The Art Biz

Looking for art career inspiration and ideas while you’re working in the studio or schlepping your art across the country? Alyson Stanfield helps you be a more productive artist, a more empowered artist, and a more successful artist.

Maintaining Your Studio Practice with a Busy Teaching Schedule with Sally Hirst (#164) 09/28/2023

Maintaining Your Studio Practice with a Busy Teaching Schedule with Sally Hirst (#164) Sally Hirst was born to teach. Fortunately, she was also born an artist. Like most of us, she adapted to the new reality that she was faced with at the beginning of the pandemic. Well, actually, she did more than adapt. She thrived. She took the challenge head on and has been thriving ever since. Sally and I discuss what her income sources looked like before Covid and look like now. Specifically, we talk about her teaching: The teaching platform she uses and why she chose it The skills she had to acquire in order to teach online Her video recording setup What her teaching schedule looks like in terms of what is pre-recorded and what is live. How she attracts new students. Sally reveals how Brexit has impacted her goals—especially where she shows and sells her art. And I wondered: How does Sally manage to maintain her studio practice with her busy teaching schedule? 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit ⭐️ Connect with Sally, see more of her art, and find out about her art courses: ✴️ NOW AVAILABLE: THE MONEY PLAN You do have some control (plenty, actually) over how much money you earn, and it starts with getting real about your current situation and the vision. you have. The Money Plan is my success workshop for accelerating your income and it’s now available on demand. In it, I lead you through a series of steps where you identify your income sources and set goals for how you will earn more from them. You’ll be able to clearly see which are worth your time and attention. The Money Plan gives you a realistic, though hopeful and challenging, blueprint for increasing your income in the future. It’s a plan that only you could make with a tool that you will be able to reuse at every point in your art business. Learn more and enroll now at 🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS (ep. 161) (ep. 159) (ep. 74) ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/28160063

Leaving Gallery Representation to Reach More Art Buyers with Adele Sypesteyn (remix) (#63) 09/14/2023

Leaving Gallery Representation to Reach More Art Buyers with Adele Sypesteyn (remix) (#63) This episode is a remix of episode 36 from 2019. It is such an inspiring interview that I wanted more people to hear it. Adele Sypesteyn has been making a living from her art for four decades. Listen in as she takes us through her journey of selling her art, from the traditional process of applying to galleries to a more strategic approach that involved teaching herself about business and pivoting in the face of economic downturns. Adele also shares how she transitioned from galleries to the antique show in Round Top, Texas, where she made excellent connections with hundreds of interior designers. Adele discussed testing a new concept for teaching art to children and shares her approach to teaching herself about business, especially during the recession. You'll hear about how she embraced the concept of viewing her art as a product, combining creativity with research to make her work more marketable. Finally, Adele shares how she has adapted her income streams, shifting from relying on galleries to events and online classes. She talks about how she used YouTube as a lead magnet to grow her business and shares her strategy of going out where people are to learn what they want and need from her art. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES (ep. 33) (ep. 123) (ep. 23) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit ⭐️ Connect with Adele and see more of her art: 🔶 Sponsored by the Create Opportunities Challenge 🔶 a 3-month program this fall to help you find and improve venues for showing, selling, and/or teaching art. It’s about being intentional rather than waiting for an email in your inbox. Find out more and see if it’s for you = ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is a special 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 ~~~~> /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/28012518

She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be Every Month with Kelly Pelfrey (#162) 09/07/2023

