Being Profitable Doesn't Have to Mean Doing More with Jill Soukup (#98)

Being profitable as an artist doesn't necessarily mean you need to
do more. Sometimes it's about doing less by being discerning about
what you take on and where you invest your energy.

This is extremely difficult to do when you are trying to show and
sell your art. You want to do more. To add new income streams and
the latest marketing platforms. The ads and social media posts
want you to do more.


But more is exhausting.


My guest for this episode knows how to get what she wants without
doing more. Jill Soukup, who has been a student and client of
mine over the past decade, is dedicated to becoming a better
artist. She methodically improves her work to make sure that her
career, her business, and her life are what she wants them to be.


In this conversation, Jill and I discuss how and where she sells
her work, how teaching fits in with her income plan, how she
makes sure she remains profitable, and why it's important for her
to keep things simple.


Highlights


 




Jill’s transition to full-time artist and where she shows and
sells her art today. (1:51)




The inspiration behind Jill’s Western-themed art. (5:56)




Selling on Instagram is changing the dynamics of Jill’s work.
(8:39)




Logistics of selling prints and giving customers what they
want. (11:34)




You have to spend money to make money. (15:25)




The strategies that allow Jill to get work done without
working harder. (19:31)




For Jill, doing less has resulted in even more success in her
art business. (23:47)




Dedication to your craft and honing your skills is the
hallmark of an exceptional artist. (29:10)




Teaching, raising prices, and decreasing her painting output
keeps Jill’s income steady. (30:45)




Bookkeeping details and how Jill knows she is profitable.
(37:24)




Why is simplifying so important in Jill’s business — and
life? (40:56)




Insights from Jill’s typical work day and what she's working
toward now. (46:14)




 


Mentioned




Jill Soukup




Jill on Instagram




Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale




Ranchlands




Later social media scheduling




 


Resources




Complete transcript, images, and listener comments




Artist Planning Sessions




Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art




Intro and outro music by Wildermiss




 


Quotes




“As artists we ebb and flow in our process and what we’re
producing.” — Jill Soukup




“This experience is teaching me to dig deeper and to see
things that I wasn’t seeing before.” — Jill Soukup




“At that point I recognized that I was so overwhelmed. I
wasn’t making any decisions because I had too many decisions
to make.” — Jill Soukup




“At that moment I realized what really was important to me,
and that all of the other things on my list were not even
necessary.” — Jill Soukup




“Everything I chose to do had to meet one of my three goals
and it just simplified everything. And it was such a
beautiful thing.” — Jill Soukup




 


About My Guest


Jill Soukup was born in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter,
her family moved to Colorado, where she still resides. Jill’s
affinity for horses as a young girl resulted in countless
drawings and studies of them, which made for a strong drawing
foundation. As a teen, she started a pet-portrait business,
acquired jobs painting murals, and designed logos for local
organizations. Jill graduated from Colorado State University in
1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art. There, she received awards for
illustration and design and worked as an illustrator and designer
for the university. She initially pursued a career in graphic
design while continuing to paint part time. After 11 years as a
designer, she made the switch to full-time painting. Her work
continues to gain recognition as she receives awards, appears in
national publications, and shows in important juried and
one-woman exhibitions.


 


First posted: artbizsuccess.com/online-events-griffin-podcast


Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community


Music by https://wildermiss.com