 
### Read What Others Are Saying About the Author, Jeannie Thomma

" _Jeannie has inspired me for years with her radiant spirit of positive thinking, her amazing creativity and talent, and ability to help others nurture their own creative spark. A true healer, Jeannie's insights and skills go deep and she is generous beyond belief in sharing her gifts to be there for you at every step. She glows with profound beauty inside and out, and knows how to help you shine too!"_  
~Anne Doris-Eisner, Artist & Teacher

" _Jeannie_ is _a genie when it comes to creativity! Not only in the way she so expertly guides us to the great, beautiful truth that we're all creative or that she shares twenty years teaching and a life time of being an artist herself, but Jeannie knows what it takes to keep going, to face fear and self doubt, to remove creative blocks, to fully support yourself - and she shares her knowledge with a warmth of spirit and generosity such as I've seldom encountered. It's one thing to have an idea of how you'd like your life to look, creatively speaking, and it's another to see it through. Jeannie is simply fabulous!"_  
~Lisa Fernyhough, Author & Poet

" _Jeannie Thomma is one of the most inspiring women I have ever met. Her creative spark cannot be measured, nor can her generous heart be described with adequate words. She has supported me in many creative endeavors, aided in my growth as a person and as an artist, guided me to share my story and has been a beacon of light in some of my most difficult moments. She is truly a gift to the universe and her work in this world will no doubt have a lasting impact on anyone who is lucky enough to experience it."_  
~Jennifer Mazzucco, Bhakti Artist & Educator

### Brave Artist: Getting the Work Done

Jeannie Thomma

Published by Jeannie Thomma at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 by Jeannie Thomma

Discover other titles by Jeannie Thomma at Smashwords.com:  
<http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jeanniethomma>

Visit the author website: http://www.jeanniethomma.com

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

### Table of Contents

Letter To The Reader  
Practice 1: Mind Your Mind  
Practice 2: Assess Your Beliefs  
Practice 3: Invest in Yourself  
Practice 4: Create Your Environment  
Practice 5: Go to Your Studio  
Practice 6: Find Your Tribe  
Practice 7: Increase Your Visibility  
Closing Thoughts  
About the Author  
[Bonus Material  
](tmp_f509dcd29f0a7dff0fd6cdbcbb7a558c_4ddS1q.ch.fixed.fc.tidied.stylehacked.xfixed_split_001.html#BonusMaterial)Share This Book

### Letter To The Reader

_"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."_ ~Vincent van Gogh

We do not become artists.  
We are born artists.  
What we become are believers.

This is a book about belief, the belief that lives inside of you.

Now is your time. There will never be a better moment than now, to identify and remove your creative blocks. As you do, you will step out of the shadows and walk into your life as a fully expressed creative genius. This transformational process will create a path for you to get your creative work done.

Let's begin to unmask your creative genius, together...

Believe with me. Come. Believe yourself from here to there. Believe yourself into the now of your life as a brave and thriving artist.

_"Who you are and what you do should be no more than a hair's breath apart."_ ~Buddha

### Why?

I believe that inside of you lives a bold and brave form of creative expression that is uniquely your own. I like to think of it as your creative brilliance. For most of us, unmasking our creative brilliance requires that we take a journey, a pilgrimage to the very center of our being. This journey requires great courage, a willingness to stay close to your own heart and to listen to the messages and teachings that you receive from deep within your soul.

It is not uncommon to begin the journey, only to abandon it before reaching your destination, distracted by the sirens of both the internal and external world. This is often the plight of the artist. What the Brave Artist like you requires is far more than just talent. You must posses a deep and unwavering faith in your vision, your future, and the best version of yourself that you are calling into being with every waking moment.

The challenge is to stay the course, to remain on the Brave Artist path. In the pages ahead, you'll learn how to summon your courage, wrap yourself in an invisible cloak of faith, and step back into the unknown, where you can re-discover your own creative brilliance.

With so much information available today, it is easy to get caught in the trap of looking outside of yourself for "the answers." When misguided by the false belief that your answers exist outside of yourself, you can feel confused and full of doubt. The truth is that all of the answers live inside of you. They are always there, waiting for you to turn your attention toward them.

The seeds of your tomorrow are already alive within you. All that is required is for you to step onto your own path, and allow the light that exists within you to lead you one discovery at a time into your future. The strength, wisdom and creativity living inside of you will never be known until you actively choose to let it come forth. But "getting the work done" runs deeper than simply showing up in your studio. Instead, it beckons you to show up fully present, to every aspect of your life. "Getting the work done" is a process of waking up. Part of waking up means placing the creative commitments you've made to yourself above all of the circumstances that concern and distract you.

_Brave Artist_ is designed to offer artists and other creative souls the gentle guidance needed to remember and remain true to your life's path...to build your belief one practice at a time.

### How This Book Works

In the pages ahead, you will be introduced to 7 _Brave Artist Practices_. Together, these practices will help you to create your very own guidance system. With your personal "map" in hand and heart, you will have the tools necessary to make your journey and fully embrace your creative spirit, so that you can step into your life as the Brave Artist you came here to be.

You will learn how to manage your fears and doubts, to create new habits that will support you in unmasking your creative genius. We'll look at the "Why" of your creative life—why you do what you do—to identify and break through limiting beliefs and old patterns that are keeping you stuck, or small, or not completely expressed. This will empower you and give you the courage and tools needed to live your life as a brave and thriving artist.

You will be introduced, one-by-one, to the 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ that will support you in identifying and removing your creative blocks. Each of these practices will gently guide you through the process of unmasking your creative genius, leading you to your ultimate destination: full ownership of your creative power.

The 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ are designed to help you to master two fundamental "believing" skills that are essential for your development as a creative genius: maintaining a positive mindset _and_ the art of self-inquiry.

The 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ are built upon a foundation of questions. This is purposeful. New questions have the power to lead us to new answers and better questions. In fact, the questions themselves hold all the answers. What's important is not how I would answer the questions, what's important is how you will answer them. Dig deep as you do. You will literally be mining for gold within yourself.

_"The lesson which life repeats and constantly enforces is 'look underfoot'. You are nearer the divine and the true sources of yourself than you think."_ ~John Burroughs

Throughout this book, you'll also find invitations to participate in creative challenges. I call them _Acts of Bravery_ and each is designed to help you to discover new solutions by thinking and acting differently, all the while building upon your innate strengths (exercising your Right Brain), and drawing you back into alignment with your creative core. When you accept the challenges presented in the _Acts of Bravery_ that are sprinkled throughout this book, you'll be required to stretch yourself. I can guarantee that doing so will help you to grow. I encourage to participate in each of them.

Be prepared to _be brave_ as you answer the questions ahead—remember this is your truth, your journey. Your honest reflections will lead you to life-changing discoveries. And each discovery will support you in identifying and removing your creative blocks, freeing up your energy to "get the work done."

_"The important thing is not to stop questioning."_ ~Albert Einstein

### What You'll Need

1. A Journal  
2. Patience  
3. Commitment

You'll need a journal to document the discoveries you make on this journey. I've created a complimentary journal as a companion piece to this book. In it you'll find all of the questions from the pages ahead and plenty of space to write your responses and thoughts. I've also included some special bonuses in the journal that I think you'll enjoy! The journal is yours for the asking. Just send me an email with the words "Brave Artist Journal" in the subject line. Mailto:braveartist@jeanniethomma.com. Then watch your inbox. I'll send you a free, downloadable _Brave Artist Journal_ to print out, in which you can record and witness your own growth. Your journal has been formatted to fit beautifully into a 3-ring binder.

You'll also need patience. Each of the 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ will offer you tools and inspiration for growing beyond your current circumstances. As you begin to recognize and accept the fact that your circumstances will always be in flux, you will develop the clarity necessary to be lead by the artistic commitments you've made to yourself, focusing your energy and attention on these deep truths. These commitments come from your soul, the core of your essential self. When you show up as yourself, grounded in your creativity, you will feel a power in your belly that is ancient, wise and intuitive. Trust it. It is the only true guidance system you will ever need.

I encourage you to begin acting on the discoveries you make in each of the 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ immediately, as you uncover them. And keep this in mind: _Most lasting change occurs as a result of taking small, incremental steps, rather than one huge, unsustainable leap._

Be patient with yourself. Your habits of thought have been developed and formed over the course of your lifetime...they cannot be reversed over night. That said, small changes made on a daily basis have enormous power, and are capable of launching you on fantastic new journeys.

_"True life is lived when tiny changes occur."_ ~Leo Tolstoy

One more thought about commitments. Embarking on the journey of a Brave Artist requires that you make a big commitment to yourself. It's essential that you recognize and honor this commitment as you set out on your path of self-inquiry and discovery. _Here's why_...I truly believe that your creativity is your life's work. It is a thread that runs through your being and defines your spirit. It existed before you were born, and it will continue beyond this life. What's important is for you to follow that thread. It will keep you in complete alignment with your soul.

The 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ that you are about to learn will help you to get back to the core of your creative being, removing the obstacles that keep you separated from your essential self. Each of the _Brave Artist Practices_ is "simple" and yet, not always easy. I have every faith in your ability to successfully master all of the practices. However, I believe it's important for you to expect to encounter some bumps in the road. When you do, remember this: every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise. That's worth repeating: _every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise._

### A Note of Encouragement

You need not take this journey alone. As you work to master the 7 _Brave Artist Practices_ , I invite you to connect with me and other Brave Artists for additional real-time support. You can learn more about the community and creative inspiration available to you (including weekly meditations that I've written and recorded just for artists) when you go to my website, http://www.jeanniethomma.com. I believe you'll find these resources valuable to your growth and expansion as a Brave Artist. It's my pleasure to share them with you. I look forward to connecting with you in the days and weeks ahead.

I celebrate you and your courage, as you actively unmask your brilliance, and take full ownership and responsibility for your creative power.

In the words of Rumi~ _"Let the beauty we love be what we do."_

Continue to Be Brave.  
I Believe in You.

With Love and Respect,

Jeannie Thomma  
_The Creativity Genie_

### Practice 1: Mind Your Mind

_"With our thoughts we make the world."_ ~Buddha

Minding your mind has many layers. As a Brave Artist, the first step in minding your mind is staying committed to your creativity. What does that mean? Being committed to your own creativity means working to protect it and nurture its expansion. It means falling absolutely head-over-heels in love with your vision. Imagine feeling so much passion for your art that nothing could take you off track or get in your way. When you decide to commit to your creativity, the world will open itself to you in ways that will fill you with wonder and awe. You will _soar_.

A deep sense of focus and purpose are essential when minding your mind. In order to establish and maintain focus, you'll need to determine your "Why." What drives you? Why do you feel a deep need to create? Which of your thoughts and actions support your desire to create, and which ones are obstacles to your creative process? Your answers to these and other questions will give you the clues needed to clear your path for pure, brave and bountiful artistic expression.

Minding your mind will allow you to live from your strengths and establish creative boundaries that support your vision. When you do this, you will be in alignment with your core energy: The Brave Artist that lives in you, and you will deepen the love and respect you have for yourself. You will unmask your artistic brilliance.

Deciding to mind your mind is the first step. Actually doing it is the next.

Let us start at the very beginning. The thoughts you think determine the way that you feel. How you feel determines the frequency at which you vibrate. And how you vibrate determines what you attract. You will always attract more of whatever you are currently feeling and thinking about.

_So what are you thinking about?_ You're about to find out...and you may be surprised by some of the discoveries you make.

The following questions will show you where your "energy leaks" are. Energy leaks are any thoughts that keep you from feeling energized, and vibrating at a high frequency. Answer the questions honestly, and you will have a very good idea of how, when and where you are leaking energy. Once you've identified the culprits, you can create new habits of thought to replace the old ones. Your new habits of thought will validate and support your new story: You are a Brave Artist.

### Act of Bravery

Welcome to your Brave Artist adventure, a journey of personal transformation.

It all starts here—with you.

In preparation for the important work that you'll be doing, I suggest that you record your notes and discoveries in a dedicated journal. There is great power in the written word. Use that power to your benefit. As you move through the pages ahead, don't just think about your answers. Do write them down. You'll be so glad that you did!

You can print out and use the journal that I provide as a free download. I've also included some special bonuses in the journal that I think you'll enjoy! Here's how: send me an email with the words "Brave Artist Journal" in the subject line. Mailto:braveartist@jeanniethomma.com. Your free _Brave Artist Journal_ will be delivered to your inbox.

_"Cherish your vision and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."_ ~Napoleon Hill

### 1. Mind Your Mind: Boundaries

When you are fully committed to your own creative expression, you'll establish boundaries that honor the Brave Artist that you are at your core. In order to say Yes to your creative brilliance, learning to live from your strengths becomes essential, as does saying No to everything that does not keep you in alignment with who you are at your core. Boundaries will keep you honest with yourself. You may feel it's a stretch to create more boundaries, that's ok. Growth of every kind, creative included, requires that you stretch beyond your comfort zone, again and again.

What boundaries do you have in place to protect your need to create? Do you enforce these boundaries, or do you have a difficult time saying _Yes_ to yourself?

Identify times when you've put the needs or wants of others before your own creative commitments. How did that make you feel? How have you responded to these feelings?

How could you handle things differently in the future to protect your creative space? What would happen if you began to reframe your thinking, shifting away from any negativity and instead, moving your thoughts toward a deep understanding that taking time to make your art is an act of love?

" _How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone."_ ~Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel

### Act of Bravery

Rent and watch the documentary film, "Who Does She Think She Is?" It's the story of 5 women, each passionately pursuing her art, while simultaneously seeking to find balance in her own family or relationship. It's an eye opening and inspiring look at women who are bravely answering the call of their inner artist. Along the way they each discover how empowering it is to establish clear boundaries that protect their creative space.

You can watch the film's trailer here: http://www.whodoesshethinksheis.net

After you view the film, take some time to journal about it. What moved, inspired, frightened or resonated with you? Give yourself enough writing time to let all of your thoughts and emotions out onto the page. This is a very powerful film, and will likely bring lots of feelings to the surface for you.