She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be Every Month with Kelly Pelfrey (#162) Lately, I’ve been diving into money on The Art Biz. As much as I do NOT want to talk about money, I know it’s necessary. I also know it’s more necessary for some artists to make money from their work than for others. If you’re lucky enough to have outside support for your art business—even if it’s from a day job—count your blessings. Because the pressure on the work is real when you don’t have that extra source of income, which is why I will continue to bring up the topic of money. Let’s continue the conversation in this episode. Kelly Pelfrey’s goal in 2020 was to replace her $50,000 teaching salary, but she quadrupled that. Her income has allowed her husband to leave his job to focus on his doctorate, feel comfortable about taking maternity leave, and save for college for her children. Kelly shares her income sources, which are dominated by sales of commissions, followed distantly by releases of small paintings. She also sells art for TV screens, has a monthly print release, and a coffee table book. Kelly obviously has the pulse of her best collectors. Her work is strong for sure, but I also believe that people are buying into Kelly’s joy and optimism. When you hear her and detect that in her voice, I think you’ll know what I mean. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit ⭐️ Connect with Kelly and see more of her art: ✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that. Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to to make sure you don’t miss it. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS (ep. 161) (ep. 159) (ep. 74) ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/27948078

My Money Odyssey and the Evolution of Art Biz Success with The Bottom Line (#161) 08/30/2023

My Money Odyssey and the Evolution of Art Biz Success with The Bottom Line (#161) In this episode, I’m doing something different and sharing my money odyssey from an interview with Parker Stevenson of The Bottom Line podcast by Evolved Finance. I reveal: How my dad taught me to balance my checkbook (and how it was quite different from my mother’s suggestion). How I learned to ask for money by collecting money for charities as a little girl. That I set the curve in my accounting classes at the University of Wyoming. How I gamed the system to get cash because I knew the checks I was writing would take 8 days to process. How little money I had when I quit my museum job to start my business. How I came up with the income accelerator for artists, which I teach in success workshop and . ⭐️ ABOUT The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker Stevenson sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. Parker is the Chief Business Officer at , an accounting firm that specializes in helping online entrepreneurs to build more profitable and financially stable online businesses. They do all of the bookkeeping for Art Biz Success and I just love how professional their whole operation is. They don’t just do the books, they also go to great lengths to educate their clients. 📖 🎧 RELATED EPISODES and POSTS (ep. 159) (ep. 74) 🔶 Sponsored by The Money Plan 🔶 a success workshop for accelerating your income. ⛰️ 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 ~~~~> /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/27883377

Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley (#160) 08/24/2023

Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley (#160) Heather Beardsley’s art has been influenced by extensive travel and residencies in diverse cultures. This started with her year in Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar and then continued for several years until the pandemic shut down her residency in Kyiv, Ukraine. Like everyone else, Heather had to pivot upon returning to the U.S. She used the downtime to her advantage by getting organized and shaping her career path. In our conversation in this episode of The Art Biz, you’ll hear how she managed to transform her social anxiety into opportunities—realizing that real growth could only happen when she overcame the urge to play it safe by sticking to open call entries. Heather has learned to navigate the complex art world with intention while connecting with institutions and curators to propel her career. She shares her experiences of the following: Securing exhibition fees, grants, and residencies while managing expectations. The importance of being organized and ready for opportunities. Using Microsoft OneNote to organize opportunities and deadlines. Building authentic relationships within the art world where so much can seem transactional. You’ll also hear about Heather’s current solo show at the Chrysler Museum of Art and how it came about. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit ⭐️ Connect with Heather and see more of her art: ✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that. Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to to make sure you don’t miss it. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES These episodes have exhibition venues as a primary focus: (ep. 136) (ep. 8) (ep. 11) ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/27831543

How Do Artists Make Money (#159) 08/17/2023

Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (#158) 08/10/2023

Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (#158) In this episode, I talk with Jan McCarthy, who wants you to know that there is plenty of life to live after 50. And even 60. She describes herself as a maker because, in her eyes, that term encompasses more than the word “artist.” Jan has started businesses, founded organizations, designed interiors, organized fundraisers, dinner parties, retreats, and workshops, and made plenty of products and art. Jan and I discuss: The creativity workshops she has organized for corporations. How she has brought together monthly mastermind meetings of women, and why a casual dinner party was the best format for them. Why her project Art for the Heart is important for her as someone who has lived with heart disease for more than 25 years. How she makes connections with interior designers, what the best social media platforms are for designers, and some of their concerns. How she gets such great photos of herself. While I’m in the midst of discussing multiple income sources on this podcast and on YouTube, I don’t think Jan thinks of her efforts in terms of income sources. She just follows the themes that interest her. If they turn into income sources, well, that’s fine, too. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit ⭐️ Connect with Jan, see her art and products: ✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that. Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to to make sure you don’t miss it. ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/27706611

