You’ve watched artists, performers and writers like Hugh McLeod, Amanda Palmer, Chase Jarvis, and Jeff Goins sell boatloads of creative work thanks to the platforms they have built from their blogs.
You tinker with your own creative projects and wonder if you could start a blog to promote them too.
But despite all the blogging advice out there, you sense that blogging for art is different.
You know you don’t want to be spammy, but have no idea how to use a blog to make money by selling those musical compositions, show tickets, short horror stories, family paintings with Fido, or handmade grandfather clocks.
The one thing artists need to be successful today
The Internet has turned selling creative work on its head.
No longer can you simply get good at your craft and then find someone to champion you, manage you, or sponsor you.
Want a publishing deal? You better have built a solid fan base for your work first.
Want a chance at a record deal or even just make a decent side income from your work? You’ll need an engaged audience and good-sized list.
For today’s artist, building a tribe is non-negotiable.
But how?
It’s not about schlepping your art or begging for attention
Like a first date, you need something more to talk about other than just your work.
People connect with people. Your blog is the place where you give fans not only the emotional experience that attracted them to you in the first place, but also ways to get to know you as a person and artist.
Your audience expects to see a different side of you on your blog.
Your job is to find these hooks – the things that your people are most curious about. Perhaps what lens you used in a photo or what inspired you to write that song. Or hilarious personal stories from your travels. Or exclusive material not available to the general public.
And since artists learn from each other, you could help others by teaching what you know.
But the secret is to get fans, clients, and customers interacting with you on many levels.
Let them get to know you and what matters to you.
Let them into your world as an artist.
What works for artists in the real world?
The theory’s nice. But how does this work in real life? How do artists succeed online?
The problem with theory – creative people are so diverse in their talents and interests that seeing how this advice applies to your own situation is difficult.
What works for a musician might not work for a painter. What delights the fans of a writer might be a complete turn-off for the fans of a filmmaker.
Even creative people in the same field might need to relate to their audiences in different ways.
But let’s say you do have some concrete ideas for your own creative blog; how do you know if they will work in practice?
What you need is some help from artists who’ve already blazed a trail and discovered what actually works.
Because some of those ideas might work for you too.
So check out the following list of excellent role models for tons of ideas.
And don’t just stick to your own field – cross-pollinate and explore ideas from other disciplines.
After all, great artists draw their influences from many places and you never know where your next killer idea will come from.
48 Creative Blogs You Can Shamelessly Plunder for Inspiration
1. Hugh MacLeod – The poster boy of blogging success for artists
Hugh began blogging in 2001, long before most people had any idea what a weblog even was. He’s been a champion of blogging for artists ever since. Hugh has not only built an extremely successful business out of drawing on the backs of business cards, but he’s also had three best-selling books, all of which grew out of recording and sharing his thoughts on his work while he made it.
If you haven’t picked up Hugh’s books yet, do so sooner rather than later. He’s got great insight for all creative types. If you don’t mind straight talk, learn why most artists’ blogs fail.
2. Austin Kleon – “A writer who draws” and is engaging, inspiring, and funny
Hugh MacLeod pointed me in Austin’s direction, and he’s definitely a great example to follow. Austin’s insights into his creative process are fascinating and guaranteed to draw you in. He’s written two best-selling books and is working on his third. Steal Like An Artist is a must-read for all creative types.
Austin speaks regularly on creativity and has been featured at SXSW, TEDx, Google, Pixar, and The Economist.
3. Michael Nobbs – Writer and artist with a passion for consistent and sustainable creativity
Michael is a writer and artist who has built a whole community around encouraging others to create every day, make drawing a habit, and build solid platforms to be viably creative.
Like others on this list, you’ll see Michael’s work in many formats, including courses, books, an online forum, and podcasts as well as his blog.
4. Amy Ng – Illustrator and blogger with inspiration, good business sense, and lots of smiles
Amy is a writer and illustrator from Malaysia who has been sharing creative ideas, tutorials, business guidance, and courses since 2008 at her site.
She is a prolific blogger and her personality definitely shines through in her writing. You can’t visit her site without feeling happy.
5. Abbey Ryan – Classic still life and trompe l’oeil artist who connects with a painting a day
Abbey started blogging in 2007, posting a painting a day. Since then she’s attracted over a half million visitors from 100 countries to her site. She has an unassuming and generous style that endears her students and readers to her.
Her work is beautiful and her blog commentary centers around her experiences while creating each piece – stories about the objects she paints, what part of the world she’s in, and the people she paints with. She’s been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, and Seth Godin’s Linchpin.
6. Ed Terpening – Plein air painter with plain good advice and beautiful work
Art is Ed’s third career, which probably explains why he is a prolific blogger on many blog topics, including business, technique, styles, equipment, traveling and much more. Over the years, he’s been a musician, teacher, software engineer, high-tech manager, and Internet media executive.
His artistic career grew out of his desire to leave a legacy to the world that would be longer-lasting than his technical work could ever be. I’d say he’s succeeding, not only with getting his paintings out into the world, but also with his engaging and thought-provoking writing style.
7. Dan Duhrkoop – A painter with all the answers in a comprehensive knowledge base
Dan has an incredible resource-packed blog for independent painters at Empty Easel. You’ll find practical, technical tips on the art side, and a goldmine of solid advice on the business side, including how to sell online, how to use blogging to increase your art sales, and how to make the most of SEO for artwork.
Empty Easel is a popular site that attracts over a quarter million page views each month.
8. Lisa Congdon – Colorful artist and illustrator at the Today Is Going to be Awesome blog.
Lisa did not begin painting until she was 31 years old. She worked outside of the art establishment and shares her learning process and growing collections on her blog.
