with host artist Miriam Schulman
Vanessa Stoilova’s story is one every illustrator needs to hear. From mobile games to children’s books and surface design, she has built a thriving career by learning what works and what definitely doesn’t. Too many artists unknowingly sabotage their own success, and Vanessa lays out the five biggest mistakes she sees over and over again. You’ll walk away from this conversation with practical, doable steps to start getting hired for the kind of work you dream about.
In this podcast, you will discover…
- Learn why specializing is more powerful than trying to do it all
- Create a follow-up system that opens doors to real opportunities
- Find out how to align your art with the needs of your market
Links Mentioned
📖 Artpreneur, by Miriam Schulman: The go-to handbook for artists aspiring to turn their passion into a sustainable and profitable career. This book offers inspiring stories and practical advice that empower artists to embrace a confident mindset and follow a clear path to creative and financial freedom.
🎨Free 3-Day Training by Ness: Avoid the #1 mistake most new illustrators make, trying to serve every market. Ness shares her proven process to help you specialize in the right illustration niche from the very beginning. This free 3-day class gives you in-depth lessons on the different illustration markets, guidance on how to pick the perfect one for you, plus an editable workbook, curated Pinterest boards, and free guides to set you up for success.
Books!
About Vanessa,
Vanessa is a professional illustrator with experience in mobile games, picture books and surface design. She has worked with clients such as American Greetings, Scholastic, Hobby Lobby, TJ-Maxx, Sourcebooks and many more. Since 2020, she also helps aspiring illustrators start the career of their dreams on her YouTube channel, Art Business with Ness.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtBusinesswithNess
About the host, Miriam Schulman
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m an artist and founder of The Inspiration Place, where I help other artists learn how to profit from their passion. Through online classes, business coaching programs, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love. My signature coaching program, The Artist Incubator, helps artists go from so-so sales to sold-out collections.
After witnessing 9/11, I abandoned a lucrative hedge fund job to work on my art full time. Since then, my art and story have been featured in major publications including Forbes, What Women Create, The New York Times, Art of Man, Art Journaling magazine, Professional Artist Magazine, Igniting Creativity as well as featured on NBC’s “Parenthood” and the Amazon series “Hunters” with Al Pacino. Check out my best-selling book with HarperCollins Leadership, Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity, wherever books are sold. When I’m not in the studio, I split my time between New York City and a farmhouse in the country. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for art lovers (of every passion level) at schulmanart.com/freebies
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in an read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!
Other Episodes You Might Like
Listener shout out of the week!
“Just want to say thank you for this program and to my pod! This has grown my confidence so much and made me brave as an artist! I’m still scared, but I’m doing it!”
~ Jessie Crocker
Chelsea Artpreneur Studio · New York City
What’s the biggest bottleneck holding your art business back?
Maybe it feels like pricing. Maybe it’s finding the right collectors, choosing the right opportunities, or figuring out what deserves your attention next. Or maybe you can see 3 different directions your business could go, and you’re tired of guessing which one is right.
That’s what we’re working on at the Chelsea Artpreneur Studio, October 28–29 in New York City.
This isn’t a conference or another workshop where you leave with forty new ideas. I’m bringing together a small group of established artists for two days of hands-on strategy built around the actual problems you bring into the room. We’ll look at your business, figure out what’s really holding it back, make the decisions, and map out exactly what comes next.
You’ll also have a professional branding portrait session, plus plenty of time around the table with a small group of artists who take their businesses as seriously as you do.
You’ll leave knowing what’s actually holding your business back, what needs to change, and most of all, what to do next.
By application · Limited seats
Other ways to enjoy this podcast
 |
Listen on Apple Podcasts |
|
 |
Read the transcript |
|
 |
Join the conversation on Instagram |
