Visit my Studio
Here’s what I’ve been up to at Southern Illinois University
A few images from my studio, teaching and other adventures in Carbondale, Illinois.
Why I became an artist
and a coach
As artists, we tend to work in isolation.
When I decided to start making art seriously, I was 50 years old.
I saved my pennies (literally), quit my job, and entered a one-year program at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle - that became two years when I continued on in the Trowbridge Atelier.
That whole time, my mind was tossing out a parade of conflicting thoughts. On the one hand, my brain kept screaming:
You’re so bad at this!
What are you thinking, giving up a good job for this pipe dream?
Will anyone ever like this stuff I make - let alone buy it?
And on the other hand, I was in complete bliss:
Learning about color and value, light and shadow.
Exploring form, shape and composition
Finally free to accept myself as an artist and just be open to new ideas.
It was truly amazing.
My mentors, teachers and friends were so helpful - encouraging me in my goals; I was part of a community of artists all working towards our dreams.
But I had some serious work to do on my thought patterns that I knew were holding me back.
Have you ever heard this quote? It makes SO much sense to me”
“My mind is like a BAD neighborhood.
Don’t go in there alone!”
I tried to fill my brain with positive messages podcasts, books, and media. It was the middle of Covid, too, so there was just a lot of fear, isolation, uncertainty and confusion.
What I DID know was that I loved making art. And I loved working with others, talking about art, self-imrpovement, teaching, ideas, etc.
I slowly realized that learning how to think differently was the BIGGEST THING that was going to help make my dreams happen.
But as I finished school and started to think about next steps, I felt lost.
Yet my friends were coming to ME for help - with marketing and writing, for help with websites and graphic design - because that is what I used to do for a living - before I committed to art.
I started coaching artists on the business and marketing side, and realized that mostly what artists need - is not the HOW - the nuts and bolts (yes, we need that) - but they MINDSET shift that helped them look at the thoughts that are holding us back.
That’s what I had needed:
I needed to learn how to BELIEVE in myself in a way that could weather the storms of the ups and downs of living the life of an artist.
And I had done so, up to a point.
I got some coaching from trusted mentors - who offered me the opportunity to sit with ONE PERSON who would listen and hear me, who would SEE me.
And I actively worked on rewiring my brain - to understand what my thoughts were doing to me, and to be able to look at it all from a distance.
As I started doing this more and more, I realized that I wanted to get more training - get credentials, so I could help more deeply, and create a business around helping artists with the business side - and also with the mindset piece.
So I spent six months getting certified as a life coach in The Life Coach School Certification Program.
Best money I ever spent.
Coaches helped me.
I learned how to coach to help artists.
What I do as a coach
I meet one-on-one with artists in person or on Zoom, and work through whatever issues that each client needs. I have created a program of courses that help artists in many different areas, but also just talk about whatever is the biggest need at the moment.
I help artists look at their mindset around so many areas:
The Practical Side:
Creating a Vision for what you are doing in your business and art
Money Mindset
Charging what you are worth - creating a Pricing System that works for you
Setting up Business Systems
Bookkeeping, taxes, finances
Marketing Strategy based on Values
Social media
Sales
The Magic:
Self-concept as an artist or creative entrepreneur
Relationships with ourselves, with our art, with our families and friends.
Shame and People Pleasing
Giving ourselves permission - owning our own power and dreams
Creative Process - listening to ourselves as artists, getting past blocks and out of our own way
and more.
If you’d like to talk, book a free Consultation Call - we’ll go there and find out if coaching is right for you.
Even if it isn’t my program isn’t a good fit for you - I can offer suggestions for your next steps.