Her site is now filled with her cool artwork and illustrations, but she also features other artists’ work and throws in some relatable personal experiences, history, current events and how-to’s as well.
9. Lucy Chen – Figurative artist and visual storyteller committed to inspiring a full and expressive life
Lucy Chen embraced painting as an adult; she enrolled in her first art class at age 29. Lucy was born in Southern China and now lives in Australia.
She explores cross-cultural tension and identity in her work, and aims to encourage all her readers to live expressive and creative lives through her blog.
10. Amanda Palmer – Social-savvy musician who masterminded a record $1.2 million Kickstarter campaign
If Hugh MacLeod is the poster boy for blogging success, then Amanda Palmer has got to be the poster girl. She is a master of fan connection, raising a record $1.2 million through Kickstarter for her recent CD.
She’s spoken about her experiences at TED and has been interviewed and covered in the press countless times. Love her or hate her, she’s open about her strategies and values – which means we can all learn something from her.
11. Bob Baker – Consummate artist and all-around nice guy with infinite marketing ideas
Bob is a prolific author, musician, pop-art painter and former stand-up comedian. He knows artists’ business and marketing challenges inside and out, and his mission is to help them on their paths.
Bob uses several methods to get his messages out to the world – you’ll find traditional blog posts and YouTube videos as well as podcasts and all his many books – one of which was featured in the movie School of Rock with Jack Black.
12. Cari Cole – Musician who’s “been there, done that” and can get you there too
Cari is a vocalist and songwriter who has performed on top stages including CBGB’s, the Bluebird Café, the legendary Bitter End, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall (where she got a standing ovation), and the Apollo Theatre.
Her writing is full of hard-won experience and practical, down-to-earth advice to help you achieve the same levels of success, whatever that means for you. Her always-positive, yet still no-nonsense approach is worth studying and emulating regardless of your field.
13. Joy Ike – Songstress who delivers grassroots marketing strategies with the voice of an angel
Joy is a talented songwriter with an eclectic musical style and captivating voice. She’s also passionate about helping her fellow artists with marketing.
Joy blogs at her artist’s site as well as at Grassrootsy. She is generous in sharing her experiences and opinions for her readers’ benefit and she’s not afraid to take a stand. You know what things Joy values in life and art and I like that about her.
14. Mark Hermann – Rock star storyteller who will help you find your voice and rock your story
Mark’s passions are music, guitars, and telling stories, and he blends these wonderfully in Rock and Roll Zen. Mark has great narratives from his years on the road, and he knows how to tell them in ways that will encourage you to excel at whatever creative endeavor you choose.
Read this blog for stories that entertain and inspire, and for advice you can apply immediately to developing your own story and memorable brand.
15. Praverb The Wyse – MBA rapper blending solid research with street-wise advice
Praverb chose his rap name well – you’ll find loads of wisdom in both his blog and his music. Praverb writes about marketing, branding, increasing fan engagement and much more.
He puts his MBA background to great use with well-researched and thought-out posts, all written in an accessible style. He’s got amazing compilations of resources and connections for Do-It-Yourself musicians – especially rappers and hop-hop artists – including blogs, social media tips, and podcasts. His advice and analyses are spot-on and helpful. Nice guy and smart blogger who’s invested in his readers’ success.
16. FuNkwoRm – Music producer and hip-hop lover with featured artists, great industry insight and advice
FuNkwoRm is a music producer who loves hip-hop and decided to do something about it through his blog. You’ll find great indie business advice, reflections on the industry, and technical tips and interviews, as well as MP3s and videos of featured independent artists. FuNkwoRm also encourages artists to blog, which is how I found him and what made me an immediate fan of his work.
17. Ari Herstand – Rocking the full-time indie music career dream and helping you do the same
Ari has been a full-time musician for over five years and has over 500 shows to his credit. He’s opened for some major acts and played some impressive music festivals. His blog tackles the nitty-gritty details of making an indie music career work; from protecting yourself against instrument theft and getting 250 people to a CD release, to clearly explaining the ins and outs of song publishing, royalties, and more. Ari’s done a great job of building his audience through guest posting (which is how I found him.)
18. Wil Wheaton – Blogging where no actor has gone before
If you know anything about Sci-Fi fans, you know they are extremely loyal and even fanatical. Wil has tapped into this trait of his fan base to great success. He is an actor, author, blogger, podcaster, avid Twitter user, and self-proclaimed champion of geek culture. Wil’s been blogging since 2001 and has won numerous awards, including Lifetime Achievement Bloggie and Best Celebrity Blogger.
19. Josh Pais – Veteran actor who delivers creative rocket fuel, Ninja Turtle style
Josh is a cool, fun dude. He’s been acting steadily and impressively for over 25 years in some high-profile roles. His first big break was as Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He’s also brave and smart enough to challenge conventional wisdom on how we should prepare to go out onstage, for a job interview, or for a corporate presentation – really anything we do in life. He’s got the tools to help you shine brilliantly in whatever you attempt, and he cares. Check him out, seriously.
20. Eliot Rausch – Filmmaker with a love for truth and storytelling
Eliot is a director from Los Angeles whose career was launched when he filmed a short documentary about a friend’s last hours with his dog, called Last Minutes With Oden. The video went viral with 30,000 views overnight and won two prestigious Vimeo awards. Eliot is now known as one of the most respected independent filmmakers in the business. His blog includes thoughts and quotes regarding film, society, and creativity as well as personal stories and observations – all of it poignant and fascinating.
