Today on Art + Audience, Stacie is joined by the talented Mandy Corcoran from Amanda Grace Design. Mandy shares her incredible journey of building a thriving art licensing and online education business while homeschooling her three children. Despite starting her career in her forties, Mandy has achieved remarkable success by staying true to her passion for surface pattern design. Her story is a testament to the power of persistence, authenticity, and the willingness to embrace constructive criticism.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Introduction to Mandy Corcoran: Mandy introduces herself and her business, Amanda Grace Design, highlighting her work in art licensing and online education.

• Unique Background: Mandy's background in tech and education, including being the first female Cisco Networking Academy instructor on the East Coast, and her transition to art and design.

• Starting a New Career: Mandy discusses starting her art career in her forties while managing a busy household and homeschooling her children.

• Embracing Challenges: The importance of finding time for creativity amidst daily responsibilities and how drawing on her iPad at night helped her build her brand.

• Finding Focus: The pivotal moment when a portfolio review revealed the need to focus on what truly brought her joy—creating seamless patterns.

• Overcoming Obstacles: Mandy's experience with receiving harsh but constructive feedback and how it redirected her towards her true passion, leading to significant career growth.

• Advice for Creatives: Encouraging listeners to prioritize what they love creating, avoid comparing themselves to others, and embrace their unique paths.

• Quality Over Quantity: The significance of focusing on the quality of art rather than chasing vanity metrics like social media followers.

• Investing in Growth: The value of seeking honest critiques and investing in professional feedback to improve and grow.

Connect with Mandy Corcoran:

• Instagram: @amandagracedesign

• Website: amandagracedesign.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

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• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber