Studio visit and artist interview: Sam Michelle

In three years, Sam Michelle has gone from being a salaried employee in banking to a professional artist on the cusp of achieving her ‘forever goal.’

For Sam, following her childhood dream has been as simple (and as difficult) as one humongous risk, habitual goal setting, a truck-load of hard work and a handful of faith. Let’s unpack that, shall we?

Risk

After a co-worker had a heart attack from stress, Sam knew it was time for a change. She’d chosen banking for security and stability but now she wanted a career that would make her happy and that she could flex around her kids. Oh, and it also needed to work financially. That was the part she was unsure about.

Sam thanks her husband for giving her the push she needed. ‘He encouraged me to just go for it and let all that stuff take care of itself,’ she says. Not that she left any of that ‘stuff’ to chance. Sam’s approach to the business side of her art practice is meticulous. ‘Working at a bank taught me how to communicate with clients and value service,’ she says. She answers emails promptly, communicates openly and often with customers who commission her work, and mines Google analytics for intelligence on which paintings attract the most interest, feeding that information back into her practice.

The rigour has paid off. In July of this year, Sam was able to take on a studio space to create some much-needed separation between work and home. She shares a converted factory shell in Mornington with four other painters. It’s an incredibly supportive environment. ‘Most days we have lunch together and we’re always exchanging tips and ideas,’ Sam says. She loves her forty-minute commute through cow pastures.

Another trick she uses to keep a healthy work-life balance is scheduling weekly dates with her young sons. ‘No matter how busy I get, they know Monday afternoon is all about hanging out at their choice of café. It’s lovely, quality time.’

On being self-taught

Sam’s art training happened in high school, with a brilliant teacher who gave her confidence in her ability. After that, her progress was self-directed, on weekends or after work. ‘I’d say, “I need to get better at painting light or doing skin tone” and practice until I’d learnt it,’ she says.

Sam credits social media with helping her work find its niche. Through Instagram, she connected with some small galleries and interior décor stores, which took a few paintings to test how they went. After they sold reasonably quickly, the relationships grew from there. Sam’s lush use of colour and her bold brushstrokes have struck a chord. Her paintings routinely sell before they make it to the gallery wall and after every exhibition, there’s a flurry of commission work. Pedigree is still important in the art world but it’s hard to argue with demand. ‘I thought I wouldn’t be able to get into commercial galleries because I didn’t go to Uni. Now, I don’t worry about that so much,’ she says.

The forever goal

Setting goals is an integral part of Sam’s art practice and business. The Maker’s Yearbook is her go-to planner for articulating goals, setting targets, keeping track of progress and remembering past accomplishments. ‘I view this book as my boss,’ she explains. And if you’re worried about being your own boss, delegate! Whether it’s earning enough to hire a cleaner, providing for her kids, or being able to purchase a piece of art she’s fallen in love with, having a ‘carrot’ definitely helps when it comes to doing the work.

Sam’s forever goal is being a professional artist, creating work for commercial galleries—a goal that has advanced from fantasy to reality, a remarkable accomplishment at thirty-five. 

Faith

It’s not all number crunching and pragmatism. When Sam talks about her evolution as an artist, there’s an undercurrent of intuition, an element of human connection pinning it all together. Her transition from acrylics to oils, for instance, happened when she visited her grandfather, also an artist. Sam was a sixteen-year-old high-school student and she told him she loved painting. His eyesight was going and he gave her all his oil paints. She created two big paintings with them and, in terms of materials, has never looked back.

Similarly, when Sam does a commission, she’s acutely aware of the connection between the painting and the buyer. ‘A commissioned painting is like a tattoo. There’s always a story behind it,’ she says. Sam handles these jobs with the utmost respect. She welcomes feedback and involvement from her buyers, making them comfortable with the process and ensuring they get a painting they love.