21. Devin Henderson – Magician who gives you the keys to living your own magical life
Devin is a magician, corporate entertainer and keynote speaker based in Kansas City. He blogs about life, entertainment, inspiration, and humor, and even reveals the how-to’s behind a few magic tricks. Devin’s message helps everyone in his audience find and use their own magic – the unique gifts they bring to the world – in both business and life. Devin is an excellent example of combining your talents with your beliefs and values in order to create a great fan experience and raving, loyal fans.
22. Ted Greenberg – Emmy-winning comedian with side-splitting humor and New York taxi rides
For over five years, the Emmy-award winning Letterman writer Ted Greenberg has hosted his weekly one-man show, The Complete Performer, at the SoHo Playhouse in downtown Manhattan. After every Saturday night show, Ted drives one lucky audience group home in a New York City taxi. Ted’s blog includes reviews, festivals, comedy news and history, interviews, and video clips from his performances – tons of great comedy-related content that’s both interesting and fun to read.
23. Matt Ruby – Standup comedian with a love for all things comedy related
NYC standup comedian Matt Ruby started blogging in 2006, and his site is packed with great stories, videos, podcasts, jokes and just plain interesting content. He’s got intelligent and humorous commentary on what makes material funny, his thought processes, and comedy in general.
24. Barry Kerollis – Bucking the trend in traditional ballet
Barry is a freelance ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher who started blogging in 2004. Being a freelancer in an industry where most dancers are in companies is tough work, and Barry is open about sharing his experiences so that all his readers benefit. Barry is not afraid to take on difficult topics like standing up for yourself when “dancer’s code” says you should be submissive and when negotiating for a fair, living wage. You’ll find great insights for dancers and all independent artists there.
25. Sara Kubik – Irish dancer taking you behind the scenes of competition
Sara is a former gymnast turned Irish dancer. She started dancing at 18 years old and began competing a little more than three years later. Since then she’s competed in two North American and two world championships. Her blog chronicles her personal journey as a competitor and educates readers with instructional videos and a glossary of Irish dance terms.
26. Don Baarns – Ballroom dancer who fell into the unlikely role of teacher
Like many other artists/bloggers on this list, Don is also a book author and instructs through video as well. Don helps dancers understand musicality so they can improve their skillset and engage audiences. In his posts, Don addresses questions that readers might otherwise be afraid to ask, like, “Why don’t more men ask me to dance?” The lesson? Don’t be afraid to tackle your readers’ fears head-on; it will help you stand out.
27. Jeff Goins – Writer with empowering, refreshing inspiration in a busy, noisy world
Jeff is a blogger, speaker, and the author of three popular books. He launched his most recent blog in 2010 in order to help other writers master their craft and overcome fear and resistance. His fast-growing GoinsWriter site has gained much attention and praise and won a Top-10 Blogs for Writers award in 2011. He takes serving his audience seriously, sees his writing as his art, and appreciates his blog readers as the patrons who support his art.
28. Hugh Howey – Self-published author who takes the Sci-Fi charts by storm
Hugh is the author of the New York Times and USA Today’s best-selling series, Wool. He first released the stand-alone short story in 2011. It became hugely popular, with fans begging for more installments. Wool eventually reached the Top 5 in science fiction on Amazon. Hugh has since sold film rights to 20th Century Fox and distribution rights to Simon and Schuster, although he has retained e-book rights. Hugh has also written the Molly Fyde series, about a girl from the 25th century who is constantly told she can’t do things because she’s a girl – so she does them anyway.
29. CJ Lyons – ER pediatric doctor turned award-winning, critically acclaimed author
CJ has a fascinating background. She never trained as a writer, although she has always spun stories. She was an ER doctor at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh when a fellow intern was murdered. She began writing crime fiction to deal with the emotional horror. Soon other published authors began to tell CJ that her writing should be published. She ended up a finalist in a national writing competition and landed a publishing deal soon after. CJ now also mentors other writers at No Rules, Just Write.
30. Edward W. Robertson – Best-selling fantasy and science fiction self-publisher
Ed has been a full-time fantasy and science fiction writer since 2011. He’s published numerous short stories in both online and print magazines and has penned the Amazon Best-selling post-apocalyptic Breakers series and The Cycle of Arawn fantasy trilogy. His blog includes a great analysis on self-publishing, including e-book strategy, stores, and pricing.
31. Joanna Penn – IT consultant turned author sells over 75,000 copies of her novels
Joanna self-published her first non-fiction book in 2008. She made a lot of mistakes in that first attempt, but she honed her writing skills, learned to market, and now helps other authors avoid the same traps at her blog The Creative Penn. Joanna became a full-time writer in 2011 and has had best-sellers in the Thriller, Crime, and Action Adventure categories. She’s also written a #1 Amazon best-seller How To Market A Book.
32. Johnny B. Truant – Writer whose humor, irreverence, and inspiration hits right between the eyes
Johnny’s story is fascinating to me, which is why he’s one of my idols. (Not in a creepy stalker sense but in an admiring sense.) Johnny has transformed his online business several times – he started as a blogger building websites for people. He found his writing voice and built a solid platform with a super-loyal following, and he is a frequent guest blogger on major sites, including Smart Blogger. Now he’s helping others become legendary while at the same time writing captivating, humorous fiction novels and producing podcasts like crazy. His strategy worked for him, and I think we can all learn from it.
