-Richard Chang is a journalist, editor and writer serving as Senior Editor for Culture OC and specializing in arts and entertainment. I interviewed him years ago to hear a reporter's perspective on the state of the arts as well as his thoughts on artist sustainability. Surprisingly it still relates to what is happening today.

Greg Spalenka: Could you be considered a champion of the arts, or do you feel your strength and purpose is to focus a critical eye on a subject?

Richard Chang: I document the arts and artists around me, and shed light on efforts that otherwise would not get widespread attention. I’m particularly interested in ethnic American art – Native American, Latino, Asian American, etc.

Personally, I am a champion of the arts, but I’m also a journalist and a critic. I have to be careful not to give the public the impression that I’m frequently taking sides in one issue or another. Even in a highly subjective field such as visual art, it’s important for me to maintain some kind of objectivity. So, while I do share a passion for the arts with my readers and subjects, I have to keep a critical eye and distance to a certain degree. I am not an activist.

GS: What are you committed to? Are you attracted mostly to the arts and entertainment fields or is there another facet you would like to explore?

RC: I love being a reporter and writer. I feel that I was born to do it. I am committed to shedding light on darkness and allowing the truth to find a voice. “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,” as they say. I am probably most attracted to the visual arts field, but the reality of my job is, I have to pay attention to popular entertainment. We can’t ignore the subjects that most readers want to read about. That includes TV, movies and celebrities. As part of my beat, I do cover independent film.

GS: What is the most amazing form of art you have experienced and written about?

RC: That is a difficult question. I have to say, I’m kind of old fashioned. I love painting. There’s nothing like a fantastic Kandinsky, Basquiat or O’Keeffe. I’ve had the privilege to see and write about each one of them.

GS: How would you describe artist sustainability in terms of historical longevity and in the context of making a living from your art?

RC: As for making a living, it’s undoubtedly a difficult venture. You have to have mentors and advocates. You have to have awareness of the marketplace. It’s good to have champions of your work. You need to be your own champion. Don’t stop working.

GS: Historically artists have used the gallery system as a way to showcase and sell their art. At one time the gallery system was king but that has changed within the last decade. What are some alternatives you have seen?

RC: Obviously, the Internet has had a major impact on the way art is viewed, discussed and even purchased. One can simply go online to see an artist’s work, converse about it and buy a piece or two. There are also websites such as artnet.com where you can learn more about an artist’s background and participate in online auctions.Still, nothing beats seeing work and meeting an artist in person. Alternatives to the gallery system may be venues (in Orange County, CA) such as the Festival of Arts, the Sawdust and Art-A-Fair, as well as swap meets.

GS: Most art colleges focus on teaching conceptual and technical image making skill sets with an eye on preparing artists for the publishing, gallery, and entertainment industries. Have you seen alternatives to these corporate models? What about the challenges writers face in this regard?

RC: Sure, there are alternatives. Some art colleges focus on basic to advanced visual art skills, without much attention to corporate industries. I’d say the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a good example.

GS: My question really pertains to venues for selling your art beyond publishing, gallery, and entertainment industries.

RC: Well, as I mentioned above, art fairs and swap meets are viable alternatives. Municipal art centers sometimes have salon shows where you can sell your work. Also, getting your stuff online and selling it there. But make sure the site and company are reputable.For a great account of the conceptual critique class, read the chapter “The Crit” in Sarah Thornton’s “Seven Days in the Art World.” It’s hilarious and illuminating.

As for being a writer, yes, there are professional pressures as well. Don’t we all face them?I think you have to be practical to a large extent, get your stuff published and get paid. Otherwise, you can write all you want, but you won’t make a penny.

GS: However, the publishing world is changing dramatically and traditional income outlets for writers are disappearing. What are some alternatives to getting paid from your writing without going through the established publishing industry? For instance how could you, Richard Chang thrive financially doing what you love now without working for Culture OC or similar publishing venue?

