Reposted with permission from Carolyn Dube from her wonderful & COLORFUL blog A Colorful Journey

Let’s start the New Year off right. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say ‘take your time?’ Slow down, right? Good advice for sure. There’s nothing to gain by rushing through your work or your day. But that’s not what I’m referring to here. Here’s what I’m talkin’ about:

Know the true value of time! Snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.
No idleness, no procrastination. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Philip Chesterfield

Take your time, don’t throw it or waste it away. It’s yours for the taking yet we treat time as if it is out of our control. The #1 problem I hear from artists is that they don’t have enough time for their art. You are not alone in that feeling. It’s the #1 problem on everyone’s list – there’s never enough time for all the things you want to do.

We are all allotted the same 24 hours, the same 1440 minutes that everyone else has each day. What it all boils down to is how we choose to use the time we are given. Cherie Carter-Scott, in her book, If Success is a Game, These Are the Rules, says that, “Using your time well is a skill that is developed with practice.” To that I want to add discipline, practice + discipline.

One of the perks of growing up and being on your own is that your free time is yours to do whatever you wish. There are always obligations: family, friends, the job you do for money, a home to tend to, etc. All those “must-dos” make you feel even more possessive of your free time. Unfortunately, by the time the “free-time” rolls around you are usually exhausted and stressed out and being creative feels more like work than fun. “Tomorrow,” you say. “I’ll get to my art tomorrow.” And tomorrow never comes. So what’s the solution? READ MORE

Life is one long continuum. We need markers in order to assess our progress. January 1st is one of those markers.

I’m somewhat of a rebel. I don’t like to do what everyone else is doing. That means I don’t want to talk about new year’s resolutions, setting goals for 2012 or how to make this your best year yet. I have already received way too many emails along those lines. How about you?

It did get me to wondering though, why there is so much focus on new starts and fresh beginnings at the beginning of a new year. January 1st is the universally agreed upon time, a convenient reminder for us to pause and assess. Rather than focus on new beginnings (which let’s face it are very hard and doomed to failure) let’s consider this a time for course correction.

The first question you should be asking yourself right now is, “Am I headed in the right direction?” Whether you admit it or not, there is something you want to be doing with your life that you are not doing….yet. The dream may be so far off or seem so out of reach that you’ve been going about it in a roundabout way, if at all.

Or, if you are at all like me, you have more than enough ideas to last 10 lifetimes and you just can’t figure out which one to take action on. You are creating a tight zigzag stitch of your life, back and forth, side to side, with very little forward movement.

The second question you need to ask is, READ MORE

It’s a bit cheeky of me, I know, but I’m throwing myself a virtual birthday party and you are invited. It looks like you’re here, so Thank You for coming! I have lots of calorie free virtual cake and ice cream for you, skads of balloons and…. 

Oops! Are you afraid you have come empty handed – no fear. There’s something you can give me to help me celebrate my years on this planet, my years as an artist, my years of sharing and contributing to this most wonderful world of art & artists.

I fear it may sound like a selfish or conceited idea for a gift, and I’ve given it a LOT of thought before even asking, but hey – it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to. (Not really, but I had to put that in here because it’s a song by Lesley Gore and it’s kinda been my birthday song since 1963 when it hit the charts, especially since we share the same name.)  

So back to my gift idea. I actually think it’s a rather brilliant idea READ MORE

Hello Artist Success Newsletter readers! If you’re here to share your thoughts, just scroll down to the Comment section below and tell us what you think. And thank you again for sharing your wisdom. I really value your input – and your time.

If you have come here from a link or a friends suggestion and just happened to stumble upon the Artist Success blog, then here’s the story…

In my latest Artist Success newsletter article, I Can’t Stop Arting! (if you didn’t get yours sign-up here.) I asked my readers to pop on over here to the blog to share their thoughts and comments on the question, “Where does art come from?” Is it innate, learned behavior, a basic human need? See what they have to say in the comments below and please add your thoughts as well. (If you want to read the full article now, just shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to send it to you. Lesley(at)ArtistSuccess.com or use the Contact form in the navigation bar.

I doubt we’ll ever really know where art comes from, but there is one thing I do know READ MORE

I am not a drug-dealer, but I want you to get high. For real! I highly (pun intended) recommend that you turn on to the natural high that comes from making art. In 1972 brain researchers from Johns Hopkins University made a puzzling discovery. They found that the human brain’s neurons had specific receptor sites for opiate drugs: opium, heroin, codeine and morphine. I’m sure they were trying to understand the appeal and addiction of illegal and illicit drugs, but thankfully, this finding led them to explore further. Why would nature give our brains a receptor for plant opiates?

They soon figured out that the active ingredient in all these opiates – morphine – had a chemical structure very similar to endorphins, a class of chemicals present in the brain. Endorphins are the natural opiates of the body and we have the opportunity to “get high” any time we want. It’s legal, and even better, it’s good for us. Athletes and runners have been aware of this for a while. You’ve heard of the runner’s high. Well, there is also an artist’s high. READ MORE

As soon as possible – that’s what you want and how you want it, right? Who doesn’t? Remember Veruka Salt in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, “I want it nowwwwwwwww!

