You Don’t Have To Quit Your Day Job To Live The Dream Life

By Nicole Tinkham

SO MANY of us do this and I’m totally guilty of it myself. We put our dreams on hold and wait for the “right time” to go after them. It sounds logical but that perfect timing may not ever happen which means you just wasted a whole lot of time doing absolutely nothing. We come up with all sorts of excuses like “when I retire, I’ll do the things that make me happy” or “when I have some more money I’ll start working on my goals”. That’s great that you want to make some big things happen in your life but while you’re daydreaming about them, time is passing you by. Maybe you can’t just leave your full time job tomorrow to focus on your art but you can start focusing on your dreams right now. Here’s how!

1.    Make the most of your free time

I often hear people say they would love to work on their art, go to different events, do some writing, travel and many other things. The one thing that’s holding them back (so they say) is time. I get that most of your days are spent working but there are several more hours in the day that you could be doing something that you absolutely love. Think about the activities you’re doing after work. Are you watching mindless TV or are you exploring your passion?

2.    Do something special for yourself

Do you ever feel selfish just thinking about spoiling yourself? Maybe you feel like you don’t have the extra money or you don’t think you deserve a massage or fancy dinner. To me, these extra little things sounded so luxurious and I always thought “when I’m successful, that’s how I’ll spend my days”. But who says I can’t pamper myself right now? Sure, it may cost a little extra money that you should be saving up for other things but it’s also important to live a little and enjoy yourself.

Note: Your “me” time doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant and expensive. Quiet time to yourself in nature could be your little escape.

3.    Go on vacation

How many times do you use your vacation days for some work around the house, to visit family, or just stay home and do nothing at all? There is nothing wrong with doing these things but every once in awhile you need to take a real vacation. Get away to somewhere you’ve never been, go on an adventure, explore, and gain some new inspiration. You will return a changed person.

4.    Change up your day job

If you’ve been in your 9-5 job for awhile doing the same thing every single day, you probably feel like you’re in a never-ending cycle. No matter what the job is, it gets boring after awhile! But there are ways you can make it interesting again and get more enjoyment out of it. You can explore different departments within the company or look for new tasks to do in your current position. Even just moving things around in your office (we suggest sitting near a window and bringing in a plant) can go a long way. If you can, see if you’re able to work from home or cut back your hours to part time. All of these changes can improve how you view your full time job and make it more exciting.

5.    Make a difference

There’s no greater feeling than being able to help someone else out. I always said that if I had the time I would volunteer more and if I had the money I would donate more. I think many of us say these things and we don’t follow through as often as we’d like to. Remember that every little bit counts so do what you can! Even chatting with a friend when they’ve had a bad day is helping someone else and it feels so rewarding to be able to do that.

6.    Do things that scare you

When you think about the “dream life” it probably doesn’t include things that scare you but when you get stuck in the day to day grind, there’s nothing more exhilarating than doing something totally insane. Maybe you jump on a plane next weekend and visit New York City for the first time on a whim. Or maybe you sign up for a cooking class when you’ve been using your kitchen as your art studio and haven’t cooked a thing in ages. By doing these crazy things, you will gain so many experiences, meet incredible people and have amazing stories to share.

Don’t let life get boring before you dare to have fun. You only have one life to live so you better start doing all those things you ever hoped and dreamed of right now! You are never too old, too young, too broke, or too busy to enjoy life. You can live the dream life without quitting your day job and you can start right now!

You May Be An Artist If… You Do Any Or All Of These 18 Things

By Nicole Tinkham

We absolutely love the way our artist friends just “get” one another on a deeper level. They can relate to accidentally drinking your paint water or heading to the store in your paint clothes by mistake. It’s that connection with other artists that’s what really makes our Facebook page so special. So we asked our friends to fill in the blank: You may be an artist if _______________. Here are 18 of our favorite responses.

