Hello friends, and welcome to another episode of Art and Cocktails. I'm your host, Kat (Ekaterina Popova). Today, we're talking about the love-hate relationship with the slow summer season. If you're an artist or entrepreneur, you know exactly what I'm talking about. If not, consider yourself lucky and share your tips for avoiding the summer slump!

Key Takeaways:

• • Trying New Techniques and Mediums: Experiment with new artistic techniques and mediums to fuel creativity.
  • Exploring New Platforms: Engage with new social media platforms or art communities to diversify your audience.
  • Breaking Patterns and Expanding: Try different styles or themes and attend workshops for fresh perspectives.
  • Planning and Reflecting for the Rest of the Year: Use downtime to plan future projects and reflect on achievements.
  • Reflecting on What's Working: Analyze successful strategies and adjust your approach moving forward.
  • Pivoting and Revisiting Early Year Goals: Revisit and adjust goals set at the beginning of the year.
  • Resting and Recharging: Importance of taking breaks to avoid burnout and replenish creativity.
  • Focusing on Higher Ticket Items: Develop and market higher-value offerings.
  • Exploring New Ideas: Brainstorm and develop new creative concepts.
  • Utilizing Time for Personal Development: Invest in personal growth and continuous learning.

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Links:

• Kat's Substack
• Kat's YouTube Channel

Thank You: Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, and subscribe for more inspiring content.

In this episode of Art & Cocktails, Kat interviews the talented Zafira Rajan, a seasoned copywriter and digital marketer with over a decade of experience supporting leading online entrepreneurs and course creators. Known for her personality-driven copy and sensory storytelling, Zafira has helped countless clients transform their marketing from "stiff and boring" to something that truly resonates and feels authentic.

What We Discuss:

• Tips for Creatives to Become Better Writers: Simple yet powerful strategies to enhance your writing skills, whether it's for your art, business, or personal projects.
• Using Your Voice: How to authentically express yourself in your writing and connect deeply with your audience.
• Reconnecting with Reading and Writing: The importance of reading for writers and how it can inspire and improve your writing practice.
• Personality-Driven Copy: Infusing your words with your unique personality to create engaging and relatable content.
• Sensory Storytelling: Techniques to make your stories come alive, creating a full-body experience for your readers.
• Balancing Creativity and Business: Navigating the challenges of being a creative entrepreneur and maintaining your artistic voice while achieving business success.

Free Resources:

• Design Your Custom Writing Ritual: Does sitting down to write feel more like a chore than a joy? In this mini-journal, Zafira guides you towards uncovering a writing ritual that gets you "in the zone," excited and inspired... So that you can create a nourishing writing practice that truly feels good! Access the resource at zafirarajan.com/writing-ritual.

Join Zafira's Membership:

• The Tide Pool: A creative writing membership where you can practice writing in real-time, receive prompts to keep you inspired, and gain tips and book recommendations. Find out more at tidepool.zafirarajan.com.

Connect with Zafira Rajan:

• Website: zafirarajan.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/zafira.rajan
• Substack: zafirarajan.substack.com

Tune in to discover how you can elevate your writing, engage your audience, and balance your creative and business endeavors with expert insights from Zafira Rajan. Enjoy the episode!

https://www.createmagazine.com

Welcome to a new episode of Art & Cocktails. I’m your host, Ekaterina Popova, and today we're celebrating a significant milestone—our eight-year anniversary of running an indie artist-run magazine and platform, Create! Magazine.

In this episode, I'll take you behind the scenes and share the journey, challenges, and triumphs of running an indie magazine dedicated to supporting contemporary emerging and established artists. We'll explore the logistical and creative aspects of producing each issue, from the initial concept and call for art to the final layout and distribution.

Highlights:

• Introduction: Celebrating the eight-year anniversary of Create Magazine and reflecting on the journey from its inception as Fresh Paint to its rebranding and growth.
• Challenges: Discussing the challenges of running a print magazine in a digital age, including fluctuating paper prices, adapting to new technologies, and navigating the impacts of COVID-19.
• Sustainability: How we’ve managed to create a sustainable pace by balancing creative passion with practical business strategies, and why it’s essential to avoid comparing ourselves to larger, well-funded organizations.
• Curating and Publishing: The process of curating artists' work, collaborating with guest curators, and the meticulous steps involved in editing, designing, and promoting each issue.
• Community Support: The importance of community support, both from our team and from the artists and readers who make it possible to continue this work. Celebrating the connections and opportunities created through our platform, including artists being discovered by curators and gaining solo shows.
• Financial Insights: Lessons learned about managing finances, investing wisely, and the significance of community-driven growth over flashy investments.
• Call for Art: Announcing the open call for our special anniversary issue, inviting all artists to submit their work by July 30, 2024. This issue will be curated by our team, including myself, Alicia, and Christina.

Key Takeaways:

• Building an indie magazine requires passion, resilience, and a strong support system.
• Sustainable growth comes from balancing creative projects with practical business strategies.
• Community and collaboration are at the heart of creating meaningful opportunities for artists.
• Financial management is crucial for maintaining and growing an independent platform.

Links & Resources:

• Submit Your Work for the Anniversary Issue
• Follow Ekaterina Popova on Instagram
• Create Magazine

Support & Reviews:

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on iTunes and share it with your friends. Your support helps us reach more artists and continue providing valuable content.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We appreciate your support and look forward to many more years of celebrating art and creativity together!