Here is one of my favorite books about how to maintain an authentic life as an artist. Sally Warner, an artist herself, writes to those who have lost their way and are trying to find a path back to a creative life.

Every artist I know feels lost at some point. You may feel overwhelmed by the noisy demands of social media. You may have recently gotten rejected by everything you’ve applied for. Or you’re lost in the confusion and stress of your own life, where too many people want a piece of you. What can you do?

In a chapter called “Strengthening Your Creative Resolve” Warner describes ten qualities that will help you continue to make art. These include endurance, perseverance, and flexibility, but her most original recommendation is for artists to value their own creativity. 

​For me, valuing your creativity means that you trust yourself and your talent. You are patient with yourself when you encounter obstacles, you celebrate your smallest successes, and you silence the inner voice who says that you’re not good enough. 

You strengthen your creative resolve by allowing the art-making process itself to heal you and move you forward. You go back into the studio (or wherever you make art) and spend just a little more time every day reconnecting with your art practice. Even if you don’t have a new idea yet, honor your creativity by being present in your own art space. Touch your materials, make a sketch or look at your portfolio, write a few words or read an inspiring chapter in a book like Sally Warner’s. 

Gradually your art will make room for itself. ​

​~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards
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​We’ve been talking about the challenges of the new year and new decade. You may have big goals in mind, or even small but difficult ones. You have gotten organized, you’re being strategic, but you still aren’t quite there yet. Maybe it is time to ask for help.

There are many kinds of art professionals who can help you with your career, including agents, curators, art consultants, and coaches.

Today let’s talk about art coaches, people who help you make progress in your art practice or career. Take your time in finding a coach who is right for you. Look at their websites, read testimonials, and check out their  background and expertise. Reputable coaches are certified by a professional organization and offer a free consultation so that you can get a feel for their style and personality. 

A  good coach will help you figure out what you want to achieve. They will recommend practical strategies. They listen to you carefully so that they hear what you are saying and struggling to say. A good coach is your partner and champion, someone who believes in you. 

A good coach will give you a structured process to follow. Typically you’ll begin by  defining your goals, identifying the obstacles that might get in your way, and planning specific action steps for you to follow. The coaching process offers what is called a “structure of accountability.”  This means that you are motivated to take action steps because you have an objective partner who cares about your progress.

Interview several coaches before you decide. Ask yourself, who do I trust?  Who is best qualified to help me?  Keep looking until you find the coach who is right for you.

​~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards

We’ve been talking about the challenges of this new year and new decade. My last blog post was about being strategic in your art practice, so that you spend more time on what matters most to you. The first step for many artists is getting organized. How do you organize your time, your studio, your paperwork—how do you organize yourself?

Most systems of organization are not “artist-friendly.” They are linear, like an Excel spreadsheet, or a checklist of to-do items. Such left brain systems do not capture your imagination or release your energy. These systems are often invisible--they get lost somewhere in your desk or on your computer. Out of sight, out of mind.

Artists are visual people, so you need to organize yourself visually. Find images and objects that represent your intentions. If you’re trying to plan a career path, draw a map with signposts along the way. If you want to get on top of paperwork, find or create a beautiful container where you collect all the bits and pieces of paper that you need to keep. If you want to organize your time, use a big paper calendar and block out your days in different colors or shapes.

Getting organized also means making choices and setting boundaries. You begin by putting your most important work right in front of you. You shape your days around your priorities. You might have to let go of some activities and even some people.  You won’t always be flexible and available to others. Since getting organized means doing more of what matters to you, you begin to say NO to less important demands. 

What is your first step in getting organized? 

​~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards

Facing the New Year can be both exciting and daunting, and facing a new decade only increases the pressure. In my last blog post I suggested that you begin by creating a mantra to guide your thoughts and actions, because a simple word or phrase keeps you on track. A good mantra for artists who want to grow their practice is “be strategic.” 

What does it mean to be strategic in your art career? First, think about what really matters to you. Maybe it is making time to create a new body of work, or making an effort to reach out to others who can help you advance. Perhaps this is the year when you will seek advice about gallery representation, or build your presence on social media. Pick just one thing to work on, for now, and “be strategic” about it.

Being strategic means that you are conscious of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. You don’t worry that you cannot control the outcome, you just go ahead and act. For example, if this is the year when you want to reach out to others, you reach out to someone every day. If you decide to develop a new body of work, then you increase your hours in the studio, and say no to less important activities.

Being strategic means that you shape your days around your priorities. Even If you’re not a morning person, you start the day with what matters most. No matter how many demands and distractions come at you, each day you do at least one strategic thing.  In this way you gradually build momentum, so that your actions become natural and new ideas start to flow.

Remember, as an artist you are a visual person. Try to find an image that represents your strategy, and keep it visible wherever you are working. Let me  know what you discover.

​~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards

​This is the time of year when many of us look back at what we have accomplished and think about what the new year will bring. 

Most of what happened for me in 2019 grew out of commitments made before the year began. I ended up writing a lot. In addition to this blog,  I made progress on my book, Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People. I also created a number of long articles for the online newsletter CallforEntries.com, including a series on How to Approach a Gallery. 

So what will 2020 bring for you?   Sometimes New Year’s resolutions are so specific that they set you up for failure. You really cannot control the activities of others, especially people in the random and chaotic Big Art World. So you might want to take a more fluid approach, where you commit to making gradual changes in areas that matter to you. 

Ask yourself these two questions:

• What do I want to do more of in 2020?
• What do I want to do less of?

In order to make progress as an artist, you need to change subtle patterns in how you use your time, what you pay attention to, even what you think about. Your creativity is embedded in the rest of your life, so think broadly about the two questions.

Always start with the positive--what you want to do MORE OF. As you shift your energy, the LESS OF will become obvious. Then turn your intentions into a simple mantra, a word or phrase that will guide your behavior. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, your mantra might be “drink more water.”   If you need to free  your mind for your own creative work, a good mantra would be “take long walks.”  If you’re trying to improve your presence on Instagram, try the mantra “take better pictures.”  My own mantra for 2019 was “write every day.”

Specific goals and measurement systems are useful,  but  a mantra stays with you because it’s easy to remember. It can speak to you in a whisper or a shout, but it’s always on your mind.

What is your mantra for 2020?

​~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards

In my research and my own work with artists I’ve discovered 10 behaviors that make a difference in an artist’s career. Take the quiz below to see how you are doing. Be honest as you answer the questions! Then pick one or two areas to work on, and see what happens.  If you would like to know more, feel free to contact me.

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards

Checklist for a Successful Art Career
How are you doing? Think about your current behavior, and rate yourself 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). 
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1. I have a regular, consistent studio practice.
2. I ask others for advice about my career.
3. I am able to overcome rejection quickly.
4. I’m comfortable using technology.
5. I use the art resources in my community.
6. I’m good at talking about my art.
7. My work has a signature style or content.
8. I’m clear about the goals for my art practice.
9. I am following an action plan.
10. It is easy to find my work online.