" _This film is not about being a woman or being a woman artist but rather how to be human, how to find your place in life."_ ~Jean Murphy, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, Wellesley Centers for Women

### 2. Mind Your Mind: Identifying Doubts

Worry and doubt will create enormous energy leaks in every aspect of your being: emotional, physical and spiritual. Any energy leaks will challenge your ability to show up and be fully present to your life as a creator. Ironically, when you develop the discipline necessary to _show up no matter what_ , the creative process itself will help you to keep doubt and worry at bay. The reason? Doubt and worry are fear based, whereas the act of creativity is rooted in love. The two, fear and love, cannot exist simultaneously. Focus your attention on the love (your creative process), and the fear (worry and doubt) must dissolve.

Do you spend time worrying or doubting? About what? Make a list. List everything that occupies your mind, about art and the rest of your life. Note how you feel in your body when revisiting these thoughts.

For example: I'm worried about how I'm going to pay all of my bills this month. This makes me feel tense and tired. Or, I doubt if that gallery will want to represent me, most of the artists they show have so much more experience and talent than I do. This makes me feel sad, and defeated and uncertain of where to even begin.

_"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith."_ ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

### Act of Bravery

Consciously work to transform negative thoughts of doubt or worry into positive, empowering thoughts. Be an observer of yourself. Take note of your thought processes. In your notebook, keep a list of any negative thoughts you have throughout the day and how they make you feel. This will help you to identify your energy leaks. As you collect this data about yourself, rewrite any negative thoughts by turning them into positives. Notice how reframing your thoughts can powerfully shift your experiences.

For Example:

_Negative Thought:_ I doubt if that gallery will want to represent me, most of the artists they show have so much more experience and talent than I do. I cringe at the thought of even approaching them. This makes me feel sad, and defeated and uncertain of where to even begin.

_Positive, Transformed Thought:_ I am a brave and talented artist. The work that I make comes from my soul and is an expression of who I am. I have a responsibility to myself to share my work and find my audience. I'm a creative person. I can use my creativity seek out new opportunities to exhibit my work. My faith in myself as an artist puts my mind at ease. I feel confident in my ability to attract and create abundance.

_"Just one idea can completely revolutionize your life."_ ~Earl Nightengale

### 3. Mind Your Mind: The Vibration of Your Thoughts

You are in charge of the messages that you allow to enter your mind space every day. All of them affect your thought process. Some will strengthen you, while others will make you weaker.

As an artist, you are a creator. Your job is to create your own way in this world. Minding your mind is a daily process, and it is directly linked to the thoughts you are thinking. Know it to be true in your heart that you are here to express yourself, to share your art with the world. There is no line you can stand in to get permission to Be You. There is no person who can give you permission to be an Artist, other than you. Believe this to be so, and actively fill yourself up with messages that affirm your vision. Consider the fact that your own thoughts are the most powerful messages of all.

Who or what are you listening to? How do these messages make you feel? If they don't support you in feeling good, chances are they are contributing to more leaks in your energy system.

Who or what else could you be listening to that would raise the vibration of your thoughts?

_"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."_ ~Georgia O'Keeffe

### Act of Bravery

Nurturing your mind is a continual process. It's your responsibility to actively seek out inspiration.

Rent, borrow or buy a collection of audio recordings that will keep you in a positive frame of mind. Most local libraries have a wonderful selection available.

Put yourself in the constant company of expansive thinkers.

Participate in a mastermind group that will get you in the habit of thinking big, empowered thoughts about yourself as an artist and as a person. I have one called the Brave Artist Creative Mastermind. Or, consider starting one of your own!

Let your goal be to surround yourself and be inspired by a tribe of other Brave Artists who, like you, are committed to their creative growth.

_"Invent your world. Surround yourself with people, color, sounds and work that nourish you."_ ~SARK

### 4. Mind Your Mind: Framing Your Day

The sliver of time between wakefulness and sleep are magical moments, alive with an energy that represents both your intentions and your dreams. By honoring these sacred windows of energy through simple rituals, you will be affirming and strengthening the creative channel that you have access to as you enter and exit your dreamtime.

How do you start and end each day? Imagine creating a Brave Artist ritual that would frame your daytime and dreamtime thoughts. What would your ritual look like, sound like, feel like?

Could you record a mantra to play for yourself upon waking every morning and before retiring each night? What are the words that you would want to hear? _Think of this process as the act of writing a love letter to the creative genius that lives in you (and is your essence!)_

What other rituals can you establish that will support and reinforce your creative truth?

_"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."_ ~Eleanor Roosevelt

### 5. Mind Your Mind: Curiosity

Curiosity is your mind's natural state. Curiosity is the seed that lives at the core of all your growth and expansion as an artist and a human being. And unless you continue to expand, you will contract. Curiosity then, is an essential component and harbinger of your creative expression. Taking time to consciously nurture your own creative spirit by becoming more curious about your world is a powerful way to mind your mind.

What are your curious about?

Consider the ways in which you can become more curious about life and all of the beauty and wonder that it holds. What do you want to know more about? Where can you go to get your answers? Who can you ask for help?

Make a list of questions for yourself--carry them around with you. Set aside some time to ask your questions. Have fun being more inquisitive!

_"What have you been wondering about?"_ ~Shakti Gawain

### 6. Mind Your Mind: Collecting Stories

As an artist, you are a storyteller. And stories heal. They are like an energy medicine, a healing balm for soul and spirit...yours and your viewers. The stories that you choose or are compelled to tell hold a great power in them. It's good to remind yourself of how truly transformational stories can be. And it's important that you share them often.

Where do you gather your stories? Are all of the stories you tell your own? What are the recurring messages or themes that run through your stories?

How do you share what is extraordinary about you and your life experiences in the stories that live in your art?

Are there any stories dancing about in your mind that you have yet to tell? What is keeping you from sharing them? What form could they take? Tap into your imagination...let it guide you.

_"If you believe, you begin to look. And you begin to see what has been there all the time."_ ~Sue Bender

### 7. Mind Your Mind: Befriending Uncertainty

Your habits of thought determine the reality that you create for yourself. Creative expansion and growth often require leaving the shores of certainty behind. For many artists, venturing into the unknown can be an uncomfortable process, but it needn't stop you in your tracks. Sometimes, taking even a small creative risk can help you to break through your feelings of uncertainty, and set you on a path of great discovery.

Consider this important question: are there some risks that you can't afford _not_ to take? If so, what are they?

How do you feel about uncertainty? What makes you feel uncertain?

What does it look and feel like when you are passionately pursuing your dreams?

Can you identify ways in which you may be inhibiting your own growth as a Brave Artist because of a fear of uncertainty?

How can you begin to think differently in order to make friends with uncertainty?

What do you imagine would / could change as a result of your new way of thinking?

_"You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare."_ ~Georgia O'Keeffe

### 8. Mind Your Mind: The Power of Presence

Your life is happening right now. And so is your art.

As a Brave Artist, you can choose to open a window to your soul, and radiate the beauty that is your energy, through your creations—the objects that find life in your hands. When the inspiration for those objects of art is drawn from the daily events of your own life—the very things that are crossing your path today, then you will know for sure that you are tapped into your creative source and awake to _this_ moment.

How present are you? In what situations are you able to _be_ fully present? In what situations do you find yourself distracted, unfocused, attempting to multi-task?

What would happen in you committed to doing only one thing at a time—in both thought and action? Experiment with this. What do you anticipate will happen?

What obstacles currently exist that keep you from being fully present—to your art and to your life? If you knew how to remove these obstacles, how would you do it?

_"The quieter you become, the more you can hear."_ ~Baba Ram Dass

Practice 1: Mind Your Mind Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in the first _Brave Artist Practice: Mind Your Mind?_

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. As you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance.

This is the story of _You_ stepping into your life as a brave and thriving artist.

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

What else...?

" _The world is before you and you need not take it or leave it as it was when you came in."_ ~James Baldwin

### Practice 2: Assess Your Beliefs

_"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."_ ~Lao-tzu

Your beliefs determine your actions. Understanding this concept is critical to creating change. When your beliefs are consistent with your desires, you will own your creative power.

Often times, your beliefs will have been handed down to you. However, just because you've been holding onto them for a long time, doesn't necessarily mean that they are serving you well. Your job is to determine which of your beliefs you've outgrown. By removing the old, worn out beliefs, you'll be making room for new beliefs that will support you in growing into your most authentic and brilliant self: a beautiful, fully expressed, Brave Artist.

A few thoughts on Beliefs:

Some beliefs come from the energy of love, while other beliefs are rooted in fear.  
Being a Brave Artist is an act of self-love.  
Loving yourself means owning your creative power.  
Owning your creative power is a _mindset._  
Your mindset is created by your thoughts and your thoughts mirror your beliefs.  
Your beliefs ultimately determine your actions.

What do you Believe?

Believing that you are a Brave Artist takes courage.  
Courage requires determination, passion, faith and love.  
Courage is nothing more than a decision.  
But it is a decision that only _you_ can make.  
In any moment, you can decide to _begin_.  
When you do, you will awaken the Brave Artist that lives in You.

Are you ready to Believe?

The questions that follow will help you to identify your beliefs—the limiting ones and the empowering ones. Be as honest as you can when answering them— _Be You_. Your answers will guide and support you as you build a new and stronger set of beliefs for yourself.

As you begin, know this: Your creative power is as limitless as you believe it to be. When you live only according to beliefs that empower you, the Brave Artist in you will be free to step out of the shadows and into the light.

### 9. Assess Your Beliefs: Your Money Story

Many artists have grown up under the false belief that the myth of the starving artist is the only story available to them. As such, one of two outcomes often occurs. In the first, the path of the artist is pursued, but their belief in the myth runs so deep, that their expectations are only of financial struggle, and so that is exactly what they create. In the second outcome, pursuit of the arts is abandoned out of fear instilled by the myth, and an alternate career usurps all of the time and energy that might have fueled a passionately successful life as an artist.

Of course, there is a place that exists between these two extremes. It's important to identify where you land in this spectrum of belief, and how it may be impacting your work as an artist. Is the grip of the starving artist myth keeping you from taking the bold and necessary leaps that will catapult you into a life of fully expressed creative brilliance?

Take a close look at your _money story_. What false beliefs are you holding onto about money?

It's essential that you take the time to dig deep here and get really clear on your money story. Now is the time for you to identify any and all limiting beliefs that are standing in the way of you living your brilliance as a Brave Artist. This is your opportunity to let go of any and all negative, disempowering beliefs that you have about money.

Without judging yourself, just write. List as many of your limiting money beliefs as you can. This is a challenging area for many artists and it's not uncommon to have quite a lengthy list.

Examples:

I can't make a living as an artist.  
If I follow my (he)art, I'll end up as a broke and "starving artist."  
Money doesn't grow on trees.  
I have to work hard for my money.  
To make money, I have to trade hours for dollars.

_"Mistakes are the portals of discovery."_ ~James Joyce

### 10. Assess Your Beliefs: Abundance

Abundance is your natural state. Often, what's required to _call-in_ abundance is that you find a way to surrender to it. That might sound counter-intuitive. But consider this: when you step into the flow of your creative life, instead of constantly swimming against the current, life will get easier. When in flow, you can expect opportunities to appear; synchronicities to abound, and that you'll keep on meeting all the right people. I'm not suggesting that there will not be challenges along the way, there will. But, when you are living in alignment with your soul, and following your own intuitive guidance, your path will be made known to you.

Trusting your intuition is an essential component of allowing your life to be in flow. There is no magic potion for attracting abundance, nor is there a linear formula that will assure you of success. Each of us has our own path. Your job as a Brave Artist is to discover your creative path and follow it with wild abandon.

Let's take a look at the beliefs you have about money that are based in truth: _abundance_.

What are your beliefs about money that are empowering and unlimited in nature?

Now is your opportunity to create a _new_ , stronger money story. List at least 20 beliefs that reflect your knowledge and understanding that money is a renewable resource (these may be beliefs that you already hold, or that you intend to adopt as your own...starting today).

Examples:

I am a money magnet.  
I am generously compensated for the beautiful works of art that I create.  
Money is a renewable resource and it's always there for me, every day.  
As an artist, I enjoy living an abundant life, and always have more than enough money.

_"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."_ ~from the Tao

### Act of Bravery

A powerful step in shifting the paradigm around your money beliefs is to read your new list of "abundant money beliefs" aloud, twice a day. Give yourself the challenge of doing this for 30-60-90 consecutive days. Consciously keep track (written records are suggested!) of the many miracles of abundance that continue to show up in your life.

_"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."_ ~Albert Einstein

### 11. Assess Your Beliefs: What Keeps You Small?

Taking a step away from what's familiar into the landscape of the unknown can be daunting. After all, change requires that you step beyond your comfort zone, leaving behind the apparent safety of what is and entering the vast unknown, trusting that you will find or create your way forward. This requires you to be wide-awake, completely present to each moment, and totally connected to your inner guidance system. When travelling the path of the Brave Artist, it's important to allow your intuition to be your compass.

Limiting beliefs arise when you turn off or distance yourself from your intuition, causing you to fall out of alignment with your essential creative core. As such, they are actually amazing warning systems, designed to alert you when you have wandered off course. The good news is that by identifying and then removing your limiting beliefs, you will be back on the path to living your life as a fully expressed Brave Artist.

What limiting beliefs do you hold about yourself as an artist?

Be specific. List 20 ways of thinking that have been keeping you small in some way. Again, try not to judge yourself as you go through this process. I encourage you to approach this exercise as if you are an outside observer.

What negative beliefs have you witnessed taking up space in your mind that are keeping you from living the life of a fully expressed Brave Artist?

Examples:

My family won't approve of me becoming an artist.  
I don't have enough experience as an artist yet to exhibit my work.  
My work isn't good enough to sell--no one would pay money for it.  
If I shared this work, people would laugh at me.  
I don't have enough time to make art.  
Who am I fooling, I'm not really an artist, sooner or later I'm going to be discovered for the fake I really am.

_"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more powerful than the risk it took to blossom."_ ~Anais Nin

### 12. Assess Your Beliefs: The Empowered Artist

What empowering beliefs do you hold (or can you create) about your talents as a Brave Artist?

