Creative Thursday with Marisa

What if the reason you're not moving forward isn't about motivation? What if clarity is simply the domino that needs to fall first - and nobody helped you find it? In this episode, I'm sharing a realization that's been building for years but finally got crystal clear this week - through three coaching calls, a hot seat, and a sentence I kept hearing from every Artist I spoke with. This one is personal, a little vulnerable, and exactly what I needed to say out loud. In this episode, you'll discover: The one sentence every Artist I've coached lately has said - and what it's really telling us Why knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different problems - and what bridges the gap The three reasons Artists stay stuck: the shiny squirrel, perfectionism disguised as preparation, and doing it alone Why I've shifted from "I help Artists make money" to something more honest - and more useful Why clarity is the domino that knocks over all the other dominoes The strawberry first principle - and why I reversed the productivity advice everyone gives What it really means to stop spinning - and why you don't have to figure it out alone An invitation: come do this together Nothing's gone wrong. You are exactly where you're meant to be. Ready to stop spinning and start deciding - together? The Six Month Studio Plan - a live 5-day bootcamp - starts May 17. Register at sixmonthstudioplan.com You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday at: creativethursday.com Instagram: @creativethursday

What if hearing real Artist stories could be the thing that helps you finally believe… "This is possible for me too." In today's Artist Success Stories episode, you'll meet Mo, Dena, and Emily—three Artists who are building their art businesses in the real world (with real life happening), and finding their way forward with more clarity, consistency, and confidence. This episode is for you if you've been feeling stuck in the messy middle… craving momentum… and wondering what it actually looks like when an Artist decides to take their work (and their selling) seriously—without burning out or becoming someone they're not. In this episode, you'll discover: What shifted for Mo, Dena, and Emily when they stopped "winging it" and started following a plan The mindset hurdles that come up when you start putting your work out there (and how they moved through them) What consistency really looks like when your schedule is full, and your confidence isn't perfect How to build momentum even if you're starting small Why your story and your voice matter just as much as your strategy The powerful role of support, structure, and community when you're growing as an Artist I also want you to listen for the little moments—when an Artist realizes they're not "behind"… they're just ready for a clearer path. Because sometimes the most helpful thing isn't one more tip. Sometimes it's hearing someone else say the exact thing you've been thinking… and watching what happens when they keep going anyway. Ready to create your own Artist selling plan? Artful Selling is open, and I'd love to welcome you in. Join Artful Selling here: https://artfulselling.com/ You can find all things Miranda (Mo) Miller @stelladorriestudio Dena Carter @denacarterart Emily Posey @made_by_emilyposey You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday at: creativethursday.com Instagram: @creativethursday

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 actually a strength, not a limitation The simple tracking system that helped one artist realize she'd accomplished WAY more than she thought Each of these artists started exactly where you might be now - questioning if they were "good enough," wondering if this could really work, and feeling overwhelmed by all the options. But they found their rhythm through consistency, community, and believing that small steps add up. The common threads? They all found safe, creative communities, committed to small daily actions, and learned that marketing is really just sharing the heart behind their work. Ready to write your own success story? The doors to Artful Selling close June 24th. This intimate program combines practical business skills with AI tools and personalized coaching to help you build a sustainable art business around the work you love most. Join us at artfulselling.com - because every success story starts with someone deciding to begin. You can find all things Rochelle Colgan @rochellecolganfineart on instagram Jessica Fritz @jessicafritzart on instagram Linda Glass @jerabyarts on instagram You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram @creativethursday

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 that you NEED to start planning How planning has become part of my creative practice and mental health routine The reframe that changed everything: planning as a container for freedom, not a restriction Practical tips for creatives who struggle with structure, including working with your natural energy rhythms The truth is, when you have a framework to work within, you actually free up mental energy to focus on what matters most. Planning brings presence, peace, and perceptivity to your creative practice. As I share in this episode, planning has literally become my best friend during one of the most challenging seasons of my life. It's not about perfection - it's about creating a practice that brings you back to yourself and helps you make progress on what truly matters. If this episode inspires you, and you're ready to discover how planning can actually amplify your creativity while supporting your mental wellness, join me for the summertime session of the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge. This is the perfect time to check in on what you set in motion at the beginning of the year, celebrate your progress, and create a sustainable plan for the second half of 2025. We'll go from big picture vision all the way down to your daily practices. Join us starting June 16th at profitableartistchallenge.com - because the most successful artists aren't the ones who wait for inspiration to strike. They're the ones who create the conditions for creativity to flourish. You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram @creativethursday

