THE INSPIRATION PLACE PODCAST
Bo Sapphire: Know the audience. There are shows that are higher end. The people would buy over a thousand or over 2000. But you might not have that. If you do a show that’s smaller or more like art in the park. I really just learned how to prep my inventories based on which shows I’m going to attend.
Speaker 2: It’s the Inspiration Place podcast with artist Miriam Schulman. Welcome to the Inspiration Place podcast, an Art World Inside a podcast for artists by an artist, where each week we go behind the scenes to uncover the perspiration and inspiration behind the art. And now your host, Miriam Schulman.
Miriam Schulman: Today’s guest is a full time artist who makes botanical cyanotype using plants or flowers she finds in nature. She works as a photographer who doesn’t take photos, but she uses natural materials as negatives in her work, and she travels around California for art fairs full time. Please welcome to the inspiration place, Beau Sapphire. Well, hey there Beau. Welcome to the show.
Bo Sapphire: Hey, thanks for having me.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, so here’s my first easy question for you. So all your work is blue and white, and your last name is Sapphire. So is that your real last name?
Bo Sapphire: No. Is my art name. I love that myself. Yeah.
Miriam Schulman: That’s really great.
Bo Sapphire: Sapphire is my favorite gemstone. Beautiful. And also, it’s the color of my art. So.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah, it’s it’s really spectacular. I love your art. And you’ve had so much success. And I really wanted to invite you to the show to share some of the strategies that you’ve been using. But before we do that, we have to let people know where you started. So before you join the incubator, before you’re doing this full time, what were you doing and what was life like for you?
Bo Sapphire: Okay, so the funny thing is, I’ve never really planned to be a full time artist. It kind of just happened very organically. And so I graduated in 2019 for photography. And then after that, I worked a full time job at the e-commerce company as a production assistant. And then during the pandemic, my husband and I moved to LA from San Francisco. And from there, I worked part time at this printing and framing shop, and I was able to display Play some of the arts I made in my spare time at the shop and ended up selling a few pieces, so I think that was my first clue. Like, okay, people love my work because at the time I didn’t really think much about selling them. I was just enjoying making the art and having them displayed so people can enjoy seeing them. And then long story short, I eventually quit the part time. And then so I decided to, you know, pursue art as my business to see whether I could make it work or not. So that’s kind of how it got started. Yeah.
Miriam Schulman: Hey, artist, are you not sure which art that you create will actually sell? Like, maybe you have more than one collection or more than one direction. If you’re not sure if you’re headed in the right direction. That could cause you to be stuck. Am I right? You don’t have to guess anymore with my professional portfolio review. You’ll get personalized feedback on your own art from me, so that you can confidently curate a collection that attracts serious collectors. Now, I offer this in two ways. You can choose to get your review in a private one on one session with me, or if you sign up when I have a workshop coming up in a small group setting where you’ll also learn by seeing how I coach other artists through their challenges of which direction they need to go in. Either way, I’ll review your work personally and give you clear guidance on what’s working, what to refine, and what to focus on next. So if you’re ready to stop second guessing and start selling with clarity, go to SchulmanArt.com/proreview. To choose the option that’s right for you. All right. And when did you start focusing on your art? Full time.
Bo Sapphire: It was summer into southern 22. So I had all my business set up logistically, like the business, the DBA, you know, business, credit card business, checking all of that before I even make my first art sale.
Miriam Schulman: Good for you.
Bo Sapphire: Thanks. And then I started selling my art at craft show where craft market like handmade market. And then I been doing this like flea market that was located in West Hollywood in Los Angeles. So I would go there every Sunday. And I have a lot of my prints, like reproduction prints and in some small size, original sand types there. So that was my test ground. Like to see whether you know how people receive when they look at my art. That’s how I got started. And then from there, I started making larger and larger pieces of art and having more extensive originals. And then eventually I just stopped going there.