Remember, we live in an abundant world, where energy rules. Everything you are manifesting begins as a thought or an idea--an energy form. The simplest way to think about the power of energy is this: like attracts like. There are no exceptions. When you understand this completely, you will be empowered to focus your thoughts and ideas on exactly what you want. Then you will begin to attract everything you need to bring your vision into physical form through your art.

Examples:

My shows are always sold-out!  
I am recognized nationally as a leading fiber artist.  
I enjoy spending unlimited time in my studio every day.  
I have received numerous grants to pursue my work as an artist and look forward to receiving many more.  
I am blessed to have many collectors, who are inspired by my work and pay me well for it.

_"It's time to start living the life you imagined."_ ~Henry James

### 13. Assess Your Beliefs: Your Time

How does your schedule reflect the beliefs of a Brave Artist?

Track your time this week. How are you spending it? Take an account of every hour...from the moment that you wake, to the time that your head hits the pillow.

Consider the following when assessing your current schedule: art time, quiet time, family, relationship, friends, exercise, spiritual practices, chores and work. Make a note too, of how many hours you're sleeping.

At the end of the week, look back at your notes. How is your use of time supporting your goals as a Brave Artist? Are there any activities you can consider letting go of? How can you recreate your schedule to reflect your Brave Artist mindset?

As you create your new schedule, remember this: how you spend your time is a direct reflection of your belief system.

Did you know that most exhibiting artists spend equal amounts of time marketing their artwork and creating it? If the thought of marketing your work makes you cringe, keep in mind that Brave Artists make the leap even in the face of fear (you're more ready than you think!)

_"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."_ ~Anonymous

### 14. Assess Your Beliefs: The Power of Expression

Recall a desire that you hold in your heart. Identify the distance that exists between you and your desire. Now ask yourself, is there a belief that you could adopt in this very moment that would change everything and shift your perspective so completely that the distance literally disappeared?

How can you raise your belief about your art and your identity as an artist? _Hint:_ Tap into the power of your own creative expression to up-level your beliefs. Journals and vision boards are incredible tools of discovery that can support you as you seek answers to this question.

Consider what you know to be true...to the very core of your being.

Ask yourself: What is _your_ true north?

Visualize yourself letting go of every belief that no longer serves your complete creative expression.

Invoke the wisdom given to you at birth. What are your intuitive understandings of the creative life that is available to you?

_"What you need to believe in is You."_ ~from Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

### Act of Bravery

A daily journaling practice can do wonders for the Brave Artist's soul and spirit. If you haven't yet tried it, or have fallen out of practice, I encourage you to consider establishing a journaling practice for yourself. You might choose to write, draw, paint, collage, or explore a combination of these--it's all up to you. The goal is simply to be in practice. To show up each day for 10, 20, 30 minutes and get your thoughts down on paper. Think of it as a way of stretching your imagination a little bit every day...the practice will keep you artistically limber!

_"Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries."_ ~Corita Kent

### Act of Bravery

Vision boards are amazing tools for manifesting what you want. Go ahead and grab a collection of magazines to source images from, and create a visual collage of your goals. (Hint: pictures and images work on our subconscious at a level that goes deeper than words...so as you're making your vision board, focus your energy and attention on images). Ideally, you will put your completed vision board in a place where you can see it daily. That said, the act of making a vision board (even if it's out of sight after completion) is powerful enough to set the manifestation process in motion!

_"I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for."_ ~Georgia O'Keeffe

### 15. Assess Your Beliefs: Perfectly Imperfect

Perfectly imperfect is a wonderful and very freeing way to live, as an artist and a human being. It's honest. And with honesty comes authenticity. Think of hand made vs. machine made. In the former, you can see traces of the artist's hand (and heart) in the work itself. Whereas anything that is machine made will lack the spirit that lives in a hand made work of art or craft.

Perfection implies a need to always be doing more, often instilled by a belief based in "not enough." Being comfortable with exactly who you are will allow you to embrace the beauty of your imperfections, those very things that make you so amazingly human! Keep in mind... you are a human _being,_ not a human _doing_.

Do you believe that you need to be perfect? In what ways do you strive for perfection? How does your need for perfectionism keep you from taking decisive action? Could your need for perfectionism be masking something else? If so, what do you think it is?

How can you actively seek to release yourself from the need for perfection? List 10 ways. Which of these will you commit to acting on today?

_"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."_ ~Anna Quindlen

### 16. Assess Your Beliefs: Facing Your Fears

Joseph Campbell said it brilliantly: _"Jump! And the net will appear."_ It may not always feel as easy as that, but it can be. One of the greatest gifts that you have as an artist is your wild imagination. Might it be both your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

In order to create new beliefs that are lasting, you'll need to take action. Sometimes, this requires doing things that scare you, so that you can grow into your new belief. The trick is to put your energy and attention on the success that awaits you when _you do the thing that you think you cannot do_. Small steps will prepare you for bigger leaps.

Why not build your courage by doing just one small thing each say that scares you, stretches you, or makes you a little bit uncomfortable in service of your own personal growth?

What frightens you most about pursuing the life of a Brave Artist? List at least 10 things that scare you, _and_ the actions that you will take as a way of "facing your fears."

Once you've got your list, make a commitment to act on them—set a date for each one, and add them to your calendar.

_"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life—and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do."_ ~Georgia O'Keeffe

### Act of Bravery

Face your Fears. I'm about to share one of my favorite _tools of transformation_ with you...in fact you should know that I lead entire workshops around this very idea. Create a Brave Artist mirror for yourself. Really. I invite you to paint, collage, glue, etc., the words: _I Am a Brave Artist_ on or around the border of your mirror. Every time you look in that mirror, you'll see yourself reflected back, along with a _very_ power-full message.

I'd love to see what you create! Send me a photo of your Brave Artist Mirror. Email:braveartist@jeanniethomma.com with the words "Brave Artist Mirror" in the subject line. Let me know how your mirror is helping to build your belief. I look forward to hearing from you!

_"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."_ ~Anais Nin

### 17. Assess Your Beliefs: Let The Money In

Let's return to the subject of money for a moment. Money is important because of the freedom that it offers you. With it, your choices are many. Have you ever considered the idea that how you choose to earn, receive, spend and save your money reflects your philosophy in dollars? Let's follow that thought a bit further...

Do you believe that money comes to you easily and often?

How do you accept payment for your works of art?

Have you made it easy for people to pay you?

How many different methods of payment do you currently have in place to accept money?

If checks and cash are the only methods of payment you accept at this moment, you are probably missing out on a lot of potential income. How many other payment systems could you put in place to make it easy for money to flow into your experience?

_"You are that which you are seeking."_ ~Saint Francis

### Act of Bravery

Make it easy for people to pay you...accept credit and debit cards. There's no need to wait. Brave Artists are always ready to accept money in exchange for the energy that they bring to the world through their art! You can set up any number of services immediately. There are many options to choose from.

_PayPal_ is a great place to start. It will allow you to accept credit card or debit card payments online; there are also a plethora of services available for accepting major credit cards right away from your smartphone...do some research and find an option that's a match for your needs.

_"Happiness is not ready made. It comes from your own actions."_ ~The Dalai Lama

### 18. Assess Your Beliefs: Transformation

Ask yourself "What can I do to transform the things that I already have into those very things that I desire?" This is one big and powerful question, so please do not take it lightly. In fact, I encourage you to ask yourself this same question repeatedly, under as many different circumstances as possible. You'll be amazed by the discoveries you make, again and again.

Look around you and take an inventory of your assets. Make a list and brainstorm the ways you can transform the things that you already have into those very things that you so desire. Be sure to focus your thinking on _abundance_ rather than lack as you go through this exercise.

Examples of Assets:

_Time_ —use it to create your vision.  
_Money_ —one source of fuel to help you power your vision.  
_Determination_ —a desire to achieve your goals will get you to where you want to go.  
_Current clients_ —they can be a rich referral source!  
_Testimonials_ —can support you in expanding your client base.  
_Art work_ —inventory for a studio sale.  
_Art supplies_ —the raw resources necessary to create inspirational works of original art.  
_Professional photographs of your artwork_ —exactly what you need to: apply to juried shows; set up an Etsy shop (or other online sales gallery); apply for a grant.

_"It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen."_ ~Frances Hodgson Burnett

19. Assess Your Beliefs: Re-Writing Your Story

Create a _new_ story for yourself...you've got to believe it before you will see it. This is not the time to be writing about what you think you should do. Now is the time to dive head first into your dreams. They're your dreams after all...that alone speaks volumes. In fact, it was Jung who stated: "God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions." Why limit yourself to the dreams of sleep? Trust that there is a deep wisdom alive in your waking _and_ sleeping dreams...now is the time to follow that wisdom. Your dreams are a glimpse of your future, waiting to be born. It's up to you to give them life.

Imagine that you are living the life of a Brave Artist 100% of the time.

What does that mean to you?

What does it look like, and feel like?

What do _you_ want?

What about it makes you happy?

Write down (or draw, paint, collage it) your vision—your new Brave Artist story—in as much detail as possible.

_"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."_ ~Howard Thurman

### Act of Bravery

Refer to your new Brave Artist story often, re-read it daily.

Begin to share aspects of your new story in environments where you feel both safe and encouraged. This is an important consideration. As you change, grow and develop yourself as a Brave Artist, there is a strong possibility that you will meet resistance from people who are close to you.

As you bravely seek to embrace your talents and live your dreams, you will be reminding those who are close to you of their own dreams. If they are not currently acting on those dreams, _as you are_ , your growth may make them uncomfortable. The result of this could be a negative reaction to the beautiful and brave work you are doing.

Keep in mind that it is of utmost importance to create a sanctuary of support for yourself as you work through this process of growth and transformation. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and your brilliance is a wonderful act of self-love.

_"With storytelling we enter the trance of the sacred."_ ~Terry Tempest Williams

### 20. Assess Your Beliefs: Structure

As you transition into living the life of a Brave Artist, it's important to keep strong financial structures in place that nurture your vision and growth.

Do stretch for your art. Don't starve for your art. It's very difficult to be fully present to your own creative fire if you are struggling to have your most basic needs met.

You may have the desire to shed you day job. This is a fantastic goal as a Brave Artist. Do keep a day job (at least part time) until you can reasonably shift to full time art. It's important to assess the ways in which your day job is allowing you to concentrate on your artistic growth.

What about your current job is helping you to walk the path of a Brave Artist? Perhaps it's a job in or related to the arts. Is it allowing you to manage the circumstances of your life, while also embracing the big creative commitments that you've made to yourself? How does this job energize and empower you in reaching your creative goals? List 10 things.

If you can't come up with 10 things, is it possible that there is another job that would better support you in stepping into your vision of living the life of a Brave Artist and making it real? This is something only you can answer. Keep in mind, there is no one right answer, but there are always many creative solutions available to you for establishing and maintaining a healthy financial structure.

_"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."_ ~Henry David Thoreau

Practice 2: Assess Your Beliefs Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in this second _Brave Artist Practice: Assess Your Beliefs?_

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. As you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance. This is _your_ story...make it one to remember.

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

What else...?

" _Our truest life is in dreams awake."_ ~Thoreau

### Practice 3: Invest in Yourself

_"Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into."_ ~Wayne Dyer

To invest in yourself takes great courage, and is a true act of bravery. Artists often find it difficult to invest in their own creative paths. We live in an abundant world. Yet, many artists operate from a place of lack. If you don't have a clear understanding of your own innate power as an artist and the value of your art, you may feel burdened by a sense of lack. If you see yourself as not having enough time, money or opportunity, a shift in your beliefs will help you to move forward. Investing in yourself is an active way of embracing and building your belief. Investing in yourself will increase your sense of self-worth and self-confidence as an artist.

The questions in this section will help you to build your belief around your value as an artist. You'll identify when and why you may be giving away your power, leaving your artwork either underpriced, under-marketed, or both. Once you identify these _energy leaks,_ you can make the necessary changes to step back into your own power.

When you own your creative power, you will not look for others to approve of the value that you contribute to society through your art, nor will you seek their permission to assign an appropriate value to it. Instead, you will take responsibility for creating and assigning this value yourself. As you assume this responsibility, it's important that you begin to use language that will accurately frame the value of your artwork. It will be your job to educate your audience about the work you create, including how and why it will benefit them. This goes back to your personal _why_ —your story. Practice telling your story, allowing your authentic passion shine through as you do, and you'll attract and capture the hearts and minds of your perfect audience.

What you resist will persist. In order for you to make the leap from starving or struggling artist to thriving, financially successful artist, you must step into a space of belief and invest in your abilities. This investment will take many forms, including time, money, energy and emotions. Remember this: to invest in yourself takes great courage. It is what Brave Artists, like _you,_ do.

The following questions will guide you in identifying new opportunities for you to invest in yourself as you travel the path of the Brave Artist.

### 20. Invest In Yourself: Dream BIG

I want you to take a moment to _dream big_. I mean _really big_. I want you to think way beyond the ordinary. Consider, for a moment, the bravery of Walt Disney...he envisioned and created a whole new land! Follow Disney's lead and be the architect of your own life. Create magic for yourself.

Remember, you are not becoming an artist, you were born an artist, what you are becoming is a believer. You've got to believe in your own creative power. You are unlimited. Do you know how _big_ that is? You are full of infinite possibilities.

Money is energy. Imagine you had unlimited financial resources at your disposal. What would you create? If you could invest in your vision, _any_ way at all, what would you do? How would you spend your time, money, energy and attention? Now's the time to paint a very _big_ picture for yourself! Tell your truth.

_"It's hard to tell the truth, but once told, it's hard to keep it back."_ ~Sharon Green

### 21. Invest In Yourself: Taking Action

Take another look at the list you just created in the previous exercise (#20). Keep in mind this truth: If you have a dream or desire, you must also hold the solution to making that dream or desire a reality.

In this moment you need not know _how_ you are going to manifest all of your artistic desires...but you need to find a way within yourself to believe that you _can_ and _will_. Chunking your ideas down into do-able steps will help. You've already taken the first step by writing down your ideas. Do not underestimate the power of this one simple action. Your ideas, which previously existed only as thoughts, have begun their transformation into the physical world through your mark making. Your writing and drawings have created a shift in energy. Your job as a Brave Artist is to follow that energy as it moves into form.