1.    “You start to view everything by the way the light hits it.” –Christina

2.    “When you’ve walked out of your house on more than one occasion with charcoal smudges on your face and forgetting the blending stumps you had put behind your ear while you’re working on your sketch.” – Elizabeth

3.    “When… beside you, You have two cups. One with water and one with paint water. And you have to label it because your fiancé has already drank the paint water before…” -April

4.    “When you run to the grocery store and forget that your hair is in a bun held with a paintbrush, and you have paint on your face and clothes. Lol.” -Denise

5.    “You refuse to throw out Styrofoam egg cartons because they are great to use as painting trays.” -Jamie

6.    “ When you look at copy paper and think “peasant paper” lol :P” – Brittaney

7.    “Everything you see and experience in life becomes a possible subject matter to put on canvass. :)” -Tia

8.    “You hate everything you’ve created and you apologize for its existence.” – Caitie

9.    “ Sit in your creating space and you don’t hear and see anything just that part where you working on, it could be knit or crochet or working with fabrics or paint….” – Anja

10.    “ You look at your own work like it is garbage and everyone else tells you it is magic. :P” -Jason

11.    “You pick up your brush, pencil, pen or whatever you are using and put that first mark down.” -Brenda

12.    “You can see a story and feel the emotion of it when experiencing a single glance at.” – Patricia

13.    “You would do that painting/drawing differently.” -April

14.    “When you get upset that your hubby took out the recycling without allowing you to claim any useful items first.” -Judy

15.    “When you turn an afternoon out into a photo shoot, sketching trip, or beeline to the art supply store.” -Judy

16.     “When you have oil paint stains on all your clothes.” -Charles

17.     “You no longer draw stick figures.” –Ellery

18.     “You proved you could do what you set out to do.” –Muriel

So now we want to hear from YOU! Based on what our artsy friends say about living the art life, would you say you fit in with them as an artist? Which one of these 18 things can you relate to most? Have anything to add to our list? Let us know in the comments!

Why You Need To Stand Up For What You Believe In And How To Do It

By Nicole Tinkham

How many times have you sat back and kept your mouth shut even if you didn’t believe in what was being said/done? We don’t blame you because it’s so much easier to keep your own ideas to yourself. You don’t risk getting put down, feeling judged, or becoming an outcast. But what if that one idea you have can change everything for the better? You shouldn’t keep that to yourself! Here’s why you need to start standing up for what you believe in and how to do it.

Let’s start with the why.

1.    It builds your respect.
This goes two ways. Sticking up for what you believe in builds your self- respect because you’re following through with your values. Going against what you believe in just because it’s more convenient is less than admirable. Standing your ground also gains respect from others, even if they view things differently than you. Just having the guts to stand up for yourself shows what kind of person you are. You aren’t a pushover. You are strong and independent.

2.    You will gain confidence.
At first, standing up for your beliefs isn’t the easiest task. You may be doubting yourself, you may be hesitant, and your words might not come out just right (like the perfectly prepared speech you have in your head). But the more you do it, the better you’ll get and the more confidence you’ll gain. You’ll be more willing to step out of your comfort zone in uncomfortable situations.

3.    It helps you discover who you are.
When you just go along with what others say, you’re letting them take control over a piece of your life. You’re allowing them to dictate how you should do or say something, even how you should think. This may sound drastic but every little thing that you sit back on impacts your life. By standing up for what you believe in, you’re expressing who you are and what you want out of life. Even if your ideas don’t change a thing, you are still putting your real, unique self out there. The more you do it, the more YOU will come out.

Now let’s talk about how you can implement these things in your life.

1.    Figure out what you actually believe in.
Before you stand up for what you believe in, you have to know what it is that you believe in! It sounds simple enough but when we sit back and let others take over, we sometimes forget or lose sight of who we really are. When you have a quiet moment to yourself, think about the following questions.

•    What is important to me?
•    What am I passionate about?
•    What motivates me?
•    What are my core values?

2.    Let go of your fears about what people think of you.
This is a tough one. When standing up for yourself, you have got to let go of your fears of what people think about you. Whatever you’re thinking is often way worse in your head. It always is. Remember that people are more concerned with things going on their own life than to sit there and judge yours. As we mentioned before, it takes practice but with time you will get better at it and you’ll feel better about doing it.

3.    Don’t doubt yourself.
Sometimes when you stand up for yourself, there will be people who try to change your mind or put you down. Always keep your beliefs in mind. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to hear others out and listen to their point of view. But that doesn’t mean you have to change what you believe in.

4.    Keep doing it.
There are so many ways in which you can stand up for what you believe in so don’t stop after one thing. Voice your opinion (in a positive way) when the timing feels right and you’ll get better every time you do it. When we mention to be positive, we mean don’t speak your opinion just to put someone else down. Hear them out and let them know your ideas as well.

