The life of an artist is one of uncertainty. You simply can’t predict how long it may take to turn your art into a job or how many paintings you will sell in a given month. So, how do you navigate that uncertainty? How do you make a living without feeling like you’re selling out? 

Stella Maria Baer is a painter and photographer whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Scientific American, and Time Magazine, among many others. In her work, Stella explores the mythology of the desert, the cosmology of space, and the topography of the human body. Her pieces can be found in public and private collections all over the world.

Today, Stella joins me to explain how she started painting in her mid-20’s as a form of meditation. She describes how working as a research assistant for Titus Kaphar showed her the potential of art as a career and taught her about the business side of being a creative. Stella speaks to the evolution of her work, the tension between making a living and selling out, and the value of cultivating a supportive community. I ask Stella about her approach to Instagram as a type of collage and how she uses the platform as a marketing tool. Listen in for Stella’s insight on navigating motherhood as a working artist and processing the financial uncertainty of life as an artist!

What You’ll Learn

How Stella started painting as a form of meditation that became her career

How Stella learned the business side of fine art

Stella’s take on the tension between making a living and selling out

How Stella sees Instagram as one of many marketing tools

How Stella navigates motherhood as a working artist

Connect with Stella

Stella’s Website

Stella on Instagram

Connect with Beth

Beth’s Website

Beth on Instagram

Beth on Pinterest

Beth on Twitter

Local Milk Blog

Local Milk on Facebook

Email [email protected]

Resources Mentioned

Titus Kaphar

The Ultimate Instagram Organic Growth Guide

Beth’s Instagram Hashtag Quiz

Review Raw Milk on iTunes

Twitter Mentions