Creating Artist-Centered Opportunities with Jennifer Steck (230)
Release Date: 06/26/2025
Artist Friendships that Lead to Collaborative Exhibitions and Opportunities (249)
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host: Alyson Stanfield Alicia Bailey and Melinda Laz are part of a four-artist collaborative group in Denver that's been working together for years because it's made them better artists. In this conversation, they share the practical realities of collaboration: the systems that keep things organized, the communication that prevents problems, and the trust that makes it all possible. If you've ever wondered whether working with other artists is worth the effort, this episode will show you what's possible when you get it right. 🔦HIGHLIGHTS 01:50 How their friendship evolved into collaboration...
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Being the Artist I Want My Son to See with Stephanie Brown (248)
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In part one of this conversation (episode 247), Stephanie Brown shared how she strategically funded her education and built her early career foundation. Now it's time to talk about what happens next: the messy, real, day-to-day work of sustaining an art practice. Stephanie breaks down her actual income streams with host Alyson Stanfield—sharing her five-year vision for gallery representation and explaining how becoming a mother made her bolder and more focused rather than holding her back. 🔦 HIGHLIGHTS 03:50 Stephanie’s income percentages from consulting, speaking, art sales,...
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The Strategic Artist: Zero Debt Art Degrees with Stephanie Brown (247)
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Too many artists graduate from art school with crushing debt and then spend years figuring out how to make money while trying to maintain a studio practice. Stephanie Brown did the opposite. She graduated from a private art school debt-free, secured a fully funded MFA, and has been treating her art career like a business from day one. In this conversation with host Alyson Stanfield, Stephanie breaks down exactly how she did it, and why being strategic about money doesn't make you any less of an artist. 🔦 HIGHLIGHTS 02:00 Why interactive art transforms viewers into participants and creates...
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Are You Undermining Your Art's Value? (246)
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Your art doesn't exist in a vacuum. Where and how you show your work shapes how people perceive its value before they even look closely at the piece itself. The venue, the lighting, the labels, the other work nearby—all of it sends signals about whether your art should be taken seriously. In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield explores what falls within your control and what doesn't, and why understanding that difference can transform how collectors see you and your work. She encourages you to vet opportunities before committing, establish non-negotiables to establish for...
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Strategic Networking and Visibility Beyond Art World Centers with La Vaughn Belle (245)
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host: Alyson Stanfield La Vaughn Belle is a visual artist based in St. Croix whose interdisciplinary practice explores colonial histories and Caribbean identity. Host Alyson Stanfield talks with La Vaughn about building a thriving art career outside traditional art centers through strategic networking, intentional collaboration, and the bold decision to hire a publicist for her monument project I Am Queen Mary. La Vaughn reveals How she built strategic networks that expanded her reach beyond her local community Why collaboration with people outside her discipline opened unexpected doors The...
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Mutual Respect Between Artists and Galleries with Katherine Hébert (244)
The Art Biz
Working with a gallery means putting your art, reputation, and trust in someone else’s hands. That relationship can be transformative (or tense) depending on how it’s managed on either side. In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield talks with Katherine Hébert, founder of Gallery Fuel, which helps small and mid-size galleries strengthen their businesses. Katherine has seen both sides of the artist–gallery dynamic and knows what helps these relationships thrive: communication, transparency, and mutual respect. You’ll hear: What mutual respect between artists and galleries...
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What to Do With 400 Paintings: Artist Legacy and Economic Reality with Alissa Quart (243)
The Art Biz
When Alissa Quart's 90-year-old mother received a terminal diagnosis, she faced a daunting question: what to do with 400 paintings created over three decades. Her solution was unconventional, distributing the work directly to neighbors, friends, and anyone who wanted to live with her mother's art. The story she shares with host Alyson Stanfield touches on something much larger: what artists actually need to sustain their practice and how we think about legacy when the traditional art world isn't an option. You’ll learn: How to approach inventorying and distributing an artist's work when...
