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The Art Biz

Looking for art career inspiration and ideas while you’re working in the studio or schlepping your art across the country? Alyson Stanfield helps you be a more productive artist, a more empowered artist, and a more successful artist.
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Looking for art career inspiration and ideas while you’re working in the studio or schlepping your art across the country? Alyson Stanfield helps you be a more productive artist, a more empowered artist, and a more successful artist. https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts/

Mar 28, 2024

Host: Alyson B. Stanfield

In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Lori Sokoluk and Susan Purney Mark, who met in my coaching group many years ago and started a collaboration during the pandemic.

When I teach about collaboration, I’m usually talking about an exhibition or event. Lori and Susan took it to the next level and collaborated on the artwork itself—resulting in a two-person exhibition that recently closed.

I wanted to know what the artmaking process was like when you’re presented with someone else’s marks on the canvas. I think you’ll enjoy hearing about it and what they discovered during the process

We also discussed:

  • The parameters of the collaboration.
  • The challenges they faced, such as Lori’s physical limitations.
  • How they titled the pieces together (a fascinating theme and process).
  • How they divided up the business stuff.
  • How the exhibition was organized.
  • How it has affected their individual work.
  • The advice they share with any artist who is open to collaboration.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Here are a few more episodes about collaboration:

Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show’s Impact with Jill Powers (ep. 27)

Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (ep. 64)

Play Tops Work, Connection Tops Solitude, and Confidence Tops Fear with Willie Cole (ep. 126)

Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/sokoluk-mark

 

⭐️ Connect with Lori and Susan and see more of their art:

https://lorisokoluk.com

https://susanpm.com

 

🔶 Please join me for THE PEOPLE PLAN 🔶 a planning workshop to identify, establish, and nurture stronger relationships with buyers, collectors, curators, students, gallerists, and more. May 7-9, 2024. https://artbizsuccess.com/peopleplan

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Mar 21, 2024

Host: Alyson B. Stanfield

Your list is something unique to you and your career. No one has this same list. No one makes art like you do; no one knows the same people as you do; and no one has the exact vision that you have. Nobody! Your list is almost worthless to anyone else, yet it’s invaluable to you.

It is the primary tool you use to share your art with the world. It’s your #1 marketing asset, but worthless if you’re not using it.

The definition of a mailing list isn’t as clear cut as it sounds.

I have a philosophy around this 2-word phrase that we frequently take for granted:

You don’t have a single list. You have multiple lists.

I use the term mailing list as an umbrella term, but, in truth, you have three lists that I define as follows:

1️⃣ Your email list

2️⃣ Your VIP list

3️⃣ Your online followers

In this episode, I describe the difference among them and why you need to remember all of them when you’re thinking about your mailing list.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Self Sales, Open Studios, and Relationships with Interior Designers with Carol MacConnell (ep. 171)

She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be Every Month with Kelly Pelfrey (ep. 162)

Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (ep. 158)

 

📖 To read more, see images, download the transcript + mailing list assessment mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/your-lists

🔶 Put your mailing list to better use in THE PEOPLE PLAN 🔶 a planning workshop to identify, establish, and nurture stronger relationships with your lists. May 7-9, 2024. https://artbizsuccess.com/peopleplan

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Mar 14, 2024

Host: Alyson Stanfield, Art Biz Success

My guest is Janice Mason Steeves, author of Bloom: On Becoming An Artist Later in Life. Which, as I say in our interview, is “a lovely mix of insights from a questionnaire, gentle guidance from someone who teaches and leads artist workshops all over the world, and wisdom from academics, professionals, and spiritual advisors.”

Janice has been in my orbit for a long time and I have been dying to talk with her about this book, the seeds of which she mentioned to me about 4 years ago. It’s a book that needed to be written and proves that we have a lot more to talk about this topic.

But let’s kick off the conversation.

Janice will share her background and the realization that the students in her workshops tended to be in the 60 to 80 age groups. This piqued her curiosity about taking up art later in life.