If you feel that your dreams and creative commitments are being overshadowed by the circumstances of your life, take heart! Often your "limitations" can be your greatest strength, so don't discount them. If you need to reframe your thinking, take another look at the list of assets you created in the last practice (see exercise 18). Allow your list of assets to be a reminder of everything that you already have going for you. Keep it close by and continue to add to it.

Let's return to your big dreams.

First, review the list of big dreams that you created in exercise #20.  
Next, identify the list items that you are you most compelled to act upon and begin investing in _today._ Where there is a will, there is a way.   
Write down two items that you will invest in.  
Commit to taking action on these two items within the next week (set a firm deadline on your calendar).   
Keep your intentions strong and focused...expect that a way will be shown to you.

_"God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open."_ ~Hazrat Inayat Khan

### Act of Bravery

Take a Leap of Faith. Make a commitment that scares you a bit. Choose something that really makes you stretch—artistically, financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, or any combination of these. Trust yourself to take the leap, with the knowledge that the universe will step in to support your _actions_.

Action is the key word here. You must commit to walking through every door that opens to you and doing the work that needs to be done. Document your process and experiences.

_"If I am not I, who will be?"_ ~Henry David Thoreau

### 22. Invest In Yourself: Find Your Spiritual Center

As you grow your belief in yourself as a Brave Artist, you'll also have the opportunity to expand your faith. It was Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who said: _"We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience."_ If you agree with this life perspective, identifying spirit as our essence, it will be important to find and nurture your spiritual center. How do you connect to that source energy, or the divinity within you?

All faith, regardless of religion, asks that we extend our belief beyond ourselves and trust that there is a force greater than each of us that we can partner with in our daily lives. For many, this partnership may take the form of prayer. Some artists I know tell of their daily conversations with God, others write longhand each and every day to find their spiritual center and connect to God. I've heard many artists refer to museums as their temples or churches. While others have expressed that for them, the act of creating is deep prayer. Art as prayer may just free you to do your best work—but only you can know that for sure.

What do you know for sure about how faith works in your life as an artist?

How do you invest in your faith? In what ways do you work to extend and expand your faith?

Is faith a constant for you or does it ebb and flow? What do you attribute this to?

How do you find your spiritual center?

What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about your faith?

If you could change any aspect of your faith, what would it be? Why?

" _Faith is to believe what we do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."_ ~ Saint Augustine

### 23. Invest In Yourself: Pricing Your Artwork

Pricing your artwork. This is a big topic. Mostly because of it's ambiguous nature. When I owned an art gallery, of the many artists whom I represented, there was one, an established painter with a strong following, who priced all of his artwork according to the size of the canvas. At first, I thought he was a bit crazy! How wrong I was. He had created a price per square inch formula that he applied to all of his work. Rest assured, this did not render him any less passionate about his work. In fact, I believe it actually freed him to create from a mindset that was extremely focused. He was a great example of someone who pursued the making and selling of his artwork from a place of love, not fear.

What I truly admire about his approach is that he had found a way to remove emotion from the equation when applying a price to his work. I do think this is where so many artists stumble and fall. How they feel about their artwork gets mixed up with how they feel about money, which gets mixed up with their self-confidence as an artist. It can be quite exhausting!!

Now I'm not suggesting that emotions don't have a place in the sale of your artwork. Of course they do. In fact, for the most part, emotions are the primary reason that someone will choose to purchase your artwork. It is your job as an artist to establish an emotional connection with your audience. Just remember that _your_ emotions must not be the sole criteria that you use to establish the price of your artwork.

It's a well-known fact that people prefer to do business with other people or organizations that they know, like and trust. So how does that translate to your art sales? Let's take a look. Keep in mind, there are many variables to consider, and there is no single right answer. Your job is to find the answer that is right for you. Here are some questions that will guide you through the process of pricing your work.

Is your work one of a kind or are you able to sell multiples (as in prints or production work)?

How long have you been exhibiting and selling your work? (Often times when you are just starting out, it can be very beneficial to keep your prices moderate in order to build a following).

What are the costs of your materials? Do you have a studio to maintain? (Rent, etc.)

Do you have a following? In addition to an established record of selling your work at a specific price point, are you keeping in touch with your clients and fans to build a relationship of trust? (More on that in _Brave Artist Practices 6 & 7.)_

How about testimonials about your work?

What is the current price range of your artwork? (Make sure that you are consistent with your pricing—you never want to undersell a gallery or other business partner who is representing you and your work).

Do you have different "points of entry" for your artwork? (It's a great way to widen your base of collectors!) You might consider creating low, mid and high price points for different types of work and different audiences.

At what price points are your peers selling their work? (Selling is the key word...you'll want to look at not just the prices of the work, but which prices translate into sales?) Take some time to research this...it can be quite an eye-opener!

If you're not yet selling your artwork (or your services--perhaps by teaching classes) I want you to imagine that you've been invited to exhibit or teach, and you need to attach a price to your work. What value will you assign to it?

This is an important and possibly difficult series of questions to answer. Don't skip them.

_"You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours."_ ~Anne Wilson Schaefer

### Act of Bravery

If you find that selling or pricing your artwork is an area of struggle for you, why not reach out for some help? Make a list of all of the people and organizations you can connect with for support. Many art centers, guilds, and even some continuing education programs offer workshops on this subject. You might also consider reaching out to other artists or creativity coaches for feedback and insights into the pricing process.

_"We need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly."_ ~Shakti Gawain

### 24. Invest In Yourself: Defining Success

There are so many ways to define success. For some artists it's simply about making time to work. For others, it's about earning admission to prestigious galleries, shows, or guilds. Some artists define success as a sold out solo show. Others love to teach what they know and pass it on! And then there are artists who define success by the joy that creating brings them.

When you know how you define success, you're creating fertile ground for celebration! I truly believe that everything counts, so I encourage you to measure your own success in small steps. If you have no definitions in place to measure your work, you might be left with the nagging feeling that you're never done, or that what you've done isn't enough. Do establish a "personal success criteria" for yourself and then celebrate your achievements by rewarding yourself every step of the way!

How do you define your success as an artist?

How do you define your success as a human being? (Note any similarities or differences between your answer to this question and the previous one).

How do you define the success of an individual work of art, or a body of work?

How could you invest your time, money or attention differently to increase your financial, emotional, physical and spiritual success as an artist?

What "reward" system do you have in place for yourself to celebrate your successes? If you don't already have one, now's your chance to create it!

_"Be patient with all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves."_ ~Rainer Maria Rilke

### 25. Invest In Yourself: Reach Your Goals

Consider the fact that often it's necessary to spend money in order to make more money. Many people find that making a financial investment in their transformation process (be it fitness, nutrition, creativity, sales, parenting, etc.) keeps them accountable to actionable goals that yield specific results. Have you had a similar experience? With dedicated and consistent support, did you find that you were able to stay on your path?

Great coaches will support and guide you through your growth process. As you continue to stretch yourself, they will shine a light on your commitments, reminding you that your commitments always have the power to be bigger than your current circumstances.

Take a moment to calculate how much it's costing you not to get the help you need to reach your goals and thrive as an "Artrepreneur." (Yes, every artist is an entrepreneur...that means you, too!)

What are your artistic goals for the current year?

What commitments have you made to yourself in order to reach those goals?

Are you currently on track to achieve them?

Where do you need to increase your investments?

_"I guess I was wrong when I said I never promised anyone. I promised me."_ ~Kermit the Frog

### 26. Invest In Yourself: Get the Coaching You Deserve

Consider hiring a coach. Professionals in nearly every field work with coaches, why not you?

When seeking out a coach, be sure to look for these qualities: the coach believes in you and your ability to succeed as an artist; the coach takes you and your goals seriously; the coach is invested in seeing you reach your goals and grow; the coach is easily accessible.

Do your research. Start asking around. And figure out the cost of the investment. Look into both private coaching programs and group coaching programs for artists. Aligning yourself with a professional coach who will support and guide you in forwarding your career as a Brave Artist can create a powerful shift in your mindset. _You're worth it._

How much time are you willing to commit to your own growth? Many coaches require a specific time commitment. This is actually a very good thing, and works to your benefit. Here's why: it sets up a pre-determined framework or agreement, that will require you to work your way through the challenges that arise, and eliminate the temptation to abandon the important work that you are doing.

What are the next steps you need to take on your creative path that will bring you closer to living your destiny as a Brave Artist?

What would you need to get out of a coaching program to make it worth it for you?

_"Throughout all the ten regions of the Universe there is no place where the source is not."_ ~Hakuin

### 27. Invest In Yourself: Expert Guidance

Identify the areas that you need the most help in, and for which you are considering seeking professional support. Get specific.

Make a list of the areas where you would benefit from some expert guidance (ex: establishing new beliefs, creating and maintaining a positive mindset, finding the courage to invest in yourself, getting the work done--staying accountable to your craft, pricing or marketing your work, using technology to your benefit, etc.). Arrange the items on your list in order of importance to you.

What shifts do you expect will occur when you begin to ask for the help that you need and deserve?

How could these shifts potentially benefit you beyond your work as an artist? What would be their impact on the rest of your life?

_"Perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself."_ ~Saint Exupery

### Act of Bravery

Where do you need help? Identify the number one challenge that you face as an artist. Now ask yourself: What would a _Brave Artist_ do? You wont have to look too far for this answer...because it's within you.

Now is a wonderful time to practice the art of receiving. There is so much help available to you. You can journal, you can pray, you can go for a walk in nature, you can connect with a friend, you can connect with me. Try one, or try them all. Asking for and accepting the help that you need and deserve is the work of a Brave Artist. You don't have to face your challenges alone.

Here are some questions that may help you to get started. Take some quiet time to answer them.

The number one challenge I face as an artist is...

I feel challenged (or blocked, or stuck or other) in this area because...

If I could wave a magic wand and change three things about my life as an artist (or aspiring artist) today, I would...

" _We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone."_ ~Nelson Mandela

### 28. Invest In Yourself: Growing Strong

We are all stronger than we know. You are capable of so much. Do not let your current circumstances limit the power of your imagination. You are here in this life to grow.

A coach that I had the pleasure of working with a few years back had a favorite phrase that has stuck with me. Her mantra was: we are here to grow and to love. That's it. Pretty simple, huh? And yet, it takes faith, it takes belief. God lives in the details—the daily activity, mindfulness and synchronicity that helps us to get from here to there, from where we are now to a stronger, braver, and more fully expressed version of ourselves. Growing and loving are not sedentary activities. They require us to act. They call upon us to traverse unknown territories, trusting that we are always being guided, and that our path, more than a series of steps, is our soul's work—the very collection of experiences necessary that will teach us to grow strong and to love.

Give yourself the gift of meditative reflection. Find a quiet place and journal on the following questions:

What is the bigger risk that you are taking by not exploring the very things that will unmask your brilliance as a creative genius?

What will be lost if you don't share your essence and energy with your tribe through your art?

Consider the path that you are on currently. If you were to change nothing, where do you expect your current path will lead you in 5, 10, 20 years?

What doors are open to you, right now, that you've been invited to step through? What action do you plan to take?

What do you need to change today to redirect your energy and focus? How will these changes support your vision of living life as a Brave Artist? Be specific.

_"The spiritual life is about becoming more at home in your own skin."_ ~Parker J. Palmer

### Act of Bravery

Write a letter to yourself from your future self, describing the details of the _Brave Artist_ life you are living.

For example, imagine that it's one year from today and you are living the life of a Brave and Thriving Artist. Empowered by your own future life, compose a letter to capture the essence of the experience that awaits your present self.

Fill your letter with details, lots and lots of specifics about the passion that is guiding your future self (your "Why!"). Also include who, what, where and when everything is taking place. Don't worry much about the "how". Do take care to describe your future feelings though...paint an emotional picture, with words and/or images. Seal it up and send it to yourself with a note on the envelope: "Do Not Open Until ________" (insert a date that is one year out from today). Put it in a place that you'll be able to find it and read it one year from today.

Be prepared to celebrate the brilliance of your audacious intentions and creative manifestations!

_"It all starts with You~You can't celebrate anybody else in this world until you celebrate yourself."_ ~Leo Buscaglia

### 29. Invest In Yourself: Nurture Your Imagination

Albert Einstein said it best: _"Imagination is more important than knowledge."_

Do you exercise your imagination on a regular basis? Do you use it to help you to create mental images of what you want to manifest in your art and in your life? Remember, whatever you can believe in your mind, you will soon see in your life...use the strength of your imagination to create your world.

How are you investing in the growth and development of your own Imagination? How do you nurture it? Do you give it time to play, wander and wonder? Name the ways... (I've given you an example below).

**I.  
M.  
A.  
G** oing for long walks  
**I.  
N.  
A.  
T.  
I.  
O.  
N.**

If you were to begin thinking of your Imagination as the most important "creative muscle" in your body, how would you treat it differently? What kind of training would strengthen it?

_"We love what we attend."_ ~Mwalimu Imara

Practice 3: Invest In Yourself Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in this third _Brave Artist Practice:_ _Invest In Yourself_?

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. Remember, as you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance. This is _your_ story. Now is your time to capture the magnificence of you.

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

What will you do differently in the days and weeks ahead?

What are the next investments you plan to make in yourself as an artist?

What else...?

" _Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."_ ~George Bernard Shaw

### Practice 4: Create Your Environment

" _Whatever you can do or believe you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."_ ~Goethe

As an artist, you need to keep a thoughtful watch on the environments in which you live and work. Too much clutter, distraction or negativity surrounding you will drain your energy and inhibit your ability to shift from surviving to thriving. Learning to identify these elements will have a profound and lasting impact on your artistic energy.

You are a vessel for creative thought and action. Your environments are an extension of your energy...bigger physical containers, in which you can nurture, sustain and stretch yourself as an artist. Take a look around. You will benefit enormously by creating at least one scared environment for yourself, one sanctuary, where the gestation of your seed ideas can be nurtured from the whisper of possibility, into form.

