compliments don’t

pay my bills

— But Your Support Can.

what it is about

“Compliments Don’t Pay My Bills” began as a way to spark a meaningful conversation about the challenges faced by small business owners, especially those in the arts, and support artists who sell their work and need more than just kind words to make a living. This project aims to shine a light on the dedication and craftsmanship behind their work and to honor their contributions not just with words, but through tangible support.

The name says it all, but this project is not just about money. It’s about transforming appreciation into meaningful support, because

“Being an artist goes beyond making art, it encompasses the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and skills that engage people and shape society.”

— Fê Carvalho, founder

While artists absolutely deserve praise, they also need investment to continue enriching the world with their creativity, inspiration, intellect, and the list goes on…

Keep reading to find out more about what we do and how you can get involved!

Mission:

To inspire genuine support for small creative business owners by showcasing their talents and stories, encouraging a deeper appreciation and active engagement with their work.

Vision:

To establish a vibrant creative hub where artists and small business owners can build meaningful connections, gain valuable exposure, and thrive through authentic engagement and investment—moving beyond compliments to real, sustained support.

the maker’s hub

Our platform features a blog-style format where we share in-depth interviews with local artists, offering a closer look at their artwork and behind-the-scenes stories.

Being featured in The Maker’s Hub is especially valuable for emerging artists. It provides a credible showcase that can be included on resumes and portfolios, serving as tangible proof of your work being recognized and celebrated.

This kind of validation is a significant milestone in any artist’s journey.

Within the hub, we maintain a comprehensive catalog of all the artists we engage with. This resource includes their business information, enabling supporters to go beyond simple compliments and make a real difference in the creative community.

documentary series

Stories are powerful.

We want to celebrate and honor the artists’ journey by exploring who they are, what they create, and why they create.

Our documentary series is a detailed and time-intensive project currently in production. We look forward to sharing more updates by December 2025.

WHAT ELSE do WE DO?

We are passionate about transforming kind words into meaningful action for creative businesses. There are many ways to support artists, and here are some of the ways we work to uplift creatives:

  • Conducting short interviews with local artists at NYC art fairs and flea markets

  • Engaging in conversations with art collectors, educators, galleries, and more

  • Offering social media spotlights to showcase talent

  • Collaborating on future projects

  • Building connections among artists, buyers, collectors, galleries, and beyond

Future dreams include:

  • Providing grants for emerging artists

  • Organizing solo and group exhibitions at galleries worldwide

  • And more!

Discover how support can take different forms depending on the stage of life you find yourself in.

get our community swag!


all profits go toward making this project better and bigger

faq

  • Nope! We have a collective mindset, so we’re here to help each other rather than create more limitations. Being an emerging artist is already very challenging, so we don’t want to add any financial burden. Your ar!t should be seen without any pain!

  • Not necessarily. Currently, we conduct spontaneous interviews with people at art fairs and flea markets in NYC. Opportunities to be featured on the creative hub may arise during or after the interview, but they are not guaranteed.

  • At the moment, due to our (very) small team, we don’t have the capacity to accept submissions. However, we do plan to offer this option in the near future.

    If you’d like to volunteer with our team to help expand the cdpb project, please contact us!

  • Nope! We aim to gather a variety of artistic backgrounds and mediums because we want to provide a space for everyone. Our goal is to celebrate diversity in all its forms.

  • Great question! We have three ways to highlight artists and their work:

    • Street Interviews: Spontaneous interviews conducted only in NYC so far. They’re great for showcasing work being sold on the spot and focus on questions related to the project’s theme, “Compliments Don’t Pay My Bills.”

    • Video Feature: A longer format that allows for a deeper look at the artist and their work, including potential studio visits. These are officially part of the Documentary Series.

    • The Maker’s Hub: Written content, usually excerpts from interviews, that is ideal for featuring work being sold online as well.

  • We can share a bit about the process, but most details are discussed with the artist once they agree to participate.

    The video feature is part of the Documentary Series we started. In addition to the short street interviews, we select some interviewees to film an extended version. This may include visiting their studio or having a more in-depth conversation about the topic.

  • Fê Carvalho (they/she) is the founder and filmmaker of the project, and J Roman (they/them) is the assistant coordinator and sound engineer. Together, they handle everything from interviews and editing to management, marketing, and more!

  • Nope, unfortunately. Our dream and long-term goal is to be able to compensate team members,create grants for emerging artists, and more. With your support, we can get there! If you’d like to donate to our cause, please contact us.

  • We’re so glad to hear that, and happy you found us! We’d love to chat and learn more about what you do and explore how we might collaborate. Please reach out, and let’s see what opportunities lie ahead!

  • Yes! We do have an ongoing catalog where you can find all artists and their information. We’ll also have annual reports - the first one will be out on early 2026!

  • We love the enthusiasm! We understand that not everyone can contribute financially, so here are some ways you can get involved:

    • Promote artists you admire and be intentional about it.

    • If you offer services that could benefit the artists, consider collaborating and giving some of your time instead. Here are some ideas that could help emerging artists, but are not limited to:

      • Providing marketing strategies

      • Offering financial or legal advice, when possible

      • Providing temporary studio space

      • Connecting artists with potential buyers, galleries, and more!

partners, because

Compliments Are Nice, But Your Investment in Creativity makes a difference.

This could be you or your business! Contact us to learn more about how we can partner.