We spend the first half of our conversation talking about how the book came to be. Then we discuss the advantages, benefits and challenges of becoming an artist after age 60.

I, of course, want to know about how artists over 60 approach the business of art, but that’s not Janice’s concern. (And I have some experience that perhaps will lead to a different episode.)

🎧 RELATED EPISODES
These are episodes with other artist-authors >>

Secrets from Copying a Masterpiece with Lilianne Milgrom (ep. 87)

Publishing a How To Book for Artists with Carol McIntyre (ep. 37)

How Two Artists Self-Published and Are Promoting a Successful Book Together (ep. 9)

Mentioned: How Do You Know You’re an Artist? with James Holmes (ep. 181)

 

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/bloom-steeves.

⭐️ Connect with Janice and see more of her art: https://janicemasonsteeves.com

 

If you want to learn about or improve your art marketing skills, 🔶check out my Essentials program. 🔶 It’s for beginning and emerging artists as well as artists who just need a reboot.
artbizsuccess.com/essentials

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Mar 7, 2024

I believe in the power of daily affirmations. I first used them a number of years ago to increase my income and it worked. I increased my income 40% that year. And while I am not now as dedicated to reciting them daily, I know should be! I attribute the majority of my success back then to these affirmations.

What possessed me to stop? 🤷‍♀️ I do not believe that reciting affirmations alone will move the needle. You must have the commitment to your goals in the first place and take appropriate action to move forward. I encourage you to try them as a proven business accelerator tool. It can’t hurt! I read through these affirmations slowly. Then I take a break and repeat them. Use what lands for you—changing the wording to make them your own.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Raising Prices on Your Art, Valuing Community, and Balancing Motherhood with Bri Larson (ep. 166)

6 Ways to Be [Even] Happier About Running Your Art Business (ep. 155)

Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114)

What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95)

 

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/affirmations

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Feb 29, 2024

If you’re like a lot of the artist-clients that I work with at Art Biz Success, you would love someone to help you with social media. Or your website. Or maybe anything else to help lighten the load.

Having any kind of help sounds like a dream. It may seem like an impossible dream. You might be looking for someone like my guest for this episode of The Art Biz: Hallie Edlund, a virtual assistant for artists.

We discuss how she started doing this work and how she helps artists with social media and their websites.

We touch upon how she uses A.I. and her advice for using it in your art business.

And you know I couldn’t resist asking how she stays organized. Her system of keeping everything for her clients in Gmail folders left me with my mouth hanging open, which luckily you can’t witness on a podcast.

Hallie has a new Instagram course for artists and generously shares two tips for that platform near the end of our conversation.

If you’re looking to hire someone to help with your art business, I suggest checking out the related episodes and articles posted below as well.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES & ARTICLES

How to Hire Someone to Help with Your Art Business

Let It Go: Delegating Responsibility

Someone Else Could – What To Delegate in Your Art Business

Trusting Another Artist to Help You Run Your Art Business with Angela Fehr and Robin Edmundson (ep. 104)

How to Work Successfully (and Sanely) with a Relative with Trudy Rice (ep. 105)

Learning How to Be a Boss with Ali Manning (ep. 106)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit

📧 To inquire about working with Hallie, please email her.

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Feb 15, 2024

In this episode, I have something a little different for you.

I want to share a tool I found a number of years ago that helps me in life and in my business. And it’s helped many of my clients.

It’s a life map, of sorts, called Human Design.

Jahje Ives is an artist and a Human Design coach and guide. While I have worked with Human Design guides in the past, Jahje is the first artist I have met in this realm.

I wanted her insights as to how knowing your Human Design could help with your art and art business.

To get the most out of it, you have to have a little woo in you. As Jahje says, you might need to put on your tinfoil hat.

She’s going to tell you what Human Design is, cover the 5 different types of designs and what each would mean for an artist. Human Design has taught me that there are no two people alike. We are each unique in our gifts and our approach to life and business.

What works for one artist might not be just a bad idea for another—it could also be a huge waste of time. Or even damaging.

