Taxes are one of the most confusing parts of being a working artist, especially when you’re self-employed, selling through galleries, or juggling multiple income streams.

In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah, a working artist and the founder of Sunlight Tax, to break down the tax basics every artist needs to understand, in clear, plain language.

We cover:

• What a Schedule C is and how artists are taxed when self-employed

• How self-employment tax actually works (and why it’s higher than you expect)

• 1099s explained, including galleries, Stripe, PayPal, and Etsy

• Why you still need to report income even if you don’t receive a 1099

• Simple ways to stay organized without rigid bookkeeping systems

• When an LLC makes sense for artists and when it doesn’t

• The easiest first step to take if taxes feel overwhelming right now

This is a practical, grounded conversation designed to help artists feel clearer, more confident, and better prepared without turning finances into a second full-time job.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Sunlight Tax: https://www.sunlighttax.com/
1099s for creatives: https://www.sunlighttax.com/1099

If you’re an artist building a sustainable career and want to understand the business side without losing your creativity, this episode is for you.

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In this episode, I’m joined by artist Carrie Pittman, whose work is known for its movement, texture, and emotional depth — and whose career is a powerful example of what it looks like to build longevity as an artist.

Carrie began her professional life in sales and finance, and painting originally entered her world as a creative outlet during a difficult personal season. What started as healing slowly evolved into a full-time art career that’s now spanned more than a decade, built through commissions, designer relationships, collaborations, and a deep belief in her own work.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Developing an artistic voice without formal training

• Making the leap away from a secure career into full-time art

• Confidence, comparison, and learning to ask for opportunities

• Why no one is coming to “discover” you — and why that’s actually empowering

• Building a sustainable business through commissions, collaborations, and consistency

• Navigating social media without letting metrics dictate your worth or direction

• Balancing hustle, rest, and long-term creative energy

Carrie is honest, grounded, and refreshingly practical about what it really takes to show up for your work year after year — creatively and financially.

This episode is especially meaningful for artists who are serious about longevity, navigating self-doubt, or trying to reconcile creativity with real-life responsibilities.

• Follow Carrie on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/carriepittmanart

• Explore Carrie’s work:
https://www.carriepittman.com

• Apply to The Art Coaching Club (applications are currently open):
https://www.theartcoachingclub.com/about-1

• Learn more about The Art Coaching Club:
https://www.theartcoachingclub.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, I’m joined by artist Ashley Blazer, whose work is rooted in the natural world and explores spirituality, human presence, and the landscapes we move through — both physically and creatively.

Ashley recently relocated from Austin, Texas to Charlottesville, Virginia, and we talk about how changing environments can reshape the way you see, make, and think about your work. Her practice spans painting, textiles, and sculpture, and one of the most powerful throughlines in this conversation is permission — permission to experiment, to step away from a medium, and to return to it with new clarity.

We cover:

• Letting your artistic style evolve without forcing an “arrival”

• How environment and place influence creative work

• Balancing studio time with the realities of motherhood

• Navigating the business side of art without losing creative momentum

• Marketing, visibility, and building sustainable relationships as an artist

• Why discomfort in your practice is often a sign of growth

This is an honest, grounded conversation for artists who are navigating change, refining their direction, or trying to balance creativity with the rest of life.

• Learn more about Ashley Blazer and her work:
https://www.ashleyblazer.com

• Apply to The Art Coaching Club (applications are currently open):
https://www.theartcoachingclub.com/about-1

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.