Creative Thursday with Marisa

What if the reason you're not moving forward isn't about motivation?
What if clarity is simply the domino that needs to fall first - and nobody helped you find it?
 
In this episode, I'm sharing a realization that's been building for years but finally got crystal clear this week - through three coaching calls, a hot seat, and a sentence I kept hearing from every Artist I spoke with.
 
This one is personal, a little vulnerable, and exactly what I needed to say out loud.
 
In this episode, you'll discover:
The one sentence every Artist I've coached lately has said - and what it's really telling us
Why knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different problems - and what bridges the gap
The three reasons Artists stay stuck: the shiny squirrel, perfectionism disguised as preparation, and doing it alone
Why I've shifted from "I help Artists make money" to something more honest - and more useful
Why clarity is the domino that knocks over all the other dominoes
The strawberry first principle - and why I reversed the productivity advice everyone gives
What it really means to stop spinning - and why you don't have to figure it out alone
An invitation: come do this together
 
Nothing's gone wrong. You are exactly where you're meant to be.
Ready to stop spinning and start deciding - together?
 
The Six Month Studio Plan - a live 5-day bootcamp - starts May 17.
Register at sixmonthstudioplan.com
 
You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday at:
creativethursday.com
Instagram: @creativethursday

What if the conversation we really need to have as Artists isn't "online education sucks"…
 
…but what we believe about money, marketing, and what's actually possible for us?
 
In this episode, I'm celebrating 22 years in business and speaking from a place I've held back from for a while: a little spice, a lot of honesty, and a deep desire to bring nuance to a conversation that keeps getting flattened into hot takes.
This episode was inspired by an important conversation happening right now, about the validity, value, and integrity of online education for creatives, and I'm using it as a jumping-off point to share what I've learned from building an art business through the messy early years, the "nothing is working" years, and the long-game consistency years.
If you've ever wondered:
 
"Is marketing slimy?"
"Is it even possible to make good money as an Artist without selling your soul ?"
"Do online educators actually make money from their art or just teaching?"
"Are courses overpriced?"
 
…this episode will meet you there—and invite you to get curious about what you really believe.
 
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why this conversation is really about beliefs (and how to tell if a belief is serving you)
My honest take on "misleading statements," "toxic positivity," and why nuance matters (two things can be true)
The behind-the-scenes reality of my early years (2004–2007) and why we don't talk enough about the "not making a living yet" part
A blunt perspective on pricing: the $2,000 course debate, art school costs, and why discernment matters more than blanket statements
Why "marketing is slimy" can quietly sabotage your ability to sell your art (and what to do instead)
Why I'm proud of building a sustainable business—first through art sales, and later by building an education business with integrity
 
This episode is part celebration, part behind-the-scenes truth, and part invitation to keep the dialogue going—because I truly believe Artists deserve better conversations around business, money, and possibility.
 
You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday at:
creativethursday.com
Instagram: @creativethursday

What if hearing real Artist stories could be the thing that helps you finally believe…
 
"This is possible for me too."
 
In today's Artist Success Stories episode, you'll meet Mo, Dena, and Emily—three Artists who are building their art businesses in the real world (with real life happening), and finding their way forward with more clarity, consistency, and confidence.
 
This episode is for you if you've been feeling stuck in the messy middle… craving momentum… and wondering what it actually looks like when an Artist decides to take their work (and their selling) seriously—without burning out or becoming someone they're not.
 
In this episode, you'll discover:
What shifted for Mo, Dena, and Emily when they stopped "winging it" and started following a plan
The mindset hurdles that come up when you start putting your work out there (and how they moved through them)
What consistency really looks like when your schedule is full, and your confidence isn't perfect
How to build momentum even if you're starting small
Why your story and your voice matter just as much as your strategy
The powerful role of support, structure, and community when you're growing as an Artist
 
I also want you to listen for the little moments—when an Artist realizes they're not "behind"… they're just ready for a clearer path.
 
Because sometimes the most helpful thing isn't one more tip.
 
Sometimes it's hearing someone else say the exact thing you've been thinking… and watching what happens when they keep going anyway.
Ready to create your own Artist selling plan?
 
Artful Selling is open, and I'd love to welcome you in.
 
Join Artful Selling here:
https://artfulselling.com/
 
 
You can find all things
Miranda (Mo) Miller @stelladorriestudio
Dena Carter @denacarterart
Emily Posey @made_by_emilyposey
 
 
You can find all things
Marisa and Creative Thursday at:
creativethursday.com
Instagram: @creativethursday

What if starting to sell your art (again… or for the first time) could be simpler than you're making it?
 
After 21 years of building a successful art business, I'm sharing the foundational starting point I would choose if I were beginning today—without trying to do everything at once, without performing online, and without burning out.
 
If you've been feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in "I don't know what to focus on first," this episode will help you cut through the noise and choose a direction you can actually follow.
 
In this episode, you'll discover:
The most common reason Artists feel overwhelmed when marketing (and how to fix it)
Why selling your art is about connection, not convincing
The simple "start here" approach I'd follow today to build momentum
How to think in 90-day focus seasons instead of yearly pressure
Why consistency matters more than bursts of motivation (especially when life is full)
How to stop being a "shiny squirrel" and do more of what's actually working
 
I'm also sharing a little behind-the-scenes honesty about the perfection loop so many of us fall into—where we wait until we feel ready… and end up pausing instead of taking action.
Listen through the lens of: "What if this works?"
Because it really can.
 
Ready to create your plan?
 
Join the Profitable Artist Planning Challenge starting January 12 at:
profitableartistchallenge.shinepages.com
 
You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday at:
creativethursday.com
Instagram: @creativethursday

What if you could go from doubting you're a "real artist" to actually getting excited about your weekly newsletter?
In this inspiring Artist Success Stories episode, I'm sharing conversations with three incredible artists - Rochelle, Jessica, and Linda - who've transformed their creative practices and businesses over the past year. These aren't overnight success stories - they're real examples of what consistency and community can create.
 
Meet the artists and discover:
How Rochelle started growing her email list and now wakes up excited about her newsletter content
Why Jessica calls planning "a container for freedom" and how she learned to love every mark in her art - even during the "ugly phase"
How Linda shifted from economics to art and now believes in the possibilities available to her as she builds her art sales on the side
The surprising mindset shift that helped these artists embrace marketing as relationship-building, not selling
Why starting with friends and family as your first collectors is actually a strength, not a limitation
The simple tracking system that helped one artist realize she'd accomplished WAY more than she thought
 
Each of these artists started exactly where you might be now - questioning if they were "good enough," wondering if this could really work, and feeling overwhelmed by all the options. But they found their rhythm through consistency, community, and believing that small steps add up.
 
The common threads? They all found safe, creative communities, committed to small daily actions, and learned that marketing is really just sharing the heart behind their work.
 
Ready to write your own success story? The doors to Artful Selling close June 24th.
 
This intimate program combines practical business skills with AI tools and personalized coaching to help you build a sustainable art business around the work you love most.
 
Join us at artfulselling.com - because every success story starts with someone deciding to begin.
 
You can find all things
Rochelle Colgan @rochellecolganfineart on instagram
Jessica Fritz @jessicafritzart on instagram
Linda Glass @jerabyarts on instagram
 
 
You can find all things Marisa and Creative Thursday creativethursday.com and on instagram @creativethursday