/article/get-hobby-happy?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

@BichonBistro thanks so much!!!

@Nyrryl-Cadiz thanks! I’ll edit next week or so and it will be on society6 for bags and such, then spoonflower for wallpaper and fabric. I’m dying to get it edited, but I’m out of town.

Awe! Thanks @NessIllustration and @Perrij

I print the notecards and sell them in the shop. I would like to sell the originals too. I just need to work out the framing. Know any good wholesale frame places?

@kadelex thanks! Those are my two favorites as well. The bottom right I won’t use. I don’t like it. But I liked the wheat I made on it. So it wasn’t a total loss.

Just thought I would share my latest collection. This will be turned into notecards for the little shop that carries my work. And hey, they only have two left in stock! I need to contact them to refill their box.

This will also be part of a fabric collection. Spoonflower launched a new bedding product. So, one of these images will be selected for the contest. I think it’s called “neutral bedding.” And because I want to treat myself, it’s going to be my new bedding. At least part of will be my sheets and throw pillows.

Then society 6 products will carry the prints as well. Loving the wheat for a tumbler and the cotton field for a tote

I painted solid background in the gray, aqua, and blush. I’ll add some to the paintings in photoshop. Not sure which ones I’ll put with the floral elements. I wanted to paint the backgrounds on with the florals, but it is so much easier to change things when a blank background.

And hey, did y’all know you could use white to make a great flesh tent in watercolors? Who knew. I have not used the white before. All this time wasted!

Alter egos! I love it. Should we all be worried that @Lee-White has so many. I love the fact that creatives don’t have to get burnt out, they just change it up. In my hobby phase, tiny babies sleepless nights, I went from a million different craft hobbies. Scrapbooking, hairbows, painting a mural in every freaking room of my house, jewelry. But the need to create was always there. Now I’ve circled back around to watercolors and have a few goals sprinkled in there. I may design some shirts for a buddy for extreme sports. I’ll need a different name for that! My flip flops aren’t going to fit into his brand.

I also love the point that you can create whatever and however you please, but be aware of the end result you are wanting. If you are trying to get into a certain market you may need to pay attention.

I would say, do the new styles go in your social media? Does that mess up your “brand.” But by what you guys do, I’m going to say no. You guys clearly put all your styles on Instagram. And I love it. So there ya go!

Thanks again for being awesome.