Being the Artist I Want My Son to See with Stephanie Brown (248)

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, workshops, and grants

07:30 When paying for a residency is worth it (and when it's not)

08:30 The mistake of saying yes to a show just to meet a quota

10:30 Why motherhood pushed Stephanie's art practice harder instead of pausing it

12:20 What "your mom does for a living" should teach about possibility and freedom

18:30 The tools that keep multiple income streams organized

25:30 Why direct outreach finally started working after years of silence

27:30 If forced to choose only one income stream, this would be it—and why

🏃STEPHANIE'S ACTION FOR YOU

Make a list of the top ten things you're most scared to do in your art career. Then do the scariest thing on that list.

Maybe it's reaching out directly to a gallery you admire. Maybe it's raising your prices. Maybe it's applying to that prestigious residency you've been bookmarking for years. Maybe it's finally having an honest conversation about money with your partner or family.

The scary thing is usually the thing that will move you forward the most.

🔶 ESSENTIALS

If you need structure and support while you're doing the scary things, that's exactly what we provide in Essentials for Artist Success. We help you build a sustainable foundation for your art business with ongoing lessons, accountability, and coaching. Because taking action is always easier when you're not doing it alone.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128)

Juggling Multiple Art Styles and Audiences with Robin Maria Pedrero (ep. 103)

Transform Your Creative Ideas into Multiple Income Streams: Helen Hiebert (ep. 18)

Raising Prices on Your Art, Valuing Community, and Balancing Motherhood with Bri Larson (ep. 166)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/motherhood-brown

⭐️ Connect with Stephanie and see more of her art: https://stephaniebphotos.com

⛰️ 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/