How do you use sketchbooks? Do you make beautiful illustrative drawings or is your book more of a scrapbook? Do you work regularly in sketchbooks or only now and then? And do you prefer loose sheets or actual books? This week we're diving into all this and more. Sketchbooks are a place we return to time and again to regroup, gather ideas, or simply experiment with materials. Neither of us could make our art without periods where retreat into our sketchbooks. Perhaps this conversation will encourage you to do the same :) Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The art of selling may not feel like it comes easily, but today Sara Dalrymple joins Alice to talk about how artists can see this differently. We talk about preserving your no. 1 asset, a key non-negotiable you must be prepared for, and more than one reason why artists are perhaps BEST placed for making sales - once you have a few things adjusted and in order! Having grown her own photography business, Sara founded a specialist sales consultancy, mentoring other creatives selling their products and services online. She has helped hundreds of business owners bring in consistent sales through confident, sleaze-free self-promotion. Now, Sara is extending her mission to help even more small business owners find consistent sales success, through her book More Sales Please! which is out now and filled with inspiring advice and practical steps. Find Sara's website including a quiz to discover what's blocking your sales https://saradalrymple.co.uk/moresalesplease Follow Sara on Instagram at @saleswithsara for lots of tips to increase confidence with selling the sleaze-free way. Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The hosts catch up after a break, discussing their experiences and the importance of rest. They talk about embracing failure and new opportunities, setting boundaries for creative time, and upcoming exhibitions. They reflect on the past year and express anticipation for the new year.

As we bounce (?!) back into 2024 after a seasonal break I'm joined by JoMcCarthy for an informal discussion around how we find ourselves using Instagram - or planning to. This isn't a strategy plan, or top tips for getting the best marketing results, but about how we use the platform, and finding ways to enjoy what it offers. We dip into phone addiction, habits, what content we like to consume and to create. When social media is viewed by many as a time suck, what should you consider if you are thinking of taking a longer break? Are the alternatives? Chat with Jo on Instagram @jo_mccarthy_chats You can hear more from Jo back in episode 137 when we talked about how to know if you’re ready to sell online. Mentioned: Henry Miller article: https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/10/07/henry-miller-creativity-friendship/ Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

As we head for our Christmas break, we look back on 2023 and ask ‘how did it go?’ For this episode, we pulled out planners and notebooks to look back on what we hoped to achieve and how it all went. This process can be so valuable; the pause is a chance to reflect on your priorities and an opportunity to realign them if need be. It can also be an opportunity to recognise your own achievements, to start thinking about new goals, and perhaps also to notice what you no longer desire. Mentioned: Marina Abramović Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we’re all about inspiring women. Louise reveals a surprising fascination with medieval history, and explains how it led her to reflect on the value of patience, persistence and self-belief even when it seems unwarranted. If one determined woman can beat seemingly insurmountable odds to find a long-dead King, what might we be capable of? How often do we give up on something just before the big breakthrough? Where might childhood trauma be holding us back in later life? And how much selfishness is too much? We explore all this and more in this inspiring episode. Who knows, maybe we have it in us to do great things if we simply believe it’s possible. Mentioned: Phillipa Langley book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Princes-Tower-Solving-Historys-Greatest/dp/163936627X   The Lost King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXxRfhQFuV4  Boat Story BBC Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we answer a question from a new listener who has recently begun to paint. Eric is wondering how to make the leap from copying images to making his own unique work. This question sparked a discussion about the ways in which artists find their own unique path. For us, this has included gathering visual references, noticing (and valuing) our own preferences, trusting our instincts, learning about other artists, and finding ways to learn in-person. For beginners there is always a gap between what we want to create and what we are capable of creating, and this gap can feel frustrating. In this episode, we encourage a different way of looking at the issue because learning to enjoy the process of discovery can become a true and enduring source of joy in your life. Mentioned: Curtis Holder portrait artist of the year in NT  https://www.curtisholder.co.uk/ Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Let’s talk about events - specifically, getting ready for them. As Alice prepares for Manchester Art Fair, we share our top tips for event prep. When you do you order frames? How can you promote the event in advance? What should you store in your event box? How will you take payments? What kind of shoes should you wear? (!)  These are just some of the points we raise this week. An event can be a really fun and rewarding thing to do as long as you prepare well in advance, so we hope this conversation sparks some ideas to make it easier and more fun. Mentioned: Sumup card reader here (discount referral link) http://r.sumup.com/referrals/hc5h7 Jacksons pre-made tray frames (certain sizes) https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-tray-float-frame-for-canvas Jacksons bespoke self-assembly frames https://www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/bespoke-frame-builder Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we've been thinking about measuring - specifically about choosing what we measure, and how that can (and should) change over time. The truth is that what gets measured tends to get done - by tracking things, we place our focus on them, and when we place our focus on something, we are more likely to do it. Over the years, we have chosen to focus on studio time, social media results, sales, expenses and much more. But we are now noticing how much our focus has changed as our priorities have shifted. Perhaps it's wise to continually revisit the things we measure, so that we can ensure we're heading in the direction we want. After all, if we don't set our priorities, life will set them for us. Mentioned: Search Engine Podcast, Internet episode Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we revisit episode 228 (an interview with author Christine Coulson) and discuss the key ideas we found inspiring. In the process, it's possible we have defined a framework for creativity - a set of ideas that can ignite new ideas and new ways of working for anyone. If you feel you want to take your work forward in new or different ways, this is the conversation for you. Make sure to have a way of taking notes, because this is a doozy :) Mentioned: Picasso documentary https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0fjh4zl/picasso-the-beauty-and-the-beast David Beckham documentary https://www.netflix.com/title/81223488 Find Alice Sheridan at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alicesheridan.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alicesheridanstudio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Louise Fletcher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.louisefletcherart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@louisefletcher_art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License