Your creativity is boundless, your imagination is unyielding, and the weight of this world is unrelenting.

Vyana Novus joins us in this very tender and open discussion on creativity, trauma, beauty, and safety in this interview-episode. You will walk away feeling so deeply seen and reminded that pain is integral to our growth and often plays a part in the creation of good art. Vyana is one of my dearest friends and we talk like two people who have a deep understanding of one another and a lot of mutual admiration -- but you're also going to hear a lot of curiosity and vulnerability as we get into some deep topics.

TW: We discuss SA, ED, intimate partner abuse, and trauma. Nothing is described in any graphic detail but I want you to be aware in case you are looking for a purely light episode. I have 100 others you can listen to. However, this episode is BEAUTIFUL and full of safety and love. 

Find me (Emily Jeffords) at @Emily_Jeffords and emilyjeffords.com 

Hey there, friend! Welcome back to the Do It For The Process podcast – it's so great to have you here again. I've been pouring my heart into creating a fresh body of work in the studio and the painting process has taught me SO much -- yet again.

Here's the thing I've realized: pleasure is the goal. Finding joy in the process is everything. Sometimes your own happiness can be the only goal -- in and out of the studio.

Trying things that excite you and feel new can make the entire process come to life.

I've learned to embrace imperfection, to savor every moment of creation without worrying about getting it just right. And you know what? It's been so liberating, especially when I start painting within my life rather than trying to carve studio time out of my life. Now I try to create in flow AND flow in and out of my studio as I'm led by desire. Even when that means I involve my little one in the creative process. It's honestly so fun to create and paint WITH him.

Perfection is boring. Let yourself create what feels most alive and most alive. Be someone more focused on receiving inspiration rather than how you or your work is affecting others. It's so powerful when I can shed perfectionism and just appreciate the goodness in my work. It feels so good and so alive and freeing! 

As always, it is a delight to create and share my practice and this gorgeous collection of work with you.

See some behind-the-scenes on Instagram: @Emiy_Jeffords

Explore TikTok with me: @emily_jeffords

Follow my daily musings on Threads (It's genuinely delightful over there)

Get the full experience and tune into the workshops (and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets) HERE.

The Share the Work videos are available through March 21st! 

• MAKING art WORK
• Share the Work
• Emily Jeffords' art
• Instagram
• TikTok

if someone buys something for their home or themselves, they want to enjoy that thing. In order to enjoy something, we have to VALUE it. In this episode, we talk about all the ways we might be devaluing our own art and efforts before ever showing our work to someone else! 

As you let your imagination expand, your aspirations will follow.

And your aspirations will soon turn into goals

So much of Making Art Work is deeply practical – HOW TO grow a business around your art, when to take certain steps, the methods that make the magic… but so much of the work we do is loosening the mindsets that keep us from creating bravely and sharing our work well. 

This is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! 

Get all the details HERE

Tune into the LIVE workshops and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets HERE. They are available through March 21st! 

MAKING art WORK is OPEN! Learn all about this life-changing and STUDIO-GROWING masterclass HERE. 

So far we’ve talked about The 3 things you must know to sell art online, how to know if your art is worth selling, and TODAY, I’m sharing 5 super practical, actionable tips that you can use to support your work in the world.

Marketing your art in 2024 is very different than marketing in 2014, 1924, 1400...  We have had to evolve exponentially as Creative Entrepreneurs.  We have SO much freedom and creative control over our work and careers.  The ability to meet collectors on our own -- the ability to grow and expand our work as we would like...  it's all very exciting!

Wondering where you can go to meet all these amazing, elusive collectors? 

Let's talk about marketing your work in 2024!  If I were to choose only 5 areas to market, it would be these:

• Email Marketing

Make your studio emails a vibrant and exciting place.  Share behind the scenes, your inspiration, offer a peek inside your studio, stories and insights...  This is an intimate space! 

Create a “studio email list” of people who are interested in you + your work

Nurture those people with a beautiful “welcome sequence” — a collection of 2-10 emails that are automatically sent to your subscribers sharing:

Send early access to artwork or collections

• Social Media

Show up on social media as a fine artist, designer, maker, PROFESSIONAL

Understand why you are there and why you are posting. Choose 1-2 platforms and get to know the culture and content that is doing well on those platforms. 

Share your work beautifully and consistently: photograph it well, bring people into the studio, allow them to get to know your story (as it relates to your creative work), and don’t be afraid to share/sell your work! 

Share your work regularly – when someone comes to your account, is your “highest” work front and center.

Many more practical tips inside of Making Art Work on growing your social media accounts, creating effective content, and maintaining a marketing calendar. 

Come find me on Instagram and TikTok! 

