Art Biz Podcast

In this episode of The Art Biz, I’m joined by Kristen O’Neill, a team member of mine and an accomplished artist who recently created a 30-day daily art lesson challenge for her online followers. But in the end, it may have been more of a challenge for her than it was for the participants. Kristen and I discuss what she hoped to get from this challenge, how she organized it, how much of it was planned ahead, and what her workflow was like—including all of the platforms she used to share the content—and most importantly, what she would do differently if she were to do it again. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/challenge-oneill-podcast   Highlights Details of Kristen’s 30-Day Art Challenge and what she hoped to get out of it. (1:29) How Kristen shared the challenge while honoring her email list expectations. (6:10) Creating and organizing a workflow that worked all month long. (10:42) The time commitment and unexpected challenges behind the challenge. (16:35) Lessons learned from the challenges of this

With nobody going anywhere in the spring of 2020, I contacted artist friends Lisa Call and Janice McDonald to see if they wanted to gather regularly to discuss art documentaries. Our little “club,” such as it is, was in business. To date, we have met 57 times to discuss the art documentaries together. It’s important that we are reminded we’re part of something bigger than ourselves and what goes on behind the closed doors of our studios. In this solo episode I talk about why we do this as a group, where you can find art documentaries, how we stay organized, why it's important to diversify our selections, and how our conversations work. At the end I mention some of my favorite films. Read the “almost” transcript, find all of the links, and leave a comment   Highlights All the Beauty and the Bloodshed was nominated for an Oscar this year. (1:24) We need to be reminded that we’re part of a global art world. (2:57) What art history has taught me. (3:42) Why do this in a group? (4:52) Where to find art documentari

Four years ago on a beautiful January day in Colorado, I attended an art destruction party. Two artists were slowing down in their production and wanted to ensure that subpar work wasn’t left for family to deal with. Nor did they want their names associated with that work. Although I’ve been imploring artists for decades to get rid of work they think isn’t of the highest quality, it was still difficult to smash that first pot and tear that first watercolor. In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Heather K. Powers, an artist and professional organizer. She and I wanted to start a dialogue about planning for your legacy. It’s a tough conversation because it means confronting your mortality. This conversation is especially important for artists, who make things that take up physical space. How do you categorize those things? What kind of records need to be kept? And what, if anything, should be destroyed, reworked, or donated. These are difficult questions and will vary from artist to artist, but it is such

The vast majority of the marketing we do is passive. We send emails, post to social media, and broadcast podcast episodes. Then we wait and hope for positive results. For better results, activate your marketing by thinking of all the ways you can communicate on a personal level. Yes, active marketing requires more work, but I promise you’ll get better results and enjoy it more. In this solo episode, I walk you through how you can activate your marketing for 5 art business scenarios. Read the "almost" transcript, find links, see featured artists and leave a comment Highlights Personal note about your kindness the last couple of weeks. (0:00) Your list is more than people who have opted in for your emails. (3:04) Ensure you’re not wasting time on social media. (5:11) Action: Create a reliable content calendar for a framework that provides direction. (6:36) Improve exhibition and sales venues. (7:09) Action: Make a spreadsheet to track potential venues. (7:30) Receive more benefit from your exhibitions. (8:33)

We’ve spent many months worried about inflation and a possible recession that may not ever happen. It would be terrific if we didn’t have to concern ourselves with such things, but the economy affects everyone’s business in one way or another. Today’s guest on The Art Biz is Elaine Grogan Luttrull of Minerva Financial Arts, a company devoted to building financial literacy and empowerment in creative individuals through education and coaching. We recorded this episode several months ago when the economic landscape seemed a little bleaker than it does now. This is a lesson in economics and how your art business is affected by the larger economy. We define and discuss inflation, recession, the Consumer Price Index, and Gross Domestic Product. We talk about your revenue mix, why selling lower-priced items might not be the way to go right now, bundling, and raising your rates and prices. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/economy-luttrull-podcast Highlights Defining inflation and its effect on every aspect of prici

The sales process is rarely discussed in artist circles. We often think of sales as a single step. Either someone buys your art or they don’t. There’s’ so much more to it. Yet, many of us think of sales as a dirty word, which is a bit ridiculous if we want to grow our businesses and careers. Artists need to adopt a new mindset surrounding sales in order to be successful. My guest on this episode of The Art Biz is Miriam Schulman, artist and founder of the Inspiration Place, where she helps other artists learn how to profit from their passion or become better artists. Miriam is the author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity. In this conversation, Miriam and I review her Artpreneur Sales Playbook and 10-step sales process. Highlights Miriam’s struggle with sales, despite her background in finance. (3:30) The evolution from general sales and marketing to effective art sales. (6:56) Curating your valuable contacts list. (9:05) The importance of mindset