RC: An alternative to the established publishing industry would be self-publishing a book or writing for a blog or website. Unfortunately, very few blogs and websites actually pay. If one has considerable Internet know-how, one can create one’s own website and collect revenue through advertising. But that takes a lot of work, much of it not related to writing. I imagine the Internet will play a bigger and bigger role for writers, as mobile devices take over the world, and the printed word becomes more and more obsolete. The writing field is changing constantly, and the news isn’t always great for writers -- or content producers, as they’re sometimes called.

Editors Note- Substack and other online platforms have the option for paid subscriptions, not available during the date of this interview.

GS: It appears sometimes as if the changes are coming faster! I have observed over the last two decades the walls breaking down between the so called fine art world and popular art culture. What is your opinion of this evolution?

RC: Honesty, I think it’s great. Art needs to grow and expand. In order for a field to stay relevant, it has to evolve, change, adapt and take on new movements. How does it benefit the artist?It benefits the artist because there’s no longer a strict definition limiting what an artist can do or be. He or she can do or be anything.

GS: Lastly, please offer some pearls of wisdom for artists and creative souls everywhere.

RC: It may sound cliché, but follow your heart. Follow your passion, your vision. Fulfill your destiny. Don’t let the naysayers get you down. Remember, rejection is part of the process. Persevere. Enjoy the process. The journey is just as important as getting to your destination.

What does Artist As Brand mean?

ARTIST art·ist [ahr-tist]–noun

1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2. a person who practices one of the fine arts.

3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.

4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, actor, musician, singer; dancer, public performer.

5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill

BRAND [brand]–noun and verb

1. kind, grade, or make, as indicated by a stamp, trademark, or the like.

2. a mark made by burning or otherwise, to indicate kind, grade, make, ownership, etc.

3. a kind or variety of something distinguished by some distinctive characteristic.

4. to impress indelibly.

5. a brand name.

What do Michelangelo, Beeple, Geogia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Tom Cruise, Auguste Rodin, Apple, Beyonce, Frida Kahlo, Porsche, Picasso, Damien Hirst, Mark Ryden, Annie Leibovitz, James Jean, Greenpeace, Maxfield Parrish, Ray Bradbury, Joseph Beuys, and Emily Blunt, all have in common? They are all brands. A brand is a purpose transformed into a product or service that connects to people, the planet, and beyond.

The key word here is purpose, and specifically your purpose. This is where the heart of your essence resides, where your most potent art manifests, and the strength of your perseverance matures. The purpose inside you aligned with your personal vision is the foundation of your creative power. When your heart is joined with your art, a vital one of a kind signature is formed. This brand is unique to you and your intimate product.

The word “brand” is derived from the Old Norse brandr, meaning “to burn.” It refers to the practice of burning a mark (or brand) onto a products.

The artist’s mark is unique to its owner even if its a copy of something else. However the ambition of most artists is to make a mark that touches their so audience deeply, it burns this symbol into memory. The lifetime of a creative mind can burn a series of meaningful marks into the mindset of a generation, but if their passion is great its possible to start a fire that contributes a brighter light to the world.

Sign up for the October, Online Group Workshop. Your art, life and prosperity will never be the same!

Wholesale to Retail Equation

Most artists underprice their work. I have been guilty of this too but have been slowly kicking up my prices based on the following marketing formula.

• Cost of Goods = Supplies + Overhead + Labor

• Cost of Goods x 2 (or more) = Wholesale Price

• Wholesale Price x 2 (or more) = Retail Price

Cost of Goods- This is all the energy, time, and money you put into making your art. What do you want to make for an hourly wage? Work up a number.

Cost of Goods x 2- Double the cost of goods amount (or more)and you have arrived at your wholesale price. This means you have paid your bills for making the art and have made a profit.

Wholesale Price x 2- Double the cost of your wholesale amount  (or more) and you have arrived at your retail price. This means you have paid your bills for making the art and have made a profit and if you are selling the item will make twice the amount again.

