In this episode, Stacie is joined by Mindy Young of Indy Bloom Design for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable creative business. Mindy shares how she began designing in 2016, grew a multiple six-figure business on Spoonflower, and then faced a major turning point when platform changes forced her to rethink everything. Together, Stacie and Mindy unpack the hard but necessary pivots that come with building a business on someone else's platform, the mindset required to keep going when things feel uncertain, and why artists who want to grow must move from hobbyist thinking into true business ownership. This episode is honest, energizing, and full of wisdom for any artist ready to go all in.

Today on Art + Audience:

• From Spoonflower Success to a Major Pivot: Mindy opens up about building a thriving business on Spoonflower, then facing a difficult wake-up call when changes to the platform impacted her income and stability.

• The Risk of Building on Borrowed Land: Stacie and Mindy discuss why relying too heavily on third-party platforms can be dangerous for artists and why long-term sustainability requires building a foundation you own.

• Why Knowing Your Audience Changes Everything: The conversation explores how serving a specific audience well is what separates artists who dabble from artists who build momentum.

• The Power of Niching Down: Rather than trying to appeal to everyone, Mindy leaned into becoming known for wallpaper for little girls' rooms and nurseries. That clarity helped her brand grow quickly.

• Mindset Through the Hard Seasons: Mindy speaks honestly about the emotional toll of business shifts, the impostor syndrome that crept in, and how she had to choose belief in herself again.

• Transparency, Resilience, and Figuring It Out: Mindy shares why being honest about the hard parts matters and why one of the most powerful things an artist can do is stop wallowing, take the next step, and figure it out.

Resource:

• Marketing Calculator: staciebloomfield.com/mcc

Connect with Mindy Young:

• Website: indybloomdesign.com

• Instagram: @indybloomdesign

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart

• Facebook: @LeverageYourArt

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/leverageyourart

• Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561

• Get Stacie's book: The Artist's Side Hustle

In this episode, Stacie sits down with surface pattern designer, children's book illustrator, and educator Mel Armstrong. Mel shares how she transitioned from software engineering into surface pattern design, how a search for gender-neutral fabric while pregnant sparked an entirely new path, and why persistence mattered more than overnight success. The conversation also explores Mel's accidental entry into children's book illustration, the beauty of building a global online community for creatives, and the business lessons she learned the hard way. This episode is a refreshing reminder that creative careers are often built step by step with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to keep going.

Today on Art + Audience:

• From Software Engineer to Surface Pattern Designer: Mel shares how a search for gender-neutral fabric during pregnancy led her to discover Spoonflower and ultimately transition into surface pattern design.

• Building a Creative Career Slowly: Mel discusses growing her creative work gradually while raising children and balancing client work before going all-in on illustration and licensing.

• Accidental Children's Book Illustrator: A publisher discovered one of Mel's fabric designs and invited her to illustrate a book. Launching a children's book career that now includes more than a dozen titles.

• Understanding Book Royalties: Mel explains how advances, royalties, and library lending programs contribute to income for children's book illustrators.

• Creating a Global Creative Community: Mel talks about how teaching on Skillshare unexpectedly grew into a thriving online community for surface pattern designers.

• Learning the Business Side the Hard Way: Mel reflects on one of her biggest early mistakes, mismanaging the business and tax side of her creative career, and why business knowledge is essential for artists.

Connect with Mel Armstrong:

• Website: melarmstrong.com

• YouTube: @melarmstrong

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart

• Facebook: @LeverageYourArt

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/leverageyourart

• Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561

• Get Stacie's book: The Artist's Side Hustle

In this episode, Stacie talks with Ben Taylor Paladino about how he built a festive, product based art brand from his Dallas watercolor studio into a thriving multi stream business. Known for his greeting cards, frosted cups, tea towels, custom ornaments, and a mahjong tile collaboration that put him on the map, Taylor shares how taking a year off from Stanford during COVID led him to sell at a local farmers market. That experience taught him the most important skill of all, how to confidently sell his art even as an introvert. Stacie and Taylor also dive into his wholesale growth, his powerful Christmas market strategy, and the operational decisions that allow him to offer thousands of designs without being buried in inventory.

Today on Art + Audience:

• From Side Hustle to Seven Figures: How Taylor turned watercolor paintings into a multi seven figure product based business starting at a Dallas farmers market during COVID.

• The Power of In Person Selling: Why committing to a full year of markets helped him refine his designs, learn to sell as an introvert, and build a loyal customer base.

• The Mahjong Moment: How his collaboration with Oh My Mahjong expanded his reach and positioned his brand in a fast growing niche.

• Wholesale vs Retail Reality: Taylor breaks down his revenue streams and why Christmas markets like the Nutcracker Market drive major profit in just a few days.

• Scaling Smart with 6500 SKUs: How printing paper goods in house and using a print to order model keeps inventory lean while offering thousands of designs.

Connect with Taylor Paladino:

• Website: taylorpaladino.com

• Instagram: @taylor.paladino

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

• Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast

• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart

• Facebook: @LeverageYourArt

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/leverageyourart

• Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561

• Get Stacie's book: The Artist's Side Hustle