Whether painting on commission or for herself, Sam imbues her subjects with personality. She gesticulates with her arms to show me different leaf poses and explains how certain angles make for ‘happy’ paintings while others are dull or sad. When painting plant stems, she thinks of legs, elegantly crossed. In Sam Michelle’s art, the personal is pleasurable and meaningful.

Even as she’s showing me around her studio, Sam spends as much time championing the work of other artists as she does describing her own. It’s that human-connection factor. She draws inspiration from friendship, connection and other people’s success—a deep well of inspiration, indeed.

Sam’s current show, the Cloth Collection, is at Gallerysmith until November 11. If you’re in Melbourne, do head down to enjoy these beautiful paintings in the flesh. For more information about Sam Michelle, visit her website, sammichellepaintings.com.

Jo Watson is a Melbourne-based screenwriter and artist. Visit her on Instagram (@diary_of_a_picture_book_maker).

8 tips for market stall success

CWC Member Susie Monte with her Drunk on Water market stall. Photo by Elize Strydom

Throughout the history of the CWC blog, some of our most popular content has been posts about planning and running market stalls. It makes complete sense, as many of our amazing members and followers are makers, designers and artists who sell (or aspire to sell) their wares at markets.

Given that we are about to roll into peak pre-Christmas market time, it's a good time to revisit some tips from our archives for those about to dive head-first into market mayhem.

This first instalment is based on a previous CWC blog post by Monica Ng, the jeweller behind Geometric Skies. Monica shared her top tips for market selling, gathered from participating in everything from outdoor weekly markets at Bondi Beach and Kirribilli through to major event markets like The Finders Keepers and special showcases run by Etsy and the L'Oreal Fashion Festival.

1. Think about your display.

Dedicate time to considering how you want to set out your work. This is especially important if there’ll be a lot of other stallholders selling similar types of items, like jewellery. I’ve seen a lot of jewellery designers lay their pieces flat on tables, which may make it difficult for customers walking by to see the work from afar.

Ask yourself: how can my display be different from those of other stallholders? Can you arrange it at different levels? Use busts? Racks? Trees? If you sell products that are worn on the body, consider using a mannequin, so customers can see from afar how it looks and fits. 

Now consider: will you buy these props or will you construct them? What materials will they be made from? What do these materials say about your brand?

Try to be consistent and use the same materials to display your goods, as this gives your shop a cleaner and more cohesive look.

How will you display your shop’s logo? Laser cut on acrylic, wood or another material? Painted or printed on canvas? Wooden or metal letters? Time for some DIY fun?

Will you bring your own table or will you hire one? If you’re using a tablecloth, make sure it’s wrinkle free.

2. Bring marketing materials. 

What if the customer doesn’t buy your product right away, but wants to show it to her friend before making a decision? How will she find your work again? Or what if she does buy it and wants to share your work with friends and family?

Be sure to bring business cards, postcards, a email list sign-up sheet or ipad, branded packaging, or even an iPad or laptop with photos of your work and a slideshow of press clippings. These are all great ways to promote your stall. If you need help designing these, perhaps a CWC member in graphic design can assist!

Printing business cards doesn’t have to be expensive. There are inexpensive online options such as Moo, Vistaprint and Print Together. If you simply upload your design, they’ll print it and post it straight to you.

Market stall by CWC member, Alice Legendre for Paris Bourke , her Australian Map board game.

3. Tell everyone about your event! 

Tell your friends, family and colleagues. Even if you think they won’t ever buy from you, they may refer people who will. Let your existing customers know, too!

Publicise your event through all available channels such as your social media, website or blog, and email newsletter and of course, word of mouth!

4. Be a “yes” person and set up future sales.

Is the size of your product too big, too small, too short or too long for your customer? Offer the option to customise.

At the market, consider offering free shipping or a discount coupon to customers for their next purchase.

Running a competition can help direct traffic and add new followers to your blog, mailing list and social media channels. Consider tactics like collaborating with a relevant social media influencer to help increase your outreach.

5. Be prepared for all weather conditions.

Consider yourself a scout and always be prepared.