If it is your gallery or other vendor who is selling your items they will be making income too.So if you are selling your art retail yourself then you should be making a nice profit overall per piece. If you are having someone else sell it retail for you then you still make a profit selling wholesale but the amount is reduced.

Got it? Great! Probably time to pump up your prices. If you want to raise them slowly over a year to two year period that is OK but look at everything you sell from here on out using the the retail equation ASAP. 

This post is about the courage it takes to create a career your way. Artist and writer Debbie Millman presented a commencement speech on the virtues of following your path (also in her new book, Looking Both Ways). This is her art...

Continue to read more and also listen to Debbie HERE ...

A decade ago I connected with award-winning writer, documentary filmmaker and scholar, Douglas Rushkoff after reading his book, Life Inc. The book explains how the history of the corporation manipulated the way we approach commerce, and its influence in all facets of our lives. It was a revelation and the premise of the concept fit perfectly with the Artist As Brand philosophy and curriculum…

WE ARE SOVEREIGN CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS not to be ruled by corporations, banks, governments, who harken back to the ignorance of the Dark Ages.

It’s up to us to create a new economy based on the value of what we can bring, as individuals, to the world.

Understanding the history behind life styles, and economic models we grew up with, can help us create new ones. Watch his nine minute film and you will see your potential in a whole new light.

As creative individuals we do not need to fit into outmoded industrial paradigms, or conversely, todays overly hyped technological future. Be the change you want to see in your world.

There’s something to notice about successful people: they act quickly, even if they fail.

This following piece is from Fail Fast, Fail Often: How Losing Can Help You Win by Ryan Babineaux, PhD., and John Krumboltz, PhD.

They share a fascinating story about a ceramics teacher who tried an experiment with his class. The teacher divided the students into two groups. Those sitting on the left side of the studio were to be graded solely on the quantity of their work, while those on the right, solely on the quality. The instructor informed the students in the quantity group that a simple rule would be applied to evaluate their grades: those who produced fifty pounds of pots would get an A, those who produced forty pounds a B, and so on.

For the quality group, the instructor told the students that he would assign a course grade based on the single best piece produced over the duration of the course. So if a student created a first-rate pot on day one of the course and did nothing else for the term, he would still get an A.

When the end of the quarter arrived and it came to grading time, the instructor made an interesting discovery: the students who created the best work, as judged by technical and artistic sophistication, were the quantity group. While they were busy producing pot after pot, they were experimenting, becoming more adept at working with the clay, and learning from the mistakes on each progressive piece. In contrast, the students in the quality group carefully planned out each pot and tried to produce refined, flawless work, and so they only worked on a few pieces over the length of the course. Because of their limited practice, they showed little improvement.

More...

Learning to create a new economic paradigm for yourself can feel daunting. We all want to relax in the lap of corporate and economic models we were brought up with, even though most people hate their job. There is security knowing we are going to be taken care of by larger business entities that have planned for economic downturns and other market changes, right?

There will always be a job out there for us, right?

However, who just wants a JOB (just over broke)? Most people today are looking for a vocation that aligns with a deeper purpose. A job can work out fine if it aligns enough with who we are as a person. Even flipping burgers can be a start for something larger if your calling is about becoming a chef!

Living as a freelance artist for 28 years gave me a certain perspective on the economy as I had my feet in the corporate world but still remained independent of it. Living and working as a sole proprietor gave me a certain resiliency and exercised my creative brain powers into thinking differently. Cranking up my innovative capabilities or aligning with those who were in "the flow" increased my chances for manifesting other income possibilities.

Check out this great article 10 Artists Explain How They Became Art Entrepreneurs. Innovation and re-invention are vital components to creating new paths of success– like taking the best of the Artist As Brand Workshop and turning it into a self guided online version. Create your own economy, in your unique new way!

Heads up! The Artist As Brand June Discount is ending July 1st! Save $100 on the online course which includes an hour consultation!

Whenever artists decide to go it alone, make their own way,  fear comes along for the ride.