Since learning Human Design, I’ve changed much of my approach to teaching and coaching. I’ve started tuning in to the differences among artists—differences that they were born with—so that I can meet them where they will be able to thrive.

This episode probably isn’t for everyone, but if you’re open to the journey, please continue to listen. Maybe something will ring true. Here’s my conversation with Jahje Ives.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114)

What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95)

Are You Playing It Too Safe in Your Art Business? (ep. 92)

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest (ep. 91)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/human-design-ives

⭐️ Connect with Jahje and see more of her art: https://jahjeives.com

 

🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Feb 8, 2024

Two things are clear when it comes to pricing your art.

1️⃣ It’s a struggle for most artists.

2️⃣ There’s a good chance that your prices are too low.

 

There are 5 reasons to raise your prices:

🔸 You’ve done the math and realized you aren’t paying yourself.

🔸 Your pricing has become uneven over time.

🔸 The cost of your materials has increased.

🔸 You can’t keep up with the demand for your art.

🔸 You start selling through galleries.

I cover all of these in this episode and then tell you HOW to raise your prices.

 

🆓 GUIDE FOR PRICING YOUR ART

Info and download > http://howtopriceyourart.com/

 

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Raising prices can mess with your mindset. These episodes might help:

Raising Prices on Your Art, Valuing Community, and Balancing Motherhood with Bri Larson (ep. 166)

6 Ways to Be [Even] Happier About Running Your Art Business (ep. 155)

Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114)

What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95)

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest (ep. 91)

 

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/raise-prices/.

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Feb 1, 2024

I like to say that your art isn’t complete until someone else experiences it. Until you’re standing in front of it and talking about it with people who are interested.

In real life. Digital-only viewing doesn’t count.

Every person who sees your work brings themselves and their background to your work—adding new layers of meaning to your original intention.

My guest for this episode is Susan Abbott, and she recognizes the importance of getting her work out of the studio and in front of people.

We cover a lot of ground in our conversation, but there are 3 themes:

  1. The value of working in series, with special attention given to the series of paintings that came from her pilgrimage on The Camino.
  2. Creating a catalog of your art and what it can do for you.
  3. Getting a museum solo exhibition and why that’s important to her.

We also discuss how Susan lost 14,000 instagram followers and rebuilt her account to where it is today (~46,000 at the time of this recording).

See if you can pick up on why it pays to dress nicely when visiting gallery.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley (ep. 160)

Putting Artists First in Curatorial Projects with Melissa Messina (ep. 136)

Portrait Project and Museum Exhibition with Lisa Kovvuri (ep. 11)

A Married Life in Art: Sam Woolcott and Poe Dismuke (ep. 8)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/series-abbott

⭐️ Connect with Susan and see more of her art: https://susanabbott.com

🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Jan 18, 2024

So many artists are down on their galleries and considering leaving them.

There are absolutely many reasons not to stick with your gallery, but that’s a different episode.

I wanted to share the story of an artist who is thrilled with her gallery.

My guest for this episode is Evita Tezeno—an artist who has grand ambitions for herself. Not content with the status quo, Evita aims for recognition by prestigious honors like the Guggenheim Fellowship and the MacArthur Fellowship, the so called “genius” grant.

She knows she can’t get there by herself. She needs strong gallery representation and a team of people behind her, and she’ll tell you why.

💬 EVITA TEZENO QUOTES

“I had this dream that an angel came to my door and gave me a blueprint of another style.”

“This dream was right on target.”

“[After Denzel Washington bought 8 pieces in 2019] I was able to get another studio and I have never worked for anyone again.”

“The gallery now has me working larger. I love working larger. I love it.”

“I consider myself a visual storyteller.”

“[My life coach] has gotten me to dream bigger than I ever thought that I could dream.”

“I want more museum collections and I want my work also to be known, not only nationally or regionally, but internationally…. So we are reaching toward the sky or the heavens.”

“The art career that you dream of or you envision does not come easy. You have to struggle. You have to go through necessary pains to get to where you want to be.”

