That’s like we do in the south we just smile and say, “bless her heart.” Like you say, it may not be said originally with the best intentions but the intentions follow. It’s a profound way to work on our own soul to learn to be genuinely happy for others.
Debra, I'm an old pro who's been around a long time but I still loved your podcast AND the text. We can never get enough reminders to keep working the left-brain stuff. Thank you so much for clear, concise reminders to keep us on track. My husband was even impressed!
Debra, this was really empowering for me. Thank You. I realize I have been trying to do everyone else's style - and still am- but I really like Representational/ Impressionism or an experimental fusion, and in an age where abstract alone seems to dominate and get rewarded, I often feel the pressure to conform for sales. It's nice to be reminded not to blindly follow others just because they sound good or appear successful under a social media guise, without sharing all the heartache. (Even though their lifestyle would probably make me miserable). See my long-form comment at the end. Your resonance mindset will stay with me for a very long time.
Being Content as an Artist is an active struggle. I often doubt that I'm doing enough, and it's helpful to have someone with lived experience honestly say, "Look at the fruit of others' lives before you aspire to their ends." Do I really want to be a New York artist? No- I wanted to be married and have kids. Did I think it was all going to be faster and easier than it has been? Yes, totally, and I was wrong. Have I set myself up for heartache trying to live someone else's reality or believe fame followed skill - Yes. But now, after reading multiple messages consistently like Debra's, it has truly helped me be more confident in my own journey. The discerning your "Goals" piece is critical, and the fact that I can't do it all at once is bittersweet and so SO needed to keep me from burnout! Realizing that I don't need to replace my previous income to call art worthy or make it all on my own on original art sales only today is liberating. Accepting that my art career is highly multifaceted and that I tend to work seasonally, like people and teaching, find art shows exhausting, so I do less of them now and am moving more online so I can be more present to my family has been very realistic and allows me to look forward to my creative/rest/ marketing seasons like holidays. Being Sustainable may not be sexy or alluring as we all think, but after 5 years, I'm thankful I still even get to do art at all! All this is a gift from God: Said another way, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are worthy pursuits in themselves.
I spent the last 4 years telling myself FASO was not for me and that too many artists use it, so it's not going to help me break out and be different. Now I wish I had started sooner. all the things I did on WooCommerce and Stripe and Square and all the upgrades I paid for that FASO already provides + this content. SO MUCH VALUE. No, I am not getting paid to say this. I wish I would have started with FASO- The Psychological warfare would have stopped much sooner. From one artist to another, thank you FASO for getting it and letting us know we are not alone in our artistic callings.
My Biggest Takeaway from Debra's article is RESONANCE to help me replace the false ideas of Fame as an end goal, rather than being found by the right people. Helping people find the work that truly resonates with them and, in turn, leave a legacy as a result of a life well lived, "through helping others with eyes of compassion and love with Strength and Courage," is way more worthy and fulfilling than fame. This was a timely message for me as I prep to move overseas and wonder how I am going to go about my art practice in the upcoming season of my life. Can anyone else relate? My Favorite comment in this article by Debra, " The art world is full of advice. Some of it is useful. Some of it is wrong for you. Some of it is sold by people who are better at selling advice than selling art..." Time and Time again, I have found myself here wondering how in the world I am supposed to reinvent myself anew, seemingly every perennial marketing message. So John Steinbeck's quote hit me square with a chuckle as I currently live in Monterey, his former stomping grounds, “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” :)
For any fellow artists still reading.
A book in this same vein that really got me to start questioning Envy and have Acceptance in my life was "Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artists" by Sharon Louden This is a very honest look at artists' lives who personally I only related to maybe 3/40 of them and it was this moment that I realized I didn't want their lives and their transparency and honesty really is actively helping me negotiate and walk towards greater contentment in my own.
What is everyone else's take on this article? FASO keeps making more like this. We, artists, need to have ENVY combatted often with honest, hard-fought contentment modeled so we all stay healthy and whole, whatever our goals.
You are not alone. Nothing in art is ever impulsive. We all mull things over time and again searching for the elusive bits we should grab onto and trying to avoid the pitfalls of certain failures. Thx so much for sharing. I think in the end, that’s how we all get through this!
Insightful article. I think interacting and forming relationships with actual people that share art stories and similar creative input and principles has been a major influence for me, being a plein air/outdoor painter it's almost unavoidable. There's an art to that aspect, too. Not just digital acrobatics. If you can get out the studio and meet people/artist/art who speak to your goals do it, I say.
I would love to see more podcasts transcribed like this. I miss out on many of the podcasts I’m interested in because of time and place. But having a readers digest version transcribed was so helpful and appreciated. More please! :)
We’ve mostly only done this for the live shows but good idea for the podcasts. We were reluctant to rely on AI but this is a good use case for it and people are seeming to enjoy them (and we do manually edit and correct them after AI helps generate the summary). Thank you for the feedback.
