ENTERPRISE + INITIATIVE Page 23 of 33

Shhh… a sneak peek into what is coming… (Hint: It involves the very awesome Lilla Rogers!)

Make Art That Sells - banner

Doing what you love means different things to different people. For some it is about the way they make their living. For others it is a way of life. Whatever you take it to mean, there is no denying that if you can monetise your passion, you get to do what you love for a big chunk of every day, week, month and year. And that has got to be a good thing.

So many of you in the Do What You Love community are artists, and time and again we are asked for advice from those of you who want to make a living from your work. So we decided to do something about it.

There are many courses and sources of advice out there on how to market and sell the art you have made – and many of them are helpful. But we have decided to come at it from a radically different perspective, and start much earlier in the process.  Rather than advising how to sell the art you have made, our brand new course will give you industry insight on how to make art that is commercially viable in the first place – i.e. how to make art that sells.

This is not about selling out – it’s about staying true to yourself whilst making informed choices about what you create. And it is going to change everything for you.

This is your chance to learn how to make art that sells, directly from someone who has sold art for products worth over $100 million! 

For the past year we have been working with Lilla Rogers – one of the world’s top illustration agents – to create ‘Make Art That Sells’. For the first time ever Lilla will be sharing three decades’ worth of knowledge and experience through this pioneering two part online course, which will teach you how to make art that sells in the most lucrative markets in the world. You do not want to miss this!

Course registration formally launches on February 26, but places are limited so jump on the waiting list if you want to be the first to hear when registration is open (and to bag an exclusive discount)!

The course will begin in June (specific details to be released on Feb 26).  Be sure to register your interest and tell all your artist friends!

PS You can hear an inspiring interview with Lilla (by Monica Lee of Smart Creative Women) here and here. Please note the dates Lilla mentions in this interview are no longer accurate – as stated above registration opens on Feb 26 and the course will begin in June.

DWYL final birthday giveaway: Holly Becker’s ‘Decorate Workshop’

DWYL final birthday giveaway: Holly Becker's 'Decorate Workshop' HB book

***PLEASE NOTE THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED***

As the final giveaway of the week celebrating DWYL’s 2nd birthday, I am excited to offer a copy of Holly Becker’s fab new book ‘Decorate Workshop’. I am using this book myself to plan the redecoration of our house, and am already in love with it.

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Want to be a surface pattern designer? Win the Print & Pattern Design Scholarship (worth around $1000!)

Print & Pattern

We are absolutely thrilled to launch the second Print & Pattern Scholarship for The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, in collaboration with Marie Perkins of leading pattern blog Print & Pattern.

The winner of this scholarship will win a full place on all three modules of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, beginning on April 29 2013. The winner will also be featured in a future edition of MOYO. This prize is worth nearly $1000 and could be the catalyst for you to make headway in the exciting world of surface pattern design.  See Issue 2 of MOYO Magazine for more details.

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Do What You Love interview – Lisa Reinhardt, Wei of Chocolate (& DWYL birthday giveaway 3: Chocolate!)

Lisa Reinhardt

***PLEASE NOTE THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED***

Now you all know how much I absolutely adore chocolate, so it was with much fascination that I interviewed Lisa Reinhardt, founder of Wei of Chocolate, who spends her days surrounded by tons of it. But this entrepreneur’s chocolate is not just any old chocolate. It is virtually guilt-free, very special chocolate indeed…  (PS – keep reading for details of our 3rd giveaway – some of Lisa’s chocolate!)

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Illuminate! Introducing Hannah Nunn’s new craft lighting book

Illuminate! Introducing Hannah Nunn's new craft lighting book il10IlluminateIlluminate! Introducing Hannah Nunn's new craft lighting book ill7

Saturday was such a lovely day. It was wintry and clear, and perfect for a train ride to Hebden Bridge for the launch of Hannah Nunn’s new book. The launch party was held at her lovely lighting shop Radiance, which was buzzing with family, friends and shoppers cooing over the book and over all the delights the store has to offer.

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Teaching what I love: shared story by Eileen Nishi

Teaching what I love: shared story by Eileen Nishi DWYL BLOG SHAREDSTORIES 650X250PX LR

Today’s shared story comes from Eileen Nishi, a photographer based in the USA, who has made some bold choices to allow her to do what she loves. Eileen was one of the first people to share their story, back in March 2011 soon after we launched the series. You can read her original post here. She is back to tell us how her story has unfolded since then. This story is a testament to what can happen when you truly commit to something you are passionate about.

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Do What You Love interview – Craig Anczelowitz

Do What You Love interview - Craig Anczelowitz thebiginterview13

Craig Anczelowitz is a New Yorker who has been living in Thailand for the past 8 years. I met Craig when I was taking a fantastic course in papermaking at the Awagami papermill, which is owned by his wife’s lovely family. Craig is an artisan with an insatiable curiosity about the world. He works as a home décor designer and a fine artist creating mixed media assemblages. As a former buyer for a leading stationery retailer in the US, Craig is also incredibly knowledgeable about paper, and he helps develop and market Awagami’s amazing Japanese papers.

Do What You Love interview - Craig Anczelowitz ASIA LIFE

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Why taking a sabbatical can be good for business

Beth outside temple - Japan

‘Working’ in the grounds of Honpoji Temple, Kyoto [image: Takeshi Kohari] 

I have recently got back from a six month ‘sabbatical’ in Japan. When I headed out there I was determined to get a change of pace in my work and home life. There were many business-related reasons to go, but in order to make it happen I had to put the brakes on some projects, let go of others, take on freelance support and really take a step back from the craziness that had gone before. But the results have been surprising.

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Living an artsy life: Traci Penrod shares her story

Living an artsy life: Traci Penrod shares her story DWYL BLOG SHAREDSTORIES 650X250PX LR

 Today’s shared story comes from Traci Penrod. After 17 years in the pharmaceutical industry Traci decided that her career just didn’t tap into her creative side enough. She enjoyed scrapbooking so much that in October of 2011, she decided to take a leap of faith and start her own company.

Traci Penrod

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Do What You Love interview – Ali de John of The Makerie

Do What You Love interview - Ali de John of The Makerie thebiginterview13

I am thrilled to share this interview with a warm and generous soul who has inspired me for some time. A fellow retreat organiser, Ali DeJohn started The Makerie in her hometown to give people the gift of uninterrupted creative time shared with a loving community that is often hard to carve out of our everyday lives. Ali is constantly inspired by anything handmade, homemade and everything cozy. The smallest, most meaningful moments in life are the most magical to her and she feels quite lucky to live in beautiful Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two young children. Today Ali shares an insight into what makes her tick, and just how she has made it possible to do what she loves.

Ali DeJohn

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