33. David Wright – Self-publishing master of cliffhangers and audience building
David is a pioneer in serialized fiction along with his partner Sean Platt. They are both fans of serialized TV series such as LOST, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad, and they became fascinated with bringing that same experience to fiction. Early on, David saw the opportunities offered by Amazon Kindle to allow writers to reach their fans directly, without needing a publisher. He hosts the Self-Publishing Podcast along with Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant, a great resource for anyone with a sense of humor who wants to learn the ins and outs of self-publishing.
34. Sean Platt – Pioneer of self-published serialized fiction
Sean is a best-selling indie author, entrepreneur, husband, and dad. He’s co-founded two publishing ventures: Realm & Sands with Johnny B. Truant and Collective Inkwell with David Wright. With Johnny alone he has published about 1.5 million words in 2013. Sean and David began releasing serialized fiction on Amazon more than a year before Amazon launched its Serials program. Yesterday’s Gone has gotten more than 600 5-star reviews and placed in Amazon’s Top 100 Best Reviewed Fiction Books. Sean completes the triple threat in the Self-Publishing Podcast with David Wright and Johnny B. Truant.
35. Chase Jarvis – Photographer and champion of creative entrepreneurship
Chase is as strong of a business guy as he is a photographer and director, and he shares his hard-earned wisdom and experience through his blog posts, videos, and interviews of the best creative entrepreneurs on the web. In addition to photography tutorials and examples, you’ll find great resources for branding, pitching your work as an artist, and building a creative career. Watch a couple of his featured concerts while you’re at it. Chase connects to his audience through multiple passions -you’ll surely find something you like there.
36. Maria Killam – Interior designer whose blog helped her build niche dominance
Maria is an interior design blogger, decorator, stylist, trainer, author and internationally sought-after color expert. Her down-to-earth, no-nonsense color advice and accessible, inspiring writing style quickly turned Colour Me Happy into one of the top-10 color blogs in North America with over 200,000 readers in 150 countries. Maria has done a fantastic job of using her blog to validate her expertise and build dominance in her niche. Read her posts on blogging as well – and kudos to Maria for encouraging her fellow designers to blog.
37. Joe McNally – National Geographic master photographer blogs about decades of inspiration and experience
Joe has over 30 years of photography experience and has been called one of the 100 Most Important People in Photography. His photos have appeared in Time, Newsweek, Fortune, LIFE, Sports Illustrated magazines and many more, and he’s worked for National Geographic for the past 23 years. His work has taken him to 54 countries and all 50 states. He’s written two Amazon Top 10-sellers and he teaches workshops all over the world. Joe’s blog covers as much ground as he has in real life – check it out and learn by absorption.
38. Samantha Hahn – Lifelong artist shares lessons and thoughts on art, design, and style
Samantha has been an artist all her life. She recently published a book called Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction’s Most Beloved Heroines, which earned her much praise and recognition. She strongly encourages artists to blog and her own blog, Maquette, is an in-depth collection of thoughts on art, design, style, and craft.
39. Jasmine Star – Globe-hopping wedding photographer engages audiences with her work and personal stories
Jasmine is an international wedding photographer from California. She started blogging in 2007 to “empower clients to become the voice of her brand”. Her blog features her photography, technical tips and discussions, and personal stories. Jasmine does a great job of showcasing content that both engages her readers and encourages comments, questions, and shares.
40. Mark and Agnes Hage – Adventure photography from happy world wanderers
Hage Photo is an outdoor adventure, sports, and travel photography blog. This husband-and-wife team’s site includes stunning photos and the stories behind them. Their clients send them around the world to photograph remote and exotic places. The Hages obviously love being thrill-seeking, globetrotting nomads and have discovered how to get paid for it.
41. Karen Walrond – Photographer and writer who shines a light on the beauty in the world and in you
Karen is a blogger, photographer, speaker, and author of the best-selling Amazon book, The Beauty of Different. She’s won awards and recognition for her work from both the writing and photography sides, as well as in the mom-blog space. She is “wildly convinced that you are uncommonly beautiful,” and her blog definitely is that. Look to her site for great examples of combining personal stories with fantastic photos – including some submitted by her fans and followers.
42. Daymond John – Pioneer of urban, hip-hop fashion and Shark Tank marketing master
Daymond grew up in Queens, NY, surrounded by up-and-comers like RUN DMC, Salt-n-Pepa and LL Cool J in an emerging hip-hop music scene. Daymond had an eye for fashion and the smarts to recognize a completely underserved market. He built the urban clothing brand For Us, By Us or FUBU, from the ground up. He’s since become a marketing and business mogul with a blog dating back to 2006 and two popular books to his credit. You may recognize him from the TV series Shark Tank.
43. Thomas Mahon – Savile Row tailor whose blog breathed new life into a traditional, close-knit industry
Thomas started his blog in 2005, encouraged by his friend Hugh MacLeod. It is probably one of the earliest craft blogs. Bespoke, or custom-made tailoring for men, is a high-end service steeped in years of tradition. Thomas’s blog went behind the scenes and educated clients on the benefits and value of custom-made suits. For the first time, it allowed the world to see the skills, service, and people behind Savile Row tailoring and paved the way for future generations of new enthusiasts.
44. Shannon Okey – Expert crafter with a passion for spreading her knowledge
Shannon is a knitting and crafting/fiber expert as well as a writer with several books and a publishing company to her credit. Her blog is filled with stories, patterns, and material and technique advice. You can find archives of her call-in radio show podcasts and YouTube videos from her various classes and workshops on her site. Her blog stands out because it’s filled with personality and her obvious passion and expertise in her crafts.
