Today’s solo episode focuses on the secret weapon of a successful art business — your art biz handbook. An art biz handbook is the number one way to organize every aspect of your business. If you’re looking for ways to stay on top of the never-ending tasks that every artist faces, this episode is for you. You’ll hear the step-by-step process that will keep you in control of every aspect of your schedule, how I have evolved systems that weren’t working for me, and the satisfaction, productivity, and control that you can come to expect from an art biz handbook that is working for you.
Highlights
An overview of the value of a high-quality, clearly defined art business system. (0:01)
Documenting your systems — why you need an art biz handbook. (2:07)
Your system doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective. (4:56)
Steps that will make your systems more reliable. (6:12)
Practical examples of systems that have simplified processes in my art business. (9:01)
How to prioritize the process of capturing your procedures. (10:11)
Why your art biz handbook will never be finished. (12:35)
Mentioned
Episode 68 — Procedures for Art Commissions with Sema Martin
Episode 78 — How to Increase Your Productivity and Creativity with Art Business Systems
Episode 79 — Tools to Shape Up Your Art Business with Jennifer Printz
Episode 80 — Systems to Effectively Managed a Dizzying Increase in Your Art Business with Betty Franks
Resources
Intro and outro music by Wildermiss
First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/art-biz-procedures-podcast
Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community
Music by https://wildermiss.com
At the time of this recording, Betty has over 120,000 Instagram followers and sells paintings almost as fast as she makes them. In this episode, we discuss the digital and analog systems that she depends on to support her growth. She generously shares her real numbers, the new postage system she just started using, her daily and weekly routines, and how she organizes all of the digital images of her paintings.
Highlights
Betty Franks shares the moment she fell in love with mixed media and decided to start her art career. (2:20)
How to find your own style and way of making art. (7:20)
Staying organized through the process of handling a personal and business name change. (12:25)
Betty shares her business goals that resulted in a 400% increase in sales. (18:20)
A breakdown of Betty’s income streams and marketing tools. (21:03)
How to know when it’s time to hire help for your art business. (28:13)
Developing routines that stabilize your creative and practical routines. (31:10)
Simple systems to help manage your inventory. (35:25)
Building an email list that works for your business. (42:55)
How to know when it’s time to make process changes for the better. (47:37)
A look at what is keeping Betty’s attention in the studio. (52:24)
Mentioned
Resources
Intro and outro music by Wildermiss
About My Guest
Betty Franks was born in Toronto, Canada and raised in San Jose, California. She is a self-taught abstract artist who started painting when she turned 50. Although it seems late in life to take up painting, the timing was just right for her. After a long career in customer service management, Franks was ready to unleash her creative side. Today her work focuses on her love of fields of flowers and flowers in general. She aims to share the emotion she feels about her subject.
First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/managing-growth-franks-podcast
Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community
Music by https://wildermiss.com
Not only is Jennifer Printz a practicing artist with an enviable record of exhibitions, but she's also an assistant professor at Florida International University in Miami. She has two full-time jobs. I've watched Jennifer whip her business into shape by getting organized and creating reliable systems.
In this episode, I talk with her about how she compartmentalizes her two jobs. We also discuss the planning process she uses, the digital and paper tools she relies on to stay organized, and why writing by hand is critical for her and her students.
Highlights
Jennifer Printz reflects on the wide variety of her artwork and her work as a professor. (2:02)
The importance of modeling art for Jennifer’s students and the lessons they are learning as a result. (5:53)
Practical tips for separating your day job from your art business. (8:40)
The value of taking time for an artist’s day, connecting with artists virtually, and creating physical space for your creativity. (11:33)
Taking your art business beyond the plateau to the next level with coaching and positive feedback. (16:50)
Planning out a quarter at a time to free up your mental space for creativity. (22:30)
Day-to-day systems that will help you get and stay organized and productive. (27:21)
Jennifer’s process around keeping an updated inventory of her pieces. (33:42)
Strategic organization of all the moving parts of an exhibition. (38:29)
Playing into your personality strengths to maximize your art business systems. (42:35)
What is the first step to take when your systems are breaking down? (45:04)
A look inside the works that are currently holding Jennifer’s studio attention. (47:12)
Mentioned
Resources
Intro and outro music by Wildermiss
Quotes
“When I hit a certain level of success I felt the need to get a more objective viewpoint to help me move to a new level of success.” — Jennifer Printz
“If we’re always doing what we’ve always done and the results are what we always got, then it’s time to reevaluate.” — Jennifer Printz
“It made sense to shift to a new system so I could put more effort into my creative practice.” — Jennifer Printz
“In order to build strong relationships, in order to have a successful exhibition, I need to access other parts of me and not let the part of me that’s against organization get in the way.” — Jennifer Printz
About My Guest
Jennifer Printz unifies photography and drawing to make poetic works that reflect the unseen structures of the universe. In 2004 she was awarded a Puffin Foundation Grant, followed by a Dendo Fellowship in 2016. She has participated in regular residencies in the US, at the Frans Masereel Centre/Flemish Center for the Graphic Arts in Kasterlee, Belgium, St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta, and La Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France.
Jennifer is also an educator, teaching a wide range of two-dimensional media at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as courses on public art and professional practices. Currently, she is on the faculty of Florida International University in Miami.
First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/biz-tools-printz-podcast
Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community
Music by https://wildermiss.com
Creating a streamlined art business system isn’t hard, it just takes dedicated time.
In this solo episode, I want to help you get started. I’m sharing three powerful benefits to implementing solid systems into your art business and five questions that you need to ask yourself when creating that better system. And to help you see that systems work, I’ll tell you about a few artists who have created systems that work. It worked for them, and I can promise the time you spend on your systems will be worth it as your creativity and productivity in your art business continue to increase.
Highlights
The why behind effective art business systems. (0:01)
Understanding the ecosystem and metasystems within your art business. (2:10)
Three clear benefits of installing systems in your art business. (3:35)
Five questions to ask yourself when implementing a new system. (5:50)
How to clearly define what you want to see happen. (6:38)
Clear timelines create clear results (7:01)
What tools and technology do you need to acquire to create your system? (7:26)
Who can assist you in meeting your goals? (8:13)
What are the exact steps needed to make your system hum? (8:34)
Upcoming podcast guest artists who have successfully implemented systems into their art business. (9:11)
A homework assignment to get you started with your new system. (9:51)
All that the Art Career Success System can offer your art business. (10:58)
Mentioned
Resources
Intro and outro music by Wildermiss
First posted: artbizsuccess.com/organize-with-systems-podcast
Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community
Music by https://wildermiss.com