Debra is someone I would love to sit around a campfire with :) it was such a pleasure to chat with her and learn from her. I remember after the conversation feeling like she had settled an anxiety that I had within me, I was judging myself a little too harshly. Embracing seasons is something I have learned to do in other aspects of life, from how I eat to how I tend to my garden, to my social activity levels throughout the year. Yet i had never thought to approach my artist journey in that way, understanding it too has seasons that need to be embraced.
Likewise!!! Only, I am so accident prone - my husband keeps a fire extinguisher on each floor just in case. Maybe we should sit around an electric heater instead? Lol
It’s pretty good, I did spend about an hour editing it and adding some relevant stuff that it didn’t “think” of. But it’s pretty darn good at summarization and recognizing patterns. (I mean that’s basically how it works, pattern recognition and probabilities).
As someone transitioning from a long career in another field into a more serious art practice, I found this article especially meaningful. I'm about the same age as Debra, and her perspective strikes me as both realistic and refreshingly down-to-earth.
One thing I remind myself of often is that if I never sold a single piece of art, I would still make art. The marketing side matters, of course, but I think each of us has to find a way of sharing our work that fits who we are and the life we want to live.
If that effort eventually generates enough income to take my wife out to dinner now and then in this next phase of life, I'll consider that a pretty good bonus. Thanks for sharing Debra's perspective.
John, I agree, and Debra's comment on being able to be sovereign so we can create from a place of resonance rather than desperation (as I interpreted it) I think is right in line with your comment.
As an artist the best way I have learned to combat envy is to think “good for them” when I see someone get some opportunity that I want.
At first it was a slightly sarcastic “good for them” but over time it has become sincere, and now I’m just happy for other artists.
That’s like we do in the south we just smile and say, “bless her heart.” Like you say, it may not be said originally with the best intentions but the intentions follow. It’s a profound way to work on our own soul to learn to be genuinely happy for others.
Love your approach!!!!
Debra, I'm an old pro who's been around a long time but I still loved your podcast AND the text. We can never get enough reminders to keep working the left-brain stuff. Thank you so much for clear, concise reminders to keep us on track. My husband was even impressed!
What kind words! I thank YOU so very much, and your husband too!
This is really solid amazing advice, thank you.
Thank you so much. Debra knows her stuff.
I do? Thx Clint!
Debra, this was really empowering for me. Thank You. I realize I have been trying to do everyone else's style - and still am- but I really like Representational/ Impressionism or an experimental fusion, and in an age where abstract alone seems to dominate and get rewarded, I often feel the pressure to conform for sales. It's nice to be reminded not to blindly follow others just because they sound good or appear successful under a social media guise, without sharing all the heartache. (Even though their lifestyle would probably make me miserable). See my long-form comment at the end. Your resonance mindset will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Thanks Kelly!
Being Content as an Artist is an active struggle. I often doubt that I'm doing enough, and it's helpful to have someone with lived experience honestly say, "Look at the fruit of others' lives before you aspire to their ends." Do I really want to be a New York artist? No- I wanted to be married and have kids. Did I think it was all going to be faster and easier than it has been? Yes, totally, and I was wrong. Have I set myself up for heartache trying to live someone else's reality or believe fame followed skill - Yes. But now, after reading multiple messages consistently like Debra's, it has truly helped me be more confident in my own journey. The discerning your "Goals" piece is critical, and the fact that I can't do it all at once is bittersweet and so SO needed to keep me from burnout! Realizing that I don't need to replace my previous income to call art worthy or make it all on my own on original art sales only today is liberating. Accepting that my art career is highly multifaceted and that I tend to work seasonally, like people and teaching, find art shows exhausting, so I do less of them now and am moving more online so I can be more present to my family has been very realistic and allows me to look forward to my creative/rest/ marketing seasons like holidays. Being Sustainable may not be sexy or alluring as we all think, but after 5 years, I'm thankful I still even get to do art at all! All this is a gift from God: Said another way, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are worthy pursuits in themselves.
I spent the last 4 years telling myself FASO was not for me and that too many artists use it, so it's not going to help me break out and be different. Now I wish I had started sooner. all the things I did on WooCommerce and Stripe and Square and all the upgrades I paid for that FASO already provides + this content. SO MUCH VALUE. No, I am not getting paid to say this. I wish I would have started with FASO- The Psychological warfare would have stopped much sooner. From one artist to another, thank you FASO for getting it and letting us know we are not alone in our artistic callings.