🎧 RELATED CONTENT

Leaving Gallery Representation to Reach More Art Buyers with Adele Sypesteyn (ep. 163)

Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (ep. 123)

Why Artists Should Embrace Galleries (article)

The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (ep. 19)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/tezeno-galleries

⭐️ Connect with Evita Tezeno and see more of her art: https://evitatezeno.com

 

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers.

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Jan 4, 2024

Your artist website is your portfolio these days. It’s usually the first place people go to get a full picture of you and your art. They might initially find you on Instagram and scroll through the images there, but when their interest is piqued and they want to know more, they’ll click that almighty link in your bio.

Your website is the 1 piece of virtual real estate that you have 100% control over. You select what people see and define how they will navigate the experience.

Are you ready for them?

In this episode of The Art Biz, I have a very focused conversation with Jessica Burko about artist websites.

[ We’re focused on your professional presentation this season in Establish Yourself: Essentials for Artist Success ]

Jessica and I discuss:

  • Her philosophy about artist websites.
  • What artist websites should and should not include.
  • How artist websites can be organized for a better viewer experience.
  • How you can use Instagram and Pinterest to organize portfolios of work.
  • Why one of your jobs is to educate people.

She says, “What gets people to be very interested in your work, to buy your work or hire you or show your work, and to really tell them the breadth of what you do and to show them all the different aspects of your arts career, your arts business, yourself as an artist” is your website. It’s a much more appropriate place to do that than Instagram.

💁🏼‍♀️ My bonus tip is to check the footer on your website to see that it has the current copyright date in it. Some websites adjust automatically to a new year, but others do not. Make sure yours is current.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

How to Name Your Art Business (ep. 56)

How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165)

Introduce Yourself Confidently as an Artist (ep. 65)

Starting Your Art Career (ep. 173)

What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/websites-burko

⭐️ Connect with Jessica and see more of her art: https://jessicaburko.com

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers.

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Dec 21, 2023

This episode isn’t for artists who want to dabble and keep art as a hobby. I so respect your desire to enter and exit the studio whenever you feel like it, but this isn’t for you.

This isn’t even for artists who want to set up a side hustle of selling art here and there to make some extra cash. Again, I respect the fact that you want or need to do that, but what I share here isn’t for you.

This is for anyone who is serious about building and living the life of an artist.

This episode is also for you if other artists ask for your advice about how they can do what you have done. (All you have to do is send them here.)

I cover:

  • Why devotion to the work has to come above everything else in your artist life.
  • When you can call yourself an artist.
  • Why you shouldn’t be devoted to 1 medium.
  • The first 6 practical business steps:
    • Decide on your professional name.
    • Decide on your business structure.
    • Register your business.
    • Get a tax ID number.
    • Gat a sales tax license.
    • Separate your business and personal finances.

🔶 Just starting your art career? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers. YourArtistLife.com

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

How to Name Your Art Business (ep. 56)

Your Decision Filter (ep. 139)

Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114)

How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165)

 

📖 To read the transcript of this episode, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/starting-art-career

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Dec 14, 2023

My guest for this episode of The Art Biz is Kamal X.

Kamal recently released his book, Black Astronaut, which is a collection of photographs he started after the murder of George Floyd. It was, as you recall, the height of Covid and like many, Kamal was hesitant to travel and be in crowds.

But, as he said, he knew he had to risk it all because the moment was bigger than him.

In our conversation, you’ll hear about how and why Kamal learned photography and how he approaches his subjects on the street.

What I enjoyed most about talking with Kamal is his message. Through photography, he learns about himself, and he shares his positivity through his words and deeds.

He says, “Remember you are the light and you can create and visualize something bigger for yourself.” And he encourages you to be true to yourself and avoid making art for the algorithms.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

These are great episodes for positive inspiration.

