Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (#123)
Release Date: 06/23/2022
Leaning Into Her Roots and Community Art with Marilyn Fontaine (ep. 185)
The Art Biz
host: Alyson Stanfield Some artists are fine working by themselves in their studios. Other artists need to move their art beyond the studio walls and into the public in order to be fulfilled. My guest for this episode is Marilyn Fontaine, a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in East London. Her work is spiritual with a strong foothold in feminine themes. She has begun marrying that work to the history of the local community—in particular, the stories of those who share her Afro-Caribbean roots. Marilyn and I talk about the work she does within her community, including how it is...
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How Your Art Makes People Feel (ep. 184)
The Art Biz
Host: Alyson B. Stanfield For so long, I asked artists Why they make art. Some artists have a Why. For other artists, being asked why they make art is unfruitful—even debilitating. They feel unworthy if they can’t come up with a good Why. A better strategy is to focus on the people who will be viewing, talking about, and living with your art. How does your art make people feel? Bernadette Jiwa says, "People don't buy why you do something. They buy how it makes them feel." If you think about it, this, ironically, leads to your Why: Connection. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES...
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A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (ep. 183)
The Art Biz
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...
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Rethinking Mailing Lists for Artists (ep. 182)
The Art Biz
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...
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Spotlighting Artists Who Bloom Later in Life with Janice Mason Steeves (#181)
The Art Biz
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...
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Affirmations for Artists (ep. 180)
The Art Biz
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...
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Virtual Assistance for Your Social Media and Websites with Artist VA Hallie Edlund (ep. 179).
The Art Biz
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...
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Every Artist Is Designed Differently and What It Means with Jahje Ives (#178)
The Art Biz
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...
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Why You Should Raise Prices of Your Art and How to Do It (#177)
The Art Biz
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. 🆓...
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Series, Catalogs, and Museum Shows with Susan Abbott (#176)
The Art Biz
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: The value of working in...
info_outlineIf you have ever wanted to shoot the breeze with a gallerist, you will want to pay close attention to this episode of The Art Biz. I’m joined today by Jeremy Tessmer, the gallery director at Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara, California. In our conversation, Jeremy shares his views of artist’s professionalism, what he thinks of online platforms, and how he taught himself art history (and why that was important to him).
Jeremy describes Sullivan Goss as an on-ramp for collectors and artists—one that connects their roster of local, regional, national, and international artists. You’ll hear him discuss 3 qualities that he looks for in artists, two of which are non-negotiable, and how he views the artists in his gallery as a family. He says that “dealers should have some sense of responsibility for the well-being of their artists,” and, as you listen to our conversation, you’ll understand why that has become so important to him.
Highlights
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The niche that the Sullivan Goss Gallery fills and Jeremy’s role within it. (2:37)
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Sullivan Goss is an on-ramp gallery with the aim of expanding the art world. (7:49)
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The different art world need to become more aware of each other. (10:05)
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Jeremy’s journey from writer and tech specialist to art gallerist. (14:04)
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Is it important for artists to be steeped in art history? (23:34)
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Overcoming the anxiety of influence to connect with other artists. (26:21)
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The 3 qualities Jeremy looks for in the artists he represents. (33:30)
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The responsibility a gallery has for nurturing its artists’ careers. (36:10)
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The value of understanding the long game and defining your real interest in an artist’s career. (41:11)
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Things an artist should never say or do to gain the attention of a gallerist. (46:18)
Mentioned
Optimize Your Online Marketing
Resources
Guest Bio
Jeremy Tessmer is the Gallery Director and Curator of vintage American art at Sullivan Goss. He has been with the firm almost 20 years, working in every area of the business, including: curation, sales, marketing, and design of everything from exhibition spaces to internal databases and processes. He has special knowledge of the American Modern movement, especially as it occurred on the West Coast. He has also been heavily involved with the gallery’s publication program, helping to produce nineteen books and numerous catalogs, including those on local artists Ray Strong and Hank Pitcher.