• Use the magic of Pinterest

Pinterest is one of the VERY best places to share your work as a visual creative!

Pins tend to mature over age and offer benefits to your work 1-12 months after they are pinned.

Pinterest ads are also something to consider if you're ready to invest some $$ and thought into marketing.

Pin your work directly to Pinterest from the listing or blog post.  Also, pin your Instagram posts!  Why not reuse that glorious content? 

Vary the content you pin: original content from your site or other platforms, photos, videos, as well as pins from other sites that will compliment your work.

• COLLABORATE 

Working with another creative, a designer, blogger, editor, podcaster… be your best advocate and PR.

Cross-promote, share platforms, go live with your friends, offer value to other brands and media.

Reach out to designers in your local community and offer them a trade discount (10-20% off).  You can also request or barter for amazing photographs!  

I didn't mention this in the video, but you can also with designers to rent your artwork for staged homes.  Some wonderful passive income!  

Commercial designers: restaurants, offices, hotels...

• Show up IRL

Find ways to share your work in real life – in the real world. This could be at art shows, galleries, craft fairs, wholesale your work in shops, liscence your work and be known in your community. 

The connections you can make in-person are so much greater and more effective for both marketing and for sales. One in-person meeting is worth at least 10 online meetings.  Be warm, welcoming, intentional, and get ready to welcome new people into your community!

MARKETING and growing your studio is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! 

Get all the details HERE.  

DOORS CLOSE ON THURSDAY

Join the LIVE workshops and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets HERE. They are available through March 21st! 

Let’s get to the heart of the issue: You need to elevate your BRAND.

Yep. You. You have a brand.

I know… It's weird. 

And also kind of fancy!

Let's talk about what a brand is before we get all bristly and closed off. A brand is far more than a logo. It is far more than your website. It's not your icons, graphics, images, the tiny alligator on your shirt, the label inside of your coat…

Your brand is the feeling people experience when they come in contact with your work. How cool is that! Now, allllll the things mentioned above absolutely matter and help to convey your brand, but they are not the brand.

>>>> You are in charge of bringing value to your work.

Your work might be lovely and you are authentically sharing it with your audience, but if you’re not presenting it beautifully and effectively, they won’t have the chance to appreciate it.

As you create a brand, you have space to elevate and grow.

This is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! 

Get all the details HERE

Join the LIVE workshops and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets HERE. They are available through March 21st! 

Today we set the foundation. The MOST important step of all. Falling in LOVE with your work, with the process, with the beautiful energy you feel while creating. That sweet sweet magic translates to the way you share your work with your (ever-growing) audience which connects to how you grow your studio and business. And it all starts with that love. 

IS YOUR VISION COMING THROUGH IN YOUR WORK?

>> Before you can expect to attract customers, you have to understand what your work is saying as it is active and living in the world. 

1 Understand why your work is worth being seen

2 Get clear on why your work matters to you

3 Look at your work from the outside; is it speaking in the way you intend?

4 How are you conveying the value of your work to others?

5 Define who your ideal audience is and where they feel most comfortable

6 How can you use empathy to share your work effectively?

This is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! 

Get all the details HERE

Join the LIVE workshops and get all the conversation, Q&A, extra goodness, and worksheets HERE. They are available through March 21st! 

Today we set the foundation. The MOST important step of all. Falling in LOVE with your work, with the process, with the beautiful energy you feel while creating. That sweet sweet magic translates to the way you share your work with your (ever-growing) audience which connects to how you grow your studio and business. And it all starts with that love. 

>>>> When you deeply understand that your work is worthy you begin to treat it differently. You begin to elevate it.

When your work is elevated you VALUE YOUR WORK

And then your audience can also VALUE YOUR WORK.

This is where Making Art Work shines. Inside this Masterclass, I get to walk with you through every single area of running a creative business. Everything from web design to wholesale, branding to creating a collection, email marketing, running ads for your art, SEO for artists and SO much more! 

Get all the details HERE

SHARE the WORK is beginning next Monday! This workshop is happening each day at noon next week and you need to join us! If you're hoping to begin to sell more art and increase your sales in 2024, then prioritize this. 

Save your seat here! 

Ok, now on to our marketing prediction for 2024. I have 10 to share with you in this 3-part series. These predictions are based on my intuition, trends I'm sensing, and research I'm doing.  Experiment with them and see where they take you! 