If the market is outdoors, bring:

• warm clothes, hat, sunblock

• snacks/drinks so if you're super busy and can't duck away, you have something to keep you going

• a chair to take a load off when you get a chance!

• sandbags if using a gazebo (in case it gets windy)

Another version of Susie Monte's market stall set up for Drunk on Water.

6. Pack ahead!

Pack the night before (or even earlier) to save yourself a freak-out the morning of the event. Use the checklist below so you’re not kicking yourself at the event for forgetting something.

• Stationery/admin: blu-tack, pen, notebook, measuring tape, screwdrivers, drill, receipt book, bull clips, plastic bags, duct or masking tape

• Sales: sufficient change in your float, eftpos/ credit card facility if using, mobile phone, phone charger

• Furniture and accessories: tables, chairs, trolley, gazebo, sand bags

• Props/display: stands, mannequins, table cloth, signage, business card holder and extra business cards, price tags, mailing list sign-up sheet, packaging

• Enough stock to sell: always better to take too much than too little!.

• Personal: mini first-aid kit, snacks/drinks, hat, sunblock, warm clothes, umbrella

7. Network with other stallholders.

Get to know your neighbours and become friends! Gather business cards and/or follow them on socials straight away so you can remain in contact after the event. Building your creative community can be so rewarding and you never know when a collaboration opportunity might pop up! 

8. Have fun. 

Sometimes market days are so c-r-a-z-y, the day is over before you know it. Congratulations! That means sales were probably good! On other days, you may not do as well as you hoped. Despite what it may seem, every market stall holder has had that experience. Try to stay positive and enjoy the experience regardless, and apply what you've learnt to the next one.

Good luck!

Better the devil you know: A pre-Halloween reflection on our creative demons

Halloween is just around the corner and I’m a big fan. Yes, the dressing up is fun, but it’s more than that—it serves to remind us that humans need outlets for our darker, distorted and dangerous sides. On October 31st, society gives us permission to show (albeit in a non-threatening, theatrical way) the parts of ourselves not usually let out to play in nice company.

When it comes to our creativity, it’s no different. We’re encouraged to focus on the “good” parts of our creative process, products and mindset and lock up our less socially acceptable feelings and responses away in dark cupboards. Door shut…end of story. Well, not quite. “Therapy 101” tells us that when they’re all locked up together, these nasties fester away and leak out through the cracks. 

As a creativity coach, I hear a lot about people’s creativity monsters (although they rarely recognise them as such), and I’ve come to realise that the best way to defeat them is to identify and understand them—as they say, “better the devil you know.”

Meet Your Monsters

What creativity monsters are hiding under your bed? Here are some of the usual culprits who try to wreak havoc on our creative success. 

Madam Fear, the Shape-shifter
This lady’s the leader of the gang and controls all the other monsters. She’s the ultimate shape-shifter and is super sneaky and hard to spot because she can look like any number of things. In your creative life, she often shows up as “bad stuff,” like procrastination, laziness, severe self-criticism, overthinking, controlling, denial, arrogance, perfectionism or addiction. At other times, she’ll morph into what seems like one of the “good guys”: virtuosity, sacrifice for others, martyrdom, and so on. But beware! These disguises are devious techniques designed to distract you from connecting with your creativity. Madame Fear cannot be vanquished, so you’ll have to get used to her presence…but her power greatly diminishes when you identify her and call her out on her tricks.

The Anger Banshee
Someone’s taken credit for your work? A gallery’s ripped you off? Your laptop was stolen and it had the only copy of your manuscript? You’ll probably be visited by the Anger Banshee. Unlike Madam Fear, there’s no mistaking this wild woman. You’ll recognise her the minute she enters the room because she screams in your ear and smacks you in the chest, leaving your pulse racing and your adrenaline pumping. If you stand your ground and don’t let her take over, however, she can actually be helpful because she reveals your values, limits and boundaries. 

