Do It For the Process from Emily Jeffords

The Collective is OPEN!  The Collective is a membership designed to help Creatives and Artists grow and find more success in their business.  You create amazing work, now it's time to let that work GROW and make a beautiful impact in the world!   Learn more here   In this episode I get to talk with someone who is VERY important to me; my husband Daniel Jeffords!   Dan and I met in art school and he is one of the most creative and inventive people I know.  He currently runs a software company called Earnnest that is seriously changing the way money moves in real estate.  The man is SO smart, kind, funny, and a total GEM.  He's been with me from the start of my career and is a huge voice in my head as I grow and evolve my business.  He is also generous with his thoughts and I think you're going to leave our time together feeling warm and inspired.     Check out Daniel's company, Earnnest. and his Instagram here (will you see some artwork on there...?) ;)    xox, Emily Jeffords emilyjeffordslearn.com/collective

What does creativity look like during covid-19? ⁣Is it quiet? ⁣Is it lonely? ⁣Is it an escape? ⁣Is it a home within a home?Is it a way to scream without sound? ⁣Is it a balm? ⁣Is it a memory of the past? ⁣Is it hope? ⁣   The role of an artist is to feel and translate the things we are seeing, feeling, and receiving into something we can all see and feel and receive. But, creating during hardship can be hard. Or easy. Or it might make you feel guilty. Or it might bring you peace. Whatever you’re feeling when you step into your home art studio is valid and the world WILL return to normal again soonBecause this time can be especially lonely for many of us, I thought I would read some of the words of our fellow artists and creatives. I hope they bring you some comfort and maybe you feel less alone as we work through this time together.   If you're looking for a little added inspiration and clarity during this time, the Artist's Success Guide is FOR YOU.  A transparent look at growth as a creative entrepreneur, honest conversations about how it feels to create the business out of nothing, steps to take, things to focus on, reading lists, and honest advice from someone who's been there.   Get the Guide HERE. 

A few tips for setting up a functional at-home studio: First and foremost, make sure the supplies you are using are SAFE.  Do not use toxic materials in your home.   I've created a free guide to help with that.  Get the Studio Setup Guide.   Once you're ready to set up your studio space, keep these tips in mind: Make your home studio an easily accessible space but not in a space that will impede normal life.  I bought a little table on Amazon and set it up in the corner of my living room. Have a variety of art supplies on hand.  Feeling free and explorative is always important, but especially right now!  Gather all the mediums you think you might want and bring them into your home studio space.   Tupperware bins.  Keep all the paints and supplies out of reach and contained (especially if you have little ones!)  Jars with lids for all the liquids and to store brushes.  Spaghetti sauce jars, fancy mason jars...  Dedicated cabinets and drawers. You might need to change what or how you create to make working-from-home a viable option -- especially if you're used to working in a separate studio space.   Work smaller if needed Get a table easel if you prefer to work vertically or use two nails in a wall and hang your canvas directly on the wall  Use your walls as drying space or storage (plus, you get a house full of art! Woohoo!)   Ok, so we have the materials gathered and stored, the space set up, but how do you get anything done at home. Communicate with your people.  Let your roommates, kids, partner, friends... everyone around you know about your planned creative sessions.  Block out 60 or 90 minutes, schedule a painting-afternoon, etc.  Just be clear and let them know what to expect so you can all work in harmony together. Tell little kids that this studio space is only for mama (yes, even 2-year olds).  Share your longer-term vision, aspirations, and plans with your partner so they can support you in them.  Ok, so your space is set up, functional, safe, and everyone is letting you create, but it feels lonely...  I get it.  Creativity is usually a lone-act, but it shouldn't feel isolating.  When that feeling seeps in, I recommend finding ways to bring some warmth into your space.   Engage with the creative community and help this space feel alive and communal Host an Instagram Live while in your creative space Hop on zoom with a few artist friends and just create alongside each other.   Organize an online craft or bad-art night   Most of all, be gentle with yourself.  If you're feeling inspired in this space, then AWESOME!  If not, then that's fine.  But don't allow the inaccessibility of your creative space be to the reason you don't create.  Make your space as welcoming and accessible as possible and I can bet that this self-isolating season will fly by just a bit faster.     And remember to get the Studio Setup Guide.   PS. I'll be hosting a live ink making workshop with my friend Tanya Val on Tuesday (April 14th) at 3:00 pm eastern time.  Join us on Instagram!  @Emily_Jeffords