Being Present Can Help Increase Art Sales with Sarah Becktel (#157) 08/03/2023

Using Patreon as a Teaching Platform with Kimberly Santini (#156) 07/27/2023

Using Patreon as a Teaching Platform with Kimberly Santini (#156) In this episode, I talk with Kimberly Santini about a variety of topics, including how she used Covid as a sabbatical to figure out what she really wanted from her art. We also touched on her dedication to blogging and why she continues the habit after so many artists have given up or neglected their blogs. The bulk of our conversation focused on how Kim uses Patreon to teach and build a community of artists. We discuss: What she charges for her Patreon patron tiers. What each tier receives for their patronage. What her workflow is like. Why it’s important that what she shares on Patreon is closely aligned with what she is doing in the studio. How she differentiates the content for patrons from the content she creates for her blog, newsletter, YouTube, and social media. ✴️ COMING UP: THE MONEY PLAN If you aren’t clear about where your money is coming from, I strongly encourage you to figure it out. It’s only with that clarity that you can plan properly for the future. I can help with that. Soon after the release of this episode I’ll be leading The Money Plan artist success workshop. Seating at the live sessions of the workshop—where you can ask questions and interact with other artist-planners—will be limited, and there will also be a replay available. But if you want to attend live, you need to get on the interest list. You can hit pause right now and go to to make sure you don’t miss it. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES These episodes have teaching as a primary focus: Making a Living as a Teaching Artist with Elizabeth St. Hilaire (ep 4) Collaborating on Your Art Business with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin (ep 86) Gaining Marketing Skills Quickly by Leading a Creativity Challenge with Kristen O’Neill (ep 145) The Key to Success on Social Media with Cathy Nichols (ep 154) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit ⭐️ Connect with Kim and see more of her art: ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/27553665

6 Ways to Be Happier About Running an Art Business (#155) 07/20/2023

The Key to Success on Social Media with Cathy Nichols (#154) 07/13/2023

Committed to Telling Native Stories Through Her Art and Activism with Danielle SeeWalker (#153) 06/29/2023

How to Squeeze More Time from Your Busy Calendar (#152) 06/22/2023

Running an Artist Residency Alongside a Studio Practice with Shannon Amidon (#151) 06/15/2023

How to Project Confidence Even When You're Not Feeling It (#150) 06/08/2023

The Traveling Artist: Residencies with Amy Clay (#149) 06/01/2023

Being Seen: Networking for Artists (#148) 04/27/2023

How to Guarantee that People Remember You with Skip Hill (#147) 04/20/2023

Remember The Many Opportunities We Have Because We're Online with Barbara Muir (#146) 04/13/2023

Gaining Marketing Skills Quickly by Leading a Creativity Challenge with Kristen O'Neill (#145) 03/23/2023

Gaining Marketing Skills Quickly by Leading a Creativity Challenge with Kristen O'Neill (#145) 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: 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 challenge. (22:25) Staying motivated and accountable throughout a challenge. (27:52) Tracking the participation, success, and results of the challenge. (30:15) The value of Pinterest for artists. (38:30) What Kristen would do differently next time. (41:07) This Week’s Action Your assignment this week is to consider how you are stretching yourself in and out of the studio these days. Mentioned Related Episodes Quotes “I’m always looking for different opportunities and ways to reach out to more students and interact with more painters.” — Kristen O’Neill “It’s really important to honor what you say you’re going to do with your list.” — Kristen O’Neill “I picked up lessons more quickly than had I done the same amount of work spread over a longer period of time.” — Kristen O’Neill “If you haven’t figured out your system ahead of time, it’s going to be harder than it needs to be.” — Kristen O’Neill “Often we spend so much time guessing what is the right way to do something, and we could put that energy into just doing it.” — Kristen O’Neill About My Guest Kristen O’Neill paints the essence of landscapes based on real locations, including those from recent collaborations with long-distance hikers. Her Oregon Coast Trail series was featured in a solo exhibition at the Grants Pass Museum of Art. Kristen graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and now lives in Southern Oregon where she has become passionate about teaching art. She teaches both online and in-person, leads a field trip program that has taught art history to thousands of 5th graders, and is an Artist Mentor for Alyson Stanfield’s community since 2018. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/26314902

