The Art Biz

In this insightful discussion, the host reveals that the real hurdle for artists is not a lack of knowledge, but building confidence. Explore how January ambitions often fizzle out by February, and identify three main confidence killers: doubt, false beliefs, and comparison. Unpack the concept of perfectionism as a form of procrastination. Gain practical tips like creating a 'loved' file and daily wins list to combat self-doubt, while learning how self-care and visualization can fuel creative risk-taking.

Ebony Iman Dallas, a public artist based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, transforms Black history into vibrant murals and a graphic memoir. In this engaging conversation, she discusses her transition from advertising to art, where 90% of her income comes from public projects. Ebony reveals her struggles with marketing and the fear of rejection, advocating for proactive opportunities. She shares insights on building systems to track proposals and the importance of being visible through targeted marketing strategies. Her upcoming memoir aims to heal and empower through storytelling.

What happens when your creative process becomes overwhelming? The host dives into the identity struggles artists face when considering change. Instead of seeking more information, she emphasizes the importance of creating systems, boundaries, and frameworks to manage stress. Reflecting on personal experiences, she encourages artists to prioritize what truly matters and let go of unnecessary pressure. Discover insights on evolving practices, facing FOMO, and the courage to embrace a more sustainable artistic identity.

host: Alyson Stanfield In 2020, Dawn Trimble was laid off from her interior design job during the pandemic while navigating a divorce—and she felt relief. That moment became a turning point. Within months of painting full-time, she launched her first collection, which sold out in days and matched her corporate paycheck. Dawn talks about the practical steps she took to build momentum, what she brought from her design background into her art business, how she thinks about creativity as service rather than self-expression, and why she believes the most important thing any artist can do is simply start. HIGHLIGHTS 01:40 Dawn describes her serene watercolor paintings 03:00 The relief of being laid off during the pandemic 05:40 Creating her first collection and selling out in days 08:00 The three-legged stool business approach 26:00 Wall covering licensing partnerships that surprised her with the size of the first checks 29:00 How she structures her week 32:00 Marketing through storytelling and connection 39:00 The "Memories" collection and her father's dementia 44:00 Her faith, viewing herself as conduit, not source 47:20 Her advice to other artists: just do it DAWN'S ACTION FOR YOU Dawn reminds us that everyone has insecurities and everyone is afraid. But you have to start anyway. As she mentioned, inspiration has to find us working. You can't sit around wishing—it has to be an action. So this week, get into your studio and make something. Let inspiration find you working. To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/trimble-revenue Connect with Dawn and see more of her art: https://dawnmtrimbleart.com 🔶 If you've ever felt like you're doing all the things but not seeing sales, or if you're tired of people saying "I love your work" without pulling out their wallet, check out the Followers to Collectors workshop. You'll map out the full journey of how people discover your art, engage with it, build trust over time, and how you make it easy for them to buy when they're ready. Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/f2c RELATED EPISODES Listen to other artists discuss their income streams: Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128) Juggling Multiple Art Styles and Audiences with Robin Maria Pedrero (ep. 103) Beyond Comparison and Jealousy with Jason Kotecki (ep. 191) Transform Your Creative Ideas into Multiple Income Streams: Helen Hiebert (ep. 18) 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/

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 over 25 years 04:10 The early collaborative work between Alicia and Melinda 05:30 Expanding from a duo to a four-artist collaboration with Catherine Chauvin and Sharon Strasburg 08:30 Why they choose loose collaboration over a more formalized collective 10:40 Drafting proposals together without ego 13:20 Choosing "Perseverance" as their theme to allow broad interpretation 16:10 The systems they use to stay organized and on track 18:00 Why one person serves as the point of contact with galleries 20:40 The importance of going to lunch and doing studio visits 25:40 Learning when to say no to opportunities that don't align 36:20 Communication, clear expectations, and getting everything on the table 40:20 Keeping ego in check while maintaining leadership 🏃THE ARTISTS' ACTION FOR YOU Go to openings and talk to other artists, especially those whose work you feel a resonance with. Go view art even if it's not an opening, then dig deeper by looking at artists' websites or social media pages to learn about the community right in your backyard. Don't be afraid to reach out—send that Instagram message, ask for coffee, introduce yourself at the opening. Artists want to talk to other artists and form community. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/friendships-collaborations ⭐️ Connect with the artists: https://aliciabailey.com and https://melindalaz.com 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Interested in collaboration? Check out these episodes: Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show's Impact with Jill Powers (ep. 27) Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (ep. 64) Collaborating on Your Art Business with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin (ep. 86) A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (ep. 183) 🔶 Community can support your journey in so many ways. We have that kind of community in Essentials for Artist Success. While there are plenty of lessons in our vault—including our current focus on The Artist's Annual Review and planning work we'll dig into in January—our real emphasis is on action and progress. We're here to help you move forward without getting bogged down in more information than you need. Find all the details at artbizsuccess.com/essentials ⛰️ 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/