7 Essential Verbs for Artists to Embrace (ep. 170)

How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165)

Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (ep. 158)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/kamalx

⭐️ Connect with Kamal X and see more of his art: https://www.instagram.com/iamkamalx/

🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a year-long training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers. https://artbizsuccess.com/essentials

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Nov 30, 2023

Carol MacConnell has built a strong business foundation over her long art career. I was particularly interested in talking with her about how she works with interior designers.

You’ll hear us discuss:

  • Carol’s income streams, 30% of which comes from working with interior designers and the vast majority through open studio events.
  • How she, as an artist who is legally deaf, navigates conversations.
  • How she segments and uses her list of 2,000 interior designers and 2,000 other subscribers.
  • What the working relationship with interior designers is like.

You’ll also hear me plead my case for contracts that spell out the details of a relationship with anyone who sells your art.

My favorite thing about this conversation is that Carol doesn’t get anxious about missing out on [whatever]. She is focused on getting the work done and being authentic about what is going on rather than fussing over the algorithms and other mind traps.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (ep. 158)

She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be with Kelly Pelfrey (ep. 162)

Increasing Self-Sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (ep. 157)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/macconnell-designers

⭐️ Connect with Carol and see more of her art: https://carolmacconnell.com

 

🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a year-long training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility.

https://artbizsuccess.com/essentials

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Nov 16, 2023

As we learned when diagramming sentences in 4th grade, verbs are where the action is. No verb, no action.

The first iteration of my newsletter for artists back in 2002 included a specific art business action at the end of each issue.

My book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio, is broken down into 16 “actions” rather than chapters.

I’m all about action, but am no longer interested in it in the form of obsessive hyper-productivity. I’ll leave that to the bro motivators out there. Action at all costs isn’t healthy.

But action—even the tiniest step—moves the needle.

Look back on how your confidence as an artist has grown over as a result not only of reading about something or hearing about it, but of doing it. Making more art. Having more shows. Submitting to more opportunities.

With this in mind, I got to thinking about a few verbs to live by that you might not normally associate with your art career.

Listen to hear why I selected these 7 verbs and see if they resonate with you: Devote, Begin, Understand, Connect, Avoid, Investigate, Finish.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Ep 165: How to Feel Like a Successful Artist

Ep. 160: Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley

Ep. 150: How to Project Confidence Even When You’re Not Feeling It

📖 To read a full transcript, find resources mentioned, see featured artists, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/essential-verbs-for-artists/

🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a year-long training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility.

https://artbizsuccess.com/essentials

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Nov 9, 2023

In this episode I talk with David Sandum who was driven to take up art personally and then professionally after being hospitalized with depression in 2001.

His journey through depression led him to the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Edvard Munch—finding solace and a deep connection with their expression of raw emotions.

We discuss how art continues to be a lifeline in his struggle with depression and his memoir, I’ll Run Till the Sun Goes Down: A Memoir About Depression & Discovering Art.

David and I touch on the tension between making art for yourself and surviving in a commercial market, and, related, why he chose to focus on a series of Auschwitz paintings over seemingly more market-friendly paintings of beaches.

We also talk about how he organized a community of artists on what was then Twitter to begin an annual international exhibition and fundraiser that has been going on since 2010. The Twitter Art Exhibit has evolved into the Postcard Art Exhibit, which accurately reflects its contents.

Heads up that you’ll hear David abbreviate it repeatedly—and understandably—as PAE.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

The Art Biz ep. 168: Impacting Artists First in a Curatorial Project Focusing on Empathy with Nanci Hersh

The Art Biz ep. 112: Leaning Into Creativity in Times of Pain with Rich Simmons

The Art Biz ep. 52: Making Art While Grieving Loss with Jan Heaton

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/sandum-mental-health

⭐️ Connect with David and see more of his art: https://www.davidsandum.com

🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/essentials

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Oct 26, 2023

In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Nanci Hersh about an exhibition she organized with 25 artists from multiple states and countries.

The show used the central theme of tears to explore empathy, compassion, and understanding within a sacred space—a metaphorical chapel. She says, as artists “we are so fortunate that we can use our art to make sense of life experiences.”

