Art + Audience Podcast: Ep. 39
Guest: Jess Miller
Host: Stacie Bloomfield
Date: February 17, 2026
Episode Title: Jess Miller on Blending Art + Influence: Licensing, Content, and the Power of Showing Up
Episode Overview
This episode features illustrator and content creator Jess Miller in a candid conversation with host Stacie Bloomfield. They delve into Jess’s multifaceted career, exploring how she balances art licensing, brand partnerships, content creation, and transparency—all while “showing up” authentically online. The discussion covers building multiple income streams, lessons learned from early missteps, navigating the evolving creative landscape, and the rewards (and realities) of art entrepreneurship.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Building Multiple Income Streams as an Artist
[01:22–02:06]
- Both Stacie and Jess share a background in maintaining diverse revenue sources: illustration, licensing, teaching, and content creation.
- Jess emphasizes the variety within content creation: from promoting software for brands like Adobe, to user-generated content (UCG) where she creates crafts or art videos for brands (e.g., Michaels) without the pressure of posting to her own feed.
“They just want, like a quick video and then they will post that on their feed…less pressure…It's just content that they're looking for.”
— Jess Miller [02:35]
2. Transitioning from “Just an Artist” to Content Creator
[03:00–04:32]
- Jess began with zero followers in 2020 by sharing daily drawings online, especially during the pandemic.
- Adaptation is key: when Instagram pivoted towards short-form video, she learned to create more dynamic, music-driven videos to keep up with the platform's changes and audience preferences.
“The thing with social media is that it changes, like, every year, all the time. Right. And so you kind of just have to adapt with those changes.”
— Jess Miller [03:44]
- Learning by observation: Seeing what worked for other creators helped refine her video content.
3. Brand Partnerships: From First Deal to Strategic Collaborations
[05:28–07:06]
- Jess’s first major partnership was becoming an Adobe Express ambassador, which came through a Skillshare class.
- Being an ambassador includes creating content for new features, attending Adobe events, and making in-person connections, which Jess values highly.
“They would come out with new features and then I would create content…I'm still an express ambassador today. It's pretty cool.”
— Jess Miller [05:53]
- Jess emphasizes integrating art licensing with content creation for better visibility and promotion (e.g., Casetify: getting royalties for art on phone cases and providing social content to boost sales).
"It's kind of like the perfect fusion of licensing and social media partnership."
— Jess Miller [08:09]
4. Lessons from Early Mistakes and Pricing Transparency
[08:28–10:39]
- Early on, Jess would say yes to everything and didn’t realize the distinction (and separate fees) between art creation and content creation.
- Rights and usage: critical to understand and charge for, not just give away content rights.
- Developed a tiered pricing system (basic, mid, premium).
- Real-world income ranges: Jess has turned down lowball offers ($150 for a reel) and landed projects from $2,500 up to $25,000.
“Like, I have accepted partnerships for like 2,500 and then I have also accepted partnerships for 25K. … but they add up over time.”
— Jess Miller [10:14]
5. Advice for Artists Entering Content & Brand Work
[11:05–12:47]
- Consistency trumps quantity: show up regularly in stories, posts, or whatever feels natural.
- Batch content creation can help, but Jess prefers a more spontaneous approach.
- Engage with your audience—use polls to learn what they want.
- Proactive outreach: Research and email brands or their marketing contacts, adding value by presenting as both an artist and a content creator.
“Show up consistently and connect with your audience…then I would reach out to the brands that you want to work with…It's a lot of trial and error.”
— Jess Miller [11:39]
6. Behind-the-Scenes: Jess’s Content Creation Workflow
[12:56–15:13]
- Simple gear: Jess uses a basic tripod and a dedicated phone for filming, which separates her business and personal life, reduces tech overwhelm, and streamlines the process.
- Filming tip: Change camera angle every two seconds to boost engagement (advice from Brock Johnson).
- Studio setup: adjustable branch desk, background bookshelves, and a separate, off-limits studio space at home.