My Biggest Takeaway from Debra's article is RESONANCE to help me replace the false ideas of Fame as an end goal, rather than being found by the right people. Helping people find the work that truly resonates with them and, in turn, leave a legacy as a result of a life well lived, "through helping others with eyes of compassion and love with Strength and Courage," is way more worthy and fulfilling than fame. This was a timely message for me as I prep to move overseas and wonder how I am going to go about my art practice in the upcoming season of my life. Can anyone else relate? My Favorite comment in this article by Debra, " The art world is full of advice. Some of it is useful. Some of it is wrong for you. Some of it is sold by people who are better at selling advice than selling art..." Time and Time again, I have found myself here wondering how in the world I am supposed to reinvent myself anew, seemingly every perennial marketing message. So John Steinbeck's quote hit me square with a chuckle as I currently live in Monterey, his former stomping grounds, “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” :)
For any fellow artists still reading.
A book in this same vein that really got me to start questioning Envy and have Acceptance in my life was "Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artists" by Sharon Louden This is a very honest look at artists' lives who personally I only related to maybe 3/40 of them and it was this moment that I realized I didn't want their lives and their transparency and honesty really is actively helping me negotiate and walk towards greater contentment in my own.
What is everyone else's take on this article? FASO keeps making more like this. We, artists, need to have ENVY combatted often with honest, hard-fought contentment modeled so we all stay healthy and whole, whatever our goals.
You are not alone. Nothing in art is ever impulsive. We all mull things over time and again searching for the elusive bits we should grab onto and trying to avoid the pitfalls of certain failures. Thx so much for sharing. I think in the end, that’s how we all get through this!
Insightful article. I think interacting and forming relationships with actual people that share art stories and similar creative input and principles has been a major influence for me, being a plein air/outdoor painter it's almost unavoidable. There's an art to that aspect, too. Not just digital acrobatics. If you can get out the studio and meet people/artist/art who speak to your goals do it, I say.
What great comments! Thank you for reading and contributing Doug!
I would love to see more podcasts transcribed like this. I miss out on many of the podcasts I’m interested in because of time and place. But having a readers digest version transcribed was so helpful and appreciated. More please! :)
We’ve mostly only done this for the live shows but good idea for the podcasts. We were reluctant to rely on AI but this is a good use case for it and people are seeming to enjoy them (and we do manually edit and correct them after AI helps generate the summary). Thank you for the feedback.
It's a pretty cool idea, isn't it?!
Debra is someone I would love to sit around a campfire with :) it was such a pleasure to chat with her and learn from her. I remember after the conversation feeling like she had settled an anxiety that I had within me, I was judging myself a little too harshly. Embracing seasons is something I have learned to do in other aspects of life, from how I eat to how I tend to my garden, to my social activity levels throughout the year. Yet i had never thought to approach my artist journey in that way, understanding it too has seasons that need to be embraced.
She’s pure of heart. ❤️ such a blast!
Likewise!!! Only, I am so accident prone - my husband keeps a fire extinguisher on each floor just in case. Maybe we should sit around an electric heater instead? Lol
Very helpful and confirms the journey I am on is the right path.
Thank you for your comment!
🙂
Thx so much!
Really helpful.
I'm glad you found something useful!
🙌
Thx Joan!!
Thanks 🙏 I really needed to hear some of this
thanks for letting us know! It inspires us to keep publishing when we know it was helpful!
🌷
Thx for reading Jack!!!
Perseverance is necessary as artists navigate the business of selling art 🖼️
Love this AI synopsis!!! I have not used AI and didn’t think to give me the summary of articles. That may come in handy!!
It’s pretty good, I did spend about an hour editing it and adding some relevant stuff that it didn’t “think” of. But it’s pretty darn good at summarization and recognizing patterns. (I mean that’s basically how it works, pattern recognition and probabilities).
As someone transitioning from a long career in another field into a more serious art practice, I found this article especially meaningful. I'm about the same age as Debra, and her perspective strikes me as both realistic and refreshingly down-to-earth.
One thing I remind myself of often is that if I never sold a single piece of art, I would still make art. The marketing side matters, of course, but I think each of us has to find a way of sharing our work that fits who we are and the life we want to live.
If that effort eventually generates enough income to take my wife out to dinner now and then in this next phase of life, I'll consider that a pretty good bonus. Thanks for sharing Debra's perspective.
John, I agree, and Debra's comment on being able to be sovereign so we can create from a place of resonance rather than desperation (as I interpreted it) I think is right in line with your comment.
Yes!!! I could not agree more! Thx so much for reading and commenting
I loved this article. It just makes soo much sense. Thank you.
Harry Perry, artist.
Thank you very much Harry! That means a lot!
awesome!! so well said....it confirms clearly so many of my own beliefs...
Thank you Donna!
I would love to have artists ride into my place on miniature ponies (as long as they clean up after them).
No ponies were employed in my journeys. I have to go back and read what AI said again. Lol
That was a fun little thing we added at the top to encourage likes.
It worked and made me laugh before the more real topics were discussed. A great way to ease the reader into the conversation, haha.
Lol