The Art Biz

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 you about it. And when you put the work out there and don't get the appropriate number of expected likes or comments, you are unfulfilled. It's not fair that the social media algorithms have so much control over who sees your art. But are we really so subject to social media giants? I believe we are taking huge risks by relying on mass communication to complete the circle of communication. We know for a fact that art must be experienced in person in order to be fully appreciated. So why do we insist on online validation? In this solo episode of The Art Biz I want to talk about what really works for moving the needle with your art. It's a secret shared by my highest level clients, only it's not really such a secret. But I can guarantee that it will help you stand out in an over-saturated digital space. Highlights The not-so-secret secret that moved the needle with your art. (2:18) The most important information you can share is whispered one-on-one. (3:12) Examining the anatomy of a whisper. (5:14) 4 ways to effectively connect on a more personal level. (6:19) Where should you begin when your time is so limited? (9:58) What you can expect to gain from one-on-one interactions. (10:55) Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Program: Grow Your List Workshop: Designing a 5-Star Customer Experience Mentioned Art Biz Episode #47- Using Real Mail to Delight Quotes "We are taking huge risks by relying on mass communication to complete the circle of communication." — Alyson Stanfield "The most important information you can share is whispered one-on-one." — Steve Cranford "Personalizing the relationship you have with buyers, students, and collectors will make you feel better because it feels more authentic." — Alyson Stanfield "Stop relying on broadcasting for all of your marketing." — Alyson Stanfield "You'll feel better about your marketing when you value individual relationships." — Alyson Stanfield First posted: artbizsuccess.com/whisper Grow your mailing list: https://artbizsuccess.com/growyourlist

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 on getting the help you need fast. But you absolutely should be thinking about it: How do I keep good people on my team? In this episode of The Art Biz, I talk with Ali Manning about the responsibilities she feels as the person in charge of her business, including the responsibilities she has to team members. We discuss her membership-based business model, the dynamics between team members, how she hires, when and why she hires employees instead of contractors, and how she keeps team members happy. We also get into the hiring mistakes that both of us have made in the past—freely admitting that it was our fault, not the employees. Highlights The ah-ha moment in Ali's art journey. (2:45) How does Ali make money in her art business? (6:25) Running a business with 1,500 members requires the help of several assistants. (10:15) The key difference between employees and contracted help. (12:27) Bringing your team together regularly starts with a weekly meeting and the right technology. (15:09) You might be surprised at where you can find the right help. (19:07) Hiring mistakes and how to correct them quickly. (24:15) Tests and onboarding processes that can smooth out the new hire process. (28:56) Clearly defined business processes and procedures will help your team members succeed. (31:35) Your assistant can't actually read your mind, but taking these steps can help them out. (34:06) Keeping your employees—and keeping them happy. (38:46) A peek at Ali's upcoming launch. (42:41) Mentioned Kolbe A Index Loom Asana Upwork The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Resources Show notes, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Quotes "From a business standpoint, I want to be able to offer my help a secure job. It's important to me that they're invested." — Ali Manning "With as many moving parts as I keep in my brain, it's no wonder that I needed some help with this stuff." — Ali Manning "It's important to slow down, take a step back and really think about what you want and how you would like your assistant to do it." — Ali Manning Guest Bio Ali Manning creates bindings that showcase the stitching and the handcrafted nature of books. Her mixed media books are inspired by the forests of New England and the gardens of her home country England. Working from her studio in a converted textile mill in Massachusetts, Ali has taught thousands of students via her blog, Vintage Page Designs, in person and with her latest online adventure, The Handmade Book Club. Teaching others to express their creativity through handmade books is her greatest joy. She believes that anyone can create a handmade book and it shouldn't require expensive tools or equipment. Ali's work has been featured in Somerset Studio, Take Ten, Paper Crafts Magazine and Cloth, Paper, Scissors. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/being-boss-podcast

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 the most. In this episode of The Art Biz, I talk with Trudy Rice about her working relationship with a family member. Trudy reflects on what her business was like before her sister Jenny started helping her, the specific tasks that Jenny is responsible for, and how they structure their business partnership to make sure each is happy and fulfilled. Highlights The point at which Trudy realized she needed help in her art business. (2:20) Why hiring her sister was a perfect fit for Trudy. (6:17) Writing a job description for a relative—or any employee—is an essential first step. (9:00) Establishing an appropriate pay rate to compensate for the skills your new hire brings to your business. (11:48) Structuring a typical week when you're scheduling more than just yourself. (15:20) Maintaining your voice when someone else is writing your social media posts. (21:24) Communicating effectively in between weekly meetings. (24:01) What Trudy wishes she had known before hiring her sister as her assistant. (28:25) Identifying the areas that would allow you to accomplish more if you turned them over to someone else. (32:24) Trudy's advice to anyone that is considering hiring help. (34:54) A look at what is coming up next in Trudy's studio. (37:18) Mentioned Loomly Asana Creative Market Resources Show notes, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Guest Bio Artist and entrepreneur Trudy Rice has been a professional artist for more than 10 years. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Trudy has a diverse business consisting of original artworks on paper, paintings, commissions, large projects, wallpaper, and linen homewares. Her artworks are inspired by our natural world, particularly flora and fauna. Her works on paper and paintings are created with mindful observation, the initial drawings are etched in the very sun and water from which the original specimens are found. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/working-with-relatives-podcast