How We Run Our Art Documentary Group and What We Watch (#144) 03/16/2023

Proactively Planning Your Art Legacy with Heather K. Powers (#143) 03/02/2023

Proactively Planning Your Art Legacy with Heather K. Powers (#143) 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 an important part of planning your art legacy. My conversation with Heather can help you get started. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/death-powers-podcast Highlights Normalizing conversations about your death and legacy. (2:10) Heather’s coaching process includes getting more comfortable talking about death. (6:48) What do you value in your legacy? How can artists better prepare their legacy for after death? (10:28) Finding the value of clutter requires understanding and compassion. (15:27) Destroying the artwork that you don’t want to be known for. (19:19) Define the value of each level of your work so you can better process it. (24:55) Tools and resources to help document your art. (32:32) This Week’s Action Your assignment this week is to start thinking about your legacy. Eventually you will need to prioritize the tasks necessary, but you can’t do it all at once. Take one of these steps: Sign up for Artwork Archive, update your inventory, finally recycle that work you don’t want to show up under your name, have a conversation with your family about your wishes, or declutter a space. Mentioned Related Episodes Quotes “Death is a normal part of life, but the more we put off thinking or talking about it the more uncomfortable it becomes.” — Heather K. Powers “We can take into our own hands what is important to us as a generation and pass it on to the next generation.” — Heather K. Powers “What do you value in your legacy? And what do you perceive might be of value to others? Those things are often not in alignment.” — Heather K. Powers “Start early and keep good records. It doesn’t have to be that complicated.” — Heather K. Powers “When we get rid of work one way or another, we make space for new work to come in.” — Heather K. Powers About My Guest With a BFA in Fiber from Savannah College of Art and Design, Heather Powers has had a productive career as a textile designer—collaborating on worldwide projects in various capacities. In 2010, she launched her design and professional organizing business. Her work as an organizer places her among artists, craftspeople, and collectors, which gives her an intimate understanding of how individuals retain use and live with material culture. In 2021, Heather graduated with an MFA in Critical Craft. She continues to research textile history, weave, and use natural dye techniques in which her work investigates memory, place, and identity themes through discarded vintage ephemera and materials. Please to find out how she works with her clients in person and online and follow her on Instagram @. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/26085063

