Everybody is at a different stage in their art career, even if you haven't started yet or have been doing it for years, there is a next step you can take. But how do we know when it’s the right time to take that leap forward? This week the Thriving Women Artists Ping, Sarah, and Dorien will be telling you all about when they took steps in their careers, what steps they were, and why they took them when they did. 
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

There always is a right moment to take the next step, we don’t always know when that is. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and sometimes you’ll see the clear path ahead of you. Maybe it’s not a case of you taking the step but someone else doing it for you, for example if you’ve left your job and now is the perfect time. 
When you start making art you have all the time to create, but when that becomes your source of income you add all these other things you have to do on top of that. Think about if you have the time to do the business side before you take that step.
The next step for you might be taking on your first commissioned work, deciding to open an Etsy store, teaching your first class, or even just committing to regularly posting your work to Instagram for other people to see. 
One of Dorien’s latest steps was deciding to collaborate more, she started teaching some classes and even this podcast is a step on her collaborative journey. 
Knowing what your ultimate goal is can help you decide which steps you need to take next and how quickly or slowly you need to take them. Ping wants to be the number one in Europe for botanical postcards, so each step she takes is towards that goal. 
Taking steps isn’t just taking them for yourself, you can take steps to help other people too. Ping took a side step from her postcard goal to start this podcast and share her experience with others cna create a community. 


BEST MOMENTS
‘Never say never’ 
‘If she trusts me to do it, then I think I can do it’ 
‘You need to have goals or else it’s like being blindfolded’ 
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST 
A serious and fun podcast for female creatives hosted by Ping, Dorien and Sarah, three happy artists from Amsterdam.  This podcast will inspire you to make a living out of your art. We welcome you to be part of this community of like-minded people.
www.thrivingwomenartists.com
www.instagram.com/twapodcast
 
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ping He 
Ping is a watercolor artist. Her work is inspired by nature and her motherhood experience. She develops her greeting cards brand and teaches Botanical Illustration courses online and offline. 
www.pinghe.art
info@pinghe.art
www.instagram.com/pinghe.art
 
Sarah van Dongen 
Sarah is a children’s book illustrator and visual artist. She takes her sketchbooks and art supplies everywhere, which results in illustrations based on observation and daily life.
www.sarahvandongen.com
sarahvandongenillustration@gmail.com
www.instagram.com/sarahvandongenillustrations
 
Dorien Bellaar:
Dorien is an illustration artist. Her work is mainly focused on illustration for children, editorial/food illustration, hand lettering, and she likes to combine those into both traditional and digital art. 
www.dorienbellaar.nl
hello@dorienbellaar.nl 
www.instagram.com/dorienbellaarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.