Meditating in your chosen space can help to raise the vibration of that space. In addition, it will support your own internal transformation. As you watch your breath and feel your body relax, the following mantra may help you in focusing your attention:

I am calm   
I am centered   
I am connected   
I am a creator

_To enjoy my weekly series of_ _Meditations for Artists_ _every Monday, you can follow my blog:_ http://www.jeanniethomma.me _. You'll also find several meditations to sample in the final pages of this book!_

Begin to observe your own working and living environments with a more careful eye (ear and heart). As you do, you'll grow more attuned to your personal environmental needs. The following questions will assist you in organizing your thoughts. You'll get clear about how you feel in your current environments and you'll also begin thinking in new ways about how you can craft a sacred space for yourself.

### 30. Create Your Environment: Feeling Good

The energy of your space matters...a lot. There is a direct correlation to be drawn between your environment and how you feel. As such, creating an environment that supports you, as a Brave Artist, is a powerful tool for growth. Growth is a continuum. We can think of growth as a sequence of big or small changes strung together that yield a new result (process, outcome or perspective). Let's begin by taking a look at your physical space right now...and identifying areas in which there is room for growth.

Consider the environments in which you spend the majority of your time. These might include spaces for creating, sleeping, working, relaxing, preparing food, gardening, transportation, and more.

Take a moment to describe each of these spaces. Give your attention to the visual properties of each space, including: light, color, texture, objects (furniture, books, art, etc.), the sounds of the space, and then note how you _feel_ when you're in each of the spaces.

What, if any, are the common traits that your favorite spaces share?

What could you change (add or take away) within your current living, working, and studio space to raise the energy vibration of your daily environments?

_"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."_ ~Marcel Proust

### 31. Create Your Environment: The Spirit of Place

There is an energy that runs through every space. Tuning in to that energy can open a world of information to you. Start to take note of how you feel in the different environments that you frequent. There are many factors that will effect the energy of an environment, including color, furniture, placement of objects, the amount of light, and of course the other people who spend time there.

Don't limit yourself to just indoor spaces. Explore how you feel in various natural settings. Do you prefer hiking through the forests, or strolling by the sea? The elements themselves (Fire, Earth, Air & Water) will play an important role in determining how you feel. In fact, according to the study of Astrology, the elements that compose our personal astrological chart have a very strong influence on our energy.

Consider environments that you visit, such as a favorite restaurant, the home of a friend, a vacation destination, a place of worship, or a museum. Make a list of your favorites. Identify the similarities that exist among your favorite spaces.

How does each of these environments nourish you? What draws you to them? Describe the physical, aesthetic and ephemeral characteristics of your favorite spaces, and how you _feel_ when in them. How long are you able to hold onto the feelings you've described?

Go through the same exercise for a couple of environments that really drain your energy, or have an alternate negative effect on you. Can you determine a common theme or cause?

Ask yourself if there are instances where you may be inadvertently replicating some of these negative qualities in your own personal spaces? If so, what changes can you make to shift this energy?

Protecting your energy is an important aspect of self-care. Identify any changes that you need to make in your routines and environments to improve your health and wellness.

_"Different places on the face of the earth have different vibrations...the spirit of place is a great reality."_ ~D.H. Lawrence

### Act of Bravery

Consciously recreate your environment with your spirit in mind.

We live in a world filled with lots of stuff. Many of us have too much stuff in our lives and our homes. Take a close look at your stuff.

How much of it do you really need? How does it make you _feel_? Does it nourish your spirit? Or does it block the flow of good energy in your space? What can you let go of?

Sometimes the most powerful way to re-charge your space is to release some of the stale energy (stuff) that _you_ are holding onto. Be brave as you walk through this process. Start small (a drawer, a desk, a book shelf), and build from there (a closet, a room, a studio).

Keep in mind that your goal is to keep only those objects, art supplies, pieces of clothing, books, etc. that support you in feeling your very best. You'll be amazed by the shift in energy that you'll feel as you embrace this process...and let go!

_"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched...but are felt in the heart."_ ~Helen Keller

### Act of Bravery

Your studio space is of great importance to your creative flow. We'll be taking a closer look at what happens when you establish a strong studio practice in the next _Brave Artist Practice: Go To Your Studio._

For now, I want you to carefully consider the energy that exists in your studio space. Regardless of whether your studio is a moveable feast, atop a corner table in your den; behind the closed doors of an extra bedroom; or across town in a shared or independent space...whatever the setup, I invite you to explore different ideas for transforming your current studio into a creative sanctuary for yourself.

You might ask yourself the following questions as you create a vision of your ideal studio: What inspires me? What calms me? What supports me in feeling connected to my creative core?

Make a detailed _sketch_ —painted, collaged, written, spoken/recorded—of the "studio sanctuary" that you are in the process of bringing into form. Remember, your vision is a necessary component of the manifestation process. And, in fact, it is an essential step in your personal transformation.

_"Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live."_ ~Goethe

### 32. Create Your Environment: Good Vibes

Who you spend time with is as significant as where you spend that time. Everyone is vibrating at a specific energetic frequency. Because everyone and everything is made of energy, we are constantly coming into contact with different energy fields. It's impossible not to.

Consider the extremes: an individual steps into a room with a wonderful smile lighting their face, and in an instant, the energy in the room is raised, everyone can feel it. Alternately, you may have witnessed that it is only when someone with a very low energy field leaves the room that the energy in the room has a chance to elevate once again. We've all had these experiences.

Your challenge, as a Brave Artist is to choose to surround yourself with people who are vibrating at a high frequency. All of the transformational work that you're doing to unmask your creative brilliance—minding your mind, assessing your beliefs, investing in yourself—are raising your energetic vibration. You can amp it up even more by choosing your company wisely.

Make a list of the 10 people with whom you spend most of your time. Next to each, make a note of how you generally _feel_ both while in their company, and after you leave their company.

Consider the fact that within every relationship there is an exchange of energy. What is the energy that you are bringing to each of the relationships you've identified? What energy are you absorbing or deflecting?

Which of these relationships increases your energy? Which of them drains your energy?

What actions (including reframing your _thoughts_ ) can you take to shift this dynamic and hold onto your energy?

_"The more conscious and balanced we become, the more we live in integrity and follow our truth."_ ~Shakti Gawain

### 33. Create Your Environment: The Power of Attraction

Your energy will have a direct impact on your ability to create art and an abundant life. Both your energy as an artist and the energy of your artwork will profoundly affect your power of attraction. It's important that you take responsibility for your energy. _Hint:_ your emotions will always be a strong indicator of where you are energetically, so check in with yourself often. Remember, too, that we are each responsible for our own happiness. Choosing to spend time in quiet meditation is one way to open a door to happiness. Another is to share your energy with others who are a vibrational match to (or even a notch above) your own energy.

Make a list of people whom you don't currently spend a lot of time with, whose company you truly enjoy.

Note how you _feel_ when you are around them (for example: energized, calmed, inspired, happy, etc.).

How would you describe the energy exchange that is taking place between you?

What steps can you take to spend more time with these people who support you in raising your energy vibration?

_"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed."_ ~Carl Jung

### 34. Create Your Environment: Extra! Extra!

Our environments are comprised of the physical spaces that we inhabit, the people whom we share these spaces with, _and_ the information that we allow into our spaces.

Information can reach us through many energy forms, including: television, radio, computers, phones, texts, newspapers, magazines, books, and more. How much is too much? I've attended creativity workshops during which all of the participants have been asked to abstain from TV, radio, Internet, etc., for the duration of the retreat. You need not attend a workshop to experiment with this exercise yourself...try it for a day, or a weekend, and see what happens!

In every moment, you have a choice about the type of information that you are allowing to enter your environment. Take time to consider how each of the aforementioned types of information affects you each and every day.

Which are nourishing your creative spirit? How?

Which are draining you of energy and hampering your creativity? How?

What happens when you "turn-off" negative or invasive information, treating your space as a creative sanctuary? How does this support your focus and creative flow as a Brave Artist?

_"Genius is mainly an affair of energy."_ ~Matthew Arnold

### 35. Create Your Environment: Nourishment

Our bodies are vessels for our mind, spirit, and life force. That life force is the energy that makes each of us unique, causing us to vibrate at a particular frequency and attract ideas, people and opportunities into our lives and field of experience.

How you choose to nourish your body, through food and exercise plays an important role in determining your energy level. It's likely that you intuitively know what foods and activities are healthy matches for you. However, implementing the discipline necessary to maintain a healthy and nourishing lifestyle may be a challenge for you. Establishing healthy habits can help you to short circuit temptations as they arise. Creating sustainable routines is the goal.

Make a list of the foods and beverages that are part of your daily or weekly regime. Which of these nourish and support your flow of energy and which are weakening you?

What other foods and beverages could you introduce to your regime on a regular basis to improve the level at which you are providing nourishment for your beautiful body?

Make a list of the activities/exercises that are part of your daily or weekly regime. How do they make you feel? What differences do you notice when you increase or decrease your activity levels? Experiment with this in the days and weeks ahead.

What additional activities could you introduce to your schedule on a weekly basis to improve the energy level of your beautiful body?

_"It's never too late to be what you might have been."_ ~George Elliot

### Act of Bravery

Everything counts! Identify one new healthy habit that you can incorporate into your daily or weekly activities that will support you in increasing the flow of energy in your body.

For example: introducing more fruits and vegetables to your diet, eliminating sugar or alcohol, adding more exercise to your lifestyle, etc. Get as specific as possible, such as ½ an hour walk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The more detail you include, the easier it is to measure your success! Remember to give yourself a healthy reward too!

Once you make this commitment to yourself, how will you keep it going when challenges (which are inevitable) arise? Keep in mind that perfection is not the goal here...sustainability is.

After you've succeeded at establishing one new habit that you've maintained for 30 consecutive days, you'll be ready to add another. Think of the possibilities!

_"Inside of you there are strengths unknown."_ ~Thoreau

Practice 4: Create Your Environment Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in this fourth _Brave Artist Practice:_ _Create Your Environment_?

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. As you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance. This is _your_ story. Paint your picture with words that describe your emotional and intellectual discoveries.

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

What are you excited about?

What else...?

" _True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating new things."_ ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

### Practice 5: Go To Your Studio

" _Let your life be a painting, let your life be a poem."_ ~Osho

Go to your studio. That's where the magic happens. To tap into your potential and be available for inspiration to strike, you've got to be in motion: actively thinking about and working at your craft. Together, these will prepare you to receive inspiration.

For many artists, one of the biggest challenges rests in getting to the studio. Beginning is the hardest part, nearly every time. Just the thought of taking that first step down the hall, out the door, or across town can leave you feeling frozen in place. The good news is that once you set yourself in motion, often your biggest hurdle will be behind you. As a Brave Artist, your challenge is to sustain this process, on a consistent (daily) basis, in the life you are creating today.

There are many tips and tricks that artists use as a nudge to get into motion every day. I, like so many other artists, have found that routine and ritual are essential life ingredients for sustaining a creative flow. Once you have these disciplines in place, they will provide you with the structure required to keep your crocodile brain (that nasty inner critic!) in check, and protect your creativity. By introducing new habits to your day that reflect your Brave Artist belief systems, you will find yourself able to face the "blank canvas" with a renewed sense of determination and courage.

A mentor of mine who is a painter and sculptor, now in her seventies and still making and selling lots of art, shared these words with me early on in my artistic career: "Jeannie, the challenge is not becoming an artist. The really hard part is staying an artist." To my amazement, she confessed to me that after all these years of making art, the blank canvas still scares her, particularly during "that often emotionally fragile time" that exists between the completion of one body of work and the start of another.

What a surprise, and ultimately, what an inspiration! Her words of wisdom so many years ago helped me to shift my belief paradigm. The truth is that the fear doesn't ever go away, but with every work of art that you make, you'll get braver. Having the courage to recognize the fear or doubt and continue in the face of it is what makes an Artist Brave. Before the work, comes the mindset. A strong mindset, and a relentless pursuit of creativity as a life long habit are key factors in sculpting a successful life as an artist.

The following questions will help you to identify new points of entry for accessing your creative flow. Your answers will also give you fresh insights about how to best begin and sustain your artistic practice, to create a strong momentum within the sanctuary of your studio.

### 36. Go to Your Studio: Routine & Ritual

The law of inertia states that a body at rest will stay at rest, and a body in motion will stay in motion. This is true of each of us. One of your primary responsibilities as a Brave Artist is to find ways to over-ride or circumvent the circumstances of your daily life that interfere with your vision. Your creativity is your life's work. That's _big!_ Does the amount of time that you've created in your schedule reflect the magnitude and importance of this work?

It's your job to not only schedule the time to work, but to protect that time as well. Of course, there will always be distractions and obstacles that present themselves. That's why it's essential that your creative commitments to yourself are larger and stronger than whatever temptations cross your path. When in doubt, try asking yourself this question:

" **Will taking this action move me one step closer to my creative goals?"**

Make a commitment to yourself to take one step ( _little steps count too!_ ) toward your goal every day.

What habits do you currently have in place to get yourself into your studio...to begin? Showing up is 90% of the work!

Routine and ritual are essential ingredients for sustaining creative flow. You know yourself best. What will work for you? Are you more likely to run from discomfort or towards comfort?

How can you translate this knowledge about yourself into 10 ideas for habits that will get you to your studio?

Remember, you only need to find one habit that works consistently. Try a few of your new ideas on for size until you land on the one that works.

_"What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing."_ ~Aristotle

### Act of Bravery

Following are four sample rituals that I encourage you to experiment with...see which ones are a "fit" for you and add them to your daily routine! Tweak them as necessary. Do whatever it takes to get into your studio!

_Decide in advance that your time in the studio is non-negotiable.  
_ Make an agreement with yourself that you're not going to check in and see if you feel like painting today. You are just going to paint—like it or not. This decision and commitment to yourself will help you to override your inner saboteur, who will try to feed your mind every excuse imaginable to get you off the hook, and keep you from creating. _Hint:_ set up a system of accountability for yourself. Following the hour you spend in your studio every morning, email a friend and let her know that you've put in your hour.

_Stop procrastinating_ **.  
** Just do it. Decide not to give yourself choices. Instead, take action first thing every day: get up, brush your teeth, wash your face, get dressed, grab a cup of tea or coffee and get yourself to your studio. Spend the next hour there. Done.

