The Water-Mixable Oil Painter’s Starter Guide
Water-mixable oil paint is a great solvent-free alternative to the beloved traditional version of the medium. Get all of my supply recommendations, advice and best practice tips to get started!
Let’s Connect!
I’m an award-winning Canadian artist and graphic designer. When I’m not creating art, I love helping other artists by sharing tips and tricks that have helped me. You can find me on all of my social channels @barbsotiart or check out my past Q&A articles for COLORED PENCIL Magazine or my co-hosting appearances on the Sharpened Artist Colored Pencil Podcast.
Hey, I’m Barb!

Are Art Marketing Courses a Scam?

7 Helpful Tips For Selling At An Artist Market

5 Rookie Mistakes When Taking Commissions

5 Hard Truths About Running an Art Business

Is AI-Generated Art Hurting Artists?

10 Effective Ways for Artists to Make Money

5 Red Flags For Instagram DM Scams
It happens to almost every artist who has an account on Instagram – you get a direct message asking if you take commissions. While the request in and of itself seems like it should be a compliment and not something you should worry about, there's good reason to take extreme caution when getting these types of Instagram DM requests.

Can We All Agree to Stop Brand Bashing?
There's a common tactic in marketing where to elevate the brand being promoted they spend most of the time talking about how terrible a competitor brand is by comparison. This brand bashing tactic is also used in political campaigns particularly in the United States and in more recent years in Canada as well. While this may seem to be an effective strategy for companies trying to sell you soap and soft drinks, it's a terrible practice to adopt when it comes to you and your art business.

Smart Strategies for Being Self-Employed

5 Ways You Can Fail at Customer Service
Any business that relies on customers for their income whether it’s product or service based needs to prioritize its customer experience. Having great customer service is an easy way to set yourself apart from your competition.

Use Stickers to Elevate Your Brand
One of the ways that I elevated my professional presence was using beautifully designed printed promotional products. Stickers, in particular, have been one way for me to level up my brand aesthetic without a high cost. Paying attention to the details matters. This solution is an easy way to add that extra touch that you just might need.

5 Ways to Stay Safe Online

Why I Left Patreon

Plan To Be a Big Deal

7 Ways to Beat To-Do List Burnout

Finding Work-Life Balance

How to Deal with Clients Who Ghost

Ways to Combat Online Negativity

Instagram Fame Might Not Be For You
