We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Craddock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Most artists I know are great at their craft but lack the skills to sell it. Marketing and business are HARD if they haven’t learned how, but they’re essential skills needed to realize the dreams that they have for themself.

Artists aren’t just makers of pretty things. They’re people who can improve the world through their craft.

Artists don’t need a box to fit into. They’re creative and innovative, and when they can learn to make decisions and understand themselves better, they get to improve the world through the art they make and the way they share it.

The mission of the Artist Market Co is to help artists become their best selves and impact the world one viewer or buyer at a time.

Many artists I work with triple their income within a year of working with me. While that alone doesn’t change the community collectively, it changes that one person’s reality and creates a trickle-down effect so artists can make their impact on the world, which is the most important thing.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I teach artists to sell their art using a combination of marketing strategy, finding confidence in themselves and their work, and engaging with their people.

It took me the first two years of my business to create a whopping $134 in revenue. Most people would have quit, but I believed in my mission too much.

From that cold-hard truth, I learned two things, both of which evolved into my coaching strategy:
1. People are at the heart of your business. I was trying to stay hidden – always building something behind the safety of my computer. I needed to talk to artists directly, build relationships with more of them, and find out what they needed and why they didn’t have it yet. Even if these people didn’t become clients, they became fans, and my business grew exponentially once I learned this.
2. Fear is real. While it’s uncomfortable to face, it’s non-negotiable. The things you are most afraid of are often the pieces you have the potential to be great at and really enjoy. For example, being on video. If you had told me in my college speech class I would choose to speak on video as 70-80% of my business model, I would have laughed in your face. Now, after years of practice, people ask me for advice on how to be natural on camera. This is hilarious to me, but also inspires me to push myself when I feel resistance to something.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite things to do with family and friends is to take the train from Durango to Silverton. The views are breathtaking – and that’s a complete understatement. Enjoying the fresh air as you see the untouched mountains, forest and river is one of the most grounding experiences I’ve found.

If it was summertime, I’d grab some tubes or paddle boards and float with them down the Dolores River for a few hours. You have to hit it at just the right time for this to be safe and not get caught on the rocks, but for a few weeks every summer this is my favorite activity.

We’d also go camping at one of the many beautiful sites in the area. I love to bring my tent or little hardshell camper, cook delicious meals, and explore the area on the weekends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Jon Brooks, who is also an entrepreneur and steel artist, inspires me with the way he uses his ability to connect with other human beings to sell his artwork. He’s kept his business so simple, ignoring things most of us stress about like social media and the perfect newsletter. Instead, he creates relationships. While this is a big part of what I teach, he does it so simply and effortlessly, reminding me through his actions to do the same.

Website: https://theartistmarket.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistmarketco

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/artistmarketco

Other: https://theartistmarket.co/intuitive-art-sales/

Image Credits
Evie Joy Photography

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