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 artists to support one another on that journey. She knew she needed help, but she wasn't prepared to struggle to find that help. She was content in setting her intention and being open. Enter Robin—Angela's student as well as a member of my former Inner Circle program for artists. In our conversation you'll hear how Angela has handled building a team and how Robin has been able to support her in this process. We talk about the technology they use, how they communicate with one another, and how they work with other team members who have since come on board. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/fehr-edmundson-podcast Highlights Angela and Robin both focus on watercolor and Angela's teaching offers regular lightbulb moments. (1:43) How has Angela's approach to watercolor grown her art teaching business? (4:45) Building a thriving business while raising families and connecting in the artist community. (9:09) At what point do you know it's time to get help? (11:15) Finding the best fit—from both Robin and Angela's perspective. (13:25) Learning how to hire correctly while trusting and protecting your values. (16:22) Finding assistants that have the skill set you might be lacking. (19:35) Building a support staff as your art business needs expand. (24:13) A typical week in this thriving art business. (29:32) The first step of a journey might be a boring one, but it can lead to a great adventure. (32:18) Email support, tech support, and everything you might want to hire an assistant to do for you. (34:54) The policies and procedures that keep a sustainable business running smoothly. (39:18) What are the rewards and challenges of supporting another artist? (43:32) Mentioned Angela Fehr Angela on YouTube Angela on Instagram Robin Edmundson Robin on Instagram Resources Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Guest Bios Angela Fehr first picked up a watercolor brush as a shy teenager newly returned to Canada. During her teen years she'd lived in a remote village in Papua New Guinea, and the solitude had cemented a passion for art that she was excited to pursue. She quickly realized that watercolor was a perfect fit, and along the way, realized that she wanted something more for her paintings than simply to copy what she could see with her eyes. Angela aims to show her heart in her paintings, to pair the beauty of the world with a loose, intuitive, heart-led style. She launched her first online course in November of 2013, with the goal of teaching technique and empowerment to help painters become their own favorite artist. Angela shares her home in northern British Columbia with her husband and three teens. The beauty of the Peace River and northern Rocky Mountain region serves as the main source of inspiration for her paintings. Robin Edmundson paints everyday rural things in new ways with bold and unusual colors, using simplified shapes and lines to emphasize the patterns and rhythms of rural life. Robin grew up in northern Indiana in an old farmhouse on a property full of old farm buildings. Her early goal was to learn as many languages as she could. In college, she quickly found Linguistics and earned a Ph.D. in that field. She taught in various capacities at Indiana University for twenty-seven years. Always looking for creative outlets to balance her academic life, she learned to dye and weave and became an award winning fiber artist. In 2011 she began blogging about rural life in southern Indiana. It took her a while to realize that she was still searching for a language that could express some things she wanted to say about life in rural southern Indiana. Imagine her surprise when she finally figured out that the language she was looking for was one of paint, color and line instead of words. Nothing makes her happier than to communicate through her paintings her deep love and respect for the unruly places and people of rural Indiana.

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 reward that comes with working in multiple styles. In my conversation with Robin Maria Pedrero you'll hear about the three different styles and subjects she paints. Robin has a very full art business, and she has joined the podcast to share her story about how she juggles her various styles of art and diverse audiences for her work. Highlights Robin's evolution into the artist she is today. (1:30) Trying new things, making mistakes and moving forward. (7:05) More styles means more audiences and more effort. How does Robin juggle it all? (13:34) Track your inventory with tools that work. (16:49) Robin's approach to marketing on social media. (18:23) Managing multiple Facebook groups and social media sites means creating more content, but Robin has a system for all of it. (26:36) Robin's tools for staying so productive with such a long to-do list. (31:09) Lessons learned for successful print on demand. (35:45) Robin's simple approach to bookkeeping and connecting with buyers. (39:11) The tools, assistance and move that are keeping Robin moving forward. (43:04) A snapshot of Robin's typical day. (45:39) Providing excellent customer service is a major part of what the best artists do. (48:12) Paper planner or electronic task list, and all Robin uses Artwork Archive for. (50:38) What's coming next in Robin's very full art business. (52:45) Mentioned Robin Maria Pedrero Robin's Instagram Robert Brackman Café Tu Tu Tangos HGTV and DIY Networks star Tamara Day Mary Mirabel Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Guest Bio Robin Maria Pedrero is an award-winning artist with work in museum permanent collections in Florida, Greece, public, corporate and private collections. Her abstract paintings are defined by layers of translucent color and overlapping forms, while her whimsical nature work, the paintings she calls "Joy Bringers," is characterized by bold color and texture. Robin has had solo exhibitions at the Orlando Museum of Art and Lake County Museum of Art. More recently, Tamara Day of HGTV's Bargain Mansion, has selected Pedrero's artwork for that show. Pedrero creates from her studios in Frisco and McKinney Texas. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/multiple-styles-pedrero-podcast

