Blog
Studio Life & Space Management
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Why Renting a Studio Can Transform Your Art Practice
The Benefits of Renting an Art Studio in Vancouver For many artists, the first brushstroke of a masterpiece doesn’t start with paint — it starts with space. Not just any space, but one designed to support your process, your tools, and most importantly, your mindset. Whether you’re a painter tired of clearing off the kitchen
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What to Look For in an Art Studio Rental (And What to Avoid)
No BS advice from someone who’s actually rented bad studios before Finding the right art studio is a bit like dating: looks matter, but personality matters more. Sure, some studios have skylights and polished concrete floors—but if you can’t hang your work, blast your music, or paint the damn walls, what are you really paying
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How to Make Your Studio More Productive and Inspiring
Design it for function. Protect it like your energy depends on it — because it does. There’s this idea that a studio should be some kind of peaceful, inspiring space — like a visual mood board with incense and plants and curated clutter. But I think it’s simpler than that. Your studio should make you
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The Studio Graveyard: Why Letting Go of Old Projects Might Be the Most Creative Thing You Do
Clearing space isn’t just about dust — it’s about direction. Most artists don’t talk about the quiet guilt that builds up in a studio. We talk about inspiration, experimentation, even burnout — but rarely the slow psychic weight of unfinished work. And yet, that weight is very real. It shows up in the corners of
Art as a Business
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Your Website Is Your Storefront—So Stop Letting It Rot
Let’s be clear: a website isn’t just a URL. It isn’t just a homepage with some pictures and an “About Me” section. A website is a storefront. Just like a brick-and-mortar location, it’s where your customers land. And just like a physical store, if it’s outdated, messy, and neglected, people will walk right past it—if
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Why You Need a Mailing List (Even If You Hate Marketing)
Let’s talk about mailing lists. These are gold. Everyone on your list is a potential customer—maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday. Some people just need two weeks to pull the money together. Others? They need two years to get their lives together. Either way, they’re not lost—they’re orbiting you. And that matters. In
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How to Approach Galleries, Boutiques, and Stores (Without Making Them Regret Meeting You)
So, you’ve made some really cool work—maybe it’s jewelry, pottery, paintings, clothing, whatever. You’re creative, you’re local, and you’ve started dipping your toes into markets: Granville Island, Commercial Drive, flea markets, music festivals, all of it. But now you’re thinking: How do I get into actual stores? Into galleries? Onto boutique shelves? The answer, my
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Markets, Maybes, and the Myth of Exposure
By someone who’s stood in enough empty halls to tell you the truth Let’s talk about markets. Not the market, not Wall Street—I’m talking about flea markets, craft fairs, trade shows, Christmas markets, culture nights, music festivals, and anything that promises “exposure” in exchange for three days of your life and a sore back. Here’s
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Creative Ways to Fund Your Studio Space
Let’s be honest—selling your art is only one way to fund a studio space, and if you’re a professional artist, sure, it’s the most obvious one. But it’s not the only way to keep the lights on and the rent paid at 284 Art Studios—or any studio, really. Let’s walk through a few creative (and
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The Art of Pricing: How Artists Can Hold Their Value, Avoid Burnout, and Master Negotiation
Custom work is the soul of many artists’ careers, but it’s also a minefield of underpricing, endless negotiation, and emotional exhaustion. Many customers don’t intend to insult you when they haggle — they’re simply unaware of what goes into creating a custom piece, or they come from cultures where bargaining is standard. But if you’re
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From Hobbyist to Professional: Free Training, Webinars, and Networking Resources for Artists
When you’re making the jump from hobbyist to professional artist, the biggest shock usually isn’t in your studio—it’s in your spreadsheet. Suddenly you’re expected to understand bookkeeping, marketing, client management, and social media scheduling, all while still making your art. The good news? There are more free and low-cost resources than ever to help you
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Why People Really Buy Art (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)
People don’t buy art because they need it. Food, shelter, utilities—those are needs. Art sits in an entirely different category: the extras. The luxuries. The things that extend beyond what survival requires. And that’s exactly why buying art is such a personal, revealing decision. This isn’t about judging people by what hangs on their walls.
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The Evolution of an Artist: From Emotion to Design
There are artists who spend decades building their vision — not in strokes of chance, but in structures of intent. You can sense it in their work: every proportion deliberate, every shadow thoughtful, every silence between forms charged with purpose. Their art isn’t an accident; it’s an equation. And then there’s everything else. The truth
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Why Selling Art in Vancouver Sometimes Feels Like Selling Trampolines at an Old Folks’ Home
Let’s be honest — no matter how shiny the trampoline is, you’re not going to move many units in a retirement community. It doesn’t matter if it’s reinforced with carbon fiber, features NASA-grade springs, or comes with a free helmet. When your audience has bad knees, bad backs, and a daily nap schedule, your product
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From Maker to Entrepreneur: The Real Journey Behind Making a Living with Art
Part 1: How Do You Actually Make Money Making Art? There comes a point early in your journey where the novelty of being able to “make something” starts to fade, and a more grounded question starts tapping on your shoulder. It’s not the beginner excitement anymore. It’s not the satisfaction of learning a new tool
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Profit, Scale, and the Ceiling You Put on Yourself
Part 1: Why Nickel-and-Diming Keeps You Stuck Profit is not a dirty word. It is not greed. It is not a betrayal of craft, community, or sincerity. Profit is oxygen. Without it, a business does not slowly struggle — it quietly suffocates. If you spend $10 and make $11, you are not building a business.
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Why You Should Stop Sharing Your Ideas (And Start Executing Them)
When you look at people like Jeff Bezos, one thing becomes very clear very quickly: ideas are not scarce. Execution is. Bezos has talked openly about this. He doesn’t sit around brainstorming endlessly with his team, nor does he dump every idea he has onto the table the moment it forms. Instead, he staggers ideas.
Artist Life Hacks & Resources
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Studio Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
A collection of game-changing tricks I use in my own studio spaces to boost productivity, comfort, and sanity Remote-Controlled Outlets: My #1 Hack This is my favorite studio hack that no one talks about. You can get a 5-pack of remote control outlet receivers on Amazon for around $40, and they usually come with two
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Admin in Motion: Unusual Places for Artists to Get Sh*t Done
Not every artist wants to do admin work in their studio. In fact, for many of us, mixing paperwork with paintbrushes is the fastest way to fall out of love with the art itself. That’s why I’ve learned to separate the two—and along the way, I’ve discovered some surprisingly great places to tackle my to-do