_Create visual clues for yourself_ _._  
Select a special mug to pour your tea or coffee into when you're preparing to head into the studio. Make that _your_ studio mug. Soon, this mug will become an important part of your non-verbal routine—when you see it you'll think of going to your studio. Simply holding your studio mug will be a reminder to your feet of where they need to take you...especially if you happen to be parked on the couch!

_Focus on quantity rather than quality._  
Yes, you read that right. Don't worry about making great work all the time. Set simple goals for yourself. Tell yourself: I'll paint for one hour every day. Notice there are no big qualifiers here. You're not committing to starting or finishing your next masterpiece every day—that would be unreasonable. You are simply agreeing to show up and do the work. Once you begin, the creative process will take care of itself. With paintbrush in hand, you make yourself available for spirit to work through you and new works of art will be born.

_"The road to success is always under construction."_ ~Lily Tomlin

### 37. Go to Your Studio: Play!

_Play._ It's defined as taking time to amuse oneself, doing something that's not meant to be taken seriously, or engaging in a game. Plain and simple, this is absolutely necessary frivolity! And it deserves equal time. Better yet, go for play that is accompanied by lots of laughing! Use children as your example. They have an innate ability to turn anything and everything into silly fun. Give it a try. Go for the _giggle_.

When in your studio, play can be about letting go of the need to create something beautiful or important or successful. Instead, consider it an invitation to dive into the process, explore, and make a mess!

Years ago, when I was teaching full time in the public school system, I would lead my middle school students through an exercise I called _Ugly Art_. Their challenge was to create an ugly-ugly work of art. It fast became a playful game of wits and wonderment. Each of the students received a 2"x2" viewfinder that they used to scan their ugly works in progress. The rule was that they couldn't declare their work complete until all of the beauty was gone. It's not as easy as you might think! Go ahead and give it a try...you never know what you'll discover in the process of playing.

How much time do you give yourself to play in the studio?

What new ideas are bubbling about inside of you, waiting to be explored?

What new materials or techniques are you curious about?

When will you spend time in your studio just playing?

_"So you see, imagination needs moodling--long inefficient happy idling, dawdling and puttering."_ ~Brenda Ueland

### 38. Go to Your Studio: Creating a Body of Work

Investing your time and attention on developing a body of work can support you in creating a wonderful sense of momentum in your process as an artist. Shifting your attention from one piece to another within the same body of work can be equally invigorating. When you have multiple pieces of work in progress, they'll begin to dialogue with one another in your studio, each one informing the other works.

What's more, you may find the work itself occupies a large space within you—filling your head and your heart in both waking and sleeping hours. Often, when I'm immersed in developing a large body of work, I'll find that my first thoughts upon waking hold the creative solutions to my most pressing questions. How about you? When and where do you find your answers?

What do you do to allow yourself to be completely absorbed in the joy of your artistic process?

How many works of art do you have going at once? How do you determine which one to work on at any given time??

How does having multiple pieces in progress contribute to the visual dialogue energizing your studio?

Do you need to get more pieces started? How will you define a "start"?

How many pieces are you looking to create for your current body of work?

What theme(s) are you exploring in this body of work?

_"Our job is not to find ourselves, but to create ourselves."_ ~Anonymous

### Act of Bravery

Sign up for an art class or workshop. Being in the company of other artists will do you good. A class or workshop is a great way to jumpstart your creativity and get you thinking in new ways. Every new process or technique that you learn will give you another point of entry for your work—invaluable!

Bonus: the work you begin in class will enhance the creative process that takes place in your own studio. You might just find your next Creative Collaborator in class too! (You'll find more thoughts on _Collaboration_ , in #42). Be on the look out for artists whom you'd enjoy working with...and keep in mind that sometimes the most dynamic collaborations happen between artists with opposing styles.

_"Few are those who see with their own eyes and listen with their own hearts."_ ~Albert Einstein

### 39. Go to Your Studio: Seeing Differently

We are only limited by the scope of our own imagination. But sometimes it becomes very necessary to give your imagination a little tickle. When you find ways to interrupt your own patterns of thought, you'll discover new ways of seeing, which will fire up your imagination!

The ability to see things differently is a powerful tool that every Brave Artist can nurture. You can even practice this outside of your studio. For example, next time you get in your car, take a new route to your destination. This simple action will not only interrupt an established pattern of thought, but with it, you'll be creating a new thought path. Let's take that same philosophy and apply it to the work you do in your studio.

How can you shake things up in the studio? How can you re-invent the rules?

What new creative processes can you experiment with, that will allow you to see your work through a new lens? Make a list for yourself and post it in your studio...it will serve as a reminder for you to shake things up there more often. Then go ahead and give it a try.

Examples:

Change your materials  
Use your non-dominant hand  
Experiment with a new color palette  
Try a new technique  
Work small  
Work big  
Turn your work upside down  
Tear it up (gasp!) and reassemble it (smile)  
Forget all the rules

_"The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have."_ ~Norman Vincent Peale

### 40. Go to Your Studio: A Full Palette

Your palette refers to far more that just the colors that you select for the works of art you create. Your palette encompasses all of the techniques that you employ to arrive at a completed work of art, and your materials (both traditional and non-traditional).

Sometimes what's required to expand artistically is to switch your palette, or simply add to it. Other times it may be optimal to work from a smaller palette, removing some choices and using your new limitations as inspiration to think differently. I encourage you to experiment with both of these options.

Do you have all of the tools and art materials that you need to express yourself completely?

What else could you add to your supplies? Or what could you remove?

Will all of the additions you make to your palette come from an art supply store, or can you source your materials elsewhere?

Can you repurpose or recycle materials to use in your art? List your ideas.

When can you take yourself on a wander to gather new (or _new-to-you_ ) supplies that will spark your imagination? Calendar it!

_"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."_ ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

### 41. Go to Your Studio: Inspiration Altars

Gathering inspiration for a new body of work can be a great adventure. I'll often start my creative process by collecting artifacts to inform my work. Depending on the ideas that are gestating, the artifacts can take many different forms, including: photos, postcards, images, patterns, found objects, gifts from nature, fabric swatches, colors, even music or words. If you've never worked this way before, give it a try.

Arranging your collection of artifacts on a small "art altar" will keep the energy of these objects circulating in your studio, and provide you with ongoing inspiration as you engage in your creative process.

Where does your inspiration come from?

When was the last time you sat with a pile of art books or journals in your studio and allowed yourself the pleasure of soaking in the imagery they contain?

What about artifacts from nature? Do you have a collection of rocks, shells, sticks, plants, feathers or flowers that speak to you?

How about photos, found objects, collections, or other ephemera? What are the qualities, characteristics or ideas that draw you in and compel you to create?

When can you make a date with yourself to gather artifacts of inspiration for your studio? Calendar it!

_"Follow your BLISS."_ ~Joseph Campbell

### Act of Bravery

Set aside one day a week or month to visit a gallery or museum. Go alone or with a friend. Let the work that you see nourish you. Collect images from the shows you attend and watch for their influences to find their way into you own work.

Alternately, allow nature to serve as your museum. Immerse yourself in the splendors of our natural world. Collect or document those things that inspire your senses to new heights of wonder.

You might choose to add these elements of inspiration to your art altar!

_"Your life is your message to the world. Make it interesting."_ ~Lorrin L. Lee

### 42. Go to Your Studio: Collaborate!

There is a magical energy that embodies the collaborative process. The result of two people working together is always much larger than the sum of their parts. One of my favorite aspects of collaboration is the unexpected element of surprise that infuses the work. With both participants working from their unique strengths, the energy of a collaborative work can be incredibly dynamic.

When collaborating, you'll be forced to approach creative problems differently, _and_ you'll get a behind the scenes look at how your partner-in-collaboration solves design problems—this alone is an invaluable resource and experience! If artistic collaboration is not something you've previously explored, don't wait. Create an opportunity to give it a try.

How do you feel about collaboration? Have you tried it? What did you learn?

Which of your art colleagues would you most like to work with?

What subject or medium would you like to explore?

When can you set aside some time in your schedule to create an opportunity to collaborate...perhaps make a few phone calls or send some emails? Calendar it!

_"It is in the shelter of each other that people live."_ ~Irish Proverb

### Act of Bravery

Go on a creative retreat. Sign up for a weekend or weeklong workshop out of town. Go alone or with friends. You'll feel a great sense of adventure as you journey to your destination, knowing that you are giving yourself the gift of uninterrupted time to create.

A great variation on this is to plan a creative retreat of your own. Rent a vacation cottage, or take yourself to a hotel or Bed & Breakfast. _Tip:_ Stay close to home and you'll save on airfare and other related travel expenses. If you go on a creative retreat with friends, have everyone plan to lead a mini art demonstration for the group, or work on some collaborative pieces together.

Explore the environment you're in too...look for inspiration all around you and let it influence the art you make while on your creative retreat. Bring along a camera to take pictures of things that inspire you...the photos will be lasting reminders to you, far beyond the length of your retreat. Allow new ways of seeing to become part of your days.

_"Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself."_ ~Andre Gide

### 43. Go to Your Studio: Build a Visual Vocabulary

What are the elements of your visual vocabulary as an artist? Where do these elements come from and how have you developed them? There's a story behind every element of your visual vocabulary. Exploring the source of your inspiration for this vocabulary can offer you telling insights into the _Why_ of your artwork.

Do you journal? Journals are a great place to develop new elements for your visual vocabulary, as they're a wonderfully non-threatening way to plant your seed ideas, and then follow their growth pattern. Small journals that you can carry with you are particularly appealing, since they free you up to dive into their pages on a moment's notice.

Beginning each day with some timed (try 10-20 minutes) journaling exercises can help you to build an expansive visual vocabulary. In fact, when you're stuck on a larger piece, you may find the answers you're looking for in one of your journals. Try filling the pages with a variety of elements...drawn or painted images, illustrated words, fabric, photos, collage elements, ephemera...

How else do you think journaling could inform or support your creative process?

What are some themes you'd like to explore in your journal?

Look closely at your own life for inspiration. Turn your attention to experiences that have made a strong impact on your life. Make a list and look for any themes that connect your experiences. Use this list as a resource to expand your visual vocabulary.

_"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."_ ~Joseph Campbell

### 44. Go to Your Studio: Are You Done Yet?

Do you know when a work of art is complete? There is definitely an art to knowing when to put your paintbrush down and step away from the canvas (or jewelry bench, or potter's wheel).

Tracking your progress is a great way to strengthen your eye so you'll know when a work is complete and it's time for you to stop tinkering. You can do this by photographing your work each day. This will not only give you insights into your own subliminal thought process as an artist, but it will also provide you with a great day by day snapshot of how your work develops.

Document a few pieces this way, and you'll start to recognize patterns in your own artistic process. You'll learn more about what opens a space for you to have a breakthrough in your work, and how the physical layering of your medium parallels your own thought process. There will also be opportunities for you to see when you've pushed a work too far. All of these examples will strengthen your eye, giving you clues and deep insights about when a work of art is finished.

When do you know if a work of art is complete?

Is it something that you can see? Or feel?

What are the clues that you look for to know when you are done?

Do you seek input from others...the caring eyes of a colleague, teacher, or coach?

Have you discussed this subject with other artists? What did you learn?

How do you know (or determine) if the work is successful?

_"An idea is a point of departure and no more. As soon as you elaborate it, it becomes transformed by thought."_ ~Pablo Picasso

### 45. Go to Your Studio: Next Steps

There's a big world that exists beyond the walls of your studio. One of your challenges as a Brave Artist is to find the best way that you can to introduce your finished works of art to just the right audience. How you choose to do this will have a significant impact on your visibility and the buzz factor that either does or does not surround you.

The space that exists between the studio and the sale of a work of art can feel like a vast chasm to many artists. Often, this is because the "next steps" require that you use a different part of your brain. Shifting from the creative, organic, right brained process of creating, to the more strategic, linear, and more left brained process of marketing can leave you feeling like you're straddling two very different worlds. And in many ways, you are. Each requires that you tap into a specific set of skills and processes.

If you find that your marketing ability is not as well developed as it could be, you're not alone. Many artists are in this same camp with you.

There's a lot to be said for learning a few basic marketing strategies that will serve you well. But it's also important to know when to seek out the professional help you need to take your art to market, and introduce it to your tribe (more on that in _Brave Artist Practice 6_ ). However, even before you "go to market" there are some basic questions you'll want to ask yourself to simply ready the work to meet the outside world.

Once you've determined that a work of art is complete, here's what's next:

Establish a system for documenting and cataloguing your finished works. Many artists create a "sell sheet" for their own personal files. The following items are necessary components of a sell sheet: professional photo of the artwork, title, measurements, medium, written description, and wholesale / retail price. You may also want to include a section for where the work is currently being shown, and/or who has purchased it—you can fill that in as the work leaves your studio.

How do you currently handle the logistics of displaying your work? Creating a standardized system will simplify your process. For example, if you're a painter, do you work in a standard size so that you can interchange your frames? If you're a sculptor, do you have your own pedestals?

Make some notes to yourself in your Brave Artist Journal about the steps you can take to streamline your documentation process and your display logistics.

_"Art is order made out of the chaos of life."_ ~Saul Bellow

Practice 5: Go To Your Studio Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in this fifth _Brave Artist Practice:_ _Go To Your Studio_?

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. As you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance. Remember, this is _your_ story.

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

How will this process of self-inquiry change your daily habits both in and out of the studio?

What else...?

" _When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her."_ ~Adrienne Rich

### Practice 6: Find Your Tribe

" _An echo is the heart reflected."_ ~Ken Nerburn

Connect! This is so important, and such fun, too. Finding and connecting with members of your "Artistic Tribe" will help you to create a nurturing community for yourself. Being a member of a creative community will empower you, helping you to stretch your creative muscles and grow into the best version of you as a Brave Artist.

Get yourself in the habit of keeping in touch with your current art peeps and always be exploring new opportunities to expand your creative circle. Think of your tribe as one BIG whole: other artists, friends, family, colleagues, associates and mentors, professionals in the art world, collectors, students, and more. Don't limit yourself. Your vibrant artistic energy will enrich so many lives, don't be shy...connect!