We know that staying in your cozy little shell doing your own thing is comfortable but you have the power to change things for the better when you allow yourself to break out of your comfort zone and stand up for what you believe in. You’ll build respect for yourself, gain confidence, and discover who you really are. It may not be easy at first but it’s really quite simple to do. Start by finding out what your beliefs are, let go of your fears, quit doubting yourself, and keep practicing. You can do this!

You Can Be A World Famous Artist (or whatever else you want to be)

By Nicole Tinkham

I don’t think I’m alone when I confess that it took me a really long time to figure out what it was I wanted to do with my life. In fact, I’m still trying to figure it out. When we’re young, we’re always asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and any answer you give is perfectly acceptable. You’re encouraged to dream big. But when reality sets in and you actually have to make this decision for real, you don’t get the same reaction when you respond with “To be a world famous artist traveling the world”. It’s not the norm and something that’s different scares most people. Maybe it’s the people around you trying to talk you out of doing something huge like that or maybe it’s you, not even allowing yourself to dream big simply because it sounds too crazy.

It’s simple to have the mindset of just surviving day by day, looking forward to the weekends when you get a short break and then getting right back into this routine of yours. By doing this you aren’t seeing the big picture though. You’re not really thinking about what this life has to offer or how you could make a huge difference in the world. You’re just putting your head down and trying to get by. Is that any way to live though? If you think about all the things you could possibly be doing right now, is doing this what you would choose if you didn’t have to worry about anything else? Listen, we all know life is way too short to not enjoy what we do but why aren’t most of us making any changes?

The big thing that comes into play here is fear. It’s the fear of failure, the fear of what others might say, the fear that you might actually succeed, and many more. But what if when you were born you were meant to do something very specific? Something that no one else could do quite like you. Something that you were destined to do and succeed in? It’s something you feel deep down in your gut but never considered (or are too afraid to) act on. You are robbing the world of your special skills by not stepping out to do it! You have the power to help so many people and actually enjoy and be happy in your life and you’re most likely doing nothing about it. You’re choosing to do things you don’t fully enjoy. Doesn’t that sound kind of silly?

If you never make the leap, you will never know what could have been in store for you. Even when all odds are against you, if you were meant to do a particular thing in your life it will somehow work out. You must have faith and believe in yourself. Think about it this way; if you were to wrap up life right now, would you be happy with what you left the world with? Would you be happy with your accomplishments? If not, you need to make a change. You need to feel proud of the life you have lived. And if you want people to remember you when you’re gone, you must make an impact in some way on someone. The best way to do that is to follow that gut feeling and just go after what feels right in your heart.

If you do one thing today, make this be it. This one way of thinking will open your eyes to the possibilities. It will have you believing in yourself like you never have before. Whatever it is you want to do in your life whether it be to become a famous artist, an actress, a business owner, a singer, or whatever is in your heart, ask yourself if anyone else is or has already done this thing. Doesn’t have to be someone you know personally. Just think about whether it has been done before. Chances are it has and you know what that means? It means that you can do it too. It is not impossible. If someone else can do it, then why not you? Those people out there doing the things you want to do are no different than you. They don’t have anything special that you don’t have. They just went after what they wanted and they got there. Just like you can and will do.

You are never too old, the timing is never too late, and you are never too inexperienced to make things happen in your life.  What you need to do is consider the possibilities, set a goal for yourself, take action, become focused, and never give up. If it’s in your heart, keep going even through the difficult times. You will get there regardless of age or where you’re at in life right now. You CAN be that world famous artist or whatever else it is you want to be.

25 Art Careers You Need To Consider

By Nicole Tinkham

If the reason you haven’t turned your passion for art into a career yet is because you don’t think you could make it as an artist, think again! You don’t have to do the scary task of quitting your day job to become your own boss as an artist. You can take a different route and still use your creative skills in a job that leaves you feeling fulfilled and happy. The following list of 25 art careers take a different spin on the typical painter or other art profession you have in mind. Some of these are out of the box but you may be surprised how well they align with your interests and skills. For example, you may have never thought twice about interior design but if you have an eye for color and placement it could be just the career for you. If you want to make art a full time part of your life, read on for 25 brilliant ideas that you need to consider.