The Evil Jealousy Fairy
When you hear yourself thinking, “Isn’t Jane doing well with her business….why can’t I be more like her?” or “Why is Rachel getting noticed….my work is so much better than hers,” then you know the Evil Jealousy Fairy has come to play the comparison game. Her seemingly innocent whisperings in your ear are far from harmless because she never strays far from her mistress, Madam Fear (who’ll be creeping up behind you dressed as self-doubt and criticism). This insidious little imp is tricky to spot, but when you do, question her motives directly—she hates being confronted, and will quickly back down.  Enough direct contact and this nasty little nymph can be transformed into a good fairy, supporting and guiding you instead of carrying out constant comparisons.

The Pain Zombie
Like the Anger Banshee, the Pain Zombie is also hard to miss; she’s not the most subtle of creatures. The Pain Zombie will shuffle (surprisingly quickly) into your life when you’ve experienced trauma or loss of some kind. It’s very difficult to ignore all her moaning and groaning and get on with the business of your creativity when it feels like parts of you are missing. As much as you’d like to, the Pain Zombie cannot be ignored. Gentle understanding, self-care and time is the way to help heal her broken body and soul and return to life and creativity. 

The Guilt and Shame Ghost
This eerie spectre feeds on your past disappointments, regrets and mistakes. While she prefers to stay in the background, she occasionally comes out to rattle her bones and wail “Ooooooohhhhhhh” at your attempts to succeed creatively in the present and plan a creative future. She likes to remind you of past failures, and spooks you into thinking you’re future is chained down by these. Well, it’s not. As soon as you accept your skeletons in the closet for what they are (dusty old decaying remnants), then the Guilt and Shame Ghost loses her power. Let her howl away in the corner, but don’t let her haunt your dreams.

Manage Your Monsters

It’s tempting to keep the lid of our own Pandora’s Box firmly closed, but by doing this, we’re denying valid parts of ourselves that are crying out to be heard, and in turn denying ourselves opportunities to grow creatively. Any of your monsters have the power to shut down you down creatively; it’s up to you whether or not you let them do so. Here are some tricks (and treats…sorry, couldn’t resist!) to help you befriend the beasts.

Identify: As soon as you feel “badly” about your creativity, try to identify which monster(s) have come out to play.   

Understand: Notice how this monster manifests itself in your creative life. What types of behaviours does it trigger in you? Are these behaviours helpful or harmful for your creativity and yourself? Are there specific people, places or situations where the monster is more likely to turn up? Consider what purpose the monster serves; are the reasons rational or ridiculous?

Acknowledge: Allow the monster to exist…but stare it down, severely reprimand it and send it to the naughty corner, where it can watch you paint or write or sing while it sulks to its empty heart’s content.

Self-care: Look after yourself. Creativity monsters feed off fatigue and neglect and grow weaker when you take time to nurture and centre yourself. You know what to do… exercise, sleep, healthy food, social support, mindfulness and creative play time.

Here are some more resources to help you manage your monsters:
▪      The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
▪      Fearless Creating, by Eric Maisel
▪      The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
▪      Living with a Creative Mind, by Jeff and Julie Crabtree
▪      Mindfulness for Creativity, by Dr. Danny Penman

Happy Halloween!

Bronya Wilkins is a creativity coach and founder of Creative Cocoon, a coaching practice dedicated to helping people connect with their creativity to increase wellbeing and life fulfilment. Bronya is passionate about psychology, self-development and creative expression. Some of her creative hobbies include dance, graphic design, music composition and photography. For more about Bronya and Creative Cocoon, visit her website and Facebook page, or follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Leading creative organisations

Over the course of this series on creative leadership we have focussed the discussion largely on individual leaders, while acknowledging that you can’t have a leader without a follower. For this last post, it’s worth taking a look at leadership within creative organisations, the traits that make them distinct and the best strategies to effectively lead them to success.

Most research into leadership and management in organisations is conducted in large corporate workplaces. This happens for a variety of reasons: big profit-driven organisations have the money to do research and the motivation to determine how leaders impact performance measures like shareholder value, and are large enough to undertake research of significant size and anonymity.