As freelancer for so many years I understand where this fear comes from. The goal of being secure in your finances, being safe in general  (food, clothing, shelter) are real considerations and pounded into our brains since we were kids. However fear is also an illusion. What would it feel like if the concept of security was an illusion too? Would it freak you out?

We live in an unpredictable world. What I have learned over these many years of going it alone is that security is an illusion. Making friends with that reality brings a sense of freedom and empowerment. I can do what I can in this moment to live in my highest potential and reap the fortunes of what life has to offer. It is a mind set most people are not used to.

The following is short post by Chris Guillebeau that touches on this concept too:

“Micro-entrepreneurship is changing the world. The best opportunities in the new economy are centered on creating your own assets. It doesn’t matter who wins a U.S. election, at least not in terms of how the economy affects you. No matter what happens, the unemployment rolls will continue to be full. Perhaps even worse, many people will remain underemployed by working at jobs that offer few benefits and little opportunities for advancement.

Speaking of opportunities, however, there are now more than ever before. It’s never been easier to take matters into your own hands. All over the world, people are thinking differently about risk and security, and many of them are taking action on their new perspectives. This is a good thing.

What is risky? Whether you work a “real job” or strike out on your own, relying on someone else is risky. What is secure? Creating your own freedom through side projects, independent work, instant consultancies, and creative self-employment of all kinds. What is freedom? The ability to make your own choices. Ultimately, freedom relates to value, which is taking responsibility for yourself by making something valuable for someone else. More...

Creating Prosperity Consciousness

I am a firm believer in balancing mind, body and spirit in love, art and life. Mind and body are generally first in line for attention, but it is the spirit– with its subtle, underlining influence that keeps us inspired. Spiritual principles can be a tricky subject with people especially if they are atheists, but I think we can all agree that there are universal laws, and intelligent energies in this reality even though we may not understand them completely.

Paramahansa Yogananda was a yogi from India who came to America in 1920 to open people's minds and hearts around the concept of a divine essence that is in everything, and how we can access this power for our well being and others. There is a well done film on him called, Awake. 

Here are some edited excerpts from one of his lectures about the superconscious mind and prosperity:

Abundance, material as well as spiritual, is a structural expression of rita, cosmic law or natural righteousness.... Every saint who has penetrated to the core of Reality has testified that a divine universal plan exists and that it is beautiful and full of joy. 

If you feel love for all the world’s inhabitants as for your own family, recognizing no inner difference between any of the outwardly different nationalities, then you are establishing a legitimate astral right to your share of earth’s capital.

Those who seek prosperity for themselves alone are in the end bound to become poor, or to suffer from mental inharmony; but those who consider the whole world as their home, and who really care and work for group or world prosperity, activate astral forces that lead them ultimately to the place where they can find the individual prosperity that is legitimately theirs. This is a sure and secret law.

Whether one prospers is not dependent solely upon one’s creative ability, but also upon his past actions, and on his present efforts to activate the astral law of cause and effect. If mankind as a whole behaved unselfishly, the power of that law would distribute prosperity equally to all men, without exception. Those who by potent good thoughts and actions rouse this astral power to create positive prosperity succeed wherever they go, whether they are in prosperous or poverty-stricken environments.

There is a way to overcome the unfavorable results of past actions. The causes of failure must be destroyed and a new cause for success set in motion. Contact the superconscious source of success and prosperity. The conscious mind alone cannot initiate a new cause that will bring positive success in any direction; but when the human mind attunes itself to God, in the state of superconsciousness, it can be sure of success; for the superconscious mind is in tune with this unlimited power.

Absolute success signifies the power to create at will what you need by developing your unlimited superconscious power.  Western brothers and sisters need to learn that the mind is greater than its inventions. 

...learn that money without health and peace is not success, and that peace and health without money for necessities do not make a complete or successful life. 