1.    Writer – Gets creative with words in stories, poems, screenplays, and more
2.    Interior Designer – Beautifies indoor spaces
3.    Art Teacher – Teaches skills in universities or art workshops
4.    Art Appraiser – Determines the value of artwork
5.    Art Gallery Manager – Ensures that those who come into the gallery are looked after and oversee installations and exhibits
6.    Caricature Artist – Cartooning for parties and events
7.    Fashion Designer – Designs beautiful clothing
8.    Cake Decorator – Creates edible works of art
9.    Actor/singer – Let your talents shine!
10.    Set Designer – Prepares the stage for theater productions
11.    Museum Curator – Organizes exhibits at museums
12.    Tattoo Artist – Applies artwork in the form of a tattoo
13.    Lighting Designer – Creates lighting effects for production
14.    Restoration Artist – Brings back the original look of an old piece of artwork
15.    Landscape Artist – Designs the layout of plants in outdoor spaces
16.    Architect – The art and science behind designing buildings
17.    Product Designer – Designs the look of different products
18.    Medical Illustrator – Illustrations for medical journals and textbooks
19.    Muralist – Creates large scale paintings on buildings
20.    Screen Printing – Creates designs on clothing using a screen and ink or paint
21.    Textile Design – Designs the look of different fabrics
22.    Florist – Arranges flowers and plants
23.    Musician – Creates art for the ears
24.    Glass Blower – Shapes blobs of molten glass into vessels and shapes
25.    Woodworking – Creates artwork and functional pieces out of wood

Of course, doing your own thing as an artist and working for yourself is the perfect alternative to working for someone else. We love the idea and if it’s in your heart, we say go for it! But this list of 25 art careers may be the ideal stepping stone if you aren’t quite ready to be your own boss. Or it may help you discover exactly what you want to do. Whatever the case may be, the important thing is that you’re happy. Look over this list, consider some different options, then do your research and see if these would be a good fit for you.

Tell us, which of these 25 art careers stands out to you? Have something to add to the list? Just let us know in the comments!

9 Essentials To Living The Good Life

By Nicole Tinkham

As we go through life, we have our ups and we have our downs. The scariest thing of all isn’t going through difficult times, but just going through life without truly enjoying it. Have you ever woken up in the morning not wanting to get out of bed, just dreading the busy day ahead of you? That’s no way to live! Now’s the time to get your passion back and start living the good life. It’s simple: love what you do, do it with good people, give often, treat yourself well, continue moving forward, do the things you want (even if they’re crazy), keep smiling, and be yourself. Read on to see how you can make these 10 essentials a habit in your life so you can finally enjoy every single day.

1.    Wake up with passion

If you aren’t excited about starting your day, what’s the point of even getting out of bed? We understand that it can be a challenge to do exactly what you want every single day but you have got to find something you can get passionate about. Even a hobby on the side is something that should put a smile on your face. But if you find yourself constantly dreading your day, every day, it may be time to make a career change.

2.    Spend time with good friends

Laughter is the best medicine and a group of positive friends who you can be yourself around is sure to bring more joy to your life. Good times will allow your stress to melt away. You can relax and just have fun. A good group of friends will also lift you up and inspire you to do more with your life, things you may have never considered before.

3.    Give more than you receive

The power of giving far outweighs the act of receiving. You may be thinking that you don’t have much to give but we bet you have more than you realize. Something as simple as a helping hand or a compliment goes a long way. The more you give, the more you’ll put others in a better mood as well as yourself.

4.    Be good to yourself

You are so worth spoiling yourself! Eat healthy, be active, and you can even work on your mind while you’re at it. When you treat your body well everything else starts to improve in your life. You gain more energy, sleep better, experience less aches and pains, and just feel happier. And don’t forget to pamper yourself from time to time too! Get a nice massage or take a long restful nap to help you feel your best.

5.    Keep moving forward

So maybe you feel content with life and that’s a wonderful thing. However, staying in the same spot is just as bad as moving backwards and living an unhappy life. There are times to be happy where you’re at and times to move forward. If you never move forward, you’ll start to feel stuck. Sometimes moving forward means taking a risk which is scary. But you’ll never know what could possibly happen if you don’t make that change.

6.    Don’t miss out

Get out there and experience life! Don’t pass up opportunities when they come with lame excuses. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re ready or not. Some experiences are just worth it and may never present themselves again. Make time for the things that could possibly change your life.

7.    Do something crazy

We can get so wrapped up in what other people (and society) tell us we should and shouldn’t do. But this is your life and you have every right to make your own decisions even if they are a little out there. If you feel it in your heart, go after it. Do something different. Get out of your comfort zone and discover a new side of yourself.