Nanci and I discuss:

  • The ripple effect of art when it impacts the artist first.
  • The training she received to facilitate uncomfortable conversations.
  • The benefits of taking on such a big project and why it’s important that it aligned with her values.
  • How the exhibition was paid for and ideas she has for improving funding options in the future.
  • How she stayed organized.
  • The importance of clear lines of communication, accepting help, and practicing gratitude.

 

⭐️ ABOUT NANCI HERSH

Nanci Hersh is a contemporary artist whose work is informed by the experiences, relationships, and places in her life. Her two-dimensional work, as well as her sculptures and installations, are at the intersection of personal narrative, art-making, and community engagement—exploring the grace, beauty and fragility of our lives.

Nanci is also a curator, illustrator, educator, arts advocate, and former Executive Director of the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education. She has one foot in Pennsylvania and the other in Delaware.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

The Art Biz ep. 160: Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley

The Art Biz ep. 146: Remember The Many Opportunities We Have Because We’re Online with Barbara Muir

The Art Biz ep. 30: Multi-State Multi-Year Multi-Artist Art Project with Marilyn Artus

The Art Biz ep. 64: Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan

 

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/empathy-hersh

 

🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Oct 19, 2023

Dare you have a sale of your art?

I acknowledge that having a sale of original work might be unpalatable. It feels as if you are cheapening the work you put so much effort into. I get it.

In just the last episode of The Art Biz (#166), I talked with Bri Larson about the mindset around raising prices and why it was important to do so.

In this episode of The Art Biz I discuss the psychology and process around having a sale of your art or any products that you might sell. Products such as calendars, note cards, books, catalogs, or print

I cover 6 options for structuring a sale, although, as you’ll see, promotion is probably a better word because not all of the options are about offering a discount.

I also outline additional steps to take around your sale.

Stick with me to the end and I'll share 3 mistakes you don’t want to make when having a sale of your art.

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/

🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Oct 12, 2023

In this episode, Bri Larson and I talk about her decision to raise her prices and how she overcame the mindset that her art needed to be affordable.

We also discuss:

  • The value of her artist community—how they have supported her growth as an artist and her journey into motherhood.
  • How she has been able to maintain a studio practice with a baby, including how she structures her days around the baby’s schedule.
  • What kind of work she would give to a studio assistant and how she’ll know when to hire.
  • The decision to focus on organic reach v. paid advertising online.
  • Bri’s #1 piece of advice for would-be artist-parents.

 

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Juggling parenthood also came up in these episodes:

The Art Biz ep. 162: She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be Every Month with Kelly Pelfrey

The Art Biz ep. 84: Money Mindset Breakthrough Secrets with Lea K. Tawd

The Art Biz ep. 131: Injecting Personal Narrative into Your Art with Sara Lee Hughes

 

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit

https://artbizsuccess.com/larson-raising-prices

⭐️ Connect with Bri and see more of her art: https://brilarson.com

 

🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Oct 5, 2023

There’s no neat way to explain what success is because it’s different for every artist. I hope this episode is the start of an ongoing conversation on the subject.

💡HIGHLIGHTS

  • Success for artists might include income (sales), exhibitions, leadership roles, achievements, collections, and studio production.
  • A few of the diverse stories of success from artist-guests of The Art Biz.
  • The importance of aligning the goals for your art and expectations of yourself with how you want your life to be.
  • Success requires you to be nimble—to adapt to changing circumstances and be open to risks and failures.
  • My best advice: Success doesn’t happen all at once. It’s the result of small wins, each of which must be acknowledged in order to stay motivated and focused on your vision.

📖 To read the complete transcript, see featured artists, and comment about the topic of success, visit artbizsuccess.com/feel-successful

 

🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group to support you as you follow your vision and take successful steps along the way. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator

🔶 Sponsored by the Create Opportunities Challenge 🔶 a 3-month program this fall to help you find and improve venues for showing, selling, and/or teaching art. It’s about being intentional rather than waiting for an email in your inbox. Find out more and see if it’s for you https://artbizsuccess.com/opportunities

 

🎧 MENTIONED EPISODES

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is a special invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Sep 28, 2023

Sally Hirst was born to teach.