Exercise the manifesting power of affirmation. ...you must eradicate from your mind all thoughts of limitation and poverty. Universal Mind is perfect and knows no lack; to reach that never-failing supply, you must maintain a consciousness of abundance. Even when you do not know where the next dollar is coming from, you should refuse to be apprehensive. When you do your part and rely on Spirit, you will find that mysterious forces come to your aid and that your constructive wishes soon materialize. 

Affirmation: “I am always rich, for I have access to the Cosmic Storehouse. I will go forth in perfect faith, in the power of Omnipresent Good, to bring me what I need, at the time I need it.” 

“In our obsession with optimizing our creative routines and maximizing our productivity, we’ve forgotten how to be truly present in the gladdening mystery of life.” – Maria Popova

When was the last time someone you know complained about not having enough to do? 

“Busy has a dangerous allure. If your normal is busy, it’s tough to sit quietly with your thoughts or to really feel what you’re feeling,” writes Dina Kaplan in “The Cult of Busy. ”

It appears that most of us are busier than ever before, yet not feeling fulfilled or as hopeful. Do you feel that you are working harder to make a living than maybe your parents or your grandparents did? Keeping some balance is important to keeping our sanity. Here is a great article by Ryan Stevens Marketing that dives into some of the reasons why we are so busy these days and ways to keep it from burying us. 

You know the day destroys the night

Night divides the day

Tried to run Tried to hide

Break on through to the other side

BEYOND THE CORPORATE WORLD

Welcome to my Blogging Ensemble!

*In the early days of Artist As Brand® I would create these blogging ensembles with other talented individuals to expand the reach of our reader base. It worked amazingly well. This is an older one from 2010, but it all stills rings true! Check it out and remember when it comes to promotion, your community of like minded individuals can be a powerful tool.

I have invited some amazing bloggers, art writer/author Peter Clothier, artist licensing expert Maria Brophy, champion of the handmade Nicole at Lillyella, San Francisco painter Anna L. Conti, and popular art culture icon Miss Mindy to expound upon a subject which strikes fear in the hearts of most people in this country: creating a living outside the confines of the corporate world. It takes some courage and a plan, but it can be done! Read how to break on through to new possibilities in the links below.

*****

I remember having conversations with my Dad when I was studying at Art Center College of Design about what my plans were going to be after graduation. My Dad had worked for many years as a salesman for a plastics company. "Well Dad," my mind raced, "I am learning how to take my drawing and painting skills to another level of expertise... I am learning how to conceptualize..."

He would interrupt me, "But what are you going to do when you graduate?" I muttered something about magazines and newspapers and then quickly change the subject, "How about them Dodgers?!"

The idea that I would "freelance" was a scary proposition to my Dad, and frankly to myself. My Dad was a salesman but he still received a salary. Going your own way takes a certain amount of boldness, courage, and rebel entrepreneurial spirit. Making a living this way takes a lot of hard work, self volition, and bill shuffling until you get off the ground.

The benefits of this model help you gauge the value of your worth more directly, shows you how your career is advancing, and allows more flexibility as well as freedom to make changes. The corporate world is like a drug. It is easy to get comfortable with a check that enters your bank account every two weeks. The company sets your work time, job tasks, schedules, lunch time, goals and deadlines. Security never felt so good.

When I lived in New York City in the 1980's my neighbors who were corporate cohorts working downtown in Wall Street, could not imagine how anyone made a living freelancing. I distinctly remember them shivering when they said to me, "We could never do that!" The fear was tangible.

I created illustrations for Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune magazines and was awed when I would walk into the 48-story Time Life building, with it's large murals by Josef Albers and Fritz Glamer in the lobby. The editors, art directors, and staff were amazing people who headed these prestigious publications for years. The Time Life empire of 28 years ended over night when Time Inc. and Warner Communications merged in 1989, becoming Time Warner. Within a short month or two the hundreds of talented people that staffed these magazines for decades were gone. Security was an illusion. Freelancing was a dance with the corporate world that had it's advantages until the economy shifted or the industries (like publishing) that I relied upon faltered.