A significant portion of creative workers, however, do not conduct their business in large-scale companies. Research into the Australian creative industries from the census and other industry sources show that around 13 percent of those in the cultural sector are sole traders, compared to 6 percent in the broader economy. There are approximately 123,000 creative businesses in Australia; 98 percent of these employ less than twenty staff and have a turnover of less than $200,000 annually.

If creative businesses are largely small-scale and tight on resources, how does this impact the role of creative organisational leaders?

We typically associate leadership with positions of authority, what is known as headship. Those who are managers, owners, founders and directors are generally recognised as leaders by those around them. Research has shown, however, that leadership does not necessarily equate to managerial position and, importantly, those who do not have a role function that includes leading people can still display the characteristics, and exert the influence, of leaders. Creative leadership, despite our preconceptions of it as a hierarchical construct, is often more distributed in nature.

In the reality of creative occupations, leadership is more likely to be associated with influence than organisational power. To get things done as a small business operator or sole trader, a leader needs to clearly articulate her creative vision, build relationships, communicate needs and outcomes, and effectively and encourage others to support her goals.

This distributed—or relational—idea of leadership actually aligns with the current understanding of creativity. Whereas historically, creativity was associated with individual talent, something only a lucky few were born with, it is now recognised as existing in the spaces between people. It is a process that is fostered and enhanced in the sharing of collaborative ideas. Thinking about leadership has travelled along a similar path. We no longer ascribe to the “Great Man” theories of the past, in which leaders are born with inherent traits that lead to their positions in society. Leadership is rather a collective process enacted by many.

Research shows that creative leaders are comfortable with the visionary aspects of leadership. Perhaps unsurprisingly, creative leaders are good at crafting narratives and communicating their stories to others. What they are less comfortable with, however, is the ‘people side’ of leadership, the area where it overlaps with management. Many creative leaders struggle with the idea of working through others, delegating instead of being a one-man band. This reluctance or inability to share responsibility means that creative organisations may fail to grow, and those who work with such leaders may fail to develop their own skills.

What can be done to develop operational management in creative organisations?

I hate to put my ex-HR hat on here, but a bit of structure wouldn’t go astray. One creative leader told me that in her job description (she had one!), point number 16 was “Manage team and HR.” This shows how far down building and developing a successful team lay in her company’s list of priorities.

The solution to these problems doesn’t have to be overly burdensome. If you are a leader of staff (or volunteers), you need to give their management and development some thought. To start with, ensure all staff understand the strategic aims of the business and, crucially, what roles they play in the achievement of those aims. Second, all staff need accurate, up-to-date job descriptions that include not only their required tasks and priorities, but the skills required to do them. Third, using job descriptions as a basis, have a discussion about staff performance and development. Does your team have all the skills necessary to do the job? If not, what can you do together to develop those skills (projects, research, on-the-job experience in addition to learning options)? If they are performing well in the job, what’s next? How can you provide stretch in their roles?

The common theme in the above activities is conversation. Take the time, regularly, to talk to your team about their role and development, not just the work of the day. Step away from the activity at hand to discuss their performance, find out how they are doing and ask if they need support. Staff perform best with a clear understanding of what is required of them and how it fits into the bigger organisational picture, regular feedback, and leadership that recognises their input and development.

By focussing more on staff, or followers, your organisation will not only flourish, but you will become a better leader. A true win/win situation.

Kim Goodwin is an academic researcher and arts manager with a background in leadership, human resources, and career development. Since leaving her corporate career, Kim has focused on building understanding in how creative leaders are developed while working in a variety of arts organisations and academic environments. She can be found on LinkedIn, or follow her on Twitter (@KimAroundTown).

Interviews with creative women: Kin & Kind

Photo by  Asch Creative

Sydney-siders Miriam Raphael and Josie Jones met through their children’s daycare, and connected over a shared longing to contribute to their community and bring parents together in a meaningful way.