Today, the definition of what it means to "connect" has been cracked wide open by technology. How you connect can take many forms, and with each passing day new platforms for communication become available. Explore what's out there, find the technology that resonates with you and get connected. You can start with me! Drop me a note on my website at http://www.jeanniethomma.com. I'd love to hear from you!

The following questions will get you thinking in new ways about connecting with your tribe, including: How? Who? What? Where? When? And of course, Why?

### 46. Find Your Tribe: Connecting

How do you currently connect with your artistic tribe? This is actually a 2-part question.

First, identify who's in your tribe? Make a list if you don't already have one (names and email). You may want to group people in your tribe according to your association with them, include: family, friends, colleagues, artists, students, gallery owners, curators, editors...anyone who has expressed interest in your artwork. Your tribe is the backbone of your art business. It's the single most important platform you have. So build it with care (and back it up!), keep it up to date, and share news of your growth as an artist with this community on a regular basis.

Second, make a list of the different ways that you connect with your tribe, and, if applicable, the technology tools that you're using to expand your _community of_ _creatives_. Write down any other tools of technology that you're interested in learning to use. Think about where your tribe is already showing up—where are they active? For example, if you're a craft person working in clay and you have a production line of ceramic mugs and bowls then Etsy might be a great place for you to connect with like-minded artists and potential collectors.

Finally, make a list of where can you go to get the help you need to become an efficient user of these technologies. ( _Hint:_ there are many how-to videos posted on YouTube...it's a great resource to explore if you haven't already).

_"We all have two lives--the one we're given and the one we make."_ ~Mary Chapin Carpenter

### 47. Find Your Tribe: Be Remarkable...Be YOU!

What do you want to be known for? What's unique or unusual about the work you do? As you connect in person and online, it's helpful to differentiate yourself and your art in a memorable way. Making these distinctions and decisions is part of what's known as the "Branding" process. Successful branding is about capturing the essence of who you are as an artist and what you create in a powerful message to your audience. Your success will definitely hinge on your own authenticity. Be remarkable...be you!

Applying what's known as a "niche" strategy will give you a marketing edge. For example, you may decide that you want to be known for your watercolor portraits of pets. This doesn't mean that you only paint perky poodles, but you'll be well served to initially limit the marketing of your work to just that one area of expertise, and deliver it with enthusiasm to your audience.

This focused attention and energy will help you to develop a following, and build an art business, with much greater ease, and speed. You'll be able to craft your story, your _Why_ , for one distinct audience with very specific interests. As your reputation grows, you can continue to expand your reach of materials and subject matter. Though this approach often seems counterintuitive, it's one of the golden rules of marketing: the narrower your focus, the stronger your attraction.

If you were to focus your energy and attention on just one medium, and one subject matter within that medium, what would it be?

How can you make what you do—the art that you create—easy for other people (fellow artists and your fans!) to talk about and remember?

Can you narrow down your area of artistic focus and state your essence in a single sentence? Be certain that you define exactly who you are as an artist and pinpoint what your artwork does for your audience.

_"To be nobody but myself."_ ~e.e. cummings

### Act of Bravery

If you don't already have business cards or postcards featuring images of your very best and most recent works of art, get some made today.

You'll want to use high quality digital images of your work when going to print. Be sure to have professional photos taken of your artwork (you want your images to jump off the page!) Great photos are worth their weight in gold and will open many doors for you.

When designing your cards, you have lots of options. Take a look at the cards you've collected from other artists—which are your favorite, and why? Let these serve as your design inspiration. Ideally, you'll want an image(s) on the front of the card along with your name, and all of your contact information on the back.

Check our _Modern Postcard_ , _Vista Print_ and _Moo Cards_ to start. You'll find these are just a few of the many printing resources available.

_"If you dream it, you can do it."_ ~Walt Disney

### 48. Find Your Tribe: The Local Art Scene

Who do you know that's already immersed in the online art scene? Artists love to share what they know. Do some networking. The wider your circle of art peeps, the more folks you'll have to share resources with, including information on shows, calls for entry, books, galleries, teachers, supplies, critiques, and more.

Look for ways to share what you know, and become a contributor to a larger community of artists and art fans. This will invigorate your practice and give you a genuine sense of belonging to something bigger. Being of service to other artists and to your fans is a strong and sincere way to build your practice as a Brave Artist. Let your heart lead you through this process.

How many art newsletters do you subscribe to? Or periodicals? Who's blogs are you following? Go and get yourself signed up! You can start with mine: http://www.jeanniethomma.me. Who's reading _your_ art blog? (More on that in _Brave Artist Practice #7: Increase Your Visibility)._

_"The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live."_ ~Joan Borysenko

### 49. Find Your Tribe: Face-to-Face

There is nothing that can replace the joy of a live, face-to-face conversation. Stretch yourself if need be, to make sure that this is a regular part of your artistic experience. The new people you meet will expand your tribe and enrich your life.

Where can you go in your town or city to connect with other local artists in person?

Make a list of the art organizations within an hour from your home. Do an online search for guilds, art centers, local chapters of national and local art organizations, continuing education programs, etc.

Find out when openings are scheduled or when meetings are taking place, and plan to attend. Get the details on becoming a member, and how/when members are invited to exhibit their art. Apply for membership!

_"One day it was suddenly revealed to me that everything is pure spirit."_ ~Rama Krishna

### Act of Bravery

Attend at least one art opening each month. Go with the intention of connecting with other artists...at least a few whom you don't know (yet). Don't leave the house / studio without some of your art cards or business cards. Exchange art cards to share contact information with the new artists that you meet! Follow up with them via email within the week to strengthen your initial connections.

_"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."_ ~e.e. cummings

### 50. Find Your Tribe: Taking The Lead

One of the things that slow the growth process of many artists is the false belief that they need to wait for permission or approval (from a gallery) to share their work and ideas. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I encourage you to take the lead. Explore and invent new ways of connecting with your future fans and expanding your artistic tribe. Get your artwork out there and the world will be a better place because of it. Use your imagination...the sky is the limit! You may decide to organize something on your own, or team up with a colleague and share the experience and responsibilities.

The following ideas are all yours for the taking. What other ways can you think of to engage with your _community of creatives?_

Where can you host an art event in your community—to build your tribe? Can you collaborate with an established venue?

When is your next group art show? Consider organizing or facilitating a critique for participating members, before, during and/or after the show to build community and relationships.

How can your current and future fans learn more about you and your art...through your blog...at your next open studio tour?

When will you be speaking about your art? Get the word out! And share last minute reminders, too.

_"It is not what we learn in conversation that enriches us, it is the elation that comes of swift contact with tingling currents of thought."_ ~Agnes Repplier

Practice 6: Find Your Tribe Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in this sixth _Brave Artist Practice: Find Your Tribe?_

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. As you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance. This is _your_ story. Who are you sharing it with?

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

Reflect for a moment on the idea of _connecting_. What thoughts come to mind?

Imagine your ideal "tribe member"—describe that person in detail...

What else...?

" _Every thought we think is creating our future."_ ~Louise L. Hay

### Practice 7: Increase Your Visibility

" _Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark."_ ~Anonymous

Getting very visible will give your work and words wings. There are a million and one ways to be seen. The challenge for many artists, is actually doing it...getting visible. To show up, again and again and again in public and talk about your artwork from a place of strength, takes great courage. Actively creating opportunities to talk about your art takes real bravery.

A _big_ part of owning your creative power includes getting very visible, no matter the discomfort. Remember this: the Brave Artist gets comfortable with being uncomfortable.

_"Sometimes, all you need is 20 seconds of courage."_ ~Matt Damon

Step into the spotlight and share your unique brilliance every chance you get—remember, you are the art and the artist. People want to know your story. You are a Brave Artist. When you tell your story, you will be inspiring others to live their truth.

Starting from where you are right now. Take one step every day. Identify ways in which you can use everything that you already know and have to increase your visibility. Get ready to shine!

### 51. Increase Your Visibility: Tell Your Story

With fabulous images of your artwork in hand, you'll be ready to start the marketing process. There are a million and one ways to share your work with the world. But at the core of every marketing process is your ability to tell your story. Why do you make the work that you do? And why will your story matter to other people? What's in it for them? Practice talking about your artwork, and continue to improve the delivery of your story. Think carefully about the words you use to communicate. Words have energy...choose them well! What kind of vibe are you giving off with your words?

How can you paint a picture with words about your art? Make a list of words to describe the energy of your work (aim for 20 or more). For example: peaceful, colorful, mysterious, ornamental, abstract, poetic, noisy, balanced, joyful, contemplative, etc. Use those words to string together a story about your art. Start to tell _that_ story.

Note: sometimes it's helpful to practice this process by looking at someone else's work and writing about it, first. Better yet, team up with an art friend and write about each other's work...you'll be surprised by the insights that the exchange will provide for both of you!

It will serve you well to make this exercise a habit. Apply this to each work of art and/or body of work as you complete it. When you do, you'll find you have plenty of fresh content to share with your peeps...and the press!

_"May I suggest that you stun the world with you?"_ ~Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

52. Increase Your Visibility: Share Your Why

Why do you make art? So far, we've discussed this as it relates to the telling of your story. Now you're going to have the opportunity to share your _Why_ more formally, as an Artist Statement. An Artist Statement will address your thoughts, focus, and the inspiration behind the art you make. It will also serve as a valuable bridge, connecting you with your audience.

Writing out your _Why_ will give you both clarity and focus when talking about your work face-to-face, too.

As an artist, you get to write your own story. You are the art and the artist. There is no separation. Every work of art you create is a self-portrait. Your artwork is a collection of your unique life experiences, and a chance for your audience to see the world through your eyes.

Art is a powerful tool for transformation. When people look at your artwork, they want to know your story. You need to answer this unspoken question, to let them know who you are and why you create, what makes your heart sing and gives your imagination wings. Your audience wants to see a piece of themselves in you, in your art, to feel a connection to the passion, the story that fuels your soul. Through your art, you can be their voice, but you must help them along.

Many viewers are timid, uncertain about their ability to understand art. It's your job, as the artist, to guide them. Meet them in a world of words. Allow your thoughts to come to life on the page. Create an Artist's Statement that celebrates who you are, what you do, and why. Think of your words as little footbridges that will bring your viewers directly to your front door, eager to discover more, and excited to explore a new terrain of images and forms. Go ahead and write your story. The world is waiting to meet you.

Remember too, that your artwork is an invitation to your audience—your tribe—to enter a world of ideas that began as private musings. There is something sacred about an invitation like this. It satisfies a primal human need that we all have to connect. When you share your Artist Statement with your tribe, you seize the opportunity to deepen your connection with them.

You'll want to answer the following three simple questions as you craft your Artist's Statement:

What do you do?  
How do you do it?  
And, perhaps most importantly, why do you do it?

During your process, reach out for support and have an extra set of trusted eyes take a look at your Artist's Statement. They'll be able to see things that you can't see because you're so close to the work.

Writing an Artist Statement that reflects your passion, dedication and expertise is an important and empowering step in your process as a Brave Artist. Take the time necessary to express yourself with clarity and purpose.

_"What we hold in our hands mirrors what we hold in our hearts."_ ~Jeannie Thomma

### 53. Increase Your Visibility: Time to Shine!

You are here to shine. You are here to spread beauty through the art that you create. This action may be one of the most important and significant contributions that you make to society. Your ideas and insights, your vision and wisdom, all of these have the power to transform lives and enrich the world.

Now is the time for you to be bold and brave. Yours is an important and timely message, do not hesitate, or second-guess yourself. Take the leap. Trust yourself. Trust that your intuition is strong, and that you are in the right place at precisely the right time. A door has opened for you, now take a deep breath and step through it.

What keeps you from being more visible?

How does fear play into this equation?

What thoughts or actions could you take to face your fears? Which of these will you act on? When?

_"Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! And shine!"_ ~Buddha

### Act of Bravery

Look for opportunities to generate excitement and interest about your artwork. Send press releases that include color jpegs of your art to local papers. Consider guest blogging for other artists to share your work with their audience (and return the favor, inviting them to write a guest post on your blog). But don't stop there...be bold, be bodacious! Great press is fueled by great _imagination_. This is an area that I know is a strength for you...so use it to your benefit!!

A story. When I graduated from college, my very first job was working in the Prints and Photographs Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. As you can imagine, I learned a lot while I was there. One of my biggest a-ha moments came from a bit of information I gleaned about Alfred Stieglitz, the famed American photographer. He was a master at promotion. During the early part of the 20th century, photography was not an accepted art form. So what did he do? He gave gifts of his photographs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's board members and directors, thus insuring that his artwork would become a part of the museum's permanent collection...even before they had a Photography Department! After all, proper etiquette wouldn't allow his gifts to be refused. Clever, huh? How can you follow Stieglitz's lead?

Ask yourself this question (you may remember it from Exercise 18): "What can I do to transform the things that I already have into those very things that I desire?"

_"You must do that thing which you think you cannot do."_ ~Eleanor Roosevelt

### 54. Increase Your Visibility: Magic and Mystery

The artist and her/his process are surrounded by an aura of mystery. What goes on within the sanctuary of your studio is a story of alchemy and magic. When you lift the curtain and let your audience into your sacred space, where they can catch a glimpse of what goes on behind-the-scenes, you will be establishing lasting relationships based on trust and respect.

You have a wonderful opportunity to educate and entertain your audience in these moments. What your audience will remember when you invite them into your studio (even virtually), is how you made them feel: privileged, special, connected.

You can do this. Invite the world in to share your process...you'll be amazed and delighted by the results!

How can you leverage technology to let the outside world "in" and give your fans a glimpse of your creative process? (Think videos and photos!)

What part(s) of your process would you like to document and share?

What about your process distinguishes you as an artist and makes you different?

Include notes in your documentation (either written or spoken) about the decisions you've made to work the way that you do.

Consider using an interview format to share your process. Conversations, much like great stories, are memorable.

In what other ways could you share the magic and mystery of your art process? Make a list of your ideas. Choose at least one and commit to it!

_"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."_ ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

### 55. Increase Your Visibility: Think Outside the Box...

The gallery is the ultimate box. It's time for you to stretch your mind and build your creative marketing muscles by thinking outside of the box! Getting visible definitely isn't limited to a gallery exhibit. How many other ways can you think of to get your art and message into the world? Consider both virtual and live opportunities. Go ahead, make a really _big_ list...use your imagination...no limitations!