Your Decision Filter: 8 Considerations for Making Decisions for Your Art Business With host Alyson Stanfield   Read the “almost” full transcript, see featured artists, and leave a comment: https://artbizsuccess.com/marketing-mix   ~ 8 CONSIDERATIONS ~ You understand WHY you are doing it. (3:04) You are willing to devote the time and energy to it. (3:32) You enjoy it or are excited about starting. (7:09) You have the systems in place to support it. (7:40) You are already doing it and are seeing results. (9:15) It plays to your strengths. (10:10) It has potential for the biggest long-term pay-off. (12:07) It has the potential for the biggest immediate pay-off. (13:26)   How Human Design has helped me make decisions. (15:07)   ~ MENTIONED ~ Please join me in the Art Biz Accelerator coaching group and community: https://artbizaccelerator.com  Human Design resource: https://jovianarchive.com   ~ ABOUT ~ Alyson Stanfield is the host of the Art Biz Podcast, founder of Art Biz Success, leader of the Art Biz Connect

There are so many ways you can sell your art and so many different avenues for earning money from your talents. I’ve highlighted a wide variety of options for earning money from your art on The Art Biz podcast, but today’s conversation is a first. I’m joined by Katie Hunt, the founder of Proof to Product, to learn more about wholesaling. She has helped thousands of brands get their products on the shelves of large retailers like Target, Nordstrom, The Container Store, and Starbucks, as well as independent boutiques around the world. In this episode, Katie shares basic basic information about wholesaling your art. What is it? Who is it for? Who is it not for? What’s the difference between wholesaling and retailing? Where does licensing fit in? Katie is a wealth of information, and generously gives four considerations for wholesaling. And stay with me to the end of our conversation, where Katie reveals the four things she takes into account when making business decisions. Highlights Key differences between wh

This episode is a solo episode in which Alyson Stanfield, of Art Biz Success, reveals the details of the new Art Biz Accelerator program. It was recorded during an info session for members of the Art Biz Connection community and includes: 3 Success Workshops during the year Open office hours with Alyson The Salon, a group for discussing art ideas and happenings in the art world  Full membership in the Art Biz Connection community Additional training as needed First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/podcast-accelerator  A video, complete with slides and the PDF download of all the information is available at artbizaccelerator.com right now. And if you’re listening to this later in the year, chances are good that much will still be applicable.  

Putting Artists First in Curatorial Projects with Melissa Messina Today’s conversation on The Art Biz is packed with tips and insider info. In my conversation with independent curator Melissa Messina, we discuss what an independent curator does, how Melissa finds and works with artists, and what happens during a studio visit to an artist she is (or might be) working with. You won’t want to miss the insights she shares about common mistakes she sees artists making, as well as how to correct them. Above all, Melissa shares the empowering reminder that the artist is at the center of all a curator, a museum, or a gallery does. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/curator-messina-podcast Highlights “I think that curator gene has always been in me.” (1:55) Melissa’s work as an independent curator. (5:32) How does a curator find their artists? (9:00) The importance of your network. (14:37) Insights from the details of Melissa’s standard project. (18:46) Scheduling projects and finding funding with fel

Alyson Stanfield walks you through her thoughts on reviewing your year. There are 3 reasons to bother reviewing your year: (1) To honor life, (2) to remind yourself of what you have accomplished, and (3) to prepare for the New Year. Look at the year holistically in terms of personal, art, learning, and business. Your written account of the year will be something you can return to in the future as a reminder of what you accomplished, what you experienced, what you learned, who and what you encountered, and more. Mentioned The Artist's Annual Review Resources Show notes, images, and listener comments How to Price Your Art free report Art Biz Connection artist membership  

Today’s conversation is a first. In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Rebecca Welz, an artist who claims she’s not all that interested in the art business. But Rebecca, with her many accomplishments, still had plenty of wisdom to share. Our discussion centers around how she sees her art as part of the continuum, and how she encourages her students at Pratt Institute to think holistically about their careers. We discuss meditation, biomimicry, her projects in Guyana and Guatemala with her students, why she’s uninterested in the art business, and what she thinks artists would benefit from focusing on instead. Highlights “It’s like drawing in space.” Rebecca’s sculpture and gallery representation. (2:44) Teaching art students and exploring the unknown through meditation. (6:22) Thinking is the most important part of the creative process. (11:15) Finding art inspiration in Guyana and Guatemala. (17:04) Biomimicry—innovation inspired by nature. (22:10) The importance of experiencing inspiration f

Not too long ago, artists didn’t have to worry about things like their brands. But in an increasingly competitive market, and the noisy online space, we will do better when we know where we fit. Your art is created in the studio, while your brand is created in the minds of viewers, buyers, collectors, gallerists, and curators. When you know your brand, you know how you want to be perceived in the eyes of others. Your brand helps you make decisions. If opportunities aren’t aligned with your brand, you say no. My guest for this episode of The Art Biz is Alexandra Squire. She has a clear, intentional artist brand, and knew from the get-go what she wanted her business and career to look like. She hired professionals to help her pull together a branded identity to present her work to the world, and it has paid off. Alexandra and I talk about her decisions, marketing, and how she finds time for her painting and business while raising three young girls. Highlights Alexandra’s long and winding road to becoming an a

