Welcome to the blog! Today’s post is inspired by Episode 169 of the Adventures in Arting podcast, in which my mom (and co-host) Eileen and I explored a question that’s been showing up again and again with my coaching clients: “Who are you?” Or maybe more precisely—“How do you want people to see you?”
Whether you’re a professional artist, a dedicated hobbyist, or somewhere in between, being able to talk about who you are, what you offer, and why someone should stick around – aka your creative identity – is crucial. It affects everything from your Instagram bio to your artist statement, from how you talk about yourself at a dinner party to what you put on your website. You can listen to the podcast below:
If you don’t have time to listen or you’re simply not into podcasts, here are the basics:
Why Clarifying Your Creative Identity Matters
As part of my coaching business, people come to me for one-on-one help. Sometimes it’s a long relationship (over years, like a therapist) and sometimes it’s a focused attack on a problem like building a website, creating social media content, or writing an artist statement. What I’ve noticed is that most of these problems come back to the fundamental identity puzzle: who are you and how do you want people to see you?
So, true to form (especially if you listened to our last podcast) I created a framework—because who doesn’t love a good framework?
This simple but deep three-part model asks:
- Who are you?
- What do you offer?
- Why should people stick around?
Let’s talk about it.
1. Who Are You?
This is a big question that can be hard to answer. Here are some prompts to help you work out your creative identity:
- What roles or titles describe you? (Artist, educator, sketchbook nerd, etc.)
- What creative work lights you up the most?
- What tools or media do you gravitate toward?
- What tone or emotional connection do you want your audience to feel?
- What life experiences shape how you create?
- What do others consistently say about your work?
Pro Tip: Let your personality shine through. You can write a version that’s professional, artistic, casual, or even whimsical—whatever reflects the YOU that you want to show.
Example from me:
“Hi, I’m Julie. I make messes, teach classes, and believe art is for everyone—especially when it’s imperfect, playful, and personal.”
2. What Do You Offer?
This section is about both the tangible and intangible gifts you give your audience. Yes, that might be online classes or original art—but it’s also joy, encouragement, or a window into a creative life. You don’t have to be selling something to be offering something wonderful to others. For many of us, what we give to others is a big part of our creative identity. Ask yourself:
- What are you actually making, teaching, or sharing?
- Who is it for?
- How does it help them? (Inspiration, consistency, laughter…?)
- What format does your content take? (Videos, blog posts, community events?)
- What transformation or experience do people get from you?
Example from me:
“I run a vibrant online art community where we paint, collage, experiment, and cheer each other on. No gatekeeping, no perfection required.”
3. Why Should They Stick Around?
This is the “secret sauce.” The why you that helps people connect with you and want to keep coming back. Here are some questions to answer:
- What makes your approach unique?
- What value do you consistently provide?
- What emotional connections do you foster?
- What are you building—community, confidence, skill, joy?
Example from me:
“With an emphasis on experiential learning and thoughtful analysis, I help students and clients to make more art, feel less blocked, and have fun along the way.”
Putting It All Together
Once you have answers to these three big questions, you can stack them into a bio, artist statement, website intro, or even a conversation at a craft fair. Here’s one version I shared on the podcast:
“Hi, I’m Julie Fei-Fan Balzer—mixed media artist, educator, and lifelong notebook enthusiast. I help people build a joyful, sustainable art practice through online classes, creative challenges, and a vibrant membership community called My Art Practice. My work is rooted in curiosity and play, often exploring themes of growth, motherhood, memory, and the everyday beauty of the world around us. Whether I’m painting, collaging, drawing, or documenting my life in a notebook, I’m always chasing the magic of process over perfection. For more than a decade, I’ve been helping artists of all levels make more art, feel less stuck, and stay inspired. My work is about helping you build a lifelong creative practice — one that grows with you, supports your voice, and brings you joy.”
Try It Yourself
So here’s your homework: ask yourself these three big questions—Who are you? What do you offer? Why should people stick around?—and draft a few versions of your bio or artist statement. Be honest, be specific, and above all: be yourself.
If you use the framework, I’d love to see what you come up with! Share your website, Instagram bio, or artist statement with me. You can find me at juliebalzer.com or all over social media as @balzerdesigns.
And if you’d like to get updates, creative resources, and behind-the-scenes peeks into my art life, join my newsletter here.
Thanks for stopping by!