45. Tilly Walnes – DIY Dressmaker demystifies sewing so you can create your own style
Tilly is a former filmmaker who learned to sew, became obsessed with the freedom that comes from defining her own style, and never looked back. She discovered that much of the instruction on sewing was out of reach for beginners so she started blogging in easy-to-understand terms with loads of examples and descriptions. Tilly has built quite a following, garnered much press, and has been featured on the BBC television’s The Great British Sewing Bee.
46. David Airey – Internationally renowned design expert writes on the business and craft
David is a designer and Amazon #1 best-selling author from Northern Ireland with clients from all over the world. His blog is filled with top-notch content about the business and craft of design, tackling tough topics like measuring the ROI on design, creating corporate identities, and building a business from scratch – great information and insights that are well worth checking out.
47. Tina Roth Eisenberg – Designer with an eye for projects that go viral
Tina is a designer from Switzerland who visited New York City after college and never left. Her blog began as a personal archive of ideas and inspiration, but eventually grew to well over a million unique visitors per month. Tina is a big fan of side projects. She has launched several of them into businesses which now allow her to be client-less: Tattly is a cool, design-friendly temporary tattoo company. She also runs Teux-Deux, a simple online to-do app, and launched a monthly breakfast lecture series called Creative Mornings, which now has 65 chapters all over the world.
48. Josh Spear – A world-traveling designer shares observations on all things life and design
Josh’s blog is filled with inspiration from all over the globe on art, design, technology, culture, marketing, branding, social issues and more. Josh consults and speaks on all these topics and advises startups in the gaming, social, and commerce arenas. He serves on the Global Agenda Council on the Marketing and Branding World Economic Forum. He’s been blogging since 2004 and in that time has accumulated quite a bit of fascinating content to share.
Now is the time to get your art out in the world
Blogging is revolutionizing the world of art, but many artists hesitate to start a blog because they don’t know how to approach it, don’t know how to promote it, or simply don’t understand what it could do for them.
And by failing to connect with a global audience, you could be condemning your creativity to a life in the shadows. Not to mention falling further behind as Google increasingly rewards high-quality, sharable content over SEO acrobatics.
As these 48 artists demonstrate, you can build a following online and use blogging to:
- raise your public profile as an artist
- establish yourself as an expert in your creative field
- reach new fans, customers and clients
So you have no excuse now. Start building your platform as an artist.
These role models have shown it can be done – and how to do it.
Now is the time to join the ranks of artists who are thriving online through blogging. Artists who enhance the lives of people all over the world with their work. And who aren’t afraid to make a good living doing it.
So what are you waiting for?
Show us what you’ve got!
Great post Leanne
I’ve always thought blogging and being an artist could be mutually exclusive – and this list proves it.
My wife is an installation artist, so I’ve forwarded this on to her to read too 🙂
Cheers!
Loz
Thanks, Loz! Hope it helps! 🙂
Good stuff!!!
thanks a lot!
Jon this is Brilliant! Love it and def sharing man!
Thanks a million for the shares, Darren. I really want to get the word out!
oops sorry about that Leanne you are much better looking than Jon 🙂
Hot damn! What more solid, real-life inspiration could you want?
May this post forever banish all the questions about “What would I write?” and “Who would read it?” that artists ask. I can’t wait to get into discovering these artists, most of whom I’m not familiar with. Thanks for the road map!
Great post Leanne!
I guess I’m an “artist” too, as a short form fiction writer, although my actual blogging pursuits are more along the lines of business freelance writing.
And to paraphrase Sheldon…
WHEATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
LOL! Sheldon is the man! 🙂
Hopefully this will help you promote your fiction as well, Daryl. Might as well make the most of what we got, right?
I want to build my author platform and tried outlining a plan/strategy, but for some reason I don’t know where to start.
I’ll check out the websites of the ‘creative geniuses’ to see what they’re doing. I could use help. 🙂
Thanks!
You’re welcome, Amandah. Yes, look through the list. I included so many examples hoping that BBT readers would find several models that resonate with them – to clear up those questions of “how”.
It starts with knowing your strengths and passions, and what your audience wants from you in addition to your writing. Do they want “how-to’s”? To know how you get your inspiration? The story behind the story? Pick a few focuses, try them, and see what people get excited about. It’s about building connection on a personal level.
Thanks Leanne!
I think the problem (or maybe not) is that I write in different genres: a children’s picture book series, screenplays, poetry, middle grade and personal development. I don’t know where to start. Do I just choose one genre and focus on it? But then I look at authors like James Patterson who writes middle grade and crime novels. Of course, Mr. Patterson is an established author.
I’m overwhelmed.
I can see why you’d find this confusing. I’m thinking I’ll ask some author friends for an opinion. Shoot me an email at Leanne [@] makecreativitypay. Com and remind me, I’d like to have a direction to suggest for you.
Leanne,
Well written and thought provoking.
Is there a recurring theme amongst these business? They appear to help, educate and entertaining audiences without selling directly to them.
That business model sounds like a media company model.
Would you agree?
If so, can you point me/us to any relevant resources; in addition to this blog, naturally!
Thank in advance.
Hi Urban,
Great question! We talked a lot about this as I was researching and writing the post. It’s part of the reason I included so many examples. There is really no limit to the ways you can apply this to yourself.
I think the commonality is that each artist has found those things about them as a person that connects them to their audience in ADDITION to their art. Yes, most of the people on the list directly sell their art. They also raise the curtain and reveal their other skills and passions, whether it’s educating others, entertaining them, talking gear, sharing experiences…
Also, you will see that most have developed several income streams that are art-related. Smart business.
As for more resources, that’s what I plan to share with folks at my blog. You can find other sources as well.
Oops, sorry – to answer your question more directly, when I launch my blog at the end of the month, I will have a resource page for artists along the lines of what you are asking for.