It really was my renewed interest in the San Diego Comic Con (in 1990) that opened my eyes to the concept that artists of all kinds could make a living outside the corporate machine. Here writers and artists were forging a new model of artist sustainability with their own products. I saw my many years as a freelancer dependent on corporate America, transform into an independent art empire built by my fans and collectors. 

Now I teach others how to become empowered with new possibilities. Pulling away from a corporate paradigm that has been ingrained in our brains since we were very small is a challenge. However there are many successful creative individuals who have broken through stereotypes imposed on them through family, education, the media. Break on through to success as you define it. Become the industry of your dreams.

Peace and prosperity!

Read the other uplifting and fascinating posts here-

Persist: The Blog

Maria Brophy

Lillyella

Miss Mindy

Working Artist Journal

How do you create an inspiring brand from your artistic talents? Does it matter? Greg Spalenka produced this course to guide you through the steps of building an artful livelihood that matters, and has lasting impact.

For four decades Greg has been teaching, lecturing and conducting workshops at colleges, universities, art institutions around the country and abroad to share his professional experience and encourage the creation of art businesses. He founded the educational service, Artist As Brand® to inspire and nurture art career sustainability. 

If you have a creative passion, there are several ways to develop it. The key is to invest in yourself and be dedicated to your art. You will achieve great things if you're willing to put in the work!

Next workshop begins March 1, 2023 - Sign Up Now!

$295 until Feb. 18th! ($495 after!)

“Your workshop was amazing! Every hour was packed with useful information–I feel like I learned a year’s worth of material in only three days. You’d think that having that much info crammed into my head in such a short period of time would be exhausting, but instead I feel re-energized. I’ve been so focused on trying to find an art job that I’d almost forgotten what it was like to paint something that I felt passionate about. Your workshop showed me that making a living and living my dream could co-exist after all. Thank you, a million times!”

-Alyssa Parsons, Student at Kendall College of Art and Design, MI

Are you ready to start discovering YOUR Heart Virtue? In one of the first sections of our workbook, we talk about how to find your passion and what to do once you find it. 

Once you dig into your true self you and start living by your Heart Virtue you will feel:

• A mind/body/spirit alignment

• More joy

• Powerful, transcendent, righteous, with infinite potential

• Your spine begins to straighten

• Clarity and confidence

• Life becomes more meaningful

• More peace

• Anger when it is abused, ignored or repressed within yourself or others.

You don't have to be alone in your journey. Join other artists who are taking control of their careers and embracing the Artist As Brand® Workshop starting March 1st . . . #artistasbrand

“Thank you Greg so much for coming and giving us the workshop. My passion for my career has swelled as I have tried to do one brave thing a day. Stepping outside my comfort zone, networking with artists and collectors, and determining my heart virtue have given me the path I needed to excel. Thank you for teaching me that I can push limits.”

-Rob Wilson, Student Southern Utah University

Next workshop begins March 1, 2023 - Sign Up Now!

https://www.artistasbrand.com/online-workshop

Hello 2023! Happy New Year!

Are you looking at your vision board for this new year and wondering how you will achieve it all? Are you all jazzed up and ready to take on this new year?

I found this article to be really helpful in making a checklist. An Epic 2023 Creative Goals List

If you want some direction and empowerment on setting these goals for yourself don’t miss out on The Artist As Brand® Online Workshop! This is a great opportunity to work through your goals as an artist to create your own prosperity and abundance!

“Greg’s class helped me to clarify my vision and build confidence in my goals. Deciphering my Core Virtue has given me radical entrepreneurial energy!” -Katy Betz, Illustrator, Department Head, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Get ready for some transformation!

Next workshop begins March 1, 2023 - Sign Up Now! $295 until Feb. 15! ($495 after!)

We are on the edge of 2022, ready to say goodbye and leap into 2023! Are you leaving behind any doubt you have in yourself? Are you feeling the burn of your passions calling you to action?

What do you need in the New Year? You need a dream; your dream needs an action; and your action needs right thinking! Without right thinking, you can have only unrealized dreams!