Over a number of play dates, the idea of Kin & Kind was born. Through Kin & Kind, Miriam and Josie run parent-focused workshops and events which upskill, stimulate and connect parents.

Their program is truly inspired, from making bush toys for city kids and creative indoor gardening, to making iPhone movies and decluttering. Plus there’s an onsite crèche where little ones can be entertained while mum or dad are meeting new friends and learning a new skill.

Miriam and Josie share some insights into running their new creative business, balancing family and work, and the importance of spending time with like-minded creative people.
 

Tell us a bit about your backgrounds. What led you to start Kin & Kind?

MIRIAM: I was working as a freelance writer, editor and radio producer. I spent six months last year travelling in the US with my family, and decided that on my return I wanted to do something different, that preferably didn’t involve staring at a computer all day (writing online listicles!). I knew I wanted to be part of a community initiative where I could produce something tangible each week and connect with other parents.

Josie was a daycare mum friend with a background in corporate marketing.  We were both surprised at the dearth of parent-focused activities in the mid-week morning space and about the lack of authentic parenting conversation (that didn’t revolve around feeding your kid solids or decorating a nursery). She was thinking along the same community-focused lines and the idea developed over a couple of playdates back in February.
 

What was it like to start your own creative business?

MIRIAM: It’s an unbelievable experience. So many highs, so many lows. Kind of like having your first child! I can’t believe how much we’ve learned in such a short time. I love that any idea that we have, we can try and make happen and believe me, we have plenty. But then, there are so many ideas and only two of us! Plus we’re responsible for everything from getting bums on seats at every event to making sure there’s enough coffee to go around, which is no small undertaking. Keeping up the energy and motivation especially on a difficult day is also hard – we really lean on each other.

In terms of rewards, there’s nothing better than hearing positive feedback about something you’ve created from scratch. Nothing. When someone tells us they loved the event, met a new friend, or went away with a new skill/perspective on their lives… we literally do a happy dance! 

It’s wonderful being able to tailor the business around our personal lives so we have the flexibility to do kid drop-offs and be there for all the school activities. I do not miss having to ask permission to come in at 9:15 am so I can drop my daughter at school. 

Photo by Studio Something

How do you put together your program and decide what and who to feature?

MIRIAM: There’s so much noise out there in the parenting space, so we want to stand out with interesting, thought-provoking content. I use the same skills I did as a radio producer, and ask the questions: ‘Is it a compelling story?', 'Are they good talent?’ We use a general litmus test, ‘Is this something/someone that would inspire and excite us?’ If it doesn’t, it’s out. We can’t sell that.

JOSIE: We do lots of research and spend time talking to others about what they are interested in and the topics parents are grappling with. We also regularly survey our parents to find out what really motivates them.
 

How important is it for creatives to connect with other likeminded people?

MIRIAM: So important! I often forget this as we get so focused on the nitty gritty of each event. It’s easy to get bogged down in the practical details and lose sight of the bigger vision. Then I’ll have a coffee with another business owner creative and suddenly be filled with excitement and ideas once again. You never know where a conversation will take you… also these connections are a great space to vent and normalise the challenges we all have to deal with.
 

How do you make time for creativity in your day-to-day lives?

MIRIAM: I’m passionate about books and long-form journalism. I was inspired by Lorelei Vashti who replaced Facebook with a subscription New Yorker app on her phone. It’s totally cut down my Facebook use (Instagram is a work in progress). I’m a podcast obsessive which I squeeze in while cooking/cleaning up and hustling the kids around. My current favourite is Invisibilia.

Josie loves to blog. She’s a prolific writer and finds it really therapeutic… I have no idea where she finds the time!

Photo by Studio Something

You both are juggling a creative business and family – do you have any tips about making it all work?