Activate Your Marketing for a Bigger Audience (#142) 02/23/2023

Worrying About the Economy with Elaine Luttrull (#141) 02/16/2023

Worrying About the Economy with Elaine Luttrull (#141) 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: Highlights Defining inflation and its effect on every aspect of pricing. (1:50) What exactly is a recession and what role do rising interest rates play? (5:35) The impact of these economic factors on artists. (12:48) Combating uncertainty with effective business strategies. (15:32) Your target client in times of economic uncertainty. (20:05) Opportunities that are presented in challenging times. (24:16) Consider potentially terrible ideas to get to the good ones. (33:03) Seven strategies for artists to use during inflation and recession. (33:04) This Week’s Action Your first action for the week is to look at your expenses and see where you might be able to save. I suggest keeping a list of all ongoing subscriptions as well as regular expenses and reviewing it every so often. Your second action is to check out Elaine’s $15 course on inflation and recession by following the link below. Mentioned Resources Quotes “Inflation is not always a pleasant topic. It’s scary, it takes up our brain space, and it’s a distraction from what we really need to be doing creatively in our businesses.” — Elaine Luttrull “All of the strategies we typically think about for coping with the uncertainty of the arts are suddenly being impacted too.” — Elaine Luttrull “Think carefully. Do your research and talk to peers about how things feel in the art market right now.” — Elaine Luttrull “When the market is doing interesting things is the moment to really focus on the community aspect.” — Elaine Luttrull “Anything we can do to reassess and tighten our spending without compromising quality or making our lives harder is a really good strategy right now.” — Elaine Luttrull “Artists are better than pretty much anyone else at navigating uncertainty, so we’ll navigate all of this as well and keep making really incredible work too.” — Elaine Luttrull About My Guest Elaine Grogan Luttrull, CPA-PFS, AFC® (she/her) is the founder of Minerva Financial Arts, a company devoted to building financial literacy and empowerment in creative individuals through education and coaching. Her workshops and presentations have been featured nationally by groups that support the arts, a variety of state and regional arts councils and commissions, and colleges and universities where creative students thrive. Elaine spent 10 years in academia, teaching at the Columbus College of Art & Design and serving as the Department Head for Business & Entrepreneurship from 2014-2018. Before that, Elaine served as the Director of Financial Analysis for The Juilliard School and in the Transaction Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young in New York. Elaine is the author of Arts & Numbers (Agate, B2 2013), and she contributes regularly to industry guides, including those from the Center for Cultural Innovation and the Joan Mitchell Foundation. She also serves on the boards of the Short North Alliance and Healing Broken Circles. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/25955016

A Sales Process for Artists with Miriam Schulman (#140) 01/26/2023

A Sales Process for Artists with Miriam Schulman (#140) 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 in sales success. (12:30) Developing a confident belief in the value of your art. (14:47) The first 5 steps of selling your art. (21:05) Body language, previewing the process, and establishing the decision maker. (27:37) Sell with stories, not facts, and selling happy endings. (33:10) Overcoming objections with the right language. (40:07) Close the sale by asking for it. (42:45) This Week’s Action This week’s action has two parts. Part 1 is to download the free chapter of Artpreneur at schulmanart.com/believe. Part 2 is to write out Miriam’s 10 steps in the sales process and post them somewhere so you’re reminded that it is a process. You need to be invested in the steps of the process in order for it to work. Mentioned Resources Quotes “Once I started making the connection between sales in general and selling for art and understood that there wasn't a difference, I became a student of marketing and sales, and that has made all the difference.” — Miriam Schulman “Marketing 101 is investing in human relationships.” — Miriam Schulman “My art, going out into people’s homes, became ambassadors for me.” — Miriam Schulman “Mindset is everything. Mindset trumps talent.” — Miriam Schulman “Overcoming objections is about having compassion for the buyer and knowing where they are coming from.” — Miriam Schulman About My Guest Miriam Schulman is an artist and founder of The Inspiration Place, where she helps other artists learn how to profit from their passion or become better artists. She’s helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love. Her art and story have been featured in major publications including Forbes, The New York Times, Art of Man, Art Journaling magazine, What Women Create as well as featured on NBC’s “Parenthood” and the Amazon series “Hunters” with Al Pacino. Schulman’s forthcoming book with HarperCollins Leadership Artpreneur is scheduled to be released on January 31, 2023. First posted: ArtBizSuccess.com/sales-schulman-podcast /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/25704369

Your Decision Filter: 8 Considerations for Making Decisions for Your Art Business (#139) 01/20/2023

