What is networking and why is it important for an artist to do? This week on Thriving Women Artists, Ping, Sarah, and Dorien tell you why, give their experiences, and give you some great tips on how to network and build your own network of artists. Join the discussion on trust, self confidence, and faking it until you make it. 
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Networking isn’t only about getting further in your career, it’s about surrounding yourself with likeminded people or people you can learn from or teach. Networking is about growth. Getting to build new relationships and gain new expertise from the people you’ve built those relationships with. 
Working as an artist can sometimes be pretty lonely working from home or a studio all by yourself. You can put in a lot of work and find out new information yourself, or you can build a relationship and exchange information with someone who has different skills and knowledge to you. This is a great solution to the problem of being lonely and saves you that time and energy of finding everything out yourself. 
Having a group of people around you helps you gain confidence and helps you be proud of yourself and your work. People are generally very supportive. 
When you get an assignment, remember that they already like your work. You don’t need to feel nervous that they won’t like what you do. Take confidence from being asked to do the job. 
A network can help you set your own goals and decide which direction you want to go. 
Social media is also a network that you build, it’s called social networking for a reason. Reach out to people and ask questions or compliment their work. 


BEST MOMENTS
‘Networking is belonging to a community or different communities’ 
‘It’s been made difficult for women to say that they’re proud of something’ 
‘Everything is teamwork, it’s so important’
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
www.scbwi.orgwww.instagram.com/sketchbreakfast
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST 
A serious and fun podcast for female creatives hosted by Ping, Dorien and Sarah, three happy artists from Amsterdam.  This podcast will inspire you to make a living out of your art. We welcome you to be part of this community of like-minded people.
www.thrivingwomenartists.comwww.instagram.com/twapodcast
 
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ping He 
Ping is a watercolor artist. Her work is inspired by nature and her motherhood experience. She develops her greeting cards brand and teaches Botanical Illustration courses online and offline. 
www.pinghe.artinfo@pinghe.artwww.instagram.com/pinghe.art
 
Sarah van Dongen 
Sarah is a children’s book illustrator and visual artist. She takes her sketchbooks and art supplies everywhere, which results in illustrations based on observation and daily life.
www.sarahvandongen.comsarahvandongenillustration@gmail.comwww.instagram.com/sarahvandongenillustrations
 
Dorien Bellaar:
Dorien is an illustration artist. Her work is mainly focused on illustration for children, editorial/food illustration, hand lettering, and she likes to combine those into both traditional and digital art. 
www.dorienbellaar.nlhello@dorienbellaar.nl www.instagram.com/dorienbellaarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.