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/

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 lasting memory points—and how Stephanie intentionally studied education theory to understand this 06:40 How she graduated from a private art school (SCAD) debt-free by maximizing scholarships and strategically taking general education classes at community college 09:40 Why she only applied to fully funded MFA programs and what made University of Michigan's program worth it 16:30 The best advice Stephanie received about graduate school: only go when you know what you want to say to the world as an artist 23:10 How watching her mother's creative side hustles shaped her belief that artists can make money from their work 24:40 The rules she set for herself (one residency, two exhibitions per year) to ensure she could always say "I'm an exhibiting artist" 31:10 Why working from home during the pandemic was the unlock that gave Stephanie energy and time for serious studio practice 33:20 The transferable skills from her art practice (managing budgets up to $50,000) that landed her higher-paying jobs in project management and business operations 🚀 YOUR ACTION Create your own non-negotiable parameters for your art practice. Stephanie's are at least one residency and two exhibitions per year. What would your rules be? 🎧 RELATED EPISODES She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be with Kelly Pelfrey (162) Being an Artist with Geoffrey Gorman (124) Starting Your Art Career (173) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/debt-free-brown ⭐️ Connect with Stephanie and see more of her art: https://stephaniebphotos.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 ! ~ ~ 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/

Explore how your art's value is influenced by presentation and context. Learn from a gallery story that shows how a torn label can diminish even the finest work. Discover why venue choice matters, and how Joshua Bell's subway experiment highlights audience perception. Gain insights on vetting opportunities and setting non-negotiables for your art. Elevate your standards by aiming for progressively prestigious showcases, ensuring your work receives the respect it deserves.

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 power of consistent newsletter practice and following up with genuine curiosity How she hired a publicist for her monument project and landed coverage in The New York Times, Guardian, and Time Magazine Why separating your work (obra) from your career (carrera) requires different strategies How dedicating 20 studio hours per week transformed her practice HIGHLIGHTS 01:30 How living in the Caribbean has shaped La Vaughn's cosmopolitan perspective as an artist 06:40 How La Vaughn's work explores colonial histories through material remnants and storm metaphors 09:00 The three key practices La Vaughn built to develop her reputation outside St. Croix 10:30 What La Vaughn looks for in collaboration and how working with non-artists sharpens her practice 17:00 How people find La Vaughn for collaborations and the importance of a strong website 20:10 La Vaughn's consistent newsletter practice and how she asks permission to add people to her list 23:40 Why La Vaughn's friend insisted she hire a publicist and how she overcame her resistance 26:30 Describing the two-and-a-half-story sculpture that combined coral stones and a reimagined Huey P. Newton image 33:30 How La Vaughn dove into her practice after the media attention died down 38:40 Using affirmations and strategic positioning to attract the right gallerist 43:20 The difference between obra (work) and carrera (career) that La Vaughn learned in Cuba 46:40 Why committing to 20 studio hours per week is essential for competing at an international level 🚀 YOUR ACTION Pick one relationship you already have—maybe someone who expressed interest in your work, a curator you met once, or an artist in a different discipline—and reach out this week. Not with an ask, but with genuine curiosity. Invite them for a coffee chat or Zoom conversation and see where it takes you. 🔶 Map out your follower's full journey from discovery to purchase: Follower —> Fan —>Buyer —> Collector. Learn how people find your art, engage with it, build trust over time, and buy when they're ready. $97 (podcast listeners can save $20 with promo code PODCAST20) Sign up now at ArtBizSuccess.com/f2c 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/visibility-belle ⭐️ Connect with La Vaughn and see more of her art: https://www.lavaughnbelle.com/ 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Boldly Reaching Out to Art World Influencers with Laurence de Valmy (108) Lessons from a Wildly Successful Pop-up Art Gallery Event with Mai Wyn Schantz (109) Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley (160) ⛰️ 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/

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 looks like. How to establish trust early in the relationship. Why open communication prevents power imbalances throughout the evolution of the relationship. What "trust signals" artists send through professionalism and follow-through. The role of regular check-ins and collaborative planning. HIGHLIGHTS 00:40 Katherine shares her journey from art history to founding Gallery Fuel. 05:00 Why she focuses on small and mid-size "Main Street" galleries. 07:00 What genuine trust between artists and galleries means, and how to establish it through clear communication. 11:10 How galleries can assess fit before signing artists. 13:00 The professionalism cues (or "trust signals") artists send to galleries. 15:40 Empowering artists to ask questions and clarify expectations. 20:00 Why regular communication and quarterly check-ins matter. 28:20 Contracts as a foundation for mutual respect and protection. 34:00 How younger collectors are changing the gallery landscape. 41:40 Creative experiences galleries can offer to build connection. 46:20 Alyson's closing thoughts: take what you've learned and put it into action. 🚀 YOUR ACTION Reach out to one of your professional contacts this week—whether it's a gallerist, curator, or collector. Share a quick update, ask a question, or simply check in. Every thoughtful message builds the trust that keeps relationships strong. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/respect-hebert ⭐️ Connect with Katherine: https://galleryfuel.com 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (123) The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (19) Why I Want Partnerships with Art Galleries with Evita Tezeno (175) What Galleries Want: Preparing Your Art and Yourself with Gabba Gallery (226) 🔶 Map out your follower's full journey from discovery to purchase: Follower —> Fan —>Buyer —> Collector. Learn how people find your art, engage with it, build trust over time, and buy when they're ready. $97 (podcast listeners can save $20 with promo code PODCAST20) Sign up now at ArtBizSuccess.com/f2c ⛰️ 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/