Landing on the Moon in 1000 Days.

A Weekend with Paula Silbert's Artist in Business Workshop.

Written by Jessica Taylor of The Art Of Wholeness

I went into this weekend, just expecting to learn about the business side of being an artist and whilst that is true, what I actually came away with was so much more than that. How to actually talk about my work, to believe in it (and myself), to make bigger dreams and create a path to achieve those dreams and know that there is a room full of people who are cheering me on and understand exactly what it takes.

The workshop ran Friday night through all of Saturday and Sunday at the Midland Junction Arts Centre in Midland. It was led by art consultant Paula Silbert and sponsored by a Lotterywest grant specifically for artists participating in this year’s Mundaring Hills Open Studios 2026.

Jessica Taylor at Paula Silbert's Artist in Business Workshop

We started gently on Friday evening but the seriousness of what we were there to do was clear from the get go. This wasn't a weekend of vague inspiration or feel-good platitudes about "following your passion." Paula came with structure, expertise and a genuine investment in each of us succeeding, not just as artists but as working professionals building sustainable careers. Paula invited us to begin reflecting on who we are as artists, what we have done to this point and what we want to achieve in 1000 days. As someone who is very new to this industry, I found it really challenging to imagine what I might want to do in a 1000 days. Listening to other’s hopes and dreams showed me what really is possible and challenged me to dream bigger. As one person said to me, if we reach for the stars, at the very least we will land on the moon.

MHOS artists participating in the workshop. 

Saturday everyone was invited to bring in examples of their artwork and we set up a mini display in the room where we were meeting. It immediately added so much colour and joy to the room as we admired each other’s work, all of it so different. Even our large cohort of glass artists all brought in beautiful work that was so unique. Paula began this session by introducing us to the question of how do we speak confidently about our art and our practice. She pushed us to find language that felt authentic to us individually, while still being accessible. Words that could land with a seasoned collector or gallery curator to a curious stranger who walks into an exhibition. It's a harder balance than it sounds. Too often artists either over intellectualise their work or undersell completely. We were invited to write a short speech where we would imagine we are opening our own exhibition (or in Silvana’s case accepting a long dreamed about award) and talk in a way that allowed our audience to connect with us and our art. 

Silvana Ferrario talking about her glass art.

Then came the biggest challenge, sharing our speech with the group. As Paula reminded us, public speaking is not a natural human thing to do and many of our group found the idea of standing and speaking in front of the group frankly quite terrifying. However Paula reminded us that we are the experts on our art. No one knows about our art like we do. So there is no one better to tell our stories than we are. 

We spent the afternoon sharing our art, our stories, our processes and our vulnerability with each other and got to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. It was so inspiring to learn more about each other’s work and why we create and a privilege to hold a safe space for each other.

Overnight we were asked to go home and think about what sort of events we might want to participate in, what exhibitions, awards, open studios might support our practice and the development of our work. Then on Sunday, as well as continuing to listen to our incredible colleagues share their art and their stories, we began to unpack what it takes to hold an exhibition. The details and the ins and outs of who, what, when, where, why and how of holding exhibitions. Nothing was left out and Paula led us through a comprehensive (and obviously well experienced) guide. This led us into the afternoon which was a dive into Galleries. How to talk to and connect to Galleries and how to develop successful relationships and partnerships with them.

Melissa De Winter talking with her artwork.

Beyond the curriculum, the real gift of the weekend was the group itself. We shared our own work with one another, openly and without the usual armour artists tend to wear. We celebrated each other's pieces, offered honest feedback and traded advice pulled from our own hard won experience. There was a strong camaraderie in the room, a sense that everyone there wanted everyone else to succeed too.

What struck me most was the range of people in the room. We had emerging artists like myself, still finding our voice, sitting alongside artists who'd been working professionally for years. Rather than creating any sense of hierarchy, it felt more like a community with the more established artists bringing a wealth of lived experience, the mistakes they'd made, the lessons they'd learned the hard way and us newer artists also bringing experience and knowledge in other ways that complemented. It was a genuine exchange and it made the room feel so incredibly supportive.

If you are a visual artist wondering whether a workshop like this is worth a weekend of your time, here's my honest take: it's not about walking away with a tidy five-step plan. It's about walking away with clarity on your goals, your voice, and the people around you who are building alongside you. Find your tribe, dream big and know there is a path to achieving those dreams in real time. Paula was an excellent teacher and guide and I highly recommend any artist at any stage consider attending one of Paula’s workshops in the future.

I left tired, brain full, inspired and ready to put my 1000-day plan into motion.

Here’s to landing on the Moon and beyond.

By Jessica Taylor