Fortunately, she was also born an artist.

Like most of us, she adapted to the new reality that she was faced with at the beginning of the pandemic. Well, actually, she did more than adapt. She thrived. She took the challenge head on and has been thriving ever since.

Sally and I discuss what her income sources looked like before Covid and look like now. Specifically, we talk about her teaching:

  • The teaching platform she uses and why she chose it
  • The skills she had to acquire in order to teach online
  • Her video recording setup
  • What her teaching schedule looks like in terms of what is pre-recorded and what is live.
  • How she attracts new students.

Sally reveals how Brexit has impacted her goals—especially where she shows and sells her art.

And I wondered: How does Sally manage to maintain her studio practice with her busy teaching schedule?

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit artbizsuccess.com/hirst-teaching

⭐️ Connect with Sally, see more of her art, and find out about her art courses: sallyhirst.co.uk

✴️ NOW AVAILABLE: THE MONEY PLAN

You do have some control (plenty, actually) over how much money you earn, and it starts with getting real about your current situation and the vision. you have.

The Money Plan is my success workshop for accelerating your income and it’s now available on demand. In it, I lead you through a series of steps where you identify your income sources and set goals for how you will earn more from them. You’ll be able to clearly see which are worth your time and attention.

The Money Plan gives you a realistic, though hopeful and challenging, blueprint for increasing your income in the future. It’s a plan that only you could make with a tool that you will be able to reuse at every point in your art business.

Learn more and enroll now at artbizsuccess.com/moneyplan

🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS

My Money Odyssey (ep. 161)

How Do Artists Make Money (ep. 159)

Creating a Monthly Report for Your Art Business (ep. 74)

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Sep 14, 2023

This episode is a remix of episode 36 from 2019. It is such an inspiring interview that I wanted more people to hear it.

Adele Sypesteyn has been making a living from her art for four decades. Listen in as she takes us through her journey of selling her art, from the traditional process of applying to galleries to a more strategic approach that involved teaching herself about business and pivoting in the face of economic downturns. Adele also shares how she transitioned from galleries to the antique show in Round Top, Texas, where she made excellent connections with hundreds of interior designers.

Adele discussed testing a new concept for teaching art to children and shares her approach to teaching herself about business, especially during the recession. You'll hear about how she embraced the concept of viewing her art as a product, combining creativity with research to make her work more marketable.

Finally, Adele shares how she has adapted her income streams, shifting from relying on galleries to events and online classes. She talks about how she used YouTube as a lead magnet to grow her business and shares her strategy of going out where people are to learn what they want and need from her art.

 

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Reinventing Your Art Career with Ali Cavanaugh (ep. 33)

Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (ep. 123)

Leaving Behind What is Safe with Jan R. Carson (ep. 23)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/sypesteyn-leaving-galleries

 

⭐️ Connect with Adele and see more of her art: https://adelesypesteynstudio.com

 

🔶 Sponsored by the Create Opportunities Challenge 🔶 a 3-month program this fall to help you find and improve venues for showing, selling, and/or teaching art. It’s about being intentional rather than waiting for an email in your inbox. Find out more and see if it’s for you https://artbizsuccess.com/opportunities =

 

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

 

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is a special invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Sep 7, 2023

Lately, I’ve been diving into money on The Art Biz. As much as I do NOT want to talk about money, I know it’s necessary. I also know it’s more necessary for some artists to make money from their work than for others.

If you’re lucky enough to have outside support for your art business—even if it’s from a day job—count your blessings. Because the pressure on the work is real when you don’t have that extra source of income, which is why I will continue to bring up the topic of money.

Let’s continue the conversation in this episode.

Kelly Pelfrey’s goal in 2020 was to replace her $50,000 teaching salary, but she quadrupled that. Her income has allowed her husband to leave his job to focus on his doctorate, feel comfortable about taking maternity leave, and save for college for her children.