“I just need another phone, and I just need to use it as a camera. And that's exactly what I do.”
— Jess Miller [14:36]
7. Art, Family, and Modeling Career Choices
[16:39–17:49]
- Jess’s studio is distinct from her house, with boundaries in place to keep it as a creative haven.
- Her daughter sees her work and thinks it's “not a real job,” showing the disconnect between perception of creative work and its reality.
- Both hosts reflect on the subtle legacy of modeling creative careers for their families and “art osmosis.”
“She said…‘but it's not like you have a real job.’ … I probably do, like, three times the amount of work that, like, dad does.”
— Jess Miller [16:51]
8. Financial Transparency and Income Diversification
[17:57–20:35]
- Jess shares pie charts of her income streams every year, inspired by seeing another artist do the same.
- Diversification is crucial for stability; when one stream is down, another may compensate.
- Jess practices open, non-gatekeeping transparency because it helps other artists.
“I don’t like to put all my eggs in one basket… I try not to gatekeep as much as possible. I try to be like, open and honest because I think that helps other artists as well.”
— Jess Miller [19:41]
9. The Evolving Creative Industry & Licensing’s Shifting Role
[22:47–27:31]
- Both note that having multiple income streams can be especially crucial as an artist matures.
- Licensing has become more transparent and popular—but also more competitive.
- Stacie notes that as industries get “discovered,” they saturate, making skill and adaptability even more key.
- Licensing is now rarely the only major income stream: typically, it comprises part-time, steady income for Jess (25–30%).
“If you look at my income streams…licensing, it’s usually like 25 to 30% and it's steady.”
— Jess Miller [27:06]
10. Pivoting, Redirection, and Publishing a Book
[27:31–29:31]
- Not hitting a specific goal (like a children’s book) isn’t failure—it can be redirection toward a better fit.
- Jess's new coloring book, Art of the Zodiac (Page Street Publishing), launches February 24th. She created it during a difficult year, showing the power of persistence.
"If I can create a book during like one of the worst years of my life, I'm like, you guys can do anything…"
— Jess Miller [28:53]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“I can provide both art as well as content…it's like a double whammy. You get extra things.”
— Jess Miller [12:49] -
"Art osmosis. We need more art osmosis right now."
— Jess Miller & Stacie Bloomfield [17:52] -
“You don’t have to have like seven [income streams] right out of the gate…You can start small.”
— Jess Miller [22:00] -
“It's not a failure to try something and figure out it's not the right fit. You change. You're constantly changing. So if you're listening, please be nicer to yourself.”
— Stacie Bloomfield [22:47]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [01:22] – Introduction to Jess Miller’s multi-faceted art business
- [03:30] – How Jess transitioned into content creation
- [05:28] – Jess’s first brand partnership (Adobe) and the value of in-person connections
- [07:06] – Combining licensing and social promotion (Casetify case study)
- [08:28] – Lessons learned: pricing rights and content creation
- [10:14] – Real numbers: the range of influencer/content partnership deals
- [11:05] – Advice for artists wanting to try brand partnerships
- [13:20] – Jess’s filming and studio setup: practical gear and workflow
- [17:57] – On sharing income streams and why transparency matters
- [24:11] – The shifting art industry: licensing goes mainstream
- [27:31] – Licensing as part-time or foundational income
- [28:45] – Jess’s upcoming book: Art of the Zodiac
Jess Miller’s Contact & New Book
- Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Pinterest: @JessMillerDraws
- Website: JessMillerDraws.com
- Book: Art of the Zodiac (Page Street Publishing) – Available February 24, 2026
Episode Takeaways
- Multiple income streams are the new normal for creative professionals, offering resilience and flexibility.
- Transparency, willingness to pivot, and audience engagement drive sustainable growth.
- Combining art with content creation can add unique value for brands and unlock new opportunities.
- Adapting to industry shifts is critical: what’s “in vogue” today may be saturated tomorrow.