The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real [Paperback]

Lisa Sonora Beam (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

The Creative Entrepreneur was voted Winner, in two categories—Craft and Business, of the 2009 IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) Benjamin Franklin Award which recognizes excellence in publishing.

This book is for the large audience of artists, crafters, and creative individuals from all walks of life who desire to make a livelihood from their creative work, or who possibly have achieved some success, but don’t know how to replicate it or move to another level of accomplishment. These crafty DIY artists are everywhere--they are holding alternative craft fairs, they advertise in the pages of Bust and ReadyMade and Craft, they are selling online by the thousands at Etsy.com, and are blogging at Typepad, LiveJournal, and Whipup.com. But many of them do not have the skills needed to take their business ideas to the next level.

The Creative Entrepreneur takes readers on an inner journey of creative exploration to discover how to make their dreams of creative livelihood real, as they craft their own Artist’s Business Journal. The Artist’s Business Journal is a visual, project-oriented, step-by-step approach to business development for artists from all walks of life who are mystified and possibly frustrated by how to make a business out of their creative work.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is for the large audience of artists, crafters, and creative individuals from all walks of life who desire to make a livelihood from their creative work, or who possibly have achieved some success, but don't know how to replicate it or move to another level of accomplishment.

These crafty DIY artists are everywhere--they are holding alternative craft fairs, they advertise in the pages of BUST and READYMADE and CRAFT, they are selling online by the thousands at Etsy.com, and are blogging at Typepad, LiveJournal, and Whipup.com. But many of them do not have the skills needed to take their business ideas to the next level.

The Creative Entrepreneur takes readers on an inner journey of creative exploration to discover how to make their dreams of creative livelihood real, as they craft their own Creative Entrepreneur Journal.

About the Author

Lisa Sonora Beam (San Anselmo, CA) is a mixed-media artist, writer, graphic designer and workshop leader. She is the founder and Creative Director of Digital Hive EcoLogical Design, a strategic design firm that provides creative and marketing services to green businesses. She is on the faculty of Dominican University’s Graduate Business School, teaches creativity and business workshops internationally, and has taught at leading learning centers such as Esalen Institute and Hollyhock, and at global corporations. Lisa has a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from DePaul University, and an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from New College of California.

 

Website:
http://www.sanctuarystudio.com
Blog:
http://www.sanctuarystudio.com/chartreuse_muse_blog.html

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592534597
• ISBN-13: 978-1592534593
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Arts & Photography > Business of Art
  • #60 in Books > Medical Books > Psychology > Cognitive

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rainbow Express Through Business & Art December 7, 2008

By Ellen M. Gibb

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book to be a thorough delight! It's packed full of wonderful tips for your creative business, no matter what it is. Business concepts and process is presented in such a way that all right-brain folks (like me) will feel coddled, looked after, and safe. If only I had had this book 25 years ago when I tried to start a weaving business! The author makes it fun (amazing, no?) to make business plans and imagine ways to
materialize your artful dreams. Also, as a serious art journaling person, I loved the layout of the book, which contains wonderful examples on almost every page of brilliant journal layouts and compositions. All are in sun-drenched, glorious color!! This book is so delicious to read that I had to ration myself to a chapter a day. Otherwise, I would have devoured it in one sitting and missed many valuable sections. I purchase a LOT of art books--a LOT--and this is one of the best this year--definitely five stars.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Common sense that pops! October 28, 2008

By David Harris

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was skeptical. But, then I found that this book is a real motivator. Fun to read, fun to look at, but with a serious mission: how can business owners like me blend creativity and business success? The book goes on to answer that question.

Our small web company deals with the un-bending requirements of accounting/distribution systems with the softer, yet stronger, notions of creative presentation of products and company image. I am constantly looking for new inspiration, and this book has it.

I have already started my journal, and I have gleaned a couple of new ideas that I will use. I found it delightful to browse or to read chunks at one sitting, and it helped me look at my situation with a fresh point of view. I highly recommend it. I got a copy of the book for my son too.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended May 5, 2009

By Zebracorn

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Although I already have a boring all text and statistics yawn fest business plan, I find that I seldom refer to it. I need something else to help move me forward and get me unstuck. I need something to get me excited about strategic planning. This book does it.

I, like many artists have shelves full of books on the business of art, creativity, marketing and the like. They bore me to tears. This, on the other hand, is a great motivational tool.

Rather than have me fill notebooks with dry lists, this book instructs me to create mandalas, vision boards and visual journals. I have created these before but not as a business tool. This book takes me step by step through the process of figuring out what I want and need, and gives me all sorts of insights to keep moving me towards my goal.

This is the best book of its kind that I have seen. It's probably the only book of its kind that I have seen. It's art with a purpose, which appeals to me.

There are many books on making visual journals but this book in my opinion is the one you need if you are seriously thinking of your art as a business. I have already told many of my artist friends about it.