Anyone can open up a gallery—real or virtual—and start selling art. I mean anyone. You don’t have to hold a degree or pass a test. You don’t have to have ethics or morals or know anything at all about art. But I am impressed by what UGallery is doing and the services they have been providing artists and clients since 2006. Everything about them feels different.  On this episode of The Art Biz, I’m joined by Alex Farkas, founder of UGallery.com.  Their business model is different from others in that online space. They know art. They curate the work so there aren’t thousands of random artists competing for eyeballs. UGallery is paid on commission, so they only make money if art sells.They invest in marketing to help sell more art. They are looking for relationships with their artists and nurture their artists to help them sell better online. The focus of UGallery is on painting, but you should listen to their story even if you are not a painter because you need to know that there are people and companies out th

The photographer Sally Mann has said that it never occurred to her to look outside of her home, family, and immediate vicinity to find inspiration. So many artists feel they need to travel to exotic locations to find their inspiration, never exploring what is right in front of them or what they encounter in their daily lives. In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Sara Lee Hughes, an artist who is deep into a body of narrative paintings with recognizable imagery that is steeped in her personal story—going so far as to include her self-portraits in many of them. We talk about making such personal work and whether there is a market for such work. Sara Lee says her ultimate intention is that she gets under your skin. That when viewing her paintings, you start to question your actions and might find yourself reflecting on the encounter weeks later. We discuss the genesis of this body of work, how she is looking at her art in terms of the long game rather than seeking quick gratification, how she keeps her ide

There is no denying the importance of video these days. Whether you're chasing the Instagram algorithm for reels, streaming live on YouTube, or pulling together a video bio for your website, it's more valuable than ever to make good videos. My guest on The Art Biz is Zach Wolfson, a filmmaker who has seen all kinds of artists' videos—the good, the bad, and the cringy. He has joined me to discuss four of the most common mistakes he sees artists making with their videos, and he also shares simple tips that will greatly improve your videos with just a little bit of tweaking. It’s definitely worth the effort because, as he says, it is so important to leave behind a legacy that extends beyond your artwork. Highlights Zach’s career in filmmaking led to teaching artists how to make mini art videos. (1:50) Horizontal or vertical filming—which does Zach prefer? (5:50) Mistakes artists make when editing transitions in videos. (7:38) Overproducing filters, text, and other distracting elements. (10:52) Slowing

Artists crave validation by others. You want your work to be appreciated. Being validated by others helps build confidence and shows us we’re on the right path. But are you looking for validation in the right places? In this solo episode of The Art Biz, I address validation and earning credibility—where you are probably seeking it, where you might want to look for it instead, and what it really means about your art. Ultimately, validation only comes from within, and others are more likely to pay attention knowing that you value your own work. I want to help you realize the various ways it is possible to earn credibility for your art, many of which you will see that you are already doing. Highlights Defining validation, self-validation, and credibility. (2:02) The wrong places to turn for self-validation. (3:40) The ultimate expression of validation for an artist. (5:15) Non-social media examples of validation in the art world. (6:43) The pinnacle of exhibition venues—the art museum. (9:45) The val

Detour travels to communities all over to paint socially impactful murals, but he also works on canvas, and in music, installation and sculpture. How does he do it all, and do it all by himself? In this episode of The Art Biz, I talked with Detour about his various income streams from prints and murals to corporate sponsorships and grants. He is adamant that he doesn't want to be limited by what he currently knows, so he's always learning how to use new technologies that will help him land complex opportunities. He's not afraid to admit that the best way to approach an artistic problem is probably something he hasn't done before. And Detour is big on collaboration and presenting himself in the most professional light because, as he says, you never know who is watching. Be sure to listen for the questions he asks himself before agreeing to take on new work. This is an inspiring conversation that you won’t want to miss. Highlights Carving out new and alternative paths in the art world. (5:00) Merging your c

There is no single success formula that works for every artist, but every artist needs some sense of order in their business and life so that they’re ready to respond to opportunities that come along. My guest for this episode is Maria Brito, award-winning New York-based contemporary art advisor, curator and the bestselling author of How Creativity Rules The World. A Harvard graduate, originally from Venezuela, Brito has been selected by Complex Magazine as one of the 20 Power Players in the Art World. She has also been named by ARTnews as one of the visionaries who gets to shape the art world. Maria has worked to demystify the art world for people who might be otherwise intimidated to enter a gallery, and is an advocate for democratizing the art world for artists and collectors who might be interested in buying art but are not ready to spend tens of thousands of dollars. Maria shares how she works with artists, galleries, and collectors and why she thinks there has never been a better time to be an arti

There’s always plenty to be learned from artists who have been making a go of it for decades. Just think about how much has changed in 30 years! In this episode of The Art Biz, my guest is Willie Cole, a self-described perceptual engineer with an impressive list of collaborations under his belt and even more in the works. Together we talk about the faith he has in his work as a result of being consistent throughout the years. And why he says work is a bad word and prefers to approach his studio in the spirit of play. We discussed his art and why he challenges people to perceive recognizable objects, like shoes and musical instruments, in new ways. You’ll hear how one of his Instagram posts — where he mocked up his art as if to appear on the cover of Vogue — led to collaborations with major fashion brands. Such opportunities continue coming his way, which might be the result of his faith in his practice. Spoiler: Visualizing success plays a role. Highlights Willie calls himself a perceptual engineer, but wha