Become a true believer in yourself this next year! You may see resolutions everywhere you look and scroll, but what matters most is that you see a vision of yourself transforming into the truest you. Do you want to be creating the art you love, and realize there are people who will actually buy your creations in 2023? Of course you do.

These feelings and desires drill down to the heart of it all. In Artist As Brand® we refer to this as your Heart Virtue. Why?

Because when your mind is aligned with your heart you can do just about anything. Professional Illustrator, Katy Betz says, “Deciphering my Heart Virtue has given me radical entrepreneurial energy!”

Resolutions work better when we work together. Let’s make this 2023 declaration:

I will DECLARE MY PURPOSE!

I will ENVISION CREATIVE GOALS!

I will EMPOWER MY PROSPERITY!

Join The Artist As Brand® Online Workshop to see this declaration become a reality.

The Workshop is a three week group commitment in which creatives, artists and visionaries move through the course together, supporting each other in their goals of making a living from their talents! This online self guided audio/video course includes weekly follow up reviews with Greg.

Get ready for some transformation!

Next workshop begins Feb. 1, 2023 - Sign Up Now! $295 until Jan 15! ($495 after!)

With the holidays coming around the corner we see art in all forms around us. From vintage Christmas cards to twinkling light displays. Do you find yourself with a renewed inspiration to create art… and make income from it? Don’t know where to start? Don’t get discouraged! The artist in you deserves to be let free, it’s right there at the CORE of you.

The Artist As Brand® Workbook and the new Artist As Brand® Online Workshop is the perfect gift for you or an artist you believe in.

Warning… gifting this course can lead to an explosion of renewed vigor of creativity and prosperity!

The Artist As Brand® Online Workshop is launching Feb. 1, 2023! Sign up now and receive a huge discount.

“Thank you Greg for an insightful and hugely informative workshop. I will heavily endorse “Artist As Brand” to all my art friends. It’s probably the most helpful and important class I have taken in my life.”

–Sandra Chang-Adair, Illustrator, NV

Tapping into creativity is an important contributor for a sense of self and self-knowledge. An article titled “What Are The Significant Benefits Of Creativity In The Classroom?” from the “TeachThought Staff” says it best, “creativity infuses life with a different sort of depth and richness.” Encouraging creativity in young students will broaden their knowledge and capabilities, ultimately providing them with the confidence to achieve goals and give them the desire to share their creativity with others.

Too often adults lose their creative spark that they once had and fail to challenge themselves to be creative. Artists As Brand® pushes you to imagine a career where creativity, confidence, and success, coincide. Having the understanding of why it is important to tap into your creative juices can help you be intentional in your planning, creating, and development of an original idea.

The article by TeachThought quotes Osho’s perspective on what creativity means in relation to love and life. “To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.”

So, don’t underestimate the significance of creativity in your life, and encourage others to think about how creativity plays a role in theirs.

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Nico Morris and I just recently graduated with a degree in experience design. I have stepped into the creative working world and take pride in making sure I am constantly learning to better myself and better my work. I enjoy capturing moments and experimenting with 35mm film photography, creating branding for businesses and people, and working with different mediums to create experiences and visual media.

When did you participate in the workshop? 

In September of 2022

Why did you take the Artist as Brand Workshop?

I began the workshop after finishing up a job in the corporate world, wanting to create my own creative and design business. I like to take advantage of any opportunities to learn from others to better myself and to expand my knowledge and skillsets in the creative industry. 

What was your favorite part about the workshop? 

I think my favorite part of the workshop even though its hard to pick just one, was the emphasis on one's journey to this point and the uncovering of one's heart virtue, eventually leading to why I want to create, how I can succeed in doing so, and what I can do to combine my soul, morals, and passion with my skills, ideas, and education.

What is one thing that surprised you about the workshop? 

I was consistently learning while also being pushed to imagine what myself, my goals, and my creative venture could and would look like. 

After taking this workshop, who do you believe should?