Kelly shares her income sources, which are dominated by sales of commissions, followed distantly by releases of small paintings. She also sells art for TV screens, has a monthly print release, and a coffee table book.

Kelly obviously has the pulse of her best collectors. Her work is strong for sure, but I also believe that people are buying into Kelly’s joy and optimism. When you hear her and detect that in her voice, I think you’ll know what I mean.

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit artbizsuccess.com/pelfrey-commissions

⭐️ Connect with Kelly and see more of her art: kellypelfrey.com

✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN

If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that.

Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to artbizsuccess.com/moneyplan to make sure you don’t miss it.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS

My Money Odyssey (ep. 161)

How Do Artists Make Money (ep. 159)

Creating a Monthly Report for Your Art Business (ep. 74)

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Aug 30, 2023

In this episode, I’m doing something different and sharing my money odyssey from an interview with Parker Stevenson of The Bottom Line podcast by Evolved Finance.

I reveal:

  • How my dad taught me to balance my checkbook (and how it was quite different from my mother’s suggestion).
  • How I learned to ask for money by collecting money for charities as a little girl.
  • That I set the curve in my accounting classes at the University of Wyoming.
  • How I gamed the system to get cash because I knew the checks I was writing would take 8 days to process.
  • How little money I had when I quit my museum job to start my business.
  • How I came up with the income accelerator for artists, which I teach in The Money Plan success workshop and Create Opportunities.

⭐️ ABOUT The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance

The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker Stevenson sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown.

Parker is the Chief Business Officer at Evolved Finance, an accounting firm that specializes in helping online entrepreneurs to build more profitable and financially stable online businesses. They do all of the bookkeeping for Art Biz Success and I just love how professional their whole operation is.

They don’t just do the books, they also go to great lengths to educate their clients.

📖 Read more, see featured artists, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment

🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS

How Do Artists Make Money (ep. 159)

Is Being Too Cheap Hurting Your Art Business?

Creating a Monthly Report for Your Art Business (ep. 74)

🔶 Sponsored by The Money Plan 🔶 a success workshop for accelerating your income.

https://artbizsuccess.com/moneyplan

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Aug 24, 2023

Heather Beardsley’s art has been influenced by extensive travel and residencies in diverse cultures. This started with her year in Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar and then continued for several years until the pandemic shut down her residency in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Like everyone else, Heather had to pivot upon returning to the U.S. She used the downtime to her advantage by getting organized and shaping her career path.

In our conversation in this episode of The Art Biz, you’ll hear how she managed to transform her social anxiety into opportunities—realizing that real growth could only happen when she overcame the urge to play it safe by sticking to open call entries.

Heather has learned to navigate the complex art world with intention while connecting with institutions and curators to propel her career.

She shares her experiences of the following:

  • Securing exhibition fees, grants, and residencies while managing expectations.
  • The importance of being organized and ready for opportunities.
  • Using Microsoft OneNote to organize opportunities and deadlines.
  • Building authentic relationships within the art world where so much can seem transactional.

You’ll also hear about Heather’s current solo show at the Chrysler Museum of Art and how it came about.

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit artbizsuccess.com/beardsley-artworld-connections

⭐️ Connect with Heather and see more of her art: https://heatherbeardsley.com

✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN

If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that.

Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to artbizsuccess.com/moneyplan to make sure you don’t miss it.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

These episodes have exhibition venues as a primary focus:

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Aug 17, 2023

In this episode, I want to start a conversation about one of those things that can get in the way of feeling successful: Money.

In particular, I want to dive into income sources for artists.

Where does the money come from?

I discuss:

  • Why you might want to branch out and sell more than originals.
  • How to categorize your income sources so that you can better understand the possibilities.
  • How to analyze where the money has come from in the past so you can plan for the future.

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, including the 3 videos 🎥 that will help you visualize this process, visit

https://artbizsuccess.com/podcast-money-plan

✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN

If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that.

Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to artbizsuccess.com/moneyplan to make sure you don’t miss it.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

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