JOSIE: Ha ha, I wish. Designating time for work and kids/family is really important. So it’s good to know how much time in the day you have for work and working out realistically what you can achieve in that time. Because there are two of us, it does make it easier to lean in and lean out when kids get sick or there is something happening at the kids’ school.

I recommend having an open and honest conversation with your partner about the load they will pick up regarding childcare. It’s tempting to load it up on the small business owner who works from home! But this isn’t good for business, family or your sanity.
 

Who are some other creative women who are inspiring you at the moment?

JOSIE: Miriam! Also Uldouz Van Eenoo from The Mother’s Den. I just finished her Success Circle and it was a brilliant experience.

MIRIAM: I’m inspired by women who are honest about the mess and chaos of life and kids, but still manage to be brave, create and get sh*t done. The designer Elke Kramer, artist Emily Besser and all-round creative Johanna Bell are friends who energise me in this way.  
 

What would you say to other women considering starting their own creative business?

JOSIE: Just do it. It’s OK to have high ideals but be conscious about whether any of those high ideals are stopping you from just getting going. Nothing is ever perfect and you have to be prepared to adapt and change the business as you go. Talk to as many people as you can – but like all the advice people give new mothers, you must work out what advice works for you and where your values are before you can decide what path to follow. Not everyone’s advice will work for you. But equally if someone gives you advice that you don’t like, ask yourself why this rankles you – does it highlight a shortcoming you’re not ready to address or is it just bad advice?
 

What can workshop participants expect when they come to a Kin & Kind event?

JOSIE: All our events are different. The common thread is that each one connects and (hopefully) inspires parents to engage their post-baby brain, start conversations and laugh. It’s not to say that parents don’t do those things daily, but this is about giving parents permission and tools to be more than just someone’s mum or dad.
 

What do you hope for the future of Kin & Kind?

JOSIE: Is global domination not enough? In all seriousness, what we want is for Kin & Kind to be part of a change movement that supports, encourages and makes it possible for all parents to feel comfortable taking time out for themselves. We strongly believe that when parents look after themselves and invest in themselves, it is good for them and good for their kids. As long as that happens, we will be happy.

Website / Facebook / Instagram (@hellokinandkind)

Kate Shannon is a freelance writer based in Brisbane after many years living in Darwin. She spends a lot of her time in the garden with her two little girls, and loves writing and learning about creative people, flowers, and plants.    

Photography by Asch Creative (first photo) and Studio Something (

EVENT RECAP: How to maintain longevity in the arts

Inspiration was in full supply at last week’s CWC Sydney panel event—‘Longevity in the Arts’—presented by CWC members Fiona Chandler and Saffron Craig to a full room at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum in Sydney.

Amanda Penrose Hart had everyone laughing with tales of her journey as a visual artist, from its rocky beginning—‘I had to get a taxi to my [art school] interview because my parents refused to drive me’—to her current status as a respected contemporary painter.

Amanda shared a wealth of practical tips, from reinvesting half of all earnings into materials so you can always ‘keep going’ to setting aside enough money for GST; having your work ‘gallery ready’ 2–3 months before a show to allow for photography and publicity; and always working with more than one gallery. ‘Don’t be satisfied with one space,’ she advised. ‘Always try to get more. Remember, the gallery is working for you—you’re not working for the gallery.’

Much of Amanda’s work is inspired by trips around the world with a group of other artists. Her favourite way to travel with wet oil paintings? Stack them in back-to-back pairs with sticks used as spacers to prop up each pair, then wrap the whole stack in cling wrap, secure it with masking tape, and pack it in a suitcase.

Next up was actor, coach, and visual artist Amy Kersey, who kept the laughter going with tips for sustaining yourself in a creative career, including working other jobs, having variety in your work, and, most importantly, learning from mistakes and flukes. ‘You have to create the optimal environment for mistakes,’ she laughed. ‘Really go for something on your own terms and let yourself make a really big mistake.’

Amy talked about balancing the fine line between making work your client needs and honoring your creativity, sharing her version of the serenity prayer: ‘May the universe grant me the discipline to deliver the work as it needs to be, the courage to let it be what it wants to be, and the presence in the moment to know the difference.’