Here’s the truth of the matter. The only thing standing between you and what you want now is…..YOU.

And I have come up with a way to help you get out of your own way.

Artist ASAP – Artist Success Action Program was designed to give you the push, and then provide you with the tools and support to get you going on that art dream you have. This isn’t just any program. This is an “I’ve lived it” and it works plan.

Basically, I have boiled down my 12-year career and my lifelong journey to be a successful artist into what I believe are the 8 essential steps necessary to create Artist Success. Like it says on the pancake box, just add water, or in this case – your art & creativity.

This 10-week program includes 2 Q&A calls AND A BONUS OF A 1/2 HOUR PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE COACHING CALL WITH ME! for only an incredibly low investment in yourself.

In ASAP you will discover my proven practices and techniques for:

finding time
finding your voice/style
creating focus
overcoming perfectionism
building confidence
curing ‘bright shiny object’ syndrome
creating mental and physical space
setting goals
overcoming fear
self-motivation
getting rid of your big “but”
putting yourself out there
creating courage
finding your audience
giving yourself permission
making money with your art
creating balance
and more…

ASAP is for you if:

You know your vision and what you need to do but are lacking the confidence to get it done.

You know what you want but aren’t clear on the steps to take to get there.

You need a cure for your bright-shiny object syndrome.

You want to know how to attract more visibility and sales consistently and in the quickest way possible.

You wish someone could show you some simple steps to take to get things done.

You wish you knew exactly where to focus your efforts.

You want to know how to market yourself without sacrificing your integrity, credibility and artistic sensibility.

You don’t know how to tell if something is an opportunity or a distraction.

ASAP start September 13, in just 6 weeks. *Right now you can register for the early-bird price that will be in effect through Monday, August 15th. I believe in rewarding those who take quick action towards their goals.

So what are you waiting for? Join a growing motivated group of artists who are committed to their success. Spots are limited so I can give you the attention you deserve. Don’t get left behind. I know this is important to you. Go check it out now and get moving toward your dream.

PS. Remember, the price goes up on Monday August 15th!

PPS. Do you have a friend that might be interested? Please share this with them and get moving TOGETHER! Artist ASAP

I can’t tell you anything you don’t already know. Everything I have to say has already been said before, many, many times, and much to my chagrin, more eloquently than I will ever write.

But say it I must. And you must listen, because what I have to say is knowledge that bears repeating, over and over and over. The simplest truths are often the hardest to live by. Don’t be fooled by the word simple. Just because something is simple does not mean it is easy.

It’s no secret that the key to losing weight is a very simple two step process – eat less and exercise more. To the uninformed, it sounds very easy. Yet anyone who has tried it knows that losing weight is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.

Going into your studio and doing that thing you love, making art, can be equally hard. Sometimes you avoid it altogether because you’re too tired or too busy or feeling, “what’s the point, my work stinks anyway.” This makes no sense. You know you love it, yet you can find a million reasons (excuses) not to create. So what is it that keeps you from doing something you really want to do – lose weight, make art, submit your work to a magazine, approach another artist you admire?

READ MORE

It’s official. SEEK has begun. The first two calls were last night and they garnered rave reviews. Here’s what people are saying:

“I was thrilled to listen to the first call last night and it lived up to my expectations and then some.” ~ SydneyWellman

“Thoroughly enjoying the first two calls! What great resources. Thank you!” ~ Nancy Lefco

“Incredible conversations today. It was really fun to hear the inside scoop! Thank you!” ~ Amy Wheeler Coburn

“Weren’t these webinars awesome!! Many thanks to Lesley Riley!” ~ Linda Harbin

“Lesley, that was a GREAT hour with Amanda Crabtree!!! Amanda’s words encouraged me to reconsider the “submitting artwork” angle.  Thanks, Lesley!!!!! ” ~  Brenda J.

“That was AMAZING information Lesley! Thank you! I learned so much!” ~ Chini Noon

Today I’m talking with Jenny Doh of Crescendoh and Alicia Paulson of the famous Posie Gets Cozy blog. The topic? Getting known.

It’s not too late to register (FREE) and listen to yesterday’s calls with Susanne Woods of C&T Publishing and Amanda Crabtree of Stampington Publications . Those 2 calls are available for another 36 hours…FREE. So what are you waiting for? Get your career and Artist Success going. You’ll find out how at Artist SEEK.

I’ll be looking for you.

A huge part of being successful is acting successful. Successful people are those who continue to move forward in spite of the odds, in spite of the setbacks and failures and in spite of their fear. It never gets any easier. I’ll say it again, it never gets any easier. Their secret is that they make it look easy.

As serendipity would have it, I had a chance meeting with a highly successful woman in May. Waiting in line to pick up the badge that would grant me access to Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, I struck up a conversation with the guy behind me. Michael was representing Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic, who was introducing her new line of quilt fabrics at Market. Just the night before, my daughter, Kerry, had come into my room grasping my copy of Rachel’s decorating book, Shabby Chic. “When I move into my apartment, I want my very own copy of this book. Will you give me one please as a house-warming present?” So, naturally, I shared my story with Michael. “Would you like to meet her?

READ MORE