8.    Smile even on the bad days

When you start the day off poorly, it’s so incredibly easy to let the whole day go downhill from there. But if you proudly wear a smile all day long no matter what, we can almost guarantee you’ll have much better days. Just try it today and see how you feel. A smile can instantly put you and those around you in a better mood.

9.    Be unique

You were born for a reason and you’re different for a reason. The world desperately needs what you have to offer so stop hiding in the shadows, afraid to be who you truly are. Some people may not agree with you and that’s totally fine. Just think about all the lives you can impact of people who can relate to you.

There’s a better life out there for you if you open your heart and allow it in! Stop closing off all new opportunities. Start taking more chances, keeping your own betterment in mind. If you’re not growing and improving as a person every single day, there’s something wrong. You need to pay attention to yourself more! If you’re feeling stuck, follow these 10 essentials for living a good life and put them into action right away. You deserve to do this for yourself.

Become a full-time artist: 5 things you can do today to make it happen

By Nicole Tinkham

Do you have a dream of quitting your job to pursue your art full-time? For a lot of us, we dream and talk about our passions, but rarely move past that step. Why? It could be a variety of things, but most reasons are centered on one thing: FEAR. Sometimes it’s the fear of the unknown. What if it doesn’t work out? Where do I even begin? How will I possibly begin to market myself? Or maybe, how do I build a website? Every single question is something you must think about when deciding if taking the leap is for you. We’re not here to say that it will be easy, but we are going to help you face that fear head on, even if it means embracing it to move you to action, and not overcoming it completely. We agree, starting your own business can appear very overwhelming, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s not possible! With that being said, it’s time to shift your way of thinking. It’s time to start planning how you can become a full-time artist and take that passion of yours and turn it into the fulfilled life you’ve only dreamed about so far. Let’s start by asking yourself these 5 questions.

1.    What do you want to do?
Your answer to this first question shouldn’t state the obvious – be a full-time artist. Dig down a little deeper and ask yourself what you really want to do. What medium do you want to work in? What subject matter would you like to focus on? What size pieces would be your norm? You don’t have to figure it all out right away but it helps to know where you want to go in this moment. Things can always change in the future. Don’t spend too much time dwelling on this as the goal is getting things started now but do give it some serious thought. Figure out who you are as an artist.

2.    Who are your customers?
Once you figure out who you are and what your purpose is as an artist, it’s time to figure out who your customers are. Think about who would share the same passion as you. Who has the same values? Most likely, your ideal customer is someone very similar to yourself. Understanding your customer is the key to selling your artwork and becoming a full-time artist. To get a better understanding of who this person is, write out a description of them. Include their age, family life, what they do for a living, their interests, and hobbies. Keep in mind the subject matter you determined in question #1 and think about who would be interested in it. This target audience will come in handy when creating your brand and marketing yourself to the right people.

3.    How can you get your name out there?
Based on your target audience, consider where and what the best strategy would be to get your name out there. Where are your customers looking? Are they at networking events? Are they active in social media groups? Are they attending art shows and competitions?
Are they involved in the community?

Make a list of the places you need to be in order to find your ideal client and start making some plans right away. Also, don’t forget to reach out to the people you already know. Build relationships with the people you haven’t talked to in awhile. You never know who might know someone who could be a future client.

4.    What does your brand look like?
By answering the first three questions, you’re actually already building your brand. You may not think of yourself as a brand just yet but once you begin your art business, you have to consider how you present yourself. How do you want people to feel when they do business with you? Will you have a website? A blog? An online art portfolio? What type of personality do you want to portray? How can you make every customer have a positive experience with you?

5.    Pricing?
When is comes to pricing your artwork, it can get very tricky. We hear all the time that this is the one thing artists struggle with most. It’s easy to push this question aside for later but the reality of it is, you have to consider it and determine a pricing strategy before going full-time as an artist. This blog can really help when pricing your artwork. Remember to think about how much your time is worth, what materials you’re using, and the size you’re working with.

If you sat down and gave these 5 questions some thought, you’ve made a step in the right direction to become a full-time artist. A lot of things you need to face head-on have nothing to do with your artistic abilities, but instead the mindset you take into it. If you think of your art as a hobby that you work on occasionally, only dreaming of actually doing it full-time, it will remain just a dream. But if you take that dream and start planning it out, staying consistent and making moves (even if they’re small), you can and you will turn it into your reality. It may not sound fun, but planning out the business side of things is an important step that most people completely overlook when making a move like this.

Are you a full-time artist?? We would love to hear how you got there. Share your story in the comments 🙂