Miriam Schulman: No more. You graduated from the flea market?
Bo Sapphire: Yeah, I guess you could say that.
Miriam Schulman: Good for you. Okay. And then what were you struggling with before you decided to join the Artist Incubator? Because I know you joined in September of 24.
Bo Sapphire: Yeah. So before I joined, I was with Art storefront. At the time I was, I felt like they focused more on marketing rather than be the artist or how to make better art, or how to success as a artist. So I felt there was this disconnection between what I was learning with them versus what I wanted to grow as an artist. So that’s when I decided to join your program.
Miriam Schulman: And then there’s lots of programs besides mine. So. And you don’t have to talk about the other programs. But what made you decide to join the Artist Incubator? What was it about it that you said, oh, this is for me.
Bo Sapphire: So I remember I one day I was just schooling my gram, and I saw an ad of your book, and then I was like, I was just curious because at the time I knew I needed some help. I didn’t know where to get them or what are the resources available. And I saw your ad and I looked you up and I like reading, so I learned a lot through like from books. So I decided, okay, you know, like I’m going to spend I’m willing to spend like $20 something to get a book. Like, was it going to hurt me? If I don’t like the content, then that’s fine. But, you know, it’s a book. It’s not going to be bad. So I purchased your book, the Kindle version e-book, and then I finished the book and there were a lot of resources contents in the book I found very helpful. The biggest help I got from your book was do the task in batch Act like batch tasking. So I apply that into my business practice and it saved me a lot of time. Boost up my efficiency, whether creating or making prints or framing, because I was able to do one task at a time and then focus on different tasks. So that was really helpful. And then from from there, I started listening to your podcast when I’m on the road, because I drive a lot, so I can just listen to music for 6 or 7 hours straight. I need I needed some kind of different stimulations that I needed. So I started listening to your podcast and I loved it because every week there’s like different content, different guests talk about different things, and it’s entertaining, but it’s also educating. And then eventually I joined your program.
Miriam Schulman: And here we are.
Bo Sapphire: And here we are.
Miriam Schulman: So a lot of people know about the success. About my students who do the inner circle. And that’s mostly because I work with them so carefully. I know about their success, and I invite them to the podcast. Well, Bo is not in the inner circle. Bo is just in our regular incubator. And we had a conversation recently where I learned that she’s made $100,000 since she’s joined the program over. You told me you made like 50,000 the second half of last year, and yeah, 43,000 so far in 25. Yeah. Yeah.
Bo Sapphire: Close to 50 this year.
Miriam Schulman: All right. So that’s 50 plus 50 is 100,000. So yeah I was like okay this is somebody who my listeners need to hear from. Okay. So we already talked about one strategy that you said, which is batching. What do you think would be two more strategies that account for your success? And it could be something that you learn from me, but it doesn’t have to be okay.
Bo Sapphire: Okay. The lesson I learned most from doing art shows full time is adapting. And listen to what people are saying about your art, and then what kind of artwork they collect, and also know the audience. There’s different demographics in all the different places. So there are shows that are higher end, like Beverly Hills or La Quinta. The people would buy Originals that prized like over a thousand or over 2000. But you might not have that if you do a show that’s like smaller or more like art in the park, where you get a lot of people who are just willing to spend maybe less than $200 on a print or something. So I treat and I do all sort of shows. I do street festivals, I do craft festivals and art shows that are all different levels. So in the past year, I really just learned how to prep my inventories based on which shows I’m going to attend.
Miriam Schulman: I love what you said at the very beginning here. Not that I didn’t like everything else, but how you but but how you framed this is that you learned how to adapt. Because this is what Charles Darwin did not say. It’s survival of the fittest. He actually said it’s survival of the species most able to adapt. And that’s really what creativity and business success both things are really about. It’s being able to be creative in new environments and new situations. So I love the way you framed this, is that adapting was your number one skill?