Maybe shoot me an email in a day or so and I can give you a preview. 😉
Hi Leanne, this is impressive and inspiring list. I’ve now spent the last hour looking at their sites! It’s good to see that independent artists can follow their passion and make a living from it while keeping their “artsy side”. I’ve signed up to your site as I’m looking forward to reading more about who and how independent creatives are doing this. Would be great to connect with you on a professional level via email as I work at a startup called Selz whose aim is to build a platform that makes it simpler for independent creatives and solopreneurs to make a living online. Would be fantastic to get your view on what the biggest technical or time consuming challenges are that we might be able to help with.
Love this – what a great list full of inspiration! This makes me want to bust out my more artsy side. I consider myself a writer, but I can make a pretty mean doodle from time to time, too 😀
Go, Kali! I love doodles! 😉
lol who doesn’t!
I love that you’ve shared this inspiration for others.
Thanks so much Alicia. Really hope it helps a lot of folks!
What a great list, Leanne! Can’t wait to dig into these inspirational sites!
Let me know how it goes, Carol. I loved researching all these blogs. So cool!
Perfect. And, spot on timing. Thank you.
It’s great when the timing just works out, isn’t it Kathy? It’s happened so many times to me. 😉
Thanks Leanna, I found your post both informative and inspirational. I appreciate the work it took for you to compile the list and offer summaries.
To explain my blog, I’ve written several bestselling military nonfiction books. One of my top books is ‘SHIFTY’S WAR’ about Darrell ‘Shifty’ Powers, the elite sharpshooter for the Band of Brothers.
What attracts readers to that book is its powerful poignancy. I can’t quite explain it, but I’ll get e-mails from readers who say they’ve read the book twice, sometimes even three times. There’s emotion in Shifty’s story, and it moves readers.
The majority of my readers are men, which is an anomaly in today’s book publishing world, so I’ve chosen to focus my blog on how to help men live a life of excellence.
Thanks again for your posting. all best–MB
Sorry Leanne, just noticed I spelled your name wrong on my comment. Going too fast this morning. Apologies. 🙂
No problem, Marcus! Your book sounds fascinating – and that’s definitely an accomplishment that you have people reading it over and over. Congrats to you on that and best of luck with your blog.
Awesome, awesome post! Many I know, many are new to me.
And someday soon, you’ll see my name on this list, too. 🙂
Go, Leigh!
I never thought blogging can be so useful for everyone. Blogging is now no more a simple thing, it’s huge.
Thanks for the list. Loved all of them.
~@Khajamoin1
That’s very true, Khaja. Blogging can benefit anyone. Glad you enjoyed!
Great list of blogs – thanks for sharing. I might not have the same blogs on my “great” list, but it’s the idea of a swipe file.
Like you, I feel swipe files are a fabulous resource, for anyone active in the blogosphere, especially (but not only) when you’re starting out. For myself I keep and feed off a slew of “gr8” files – gr8 blogs, gr8 landing pages, gr8 bio/about me, gr8 product pages. I add (and delete!) from these swipe files not as part of a regular process, but impulsively as I stumble across, well, gr8 stuff that inspires me :-]
Good point, Beat. My goal with this post was simply to give people options and ideas from artists at all professional levels. I’m sure there are many other great folks who deserve to be here as well. It’s not necessarily easy to find these artist blogs.
Sounds like you have the swipe files down pat! Nice!
My wife is a sculptor. I know how difficult it is for visual artists to be recognized without compromising their vision. Your list is packed with sources of inspiration… and comradery.
Creating your artistic vision can be fulfilling. It can also be lonely.
Your list provides your readers, and the artists that you have listed, with a form of mutual support.
I blog about personal development and self-improvement. I will use your list with my own twist.
Jon (@JonMorrow) reminded me that Twitter is an exceptional tool from which to build a community. I followed Jon’s advice and now have over 4,000 followers. Many of the Tweeple that I connect with are visual artists of all types.
Why? I love their art and want to support them in their visions. Just as importantly (to me) is that despite popular stereotypes, most visual artists are optimistic people. You can’t share your artistic dreams without learning how to overcome your own self-doubts.
I am going to look for all of your recommended artists on Twitter and follow those that are there. Thanks for your insights, Leanne.
You’re so right, Dave, about artists needing that support and inspiration. It can be hard to find and a lonely road, just as you say. One of the first questions I hear from artists is, “how can I make this work for ME?” We really need to see the theory in action.
Great work on Twitter!
Fabulous article. I hadn’t heard about the majority of these people, but now want to spend time getting to know them all. It’s inspiring to hear about other people who have a lot of creativity and the guts to do things their own way. I absolutely loved this article and have shared it on my Facebook page.
I’m glad you liked it, Wendy. I had a whole lot of fun putting this together, there are some really great blogs on this list. Hope you enjoy digging into them further!
Thanks Leanne for including me on this amazing list.
I love in depth research that you conducted. I see some familiar names that I follow and some unfamiliar names.
For those of you that have a blog or creative passion I inspire you to educate the masses. You have a voice, you have a message that needs to be heard or seen.
I am slowing drifting away from music marketing and gravitating towards photography.
Jasmine Star, Mike Browne, John Free and Brandon Stanton inspire me nowadays due to their appreciation for humanity.
It’s my pleasure, Praverb – I’m going to check out the other photographers you mention. Thanks for the recommendations and the inspiration for other artists to use their voice.
I’m sure that whatever creative area you’re in, you’ll rock it! 🙂
Leanne, thanks for adding me to this list with many others that I have a profound respect for. I’ll definitely share this with my readers!