The last speaker was Katherine Roberts, curator of the Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAGM), who exuded enthusiasm for her work enabling artists and developing and managing exhibitions. ‘My work provides a genuine creative outlet, even though I’m not an artist,’ she said. Having known from the age of 17 that she wanted to work with artists, she landed early at the MAGM and expressed great gratitude for her long tenure there. ‘I love it every day,’ she smiled.

Fiona Chandler, Amy Kersey, Saffron Craig and Amanda Penrose

Closing the evening, Fiona Chandler looked back on the past couple years of organising speakers for this panel. ‘The crux of the message is that it’s all about opportunities, saying “yes” to things, and being brave.’

For more about Amanda Penrose Hart, visit her website or follow her on Instagram (@amanda_penrose_hart). Amy Kersey can be found at her coaching website, on Facebook, and on Instagram (@kerseyink). To learn more about Katherine Roberts, check out her profile on LinkedIn.

Julie Mazur Tribe is an editor and book-publishing consultant who loves working with authors, books, and creative ideas. She can be found at BrooklynBookStudio.com and on Instagram at @brooklynbookstudio.

Photos by Saffron Craig.

Time management for creatives

It is so easy to get swept up in what you are doing, losing track of time whilst you’re creatively busying away. Try these time management tips to see if you can become more productive and efficient and make the most of your workday.

Schedule

Before you get stuck in what you are creating, use the first thirty minutes of each day to plan which tasks you need to complete and briefly review the rest of the week ahead. Give yourself a break every 90 minutes to refresh your brain and keep yourself going.

Positive task lists

Write each task in your to-do list in the past tense, as if you’ve already done it. So instead of ‘Design research and concepts,’ call it ‘Research and concepts submitted.’ Help yourself succeed before you start. Think about each task you’re about to begin and work out what you want to achieve in the set timeframe. At the end of each task, review it to see if the desired result was achieved.

Priority order

Group related tasks together and do the most important tasks first. The most important thing might not be the most enjoyable, but that isn’t how you are prioritising the list. Try doing this first thing in the morning, when most of us are the most productive.

Time limit

Put a time limit on your tasks, giving yourself a maximum of 90 minutes to solidly work on each one at a time. If you work longer, make sure you have a break every 90 minutes. Setting constraints will make you more focused and, hopefully, more efficient.

Avoid distractions

Focus completely on the task at hand and train yourself to ignore distractions. Practice not answering the phone or emails. Turn them off and focus. If people are coming up to you, send a ‘do not disturb’ signal by putting on headphones, posting a sign, or going into a different room.

Use your calendar

A calendar isn’t just for scheduling meetings. Put in your deadlines and blocks of time to focus on certain tasks. Take responsibility for each hour of your day by scheduling what you need to do where and when, then follow it. Even if you don’t feel like doing it at that allocated time, just start it and follow your plan.

Be early

Approach your deadlines by planning to complete and submit the creative at least a day early. Put yourself ahead before you even begin.

Emails

Don’t spend ages sifting through emails. Speed up your communications by having your inbox organised. File messages into folders that suit you—such as by clients’ names, ‘urgent,’ ‘needs action,’ ‘complete,’ and so on. If you’re using Gmail, try installing Boomerang, which enables you to write emails in advance and schedule them to be sent at a later date. You can also put a hold on emails coming in whilst you’re working so you don’t get distracted.

Do less

Only do what is important; don’t focus on unimportant details. Don’t try and multitask, just do one thing at a time.

Move

Keep your body moving. You don’t have to be a gym junkie—it can be as easy as going for a walk or taking the stairs instead of the lift. Not only does movement clear your head and enable you to focus, but studies have also linked a healthy lifestyle to better work productivity.

Jes is a ‘practical creative,’ managing the business end of a digital agency and working as an artist and university lecturer. Follow Jes on Instagram (@paper_chap).