Bo Sapphire: Yeah. It also has something to do with my background because I started living overseas since I was 18, so I had to adapt to the environment that I was living in.
Miriam Schulman: And and the US is what you mean by overseas. So where where are you from?
Bo Sapphire: So I originally from China. So after I finished high school I went to college in Bangkok, Thailand. And so I was 18 year old and then the cultural in Thailand. I loved the cultural, but it was very, very different. It was more westernized. And so I had to adapt to their culture while I was there. And I lived there for less than three years and then transferred school to the US. So I went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for both Annegret and graduate. Yeah. So there’s a lot of like starting over, get into the new environment, new cultural meeting, new people. Yeah. So adaption is one of my strengths. I would say that’s beautiful.
Miriam Schulman: I’ve lived in New York for the last 30 years, but as a child I moved around a lot. And having read my book, you might maybe you remember that, but you only heard in the book about I was the new girl in fourth grade, But I was the new girl in fourth grade. I was the new girl in sixth grade. I was the new girl. Eighth grade, I was the new girl in ninth grade, and I was the new girl in 10th grade. So I’m with you about learning how to adapt like it’s. Yeah, but like I said, it’s a survival strategy. Yeah, it’s a survival strategy. And those skills that you developed are serving you now as both an artist and a business person.
Bo Sapphire: Yes.
Miriam Schulman: Okay. So we talked about batching. And just in case anybody doesn’t know what Bo was referring to earlier. So that means if you are selling a print, you’re not going to just put one print on the website and mat one print and frame one print and price one print, you’ll put ten on the website that’s doing the putting it on the website batch. Maybe you’ll Matt all ten of them and frame all ten of them and price all ten of them because it’s much easier to keep doing things in a repetitive manner than what’s known as context switching. Hey artists, if you’ve been second guessing your art or feeling stuck about what to make next, it’s time for a reset. With the Professional Portfolio Review. I’ll personally review your art and give you direct feedback on what stands out, what’s going to sell, and what you should be focusing on next. You can choose either a private one on one session with me, or if we have a live workshop coming up, I can review your art in a group setting. Either way, you’ll get expert eyes on your art and walk away with a strategy tailored to your style and your goals. No more guessing, no more wasted time. Just clear, actionable insight into how to grow your art business. Head on over to SchulmanArt.com/proreview and claim your spot now. So, Bo, what would you say would be the third success strategy that has made the biggest difference for you?
Bo Sapphire: That has to be email marketing. So I set up MailChimp since the very beginning of my business, but I really started to invest in my time making it work this past year. So when I started doing art shows full time, because I had so many people sign up my email list, and then what you said in your book was that the people are on your email list are your girlfriends and boyfriends and I love that.
Miriam Schulman: Well, they’re your people.
Bo Sapphire: Yeah, they love my art. And they like to be, you know, uh, keep in touch with what they’ll have next. So the last year, I would spend, like, a few hours of my time a week to just write content, whether it’s about new pieces that are made that week or new prints that I uploaded to my website or upcoming shows. And a lot of time, I’ll have my collectors come to the show to visit me because they saw my email. And so that was the sign to me. It was like, okay, this is working, but email marketing is not easy.
Miriam Schulman: No.
Bo Sapphire: I don’t think so because I’m not good at writing. I, I like to read. I don’t really like to write.
Miriam Schulman: And yet That even though you don’t like writing and perhaps it’s not your strongest skill, it’s still working for you.
Bo Sapphire: Yeah, I keep it short, brief, and when I talk about certain pieces I made my talk about from my own experience, from my own connection to that piece. And yeah. And sometimes people would relate. Yeah.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah. The other day during an Ask Miriam anything call, which I do for the Artist Incubator members twice a month, somebody asked me how long should the email be? And I said, well, we have members who write very long emails who are successful and others who write very short, ones who are successful. But what’s the same is that they’re consistent. How often do you send out your emails?
Bo Sapphire: I try my best to do it once a week.