My pleasure, FuNkwoRm! Keep up the good work you are doing for musicians.
Wow Leanne! What an awesome post.
It’s a fantastic list and must have taken hours to compile. A great resource for artists to find a way that resonates to promote themselves.
Thanks, Susan. Yeah, it took a few hours to pull this together … Lol!
Thanks for a great post Leanne – inspiring as usual! I really need to get going with this and update my website. Your posts keep me inspired to get moving on it!! So glad to be following Make Creativity Pay!
Little steps, each post doesn’t have to be a manifesto. 😉 A short funny story with a photo, I’m sure you have lots of those!
Wow! Very comprehensive.
I like “No longer can you simply get good at your craft and then find someone to champion you, manage you, or sponsor you.”
You betcha, boyz and girl’s gotta do the deep dive into promo!
Big fan of Johnny and Jeff. Great job!
Joseph, Jon, Jeff, Johnny – the J Team of blogging greats? 😉
Thank you for adding me to this list, Leanne. I’m honored!
And thank you forth is rich resource, too!
You’re very welcome, Lucy – best of luck to you in your blogging efforts! 🙂
Hello Leanne Regalla ,
My artist name is Poetic Teacher and my birth name is Andrew Thomas Callahan.
I really enjoyed reading this article about 49 creative artists who blog. Blogging itself is both an art form and a top marketing strategy that can create promotion for one artistic enterprise while simultaneously earning income from the blogging platform itself, even to the point where the blog may become the day job, allowing the artist to quit his/her previous employment and focus entirely on art creation and art marketing.
I love this article because it shows that I am not alone in using my blog to discuss my field while advertising my product. I am an alternative hip-hop artist, writing my own lyrics, producing my own music beats, and performing my own songs. I rap about intelligent, creative, and emotional topics using appropriate, clean language that can be accessible to a general audience of any demographic. In my blog, I discuss many topics related to hip-hop or music in general, as well as conducting music reviews for other up-and-coming rappers/producers for the purposes of cross-promotion.
I would love to be number 50 on your list, and I would also love to work with you in regards to guest-blogging and networking. I consider myself a respectable, professional musician and blogger.
Thank you for your article and your response to my request for a professional relationship!
Nice to meet you, Poetic Teacher! I come from a music background as well, teacher and songwriter. Really glad you understand how a blogging platform can sustain us as artists.
Please keep in touch, I’d love to hear more about what you are up to.
I have been thinking about starting a blog, and I’ve been putting it off and putting it off. I am really grateful for this post as it came at just the right time. Thank you, Leanne!
You’re welcome, Tarion! As with anything, try not to get overwhelmed. You can start small and manageable – and keep following Boost Blog Traffic. Jon will steer you right. 😉
Fantastic post, Leanne. I’m familiar with some of the artists and taking a look at (and learning from) the others. I’ll keep this post for the rare why-am-I-doing-this day. So much terrific inspiration. Thank you!
Good plan, Cathryn! 😉
Hi Leanne,
Just wanted to say thank you for including me on this illustrious list. I’m honored to be included in the company of so many favorite bloggers I still gain so much inspiration from. Your Number 1 is mine too. Huge fan of Hugh MacLeod and Gaping Void. And I’ve been following Sean Platt and Johnny B Truant for a long time.
Surprised what a small world it is. I met Cari Cole some years ago when she was the vocal coach to my former singer in my band. If she’s reading this, Hi Carrie!
Great list and can’t wait to check out some of the unknowns.
Rock on!
Sorry, Cari (Cole). I hit Send before realizing I spelled your name wrong the second time.
You’re welcome, Mark. Love what you’re doing. You’re right, it is a small world, isn’t it? I’m hearing lots of similar stories – very cool.
Rock on!
A great post. These people are a real inspiration for us mortals=) If they can do it, then we can as well, right?
For sure, Stan! That is the hope. Remember we all start in the same place – from zero. These people show you what happens if you a) get started and b) stick with it! 😉
Interesting…and I’m glad it hits on the point that blogs are hard work and take some time to see success…definitely not an overnight thing by any stretch of the imagination.
Nope, you’re right, Dan. It is work, but it’s work that pays off. Jon has put some amazing info and resources together here on this site and in his Guestblogging program that make it much easier for people though.
If your audience isn’t growing quickly, there are definitely things you can do about that – most importantly, getting in front of others’ established audiences with really valuable and exciting stuff.
Leanne,
Thank you so much for compiling this list of artists. I am honored to be on it, as I only started blogging about freelance dancing less than 2 years ago to help market myself in a challenging field and to provide a tool for other dancers that might struggle along that path. Since then, it has become so much more.
My field and topic is such a niche that I rarely imagined it reaching out to a broader audience. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with those outside the dance community!
Congrats to all on the list and thank you for taking the time to do this 🙂
Thanks to you, Barry!
I was happy that I was able to include you – you’re a pioneer. 😉 Keep up the good blogging work, I’m sure more great things will come of it for you.
An inspiring list Leanne. It should be very useful as I’ve just started our blog.
Another solid post! Yes, in today’s world every artist, writer, businessperson needs to be a platform. It’s the place to connect with others, spread the word about what you do and provide solutions (or beauty). Every day more people “get it” thanks to blogs like yours Jon!
For the past few months or more, I hae been seeing some people saying blogs are dead [many had blogs they never updated] but I’ve been blogging since 2007 and I still believe in the power of my blog- but I also like it because I can really focus when I post there, versus FB. So it was good to see this article!
Yeah, Katherine. It’s easy to think that – the blogosphere is so noisy.
