The Art Biz

We usually start a long-term project with a specific goal or set of expectations in mind. Rarely does the project turn out the way we thought it would. More often than not, it's better than we had imagined. But before we can get to that point of admitting that the change might have actually led to an improvement in the original plan, we have to struggle, to question our assumptions or to ask for m...

Some artists just know what they want, and some know what they don't want. My guest for this episode has a lot of clarity about both. On this episode of The Art Biz, I'm talking with Alicia Goodwin, who worked as a jewelry designer for a number of individuals and companies before transitioning to her own full time jewelry business, Lingua Nigra. As an encourager, Alicia wants artists to go for it....

Have you ever experienced success in any area and then realized it wasn't exactly what you wanted after all? My guest today experienced unexpected and surprising growth as her Instagram following quickly grew from 10,000 followers to over 70,000 followers in just a few years. In this episode of The Art Biz, I'm talking to Sara Schroeder. We talk about the creative way that she overcame her fear of...

You are not alone. It may seem like you are at times because you do so much work by yourself in the studio, but the art ecosystem is enormous and you are not alone. There are so many good people who are advocating on behalf of and supporting artists in their businesses and careers. I want you to know about these resources so that you can tap into them. They're waiting for you. In this episode of T...

Artists need writers. They are a critical part of the art ecosystem. Look back on any art movement from the past century in the U.S. and you'll find a writer behind its day in the spotlight. My guest for this episode of The Art Biz is artist and writer Philip Hartigan. As you'll hear, he's not quite sure what order those labels should be in. In some respects, the writing came first, but the art ha...

Members of the general public enjoy their visits to art centers and museums without much thought as to how the art got into those spaces in the first place. Who decides on what to show and when to show it? Who decides what works to put next to one another and where to put a nail in the wall or a pedestal on the floor? Or even what color to paint the walls? All of these decisions, and more, fall un...

For too long I have been noticing artists posting things like this on social media: 'Fresh off the easel! What do you think?' or 'I'm experimenting with . Let me know what you think!' What do I think? Do you really want to know what I think? In this solo episode of The Art Biz I want to talk about feedback. When you ask people 'what do you think' you are asking for their feedback, whether it's int...

Risk is scary. Rejection stinks. Resilience seems elusive. When I think of these three R words, the word practice comes to mind. Taking one step at a time over and over again because we know it is the only way to make big progress. In order to embrace risk, we have to practice. We step into it, try it on, and, almost always, discover that it isn't as bad as the soundtrack we were playing in our he...

Why is it so hard for us to take care of ourselves? We all get busy. We feel a sense of urgency to keep up and do more. But if we're honest, we realize that very little is really urgent. Still, all of this hustle means we neglect habits and routines that will keep us well and give us energy for work in and out of the studio. And it's even harder when you're also responsible for caring for others....

We need art. Some of us need it more than others, and for some of us, it's as necessary as the air we breathe. My guest on this episode of The Art Biz is Rich Simmons, a London-based artist who insists that art saved his life. Rich is not an art therapist, but he is an advocate for the therapy of an art practice. He knows from first-hand experience that art heals. Rich has struggled with depressio...

There is an urgency to making the work and getting it out there so that you can find the people who respond to it, but it becomes much harder to accomplish much of anything if your body aches from the physically demanding work you do, or your shoulders are tense from hunkering over the computer all afternoon, or you're living on caffeine and wine, or especially if you aren't sleeping. If you want...

Lots of artists make a good living, or at least a significant part of their income, from commissions. The standard commission process is something we don't question, but what would happen if you turned the whole commission process on its head? In this episode I talk with Leisa Collins, who started her art business by targeting people whose homes she wanted to paint. After a few failed attempts at...

So many art venues shut down during the pandemic, and I'm sure many of the people that ran those venues mourn for not only what might have been, but also the fact that there wasn't an opportunity for closure. My guest for this episode of The Art Biz is Mai Wyn Schantz, an artist who was also a gallerist when she closed her space at the beginning of COVID. She hated to lose the relationships she ha...

People. You need them. You need people to buy your art, people to show your art, people to attend your shows, people to write about your work and let's face it. You need people to support you emotionally along the way. You need other artists around who get you. It's in these friendships that you will find understanding as well as ideas that challenge you to be a better artist. The relationships yo...

We're all about the quest for more followers, more likes, more shares, more views, and more comments these days. It feels good when more people respond to your art because art is a form of communication. It's the means you use to share your ideas and your soul with the world. But that self-expression isn't meaningful until other people respond. Until they comment, share, and start a dialogue with...

It takes a great deal of effort to find the right person to help with your art business, so you want to get it right. That means you need to find a way to retain good team members. You want them to take ownership in your business and pride in the work they do on your behalf. You may not be thinking about this from the beginning of the relationship with a new team member because you're so focused o...

In order to have a successful working relationship with anyone, you need guiding ground rules. You need employee policies and agreements, and boundaries have to be established, especially when you're working with family. It can feel unnecessary to enact these formal arrangements with those close to us, and yet it's even more important to have them when you're navigating the relationships that mean...

It can be very difficult to hire someone to help with your business, but if you want your business to grow, there comes a point at which you must hire to support that growth. And the wisdom is to hire before you think you can afford it. In this episode I talk with Angela Fehr and Robin Edmundson. Angela has been building a thriving business teaching heart-led watercolor, along with a community of...

Whenever you have multiple styles or subjects, you probably also have multiple audiences. This can also mean that you're essentially running multiple businesses. I'd never tell you not to do this, though I'd be tempted, because experimentation and play are such important parts of your life as an artist. But I will always caution you about the extra work involved. Today we're examining the work and...

Does the thought of expanding your mailing list give you a headache? Do you constantly push tending your mailing list to the back burner because it feels like the least productive or enjoyable task on your lengthy to-do list? Your mailing list is your art business's #1 marketing asset, but it's absolutely useless if you aren't using it and intent on growing it. Too many artists neglect their maili...

Why do we make things so difficult for ourselves sometimes? We don't mean to. It's our nature to appreciate simple solutions that we can quickly grasp and execute. I think we unnecessarily complicate our businesses because we lose focus. We get distracted by social media posts and emails. The next great invention makes it to our line of vision and we suddenly wonder how we ever did without it. And...

Welcome to the 100th episode of The Art Biz! In this milestone episode, the tables are turned as I become the guest of host Cynthia Morris. Cynthia was one of the first guests on my second attempt at this podcast, and I have learned so much from her wit and wisdom. In our conversation, Cynthia is set on helping me not only celebrate this important milestone but also reflect on just how far this po...

What can you do if your art business isn't profitable? When you've trimmed business expenses as far as you can, the only other thing you can do to be profitable is to increase your income. Your goal as the CEO of your art business should be to increase income and lower expenses while also increasing joy and lowering your frustration level. In this solo episode, you will learn about the income-acce...

Being profitable as an artist doesn't necessarily mean you need to do more. Sometimes it's about doing less by being discerning about what you take on and where you invest your energy. This is extremely difficult to do when you are trying to show and sell your art. You want to do more. To add new income streams and the latest marketing platforms. The ads and social media posts want you to do more....

Sometimes you just need to throw out the old models for doing business and try something totally new. Maybe you're bored with business as usual. Maybe the results aren't as profitable as they were in the past. Or maybe you are no longer enjoying the same old way of doing business. It's okay to go off-script. In this episode, I talk with ceramic artist Patricia Griffin. If you visit her website dur...