As concerns about the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 increase, I wanted to personally reach out to you and offer some honest thoughts.      I understand how scary and uncertain this time can feel, and the news is so loud and deeply unhopeful.     However, though the whole world feels a little (a lot) crazy, I hope that you are able to transform this storm into a season of GROWTH, TRANSFORMATION, and (dare I say) EXPANSION!     I know this pandemic is causing pain across the globe.    People are sick and scared; they are hungry and desperate. I am watching many of my dearest friends who are small business owners scramble and wrestle with some huge questions as they try their best to stay open and profitable while also safe (and I know their story is being repeated a million times over in each of our communities.)  Low-income households and those that work in retail or service industry are feeling another layer of pain and fear through all of this. Heroic medical personnel around the world are literally putting themselves at risk for each of us...  We're all hurting, if we're aware enough to notice.    HOWEVER, I am also watching our society shift and recenter. We are going home. We are spending time with loved ones. We have the space to trying new things. People around us are longing for clarity, peace, and HOPE.   So, I ask again, what does this make possible?   What does the time at home make possible?  How can you grow and evolve intentionally during this strange season? Is fear going to derail your success?   Are you going to be quickly overwhelmed? Is the news going to clutter your mind so much that Inspiration is silenced?     OR,   Are you going to create something you will be proud to look back on? Are you going to learn skills that will help you progress & grow? Are you going to help those around you? Are you going to make amazing memories with your loved ones?     "What does this make possible?"   When Stu (my mentor) asked this question last week, my first thought was to stubbornly dig in my heels and say, "There's nothing to change! We're doing great! I can't add another thing to my already full plate."   ... But then, I realized that there are things to change.  Not everyone is doing great.   Sure, maybe my family is healthy, and we are totally set up to hibernate all spring if needed, but my job as an artist is to bring hope and connection to others.   My job as an educator is to offer hope and clarity to others.   My job as an employer is to be as constant and supportive as possible (maybe I can even hire a few people in need during this time).       So, welcome to my new spring plans.     Rather than traveling to the UK with my girls (we'll hopefully do that later this year), I am pouring my energy into those that need it more.     Because, guys, I have an ENORMOUS amount of hope.  I feel it welling up in my heart constantly.     I want to share that hope with you.   Art, community, support...   You in?  Stay tuned.     We're changing our plans this spring and they are 100% intended to help you grow and feel as hopeful as I do!   Most exciting, THE COLLECTIVE is opening a month early!  The Collective is a membership, mentorship, and community for creatives and artists and it is basically my FAVORITE place on the internet.  So nourishing, informative, and warm.   Join us.   Because of the deep need for clarity and GROWTH in the creative community, I'm opening the membership a month early!  And, to make it even sweeter, I'm reducing this first month from $29 to $9!  Yes.  NINE DOLLARS!   Join us. Join us and grow.     LEARN ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE  h e r e

It's time to share your work with the world -- but HOW? Get all the notes and PDFs in this dedicated, thoughtful email series.  GET IT HERE.   How can you create work that has great weight and meaning in the world?  How can you meet collectors?  How can you establish a brand around your work (and do you even want that?).   In this episode, we're going to dig in and figure out how to define your work and bring it to the world in a way that is so deeply attractive and so welcoming to your ideal customers.   Verbalize the message you feel strongly that the world needs to hear Acknowledge that your work is valuable and your IDEAL audience wants to appreciate it (this might not be their current audience, but you can and will find and attract them with the right actions) Understand that there is a collector base/customers/audience out there for you. With direction and clarity, you can and WILL attract that audience Your work is with the clarity, focus, and love needed to bring it to the world elegantly and consistently.     Listening before Feb 26th?  JOIN MAKING ART WORK!  It is a 12-week course that is designed to help Creative Entrepreneurs THRIVE.   xox, Emily Jeffords fine artist & educatorwww.EmilyJeffords.com