But there are ways to build your audience and stand out from the crowd, that’s what BBT is all about. So I wouldn’t worry about the doom-and-gloomers. Look at the many people who are thriving!
Not being a particularly creative person I always enjoy looking at blogs that belong to people who clearly are creative. A great list and I enjoyed looking at many of the blogs. I think that commercialism and art have not always had an easy relationship however this does seem to be a thing of the past now.
There are some really interesting and beautiful sites here, Jenny. Glad you enjoyed! 🙂
Thank you Leanne! This is perfect timing for me. I joined DailyPaintWorks.com one month ago. I have pretty much worked out all of the technical issues associated with my daily posts. Now it is time to promote!
Kindest regards.
Good for you, Laura! You might want to check out this post here on Boost Blog Traffic.
//smartblogger.com/posting-every-day/
Some of the artists on this list do post every day, but you will probably find that posting excellent content less often will have more of an impact.
Hope this helps and congrats to you!
Excellent post Leanne. I’ve been encouraging my ingenuously talented illustrator buddy to start a blog – as he already has so much great content in the form of images! I’ve also told him to film himself doing his illustration work, so that he can then speed up the videos for some exciting video blog content. It would be great to see him go from a blank sheet to a masterpiece in a couple of minutes… Wish I could do the same with my copywriting, but it probably wouldn’t have the same effect 🙁
Great idea, Konrad! I would love to see that, too.
Yeah, unfortunately the time lapse thing wouldn’t work well for all of us. 😉
Awesome post. It’s always inspiring to read stories and examples of people and what they are doing through blogging.
Great post. Great examples. Art or science, connecting your wares and talents with the rest of the world opens door after door. I will repost; thanks.
Thanks so much for sharing, Tom. 🙂
Cool blogs. I’ve been checking them all out.
Great complied list of industry best blogger.
I’m so honored to be among these 49 amazing people! Thanks for compiling this list, Leanne! I’ve now got a long list of new people to interview for my Creative Entrepreneur” series 🙂
Haha, Bob! Great minds think alike! 😉
Thanks to you for being an inspiration to writers and musicians for all these years.
Very inspirational post, Leanne!
Thank you for the introduction to so many creative blogging geniuses.
P.S. Signed up to your website. Look forward to your content.
Great, Rob – thanks!
Thanks for this. But “geniuses” is a bit much.
Leanne, a great post! I’ve signed up for some of the artist’s newsletters. I’m excited to see some of my favorites on your list and discover some new artists. Thanks so much for all the work you put in for this post.
Wow, this is an absolutely fantastic article Leanne. So many new names for me to add to my reading list – yikes, I might not ever get any work done myself! 🙂 Thanks for such a good collection of inspirational people to check out though.
Is the traditional gallery system broken does it need to be fixed or done away with.I think these are the questions confronting many artists where ever you might be on your journey.Blogging and selling online represents one viable option it seems like.Some might even sell their system of painting or drawing as an educational tool.With the Internet every things the market and can be bought and sold.
Well who understands the language of expression better than an artist..this is awesome 🙂 Thanks for sharing inspiration and motivation, the is what I was looking for. A successful artist enjoys the fruit of success because of his follows and art in form of writing, music and dance binds them.
Great article on the adaptability that we, artist should use to promote our ventures. It is inspiring to hear the details behind the future of creativity. The fact is that the arts are changing for the better; people can make a serious living out of doing what they love. It is no longer in the hands of a select few. Keep on and keep the faith!
I really think these ideas are great. And I know a few of the bloggers you have mentioned. I’m quite learning more about online business through them. But thanks for providing more sources to learn from. I love what you have written.
yes blogging works for art in today’s connected world where all that matters is how extensive your reach on the internet is..
What would J.D. Salinger do in today’s publishing world? Would he have to pry open that gate in front of his drive and let all those raving fans swarm over his farm?
I guess audiences expect so much more today. Never mind a good book – they need the author to provide lifestyle advice too.
Sorry just feeling old and curmageony…
What a great article! I know it was written a year ago, but the information is perennial, and I’m hoping to make great use of it in the coming year.
Thank you so much for posting!
I have a friend who’s trying to get his music out there and isn’t having a great time of it. I may just point him at your blog. Some wonderful advice here!
Great post Leanne. I’ve had a blog since 2003, but I can’t say it has a huge following. I guess I should talk more about my art on there, and not just how to stop self-sacrifice and live a creative life 🙂
Great post. Not only artists should have website to promote their art. I think everyone should promote their portfolio with website because it let your client see your products 24 hrs from worldwide.
I am finally committed to blogging! I used to excuse myself that I do not know how to express myself in written form without sounding cheesy (I was raised reading and writing in Spanish so my writing skills are more flowery than most others) So at this point I AM finally posting blog posts with images only, and once I find my prose, I will most definitely add words in there as well! 🙂
This is quite wonderful that how artist promote their art work. By your blog, I will get to know the main key point about artist work. Blogging is not for begging our art but it is something to talk about other than just your work. This is just fantastic lines. Thanks for sharing it with us. Hope you will update more info soon.
This is my kind of article, Leanne! You definitely rocked the boat with this one. I love the content. The information you shared is very helpful. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Leanne,
This article is going to inspire every artist to start their own blog. Thanks for sharing such an awesome article!
Hi Leanne,
It’s a very inspiring article.
I know only Wil Wheaton on this list because of Big Bang Theory.
I am a Digital Marketer by profession. Besides this, I love music also.
I can start a blog related to music and you should me that path.
Thanks
Dipanjan Biswas