What You're Not Doing: 7 Mistakes Artists Make (231)
The Art Biz
The biggest mistakes artists make aren’t about doing the wrong things—they’re about doing nothing at all. Avoidance. Waiting. Hoping something will change on its own. In this solo episode, host Alyson Stanfield revisits and reframes one of her most popular articles, updated with a decade of insight and experience. These are not dramatic failures, but subtle patterns of inaction that can quietly keep your art business stuck. Alyson shares 7 common mistakes, grouped into 3 themes: Mindset. Connection. Structure. Each is paired with a powerful inquiry to help you take honest inventory—and...
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Creating Artist-Centered Opportunities with Jennifer Steck (230)
The Art Biz
A retired police captain turned artist, Jennifer Steck realized she didn’t have to wait for opportunities to come to her—she could create them. Seeing a gap in what was available for artists to sell their work, Jennifer founded Artburst Studios, an online gallery that’s part pop-up show and part community hub for artists. She had zero experience running a gallery, but that didn’t stop her. Armed with curiosity, a clear vision, and plenty of determination, Jennifer (at the time of this recording) has helped over 80 artists sell more than $174,000 of art in just a few years. In this...
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The Awesome Responsibility of Titling Your Art with Fran Gardner (229)
The Art Biz
What if titling your art is actually part of your creative practice? One that helps you better understand your work, connect with your audience, and prepare your art for life beyond the studio? That’s the beautiful perspective offered by artist and writing consultant Fran Gardner. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield talks with Fran to explore the idea that titles aren’t just labels—they’re bridges. They link your creative intention to the viewer’s experience and give your work a voice when you’re not there to speak for it. Fran shares her own turning point with titling, walks us...
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22 Tactics to Thoughtfully Invite People to Visit Your Art Website (228)
The Art Biz
It’s easy to assume that people will visit your artist website once it’s built. But websites don’t always attract attention on their own. You have to give people reasons to show up. In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield shares 11 simple, low-effort strategies to guide more people to your site—plus a way to download the full list of 22 ideas. These are real, artist-friendly actions that work in the background of your art business to increase traffic over time. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why waiting for people to discover your website isn’t a strategy 11...
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Married to a Single Art Project Forever with Michelle Fung (227)
The Art Biz
What does it take to stick with one creative project for more than a decade—and still feel inspired by it? Michelle Fung has been immersed in The World of 2084 since 2015. What began as a vivid dream in a coffee shop became a sprawling, interdisciplinary art project imagining five futuristic nations and their cultural, ecological, and political identities. In this conversation with host Alyson Stanfield, Michelle shares how she builds these imagined worlds through woodcut painting, animation, books, and research—and how her commitment hasn’t wavered in 10 years. She talks openly about...
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What Galleries Want: Preparing Your Art and Yourself (226)
The Art Biz
Getting gallery representation isn’t just about having great work—it’s about preparation, professionalism, and relationships. At Gabba Gallery in Los Angeles, those values are at the heart of how things run. For more than a decade, owner and director Jason Ostro has led the gallery’s mission to elevate emerging and mid-career artists, while curator and manager Elena Jacobson makes sure every show runs smoothly. Together, they bring a practical and deeply human perspective to the artist-gallery partnership. In this conversation, host Alyson Stanfield talks with Jason and Elena about: ...
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What a Commitment to Audience Building Means to Noelle Phares (225)
The Art Biz
Building a sustainable art business requires more than just making good work. It requires showing up consistently, connecting with the right people, and staying true to a long-term vision—even when that means setting difficult boundaries. In this conversation, Noelle Phares returns to talk with host Alyson Stanfield about the structures she’s put in place to support her thriving art career. From smart use of assistants and art festivals to strategic decisions around galleries and commissions, Noelle has built her success by staying fiercely committed to audience building. Here’s what’s...
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Beauty, Rigorous Research, and Purpose with Noelle Phares (224)
The Art Biz
Building an art career with intention doesn’t always start with a plan. Sometimes it starts with a gut feeling that something isn’t working. That was true for Noelle Phares, who left behind a structured science career to follow her creative instincts—eventually leading to a solo museum exhibition and a thriving, self-directed art business. In this episode (part 1 of 2), host Alyson Stanfield talks to Noelle about how she transitioned from environmental data science into full-time painting, and how her rigorous research background continues to shape her studio practice. The conversation...
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The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (223)
The Art Biz
host: Alyson Stanfield It’s easy to think that being a full-time artist means struggling financially. But painter Mary Erickson is proof that with discipline, long-term thinking, and a deep love of both art and business, it’s possible to build a creative life that’s both fulfilling and financially secure. In this conversation, recorded several years ago and lightly edited for re-release, Mary shares how she transitioned from painting before and after work at a frame shop to selling 500 watercolors, managing 8 gallery relationships, and investing in real estate—all while keeping her...
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What Artists Need to Know About SEO with Meg Casebolt (222)
The Art Biz
You work hard on your art. You want people to discover it. But if you’re relying entirely on social media to be found, you're building on shaky ground. Search engines like Google, YouTube, and even Pinterest remain powerful tools for helping people find you and your art—but only if you’re strategic about how you show up there. In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield talks with her go-to SEO coach, Meg Casebolt, about what artists need to know about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and how to take ownership of your content online. Meg helped Alyson make sense of 20+ years of...
info_outlineGetting gallery representation isn’t just about having great work—it’s about preparation, professionalism, and relationships.
At Gabba Gallery in Los Angeles, those values are at the heart of how things run. For more than a decade, owner and director Jason Ostro has led the gallery’s mission to elevate emerging and mid-career artists, while curator and manager Elena Jacobson makes sure every show runs smoothly. Together, they bring a practical and deeply human perspective to the artist-gallery partnership.
In this conversation, host Alyson Stanfield talks with Jason and Elena about:
- How they collaborate and divide responsibilities at Gabba Gallery.
- The qualities they look for in artists and what makes someone a strong fit.
- Common mistakes artists make when submitting or working with galleries.
- Why proper preparation makes a big difference in working with an artist (or not).
- How Gabba’s 50/50 commission model works and what artists should know about gallery finances.
- Why relationships, networking, and trust are just as important as talent.
Whether you’re actively seeking gallery representation or want to better understand the dynamics behind the scenes, this episode offers honest insight into what it takes to succeed.
Takeaway: Showing your work in a gallery isn’t a handoff—it’s a partnership. The more you understand the gallery’s role, the stronger your relationship (and opportunities) will be.
🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS
Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (ep. 123)
Why Artists Should Embrace Galleries (article for some perspective)
The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (ep. 19) — how she juggles 7 or 8 galleries
The Art Biz Unfiltered: Dealer Michael Findlay on Collectors, Curiosity, and Changes (ep. 209) — longtime NY gallerist on his memoir
Why I Want Partnerships with Art Galleries with Evita Tezeno (ep. 175)
📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/gabba-gallery
⭐️ Connect with Elena and Jason and read about the artists they represent at https://gabbagallery.com
🔶 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/