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Community, Kinship, and Career Stability with Malene Barnett (242)
The Art Biz
host: Alyson Stanfield Artist and activist Malene Barnett joins host Alyson Stanfield to unpack how she balances a multidisciplinary practice while designing work that “holds memory” in space. Malene shares the planning, community, and process-sharing that keep a long, installation-driven practice moving, and she offers a resonant lens on clay as a tool for liberation grounded in Caribbean and West African heritage. Bits of her wisdom: Plan your studio around time-intensive mediums so momentum never stalls. On social media, share process, tools, and research to connect when finished work...
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Maybe It's Time to Rethink Pinterest with Hayley Price (241)
The Art Biz
host: Alyson Stanfield Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and home décor—it’s one of the most underutilized marketing tools for artists. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield talks with artist coach Hayley Price about how she’s still getting traffic from pins created years ago and why Pinterest should be part of your long-term strategy. Discover how to turn your existing content into evergreen visibility for your art. Why Pinterest functions more like a search engine than a social platform How pins can drive traffic for years, not hours or days The easiest way to start using Pinterest...
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Entrepreneurial Fatigue, Market Uncertainty, and the Case for Slowing Down with Katie Hunt (240)
The Art Biz
Host Alyson Stanfield talks with Katie Hunt about the findings from her 2025 State of the Product Industry survey. While Katie’s audience includes product-based artists and makers, many of the themes—pricing pressures, burnout, and the need for stronger systems—apply across the creative sector. They explore what’s really happening behind the scenes of creative businesses right now: why some are thriving while others are closing or stalling, how tariffs are complicating planning and profitability, and the surprising number of businesses still not using email marketing. Katie and Alyson...
info_outlineA 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 episode, she shares how a simple idea (and a lot of spreadsheets!) grew into a platform connecting artists with buyers and each other.
In this conversation, host Alyson Stanfield talks with Jennifer about:
- Her “aha” moment as a new artist that inspired an artist-centered online gallery.
- The key qualities Jennifer looks for (like clarity, consistency, and an active practice) when reviewing an artist’s online presence—and what might make her pass.
- Why community and collaboration are baked into the Artburst model, and how they benefit every artist involved.
- Strategies for overcoming artists’ reluctance to promote their work and engage their audiences.
- How fear, perfectionism, and overthinking can sabotage art sales—and ways to avoid these common pitfalls.
⌛️ HIGHLIGHTS
00:35 Meet Jennifer Steck – From police captain to artist entrepreneur.
06:00 The “aha” moment – How a Facebook art auction sparked the idea for Artburst Studios.
10:30 Running a virtual art show – Artburst’s short pop-up exhibitions and the importance of artists actively promoting their work.
13:45 Emphasizing community – Encouraging artists to support one another and provide great experiences for their buyers.
16:00 Choosing the right artists – What Jennifer looks for online (and the red flags that make her say “no thanks”).
22:10 Personal touch in sales – How Artburst handles sales and gets artists directly connected with their buyers.
26:30 Why artists resist marketing – Understanding the stigma around self-promotion and how Jennifer helps artists move past it.
35:00 Conquering common mindset blocks – Tackling fear of exposure, perfectionism, and “analysis paralysis” that can hold artists back.
40:00 Looking ahead – Jennifer’s plans to launch the Artburst Boutique for smaller, more frequent art shows.
44:00 Final encouragement – An open invitation for artists to get involved, and why showing up (like attending shows) is so important before seeking opportunities.
🎧 RELATED EPISODES
Not All Online Galleries are Created Equal with Alex Farkas (ep. 132)
Presenting Yourself Professionally on Your Artist Website with Jessica Burko (ep. 174)
Selling Directly to Collectors at Open Studios with Jeff Schaller (ep. 195)
📖 To read and see more visit https://artbizsuccess.com/artburst-steck
⭐️ Connect with Jennifer and see what she’s up to at ArtburstStudios.com and see her art at JenniferSteck.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 ! ~ ~
At Art Biz Success and on this show, we believe in DEI. 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/