4 Key Considerations for Wholesaling Your Art with Katie Hunt (#138) 01/05/2023

4 Key Considerations for Wholesaling Your Art with Katie Hunt (#138) 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 wholesaling and retailing. (4:20) The importance of selling in larger quantities at a lower price in wholesale. (6:53) How is licensing different than wholesaling? (12:20) What type of artists are a good fit for wholesaling? (13:41) Focusing on one revenue stream at a time — before wholesaling. (17:58) Foundational checkpoint number one — Is your product line strong? (20:20) Are your sales tools in place? (26:20) Outreach and marketing — detailing your artwork and your terms and conditions. (29:18) Step number four — solidifying your operations and systems. (31:07) Handling criticism and rejection when wholesaling. (32:38) Paper Camp and other resources for artists considering wholesale. (35:52) 4 considerations Katie bases every decision on. (40:50) First posted: This Week’s Assignment This week’s assignment has 2 options. Option 1 is to review Katie’s 4 considerations for wholesaling to decide whether or not it’s a direction you want to go. If you want to see those again in a list, visit this episode at . Katie’s format is so straightforward and she is clear that wholesaling isn’t right for everyone. If you know that wholesaling isn’t for you, go for option 2, which is to write out her list of considerations for making business decisions and keep it nearby. Adjust it to your needs and revisit it often to stay on track. Mentioned Resources Quotes “There are so many ways we can sell our art, and each one requires a different foundation.” — Katie Hunt “With wholesale, we’re talking about a very different system of the sales process, the marketing process, even the fulfillment process.” — Katie Hunt “Artists don’t have to wholesale everything they make. They can create a special segment of their product line that is for wholesale.” — Katie Hunt “Before you take the plunge into wholesaling, you need to know you have an audience.” — Katie Hunt “The more we experience with the pitching process and putting ourselves, our art and our talents out there, the stronger we become.” — Katie Hunt About My Guest Katie Hunt is the founder of Proof to Product, the host of a podcast with the same title, and a business strategist who supports product-based business owners. 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. Katie’s work has been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Entrepreneur as well as dozens of business podcasts. She brings experience, education and a love of learning into her programs. Her strengths lie in connecting people & bringing ideas to life – brainstorming, making a plan and implementing. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/25515321

Accelerate Your Art Business in 2023 (#137) 12/22/2022

Putting Artists First in Curatorial Projects with Melissa Messina (#136) 12/15/2022

Putting Artists First in Curatorial Projects with Melissa Messina (#136) 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: 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 fellowships. (23:55) Curating an artist's estate is the joy of Melissa’s life. (26:53) What piquesMelissa’s interest in the artists she encounters? (32:01) The cities, websites, publications, and galleries where Melissa looks for artists. (35:00) Working with galleries as an independent curator. (38:04) The role that studio visits play in a curator-artist relationship. (40:54) What curators are looking for from a studio visit. (48:51) Correcting the mistakes that too many artists make. (50:54) This Week’s Assignment Research my guest Melissa Messina and start following her on social media. Then start researching independent curators in your area and start following them. Consider inviting them into your studio for a low-stress visit—and don’t forget to offer them a drink. Mentioned Resources Quotes “I’m constantly making calculations to see where an exhibition or project might percolate out of my experiences and relationships.” — Melissa Messina “Your network is everything.” — Melissa Messina “There are some really good artists with bad attitudes, and I would much rather give the opportunity to someone who is a joy to work with.” — Melissa Messina “I think artists would do better to let go of their expectations in a studio visit.” — Melissa Messina “Without the artist and their work, there wouldn’t be anything for us to do.” — Melissa Messina About My Guest Melissa Messina is a nationally recognized arts professional who has developed thought-provoking exhibitions, dynamic site-responsive projects and engaging educational public programming both independently and in leadership positions at museums and non-profit arts organizations. For 20 years, her work with regional, national, and international artists has been presented in the U.S. in Atlanta, Kansas City, Miami, New York, New Orleans, Richmond, Savannah, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Bermuda, France, and Hong Kong. She has lectured extensively and published widely, and her research has been funded by Creative Time and The Andy Warhol Foundation, as well as by fellowships at Emory University’s Stuart A. Rose Library, Atlanta, GA, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR. In addition to serving select public and private clients, she is the curator of the . She has also recently served as guest curator at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, and the New Orleans Museum of Art, and was the co-curator of the 2018 and 2020 Bermuda Biennials. In 2017, she co-created Magnetic Fields: Expanding American Abstraction, 1960s to Today, an intergenerational exhibition highlighting 21 Black female abstract practitioners that traveled from Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City to The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. /episode/index/show/artbiz/id/25160124

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The Art Biz

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