Ponder these two questions as you are brainstorming: where does your particular tribe hang out? How can you get your artwork in front of them, in that place? Be clever...

Who else shares your audience? For example, if you paint portraits of pets, why not contact your local veterinarian and inquire about putting your work on display in their offices and waiting area? You'll be getting your work in front of the very people who are most likely to hire you for a commission.

" _The power of intention is the power to manifest, to create, to live a life of unlimited abundance, and to attract into your life the right people at the right moments."_ ~Wayne Dyer

### Acts of Bravery

In this section, you'll find a list of _visibility_ ideas to get you started...as you read through the list, make a note in your journal of those that you're already doing and also identify those that you'd like to pursue. Don't overthink it—trust your gut. Don't choose techniques that are a complete mismatch for who you are. Do allow for your own growth by selecting some visibility techniques that will require you to stretch.

It's a long list, take care not to slide into overwhelm. Just decide to do a little bit with every passing day. Remember, most lasting change occurs as the result of many small sustainable steps taken one after another. Star with something easy. Keep in mind too, that the journey is as important as the destination.

_"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me?"_ ~Ayn Rand

**Getting very** _visible_ **will give your work and words wings.  
Here's a list to get you started:**

Introduce yourself

Create a website that _wows_!

Include a link to your website in your email signature

Exhibit your artwork in both traditional and alternative venues

Blog! Blog! Blog!

Participate in Holiday shows / sales

Promote yourself online through social media

Send out a newsletter to your fans!

Get your artwork published!

Create a press kit for yourself—keep it updated

Send releases and photos to local news media regularly

Get color postcards printed of your strongest pieces & create opportunities to share them

Look for authentic ways to share your expertise and increase your visibility as an expert—package what you know into products and services

Be interviewed

Develop a talk that you can present with passion and get known for

Share info about your art business in your voicemail message

Vlog—video blog

Create a Facebook Fan Page

Comment on Facebook Pages where you want to be noticed

Network on Linked-In

Tweet

Attend networking events

Keep in touch via email

Promote an upcoming event—people care about what you're up to!

Run a contest

Talk about your goals as they relate to your clients, collectors, and students...make it clear what's in it for them—why and how you are here to serve them

Host a private studio sale—invite only, reception

Send hand-written notes to your top 20 collectors...with a mini artwork

Say thank you

Solve a problem for your clients, collectors, students, or colleagues

Offer a free gift

Bring extra value to your clients...surprise them

Reward your clients, collectors, students, network for tuning in and choosing you

Continually educate your clients, collectors, students and prospects

Share your favorite tips/techniques in a Top 10 format/flyer

Invite your prospects to a special event

Share your business guarantee with pride

Become a valued resource

Share a new perspective

Share what you're reading

Promote a free program that allows potential clients to sample your products/services

Collaborate with other artists to organize a group studio sale (private/public dates)

Exhibit and sell your artwork at a café or restaurant

Host an auction for your favorite charity

Apply for an artist grant

Submit a group show proposal with other artists of your choosing

Seek out secure gallery representation—consult with other artists and make sure the gallery has a strong history of paying their artists in a timely fashion

Brand yourself brilliantly

Come up with a tagline that illustrates who you are as an artist and the value that you bring to your clients, collectors and students

Explain what you offer (art, products, services) and the value you provide as an artist, teacher, visionary, change agent

Be a part of a joint-venture several times a year

Go ahead and _wow_ the world with you... _You are an amazing and Brave Artist!_

Practice 7: Increase Your Visibility Reflection

What new discoveries did you make about yourself in this seventh _Brave Artist Practice: Increase Your Visibility._

Take some time to journal about your experience, and document your process. As you grow, stretch and develop new creative muscles, it's important to take the time to celebrate the wonder of what's happening...you are changing, and actively unmasking your creative brilliance. This is _your_ story. Your art is your legacy.

Consider the following:

What stirred you?

What surprised you?

What was difficult to write about?

What made you feel empowered?

What caused a shift to occur in your thought process?

How visible are you?

How visible would you like to be?

Complete the following sentence and then keep on writing.

"If I had no fear about getting more visible, I would..."

What else...?

" _Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."_ ~Maria Robinson

### Closing Thoughts

_"Your most precious, valued possessions and your greatest powers are invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You, and you alone, can give them. You will receive abundance for your giving."_ ~ W. Clement Stone

Thank you for reading this book and inviting me to walk along side you as you travel your creative path. My passion for teaching is equal to my love of the creative process, so it is my sincere hope that you've been able to take away information and learning that proves to be valuable to you in your growth and development as an artist.

I'd be thrilled to hear from you. Stop by my website http://www.jeanniethomma.com and click on the "Contact" button. Tell me about your experiences, you can be sure that I'll write back to you.

I also hope you'll consider subscribing to my blog at http://www.jeanniethomma.me. I post meditations for artists every week, and there are even free audio versions available. I would be incredibly honored if you choose to subscribe. It's a wonderful way that you can let me know that this book has impacted you in a positive way!

All of my work is designed to support you in building your belief. My goal is now and always will be to help you develop and sustain your creative confidence in order to become a fully expressed artist. I celebrate you and look forward hearing from you on your journey!

We do not become artists.  
We are born artists.  
What we become are believers...

I believe in the power of art to change lives.  
I believe that you are a Brave Artist.  
I believe that you have everything you need to get the work done.

I believe that life is short and wonderful and full of unexpected events.  
I believe life is happening in this moment.  
I believe that showing up as _you_ , is brave and beautiful.

I believe that there is no end to your creativity.  
I believe that you are capable of every dream you've ever imagined.  
I believe in the miracle of you.

Here's to your creative brilliance...unmasked!

With Love and Respect,

### Jeannieu

Jeannie Thomma  
_The Creativity Genie_

# # #

### About the Author

Jeannie Thomma, The Creativity Genie

Jeannie Thomma was born holding a purple crayon. Since that time, she has left her creative mark on everything that has crossed her path. Inquisitive by nature, her favorite word as a young child was "Why?" Her fascination with wonder-filled questions continues to guide her today. A seeker of truth, Jeannie holds "the art of process" as sacred ground for creative discovery and spiritual renewal. It's no wonder then, given her lifelong fascination with creativity and curiosity that Brave Artist, her first book, is built upon these very same guiding principles.

In the pages of **Brave Artist,** Jeannie Thomma shines a light on the courage that is required to pursue the artistic path. Written as a series of questions, **Brave Artist** is a powerful guide for readers who are in search of a way to identify and remove the creative blocks that keep them small, stuck or not fully expressed.

As an accomplished fiber artist, master teacher, inspirational creativity coach and former gallery owner, Jeannie Thomma brings a rich understanding of the obstacles and fears that artists encounter on the journey to self-expression. For more than a decade, Jeannie has been asking artists the questions that bring them face to face with their fears and allow them unmask their own creative brilliance.

Jeannie Thomma's family tree references generations of artists and fine craftsmen, from painters whose work is owned by Museums in Ireland, to NYC fancy boot-makers and milliners from the early 1900's. Her affinity for fiber art, specifically the alchemical process of transforming wool into felt, has its roots in both her genealogical history and a deep spiritual connection to nature.

Jeannie's hand-felted wool works of art have been widely shown throughout New England in private, public and non-profit venues, including the award-winning galleries at Silvermine Arts Center where she has been a guild member, The Kershner Gallery, Ironwood Gallery, Wesleyan Potters, Erickson Davis Gallery and Zoe & Flloyd Gallery which she founded in 2006. With numerous solo and group shows to her name, she is recognized for both her sculptural and wearable art works. The former have been featured and sold through the national artisan catalogue, _Uno Alla Volta_.

A master teacher for over a decade, Jeannie Thomma has lead workshops in the ancient art of hand-felted wool to over 7,500 students of all ages and abilities since 2001. A sought after artist-in-residence, she was the recipient of an ArtsWestchester Arts Alive Grant in 2010, funded by the Decentralization Program of New York State Council on the Arts. She is a current faculty member at Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, CT and at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT. She has taught at numerous nationally recognized art centers, including Westport Arts Center, CT; Brookfield Craft Center, CT; and The Katonah Museum of Art, NY.

Jeannie's experience as an artist, teacher and gallery owner lead to her vocation as a creativity coach and author. **Brave Artist** is the heartfelt guide to unmasking your creative brilliance that Jeannie has faithfully practiced herself for twenty years. She has written this book to share her wisdom with you, to provide you with keen insights, practical knowledge and transformational tools, gathered from more than two decades in the arts, for how to live life as a brave and thriving artist. To learn more about Jeannie's private and group coaching programs for artists and creatives visit http://www.jeanniethomma.com.

Connect with Me Online:

My Website: http://www.jeanniethomma.com

My Blog: http://www.jeanniethomma.me

Smashwords: <http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jeanniethomma>

### Bonus Material

If you enjoyed this book, please return to <http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jeanniethomma> to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. The following meditations are sample excerpts from Jeannie Thomma's up and coming book, **Brave Artist Meditations.**

### Meditation #1

I am a Brave Artist.

I believe in my heart and my head that I have everything I need to make my creative visions manifest.

As I wake each morning, I give thanks for the ideas and inspiration that flow like blood through my veins.

Every day, I take time to center myself and breathe in the inspiration that is all around me. I follow my intuition and allow it to guide me as I walk the creative path.

I go with the flow, allowing the creative current that lives in me to lead the way. I know I am Divinely inspired and I trust that staying true to my creative essence will lead me to my highest good.

I appreciate that there is only one of me. I am here for a very special purpose. I am committed to sharing the beauty that lives in me through the work that I do.

I am thankful for the belief that I have in myself. I carry that belief in my heart at all times. It reminds me on a daily basis of just how important it is that I show up in my studio and share the beauty of who I am through my art.

I recognize that I am a creative vessel for spirit, channeling the energies of the unseen into beautiful, life affirming and healing visual messages.

My works of art carry a healing energy within them. That energy is a life force, available to all who view the work and open themselves to its message.

I consciously work at minding my mind. I take the time to focus my attention and thoughts on all of the positive aspects that surround me.

I understand that to lead a creative life is a calling. I embrace this opportunity and look for new ways to bring compassion to the world and the people I meet through my art.

I value my artistic gifts and because of this, I take time each day to nurture my own creative spirit. I always have enough time every day to provide myself with healthy artistic nourishment.

It gives me great pleasure to create. When I'm in creative flow, allowing myself to be fully expressed, time and space disappear. In those moments, I am alone with my creator, and one with the energy of the universe.

Because the work I do comes from a place of love, it vibrates at a high frequency in the world, attracting others whose hearts are open and who shine their own brilliant light.

I understand that I am part of an energy force much bigger than myself. The art that I make comes through me but it does not come from me. I am a conduit, a messenger, a healer and a teacher. This knowingness brings me great happiness and great comfort.

Today, I take time to reflect on the importance of my work. The art that I bring to the world is really an energy medicine. Knowing this, I pursue my own self-expression with passion and commitment. I am here to be me.

As I embrace my own artistic vision, I recognize that this path I am on is a beautiful exploration, a journey of moments, and a celebration of love.

And so it is with an abundance of joy filling my physical being that I give myself the freedom to create, to live my truth as a beautiful artist, and to unmask my brilliance to the world.

And so it is.

### Meditation #2

A current of creativity runs through me

It fuels me with energy, emotion and drive

It lights my way, revealing my path to me

It keeps me connected to my soul, my truth

One breath, one brushstroke, one stitch, one mark, one image at a time

A current of creativity runs through me

It is my bridge between earth and sky, where I find my roots and wings

It is the spark that ignites my imagination

It guides me from Inspiration to manifestation

It fuels my belief, as I surrender to the flow of ideas floating upon my breath

A current of creativity runs through me

It awakens the spirit of the artist that lives in me

It heals me, providing my body and mind with powerful energy medicine

It protects me, keeping me present to this moment, and the beauty of now

A current of creativity runs through me

It calls me back to center

Reminding me of where to focus my attention

Gently steering me toward my own highest good

Keeping me awake, alive and in alignment with my essence

A current of creativity runs through me

I am a Brave Artist

### Meditation #3

My artwork is a beautiful necessity.

I create so that I may know myself. I create to celebrate my life. I create because it is the best way that I know to pray.

The process of creation fills my soul with wonder.

In the making of my art, I forget who I am and remember who I am becoming.

Allowing my intuition to guide me, I discover my own essential truths in my work.

In these moments I know that I am being lead. I recognize that the work is of my own hand and that it is also a sacred collaboration, inspired by an energy that runs through me, and all of life.

I trust that my best work is done when I tap into my most authentic self. To get "there" I simply begin to work. The act of making art quiets my mind, and from that space, I am able to create from a place of deep belief and power that bridges my earthly and spiritual wisdom.

My artwork is a mirror of my soul, a reflection of all that I have discovered, and the many magical possibilities and experiences that await me.

Through my art, it is always my intention to create a vision of the spiritual, within the material.

The time that I spend creating makes me acutely aware of my strength and my vision.

The more time that I spend making art, the more meaning I find in all that I do, and everyone I meet. I protect my time to create, because I know that when I have time to work, I become the best version of me.

The act of creation informs my relationship with the world. I recognize that my life is a dance, an organic choreography, and with each step I am able to express my beliefs and reveal my creative brilliance.

My art is an extension of my being. My hands transmit a healing energy, and that energy lives in my artwork.

I, like all of the artists who have come before me, bring an energy medicine to the world through my art.

There is nothing greater than the strength of a story. My art is my story. My medicine. My healing. My passion. My love.

I return to my work, again and again. I return to a place within me that is the source of my creativity. There is work in me calling out to be made. I show up so it can find its way into the world.

That is my task, to simply show up and allow the work to express itself through me.

I gently remind myself that my best art is made, when I get out of the way, when I work from a place of no-mind. I am both the art and the artist.

My artwork is a beautiful necessity.

### Please help share this free book with artists everywhere!

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please share it with your friends or encourage them to download their own free copy at <http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jeanniethomma>, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.