There are a lot of lies that rattle around our heads and sink into our hearts -- some chosen, some given.  In this video, we dispel these common lies so fast, and so completely that, hopefully, their hold on you, on US, will be massively diminished.     Before we dive in, here are a few links you might want! Join the Share the Work CHALLENGE!  Facebook will be the home-base for the content but I'll also be sharing the prompts via email as well.     Want some extra-pretty graphics and images to share on your IG Story?  Here ya go!   Ok, and with that, let's start busting some lies!   Lie No. 1:Your worth as a human is directly tied to the success of your work Nope.  Don't listen to this sneaky, toxic lie.  You are always worthy and beautiful. The success of your work does not play any part in your value, however, I understand why it might feel that way at times. Let’s get to the heart of THAT longing: You want your work to be valued. And it hurts when it’s not. I get it.And again, let’s get to the heart of the issue:Any lack of “success” you might be feeling in your work can be very strategically tied to one of three thingsAn issue with the offer Is the work good? Is it resonating with your viewer? Does it resonate with you? go back to episode 2 and listen with your whole heart if you sense this might be the issue) An issue with your AUDIENCEAre there enough eyes on your work?Are they the right eyes? If this area is the issue, work to get your art in front of your idea collectors!An issue with your marketingAre you speaking to them in a way that inspires them? Is the messaging around it effective? Are your calls to action inspiring and attractive? If this is the area is the issue, then go back to the 4th video and massive up-level you marketing! You are the best representative your artwork will ever have in this world. Allow your work to the radiant. Lie No. 2: The artworld is too noisy and my work will not be seenWhat makes you different? The fact that the art world is getting busier is a GOOD THING for creativesWe are reshaping culture — the more artists thriving and active online and offline, the more comfortable and receptive the collector community will be! Lie No. 3: My creative work could never fund my lifestyle anywaysBack it up: How much money do you need to live? 40k? 100k? 200k? How many pieces of art or designs or products do you need to create to meet that goal?  Break your year down into seasons - how much do you need to create in order to meet your income goals each season Download The Artist's Year of Growth and simply work out the math, glad the goals, and let your gorgeous work do the rest!   Lie No. 4: My audience is tired of seeing what I’m makingThen why are they following you?My audience is following me BECAUSE they want to see what I’m creatingHow are they showing up when you share your work online and in-person?They are freaking in love with you!   Lie No. 5: This isn’t dependableThe main reason this lie get’s into our hearts is because we are unsure if we can depend on ourselves. TRUST ME I KNOW THIS FEELING Once you learn to trust yourself, your inspiration, your habits, and your goals, you are able to trust your audience as well.  They’re here for you — but they want you to lead them into a more beautiful path.  SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF but also SHOW UP FOR THEM    

So far we’ve talked about The 3 things you must know to sell art online, how to know if your art is worth selling, and TODAY, I’m sharing 5 super practical, actionable tips that you can use to support your work in the world. Marketing your art in 2020 is very different than marketing in 2010, 1980, 1800, 1600...  We have had to evolve exponentially as Creative Entrepreneurs.  We have SO much freedom and creative control over our work and careers.  The ability to meet collectors on our own -- the ability to grow and expand our work as we would like...  it's all very exciting!   Wondering where you can go to meet all these amazing, elusive collectors?  Let's talk about marketing your work in 2020!      If I were to choose only 5 areas to market, it would be these:   Email Marketing ake your studio list a vibrant and exciting place.  Share behind the scenes, your inspiration, offer a peek inside your studio, stories and insights...  This is an intimate space!  Create a “studio email list” of people that are interested in you + your work Nurture those people with a beautiful “welcome sequence” — a collection of 2-10 emails that are automatically sent to your subscribers sharing: Send early access to artwork or collections   Show up on Instagram as a fine artist Understand why you are there and why you are posting. Share your work beautifully and consistently: photograph it well (more on this in the Share the Work Challenge — then a LOT more in MAW) Share your work regularly (1/6 at least)   Pinterest Pinterest is one of the VERY best places to share your work as a visual creative! Pins tend to mature over age and offer benefits to your work 1-12 months after they are pinned. Pinterest ads are also something to consider if you're ready to invest some $$ and thought into marketing. Pin your work directly to Pinterest from the listing or blog post.  Also, pin your Instagram posts!  Why not reuse that glorious content?   Work with designers Reach out to designers in your local community and offer them a trade discount (10-20% off).  You can also request or barter for amazing photographs!   I didn't mention this in the video, but you can also with designers to rent your artwork for staged homes.  Some wonderful passive income!   Commercial designers: restaurants, offices, hotels...   Go Offline Find ways to share your work OFF the internet (art shows, galleries, craft fairs...) One in-person meeting is worth at least 10 online meetings.  Be warm, welcoming, intentional, and get ready to welcome new people into your community! I hope this video has spurred so many ideas and points of clarity.     If you have enjoyed the Share The Work series, please take a moment to share it on IG!   There’s a special bundle of beautiful images right down here that you can use! 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  

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  

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE VIDEO SERIES, you still can!  The videos are live until Feb 25th, 2020. Watch "Share The Work" here   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!!

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.  

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 

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 Making Art Work The Artist's Year of Growth EmilyJeffords.com  

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!        

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!

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!