Katerina Popova is a Philadelphia-based painter who helps fellow artists build their businesses and advocate for themselves. Through books, coaching, and self-made platforms, she offers practical resources and inspiration.

In a recent post, she reflected on how she’d rebuild her creative business from scratch in 2025—no followers, no platform, no connections. She'd start by reconnecting with what inspires her: visiting museums, studying art history, and "paying close attention to the kind of work that gives me that excited, butterfly feeling".

This advice is so simple and so accesible. As Robert Redford reminds us, art is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for healing and renewal. Inspiration is available to all of us, every day.

I also appreciate that she ends her list with community. She emphasizes the importance of building a supportive creative circle—one where artists grow together by sharing knowledge, encouragement, and resources. When we support others, we strengthen the cultural ecosystem and uplift the landscape we all belong to.

POST: What I'd Do if I Had to Start My Creative Business From Scratch in 2025