The Art Biz Creating Artist-Centered Opportunities with Jennifer Steck (230)
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 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/