THE SHOW
Lisa Congdon’s brilliance in her courage, dedication, and willingness to take calculated risks. After leaving her elementary school and nonprofit careers at 40, she become a self-taught artist. Now she manages an empire of passive and active income that spans e-commerce, books, teaching, and more. In this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on her path to profitability, her thoughts on thriving as an artist, and why she feels grit matters more than talent.
Say hi to Lisa on Twitter or Instagram
THE GUEST
LISA CONGDON |Fine artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon is best known for her colorful paintings, intricate line drawings, pattern design & hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including MoMA, Harvard University, Martha Stewart Living, Chronicle Books, and Random House Publishing, among many others. She is the author of seven books, including the starving-artist-myth-smashing Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist, and illustrated books The Joy of Swimming, Fortune Favors the Brave, Whatever You Are, Be a Good One, Twenty Ways to Draw a Tulip and A Collection a Day. A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives will be released by Chronicle Books in October 2017. She was named one of 40 Women Over 40 to Watch in 2015. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
TOPICS COVERED
-how Lisa went from teacher and nonprofit pro to self-taught thriving artist
-Lisa’s approach to building a devoted following that threw money at her before she was ready
-how Lisa managed the transition from steady paycheck to income uncertainty
-Lisa’s thoughts on imposter syndrome, confidence, and managing insecurities
-Lisa’s approach to risk-taking, negotiation, and time management
-and much more!
STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Lisa’s book thriving as an artist, Art Inc
A Glorious Freedom (Lisa’s latest book)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie