More art, less pain.
Sometimes it seems like struggle is inherent to a life in the arts. At one point or another, many artists will experience deep uncertainty about their practice or career.
I coach artists who are ready to look at what’s been getting in their way, reclaim their agency, and achieve their goals.
Let’s talk about what creative momentum might look like for you.
Does your life as an artist include:
feeling precarious and powerless?
worrying about the “right” moves?
regretting missed opportunities?
a sense of vulnerability?
comparing yourself to other artists?
procrastination and overwhelm?
All is not lost! Most artists don’t realize that coaching can support them to build the creative life they’d love to be living.
Coaching = straightforward, practical conversations that clear the fog from your path.
• Confidential Meetings on Zoom
Judgement-free sessions in the comfort of your own space.
• 100% Guaranteed
Your money back if you’re not satisfied after two sessions.
• Work with Integrity
Skip the “one-size-fits-all” advice and move forward according to your context and values.
I know the joys of a creative life —
and its frustrations.
I’m Bean Gilsdorf, ICF-certified coach and award-winning artist. I know exactly what it’s like to apply for grants, send cold emails, and hope that a show will be reviewed. I’ve had my share of triumphs and “Dear Applicant” rejection letters.
To be an artist is to continually take risks — yet most of us weren’t taught how to deal with the (often debilitating) doubts and worries that arise in our creative and professional practices.
Coaching provides a supportive framework in which to enlarge your confidence, become more courageous, and make the work you're here to make.
I bring a highly specialized skill set to coaching: I trained at the Academy for Coaching Excellence and I have an MFA in Studio Art and a Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Science.
The artistic life is a journey, but it doesn’t have to be a slog.
I help artists clear the fog from their path and achieve their goals. Folks who’ve worked with me have won grants and awards; exhibited nationally and internationally; started relationships with new galleries; gained confidence in their professional communications; and developed skills that continue to empower them long after our sessions conclude.
If you’re feeling uncertain or frustrated, let’s chat.
Our work together will illuminate your way forward, develop your focus, and empower you to produce real, measurable results.
What clients say:
“This support system has enabled me to look deeply into myself and reframe my creative work into something flexible and sustainable.”
“Seeing how I could structure my goals and stay accountable gave me renewed energy and enthusiasm.”
“It was such a 10. It was an 11.”
How it works:
Schedule an Intro Chat
This no-obligation, no-sales-pitch conversation is an opportunity for you to see if coaching is a good fit for what you’ve got going on.
Make a Plan
At our chat, you’ll tell me about your aspirations and obstacles, and ask all your questions about coaching. You’ll leave with a clear idea of what to do next.
Meet for Momentum
We’ll meet regularly to support your progress and develop useful skills and tools. You’ll move forward with more clarity and confidence.
Ready to reclaim your agency and momentum?
In order to be a successful, fulfilled artist, you need a clear path forward —
one that moves you, step by step, toward your goals. Yet most cultural structures leave artists feeling confused, frustrated, and discouraged.
I understand exactly what it’s like to wrestle with art world paradoxes, and I offer Creative Momentum Coaching so that artists can progress in ways that bring them more ease and satisfaction.
Here’s how it works: First, sign up for a no-obligation Intro Chat. At our meeting, we’ll talk about where you’d love to go with your practice and career, and what’s been getting in your way; and you’ll ask me all the questions you have about coaching. Then, if it looks like we might be a good match, we’ll sketch out a plan that’s tailored to your objectives. Finally, we’ll meet at regular intervals to deal with hurdles, celebrate successes, and develop skills and tools that help you get where you want to go.
The truth is that artists enrich and transform society, and they shouldn’t have to struggle.
Artists need support of all kinds.
We often receive it from our peers and mentors as well as assistants, fabricators, advisors, and/or gallerists. A coach can be another part of your team, one who helps you focus the direction of your practice, eliminate distractions, and identify clear paths toward your goals, so that your time and energy is well spent.
when you work with a compassionate, empowering coach who is fully present to your context and circumstances. As a former client put it, “I felt a shift in my anxiety and confusion, and our discussions really helped me deal with fear and procrastination. Seeing how I could structure my goals and stay accountable gave me renewed energy and enthusiasm.”
Sign up for an Intro Chat! And in the meantime, check out the other resources on this site, so you can stop worrying about whether you’re making “the right moves,” and instead reclaim your agency and momentum.