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 🎨 Transform Your Art Business: Craft your Art Sales + Marketing Plan for 2025 and beyond. Make more art, sell more art, and turn your dreams into reality. 💡 Get Clarity and Achieve Your Dreams: This time, it's about follow-through! Having a Sales and Marketing Plan is the most effective way to confidently and consistently sell to your Ideal Collectors online. Let's build a thriving business that supports a life you love. 📆 Your 12-Month Product Launch Plan: Know what you're creating, when you're launching it, and how to price it for PROFIT. 📱 Create Your Social Media Plan: Unlock the secrets to impactful social media strategies. 📧 Create Your Email Marketing Plan: Learn the art of email marketing for successful art promotion. 🌟 Ready to Make Selling Your Art Easy? We can't wait to welcome you! Join us https://artfulselling.com/ You can find all things Molly Ovenden @mollyovendencreativity on instagram Anita Driessen @neetydee on instagram Cindy Shuele @watercolourbycindy on instagram Jen Duregger @jensheartstudio on instagram You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday

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 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 find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday

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 new revenue streams into your Creative business. It's going to be a fantastic week! See you there! If you're listening after the event happened, and are interested in getting access to the replays please reach out to us at support@creativethursday.com Click here to join the Shiny Squirrel Summit Click here to download the 20 Ways + Product Ideas to Make Income with Your Art Listen to the Shiny Squirrel Podcast episode #271 Say hello and follow all the speakers on their Instagram below Joy Cho @ohjoy Bonny Snowdon @bonnysnowdonacademy Josie Lewis @josielewisart Heidi Easley @texasartandsoul_ Kristine Richer @kristinerosephotography Dylan Mierzwinski @bydylanm Mim Jenkinson @mimjenkinson Karen Abend @karenabend Michelle Lloyd @unitedartspace Alex Cole @alexcolestudio Alyssa Van Guilder @apothecaflowers You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday

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 starting, building, and growing my own business that was the ONLY way to gain this insight. And now I get to share this wisdom with you, while also applying it to my vision for the next 20 years. So, let's go! Together In this episode I share 20 plus lessons I learned in 20 years of building Creative Thursday, covering a variety of topics from the power of intention keys to Creative Business success how to navigate your business boundaries why knowing and tracking your numbers is essential what I wish I had known sooner Gift for you! Download the 20 ways to make income as a Visual Artist Click here to Download You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday

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

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 very popular topic: Social Media, specifically how I plan my Social Media from content creation to posting. In this episode, I share with you: the BIG mistake I see many Artists making when it comes to how and when they post to their Social Media what you must have clarity on FIRST to effectively post to your Social Media why it's important to understand your relationship with selling and being sold to how I like to plan my Social Media shares my best practices for planning and posting your Social Media content See you January 15 for an inspiring + fun 2024 Planning session! Join the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge + Coaching Week we start Monday, January 15 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

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

What do you do when you feel resistance to the very thing you say you want, like growing your Art business. Specifically, what keeps you from putting your work out in the world for sale? Is it: that it's hard for you to part with your originals? you're afraid of the response how it will be received? you're concerned it might not sell? And what does it mean if your work doesn't sell? Welcome to another session of Creative Business Coaching over coffee where Artist Una Marz courageously, and vulnerably answers the questions above when she asked for coaching help to understand her fears around releasing her original works. Una and I talk through her fears after I share several announcements from Sell A Piece of Art Challenge starting this Monday! to Opening registration to my first in-person painting workshop in Los Angeles this November To the story of how the opportunity to design my first box of cards for Papyrus came to be. Join us for Sell A Piece of Art this Week link-> https://sellmyartthisweek.com/ Join me, with my dear friend and award-winning floral designer Alyssa Van Guilder of Apotheca Flowers for our in-person floral design + painting event and creative business brunch. Save your spot for 1, 2, or 3 days link-> https://floraldesign.shinepages.com/ You can find all things Una Marz at @una.marz You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram and facebook @creativethursday