I believe anyone should. While I believe this course is especially amazing for creatives, I believe it is important for all entrepreneurs, businesses, makers, artists, and individuals as well. It can benefit anybody who has a creative idea, is looking to connect with their audience, or wants to to explore themselves and how to create success from their authentic self and passions.

When was the last time you challenged yourself to learn something new or expand what you already know for no reason other than ‘you want to’?  What better way to do this than creativity workshops! Who says classes are only for school? Studies show that creative workshops support mental health and improve productivity in ones’ lifework. There is no age limit to the benefits of learning. Creativity workshops are a great way to open up your creative self and meet other creatives in the process. Attending such classes can help get an artist through a creative block of their own or can take their skill to the next level through learning from other artists that they may not get a chance to meet otherwise.   

A study conducted by the School of Human Services and Social Work at Griffith University had a group of participants struggling with a mental illness diagnosis or a complex life event, such as homelessness or unemployment, enroll in a series of creativity workshops and concluded that this experience caused an increase, and change, in the way participants shared their stories of mental illness and recovery through improved confidence and understanding about their illness. Taking a creative workshop that challenges yourself can be an act of self-discovery and ignite a feeling, skill, or a creative process that may not have been discovered otherwise. One simple step of challenging yourself by learning, and switching that creativity switch that is in us all, can be the ultimate tool of knowledge for artists of all ages, and all experience levels.

Artist As Brand® is excited to present The Polaroid Project, which features interviews and conversations with creatives and entrepreneurs that are invested in their craft and offer a unique perspective in their respected industries. Our first episode highlights, Matt Campos from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Matt is an incredible beader, artist, creative, and craftsman. What sets Matt apart is his personality and soul, allowing him to grow his personal brand and enlighten those in the Southwest.

Tell us about your Creative Journey! Where you started, where you were, where you are, and where you are headed!

I studied art in college and when I graduated life took over and I didn’t have an art practice for DECADES.   It was only when I started studying shamanism that creativity came back into  my life.  I lost a lot of years but I don’t regret it. I feel like all the experiences and skills I gained during that time have influenced what I’m doing now. Every year since regaining my art practice has been a process of shifting, focusing, and refining which direction to take my work. I’ve come a long way and I don’t think I’m even close to my potential.  But that “potential” really isn’t the goal. I just try to be better than I was yesterday.

How do you get in the creative zone? Do you practice meditation, explore nature, collaborate with others, ect?

If I have a creative block I stop everything I’m doing and go do something completely unrelated. Or I clean out my studio to shift the energy. Giving away or throwing out things that no longer serve a purpose creates space for other things to come into your life. I also like looking at things that are unrelated to my usual interests.  It’s good to step out of your bubble once in a while. And I don’t do well collaborating because I’m very bossy.

What piece of advice do you have for creatives just getting into the industry?

Well I don’t think I’m part of any industry. But an old friend once gave me some great advice… If someone gives you an opportunity, even if you don’t think you can do it, always say yes!! You’ll figure it out later.  And the simplest advice from me is…Be nice!!! You never know who’s watching.  You never know who’ll give you your next opportunity.

Tell us about something you are proud of either a piece of work or a moment in your creative journey! How and why does it make you proud?

My primary medium right now is beadwork which I’ve only been doing for the past 8 years. It’s always a proud moment when well known and more experienced beaders will compliment me on my work. That never gets old.

Any projects that you would like to highlight that you are currently working on?

Within the past year I’ve shifted my main focus to creating jewelry. I’m setting my beadwork in  metals like gold vermeil.  They’re bold pieces.  Definitely not for the shy.

Anything else we should know about you? Any fun quotes or mantras you live by? Anything you would like to express about yourself, your vision of the world, etc.?

When I was in art school, “craft” was always looked down on. But I am proud to call myself an artist AND a craftsperson.  I’m not gonna concern myself with how other people define one or the other.  I think I identify more with being a craftsman. It implies mastery of a particular skill and that is always a great goal to have.