Miriam Schulman: Oh, good for you.
Bo Sapphire: And so the time I send out email is either a Tuesday or a Thursday, but I’m not absolutely consistent on that. So sometimes I’m like, okay, I’m running a little bit late. I’ll just send it Friday or sometime. I got too busy preparing for art shows that I, you know, like didn’t get to send an email that week, but I do have the automation email to be sent out once I added someone to my email list. So I believe right now there are like six emails that will be sent to you if you just join my email list. And they are, there are all different content and I send them out like two emails a week. So in two weeks they’ll remember me.
Miriam Schulman: That is super smart. Did you get that idea for me or did you just know to do that already?
Bo Sapphire: I just did that already.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah, I did the same thing because. So let me just make sure people know what we’re talking about. So you can set up in MailChimp and in most email programs you can set up when somebody joins your list that they don’t just get the welcome email, but they get a series of emails. And I always have it set up that there’s like six all queued up for the, you know, at the beginning they get 2 or 3 emails in a row during a week and then afterwards every week. So that way if two weeks do go by and I don’t write something, people who are new to me will have already been nurtured and gotten to know me. So it doesn’t make as big of a difference if I’m not as consistent. Always. But I’m glad to hear you did that. Okay. Anything.
Bo Sapphire: I put a blue heart on the email subject.
Miriam Schulman: So.
Bo Sapphire: People know it’s from me. My heart is blue.
Miriam Schulman: That’s smart, I like that. So it’s kind of like your branding.
Bo Sapphire: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Miriam Schulman: Perfect. Anything else you want to share with our listeners that you know? As a bonus tip, because we’ve already we said adaptation and batching and email being consistent with your emails. Anything else? Yeah.
Bo Sapphire: One thing that I feel is very important to artist is that you have to figure out a way to have a certain amount of time to just dedicate those time to make new art. So for me, after I learned about batch tasking, I was able to save two or sometimes three days of my time to just focusing on making new pieces and is very, very helping. It’s part of the success that I have, because before I did that, I was really struggling We now have time to make art. I always felt there wasn’t enough time to go out to the nature, get inspired, and then have new ideas and make art because my mind got distracted from all the other different things about running this business. But recently, I would have two days a week. If I could make it that happen, then I wouldn’t make that happen 2 or 3 days that I would just making art or do anything that would help me make new pieces, whether it’s to go take a hike, see different nature or collecting plants, idea will always come to me when I see green or I see like flowers or plants. I don’t get inspired just by sitting on my apartment and thinking about, okay, what’s the next piece going to be? Yeah. So I think that’s very important for artists. Like whatever the art medium you do, just dedicate certain time to make new art.
Miriam Schulman: I love that you said that because just because you are marketing doesn’t mean you should sacrifice studio time, because that’s why you became an artist. Yes. To make the art. All right. Do you have any last words for our listeners before we call this podcast complete? So I want to make sure that everyone knows where they can find you. So on Instagram you are little gem Gallery. Is that right? That’s right. And her website if you want to check out these gorgeous cyanotype is also littlegemgallery.com.
Bo Sapphire: Yep. And then if your art is and if you live in LA or around this neighborhood and you want to get a coffee, make new friends. I’m done for that too.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, I love that. And also, if you want to go to one of her art shows, be sure you join her email list and there’s a sign up on your website or inside your Instagram bio. Is that right?
Bo Sapphire: Yes, it’s on my website. Once you click it open.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, fantastic. So if you’re in California and you want to join your email list and make sure you find out the next time, bow as a show. All right. So thank you so much for spending this time with me. This was so much fun.
Bo Sapphire: Thank you for having me.
Miriam Schulman: All right everyone. So we’ll see you the same time, same place next week. Until then, stay inspired. Bye for now.
Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to The Inspiration Place podcast. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/schulmanart, on Instagram @schulmanart and of course, on SchulmanArt.com.
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