• Automation > link in bio 
• Paid ads work so so well -- but make them niche and trust your voice to speak to the right people in the algorithm (again, be a genuine human) 
• Speak to your followers to encourage community. “People like us do things like this,” “you and I know” “If you've been here for a while” “Ok you already know this because of course you do…” “As we’ve talked about before” “Hi friends…” And then ask for the follow right up top in the caption 
• Educators are IN, influencers are OUT (algorithms are noticing a disinterest in posts marked with the mandatory #ad and are deprioritizing these posts — plus we’re bored of them)

WE BEGIN ON MONDAY!!! JOIN SHARE THE WORK! I can't say this enough. This 5-day workshop is going to change your business. So show up, get ready, and let's grow beautifully together.  

MAKING ART WORK opens for enrollment next Thursday. This 9-week masterclass is ready to change and grow your business and your creative work for the better. Sustainable growth, higher sales, incredible clarity. Are you ready?

@Emily_Jeffords on Instagram and TikTok

SHARE the WORK is beginning next Monday! This workshop is happening each day at noon next week and you need to join us! If you're hoping to begin to sell more art and increase your sales in 2024, then prioritize this. 

Save your seat here! 

Ok, now on to our marketing prediction for 2024. I have 10 to share with you in this 3-part series. These predictions are based on my intuition, trends I'm sensing, and research I'm doing.  Experiment with them and see where they take you! 

• Video > Photo (but photos are going to make a comeback and are definitely highly valuable -- however, prioritize video and video content) 
• Easy, natural, off-the-cuff, or "low-production" > high production (but high production will catch eyes and make a lasting impact)
• Personal contact > speaking to the masses (USE YOUR DMS, make connections -- more on this in the next episode!)
  
  There is SO MUCH more coming in this mini-series! Tune in tomorrow for part 3!

JOIN SHARE THE WORK! I can't say this enough. This 5-day workshop is going to change your business. So show up, get ready, and let's grow beautifully together.  

@Emily_Jeffords on Instagram and TikTok

Part 1 or 3: My TOP 10 Marketing Trend Predictions for 2024 for Artists and Creatives 

Before we get into this NERDY and life-giving conversation, I have to tell you that SHARE the WORK is beginning next Monday! This workshop is happening each day at noon next week and you need to join us! If you're hoping to begin to sell more art and increase your sales in 2024, then prioritize this. 

You can save your seat here! 

Ok, now on to our marketing prediction for 2024. I have 10 to share with you in this 3-part series. These predictions are based on my intuition, trends I'm sensing, and research I'm doing.  Experiment with them and see where they take you! 

• Reach > following -- isn't that nice!! That vanity metric matters far less than the number of people actually SEEING and enjoying your content. So focus far more on that than on the number of followers. Don't get me wrong, attracting community members (followers) but if your followers aren't seeing your content either then what are we even doing here??
  • TRAIN THE ALGORYTHM with repetition, posting themes, and having a consistent brand aesthetic (more on this in Making Art Work). Get noticed by people engaging with similar content.
  • And even better than that >>> ENGAGEMENT MATTERS THE MOST!
  • Engagement > following (the algorithm will show your work to those people again and again whether they follow you or not) 
    
    
• Being a beautiful, real-life human > AI
  • Be as human as you possibly can be – funny, imperfect, honest, vulnerable, silly, soulful… we want to engage with people, not bots or computers so it's OK (good, even) to show your beautiful realness! 
    
    
• Create threads, themes, and stories, (for example, part 1, 2, 3, 4 style posts or pieces of content).
  • Give your audience something to sink into and feel safe in. I know that sounds a little *extra* to say that they want to feel "safe" in your content, but it's true. Series, multi-part content, and themes in your posts create a sense of known content -- that feels consistent and safe. So let us get cozy! 
    
    There is SO MUCH more coming in this mini-series! Tune in tomorrow for part 2! 

JOIN SHARE THE WORK! I can't stress this enough. This 5-day workshop is going to change your business. So show up, get ready, and let's grow beautifully together.  

@Emily_Jeffords on Instagram and TikTok

(also mentioned: Anna Nunez and her beautiful color of the month series) 

MAKING art WORK early bird is open until Saturday! Don't miss this opportunity to learn and GROW your business within 9 short weeks. 

Remember, you are here because you create artwork that you LOVE. You are here because you long for your work to reach a wider audience and find your COLLECTORS! You want to create work and send it into the world and know that it will be well received by your people.

Selling my work directly to my collectors has allowed me to sell to people all around the world, create freedom in my work-flow, and share my vision and perspective directly with my audience.

Download the beautiful workbook that accompanies this conversation: The How to Attract Collectors Workbook

Some helpful links for you:

THE GOAL-SETTING WORKBOOK -- a beautiful guide to honoring your dreams and accomplishing your goals year-round. 

MAKING art WORK - a 9-Week Masterclass for Artists and Creatives looking to grow their business and studios 

The DO IT FOR THE PROCESS Affirmation Cards

Tune into more episodes HERE