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 mailing lists simply because they don't know the real power that it holds. In this solo episode, you'll hear a new definition for your mailing list that just might inspire you to give it your full attention again. You'll learn about the five groups of people that need to be included in your list and how you should treat each of them. You will also hear about the upcoming Grow Your List program — our final program for 2021 that is designed to help you create a reliable system to attract new people to your list and nurture them in ways that can make a major difference in your art biz success. Highlights How important is your mailing list, really? (1:30) Questions to ask yourself about your mailing list. (2:24) Broadening your definition of a mailing list to include everyone you know. (3:12) The five groups of people that need to be on your list. (4:44) The hardest part about growing your mailing list — and what to do about it. (8:47) How not to grow your mailing list, and what to do instead. (9:49) Finding the fuel that will power the growth of your list. (14:24) Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Quotes "When clients aren't getting good results I can often trace it back to the fact that they're neglecting their lists." — Alyson Stanfield "Your mailing list is the number one asset in your art business, but only if you continue to develop it." — Alyson Stanfield "You have to treat everyone on your list well." — Alyson Stanfield "It's not easy to get people on your email list right now, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try." — Alyson Stanfield "Stop looking for shortcuts. Start doing the hard — and much more interesting — work of caring about people and connecting with them authentically." — Alyson Stanfield First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/people-on-your-list/ Grow your mailing list: https://artbizsuccess.com/growyourlist

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 during this month while we're working on improving productivity, it's even more tempting to search for solutions outside of ourselves. But the truth is, you probably already have everything you need to simplify your to-do list and increase your productivity. To help unpack this idea, I'm joined on this episode of The Art Biz by Amelia Furman, who says that her to-do list was out of control before she took charge and started eliminating obligations from her life. She tells us why simplifying has become a way of life for her; what exactly she has simplified; and how she schedules her days, weeks, months and even her year in a way that is more productive than ever. Highlights Amelia shares her artist's journey. (2:19) The breaking point that revealed that Amelia's to-do list was out of control. (4:53) For Amelia, making big changes starts with a deliberate start to every day. (9:58) Why is simplifying so important? (13:29) Focusing on one goal or one word each year can help you recall what matters most. (15:05) Setting boundaries and saying no helps Amelia reach her main goals. (22:00) Doubling her gross income doesn't mean that Amelia is doing more of everything. (24:17) How to schedule your time in more productive ways. (26:08) What does your ideal day look like? What about an ideal week or month? (29:45) Bullet journaling, calendaring and planning your life. (35:32) How to create a loose monthly flow that allows you to meet your goals. (37:38) Simplifying, eliminating and focusing have increased Amelia's productivity. (40:18) The value of participating in a business owners group. (42:00) Amelia's advice for simplifying a complicated artist's life. (45:26) A look at what is coming up next for Amelia. (46:30) Mentioned Bullet Journaling The Originals by Adam Grant Amelia Furman Amelia Furman on Instagram Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Quotes "A to-do list can help you get all the things done, which is awesome until it's the end all be all. Then it's not awesome anymore." — Amelia Furman "Organizing what needed to happen for that day only really helped to focus in and start this journey toward simplicity." — Amelia Furman "Now I'm not saying yes to things just because I can do them. I'm saying yes to things based on my goal." — Amelia Furman "So much of this is being honest with myself about how much time something actually takes." — Amelia Furman "I have no further plan beyond each day, and that really helps me stay focused on that day and simplifies it so much in my mind." — Amelia Furman "Be brave and start taking stuff out." — Amelia Furman About My Guest Amelia Furman grew up in rural, central Pennsylvania amidst pastoral scenes of farms, fields, and forests, and now calls Colorado home. Nature has captured her attention for as long as she can remember. Visual arts were also a dominant force in Amelia's life from an early age. After graduating with a degree in visual art from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2003, Amelia began to explore how she could use paint to express her love of the natural world. Amelia's background in printmaking and illustration has heavily influenced the direction of her work. She works in a combination of paper collage, text and thin layers of acrylic paint. Using a selection of documents, vintage images, handwritten text, and symbols associated with the painted image, Amelia reminds the viewer that places and objects have many layers of meaning, memory, and beauty. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/simplifying-furman-podcast Make a plan for your art business: https://artbizsuccess.com/planningsessions

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 podcast has come and what it took to get it where it is today. More than just a self-congratulatory episode, together we discuss the value of acknowledging your progress, however imperfect it may be. We share what it takes to do the work, create the content, and develop the tenacity that results in milestones worth celebrating. Highlights Why should you take time to celebrate milestones? (0:07) Alyson reflects on the progress she has achieved at this milestone podcast episode 100. (2:16) Fumbling your way toward success means just doing it! (6:04) What helps Alyson maintain consistency in her content? (9:06) The value of taking full responsibility for your commitments. (12:55) Overcoming the challenges that might be holding you back. (16:32) The systems that make podcasting a seamless part of Alyson's life. (19:46) Celebrating progress starts with reflecting on where you might be otherwise. (24:55) The tools that Alyson uses to organize and produce this podcast. (27:23) Celebrating milestones, developing key qualities and recognizing your progress. (32:41) Mentioned Donald Miller's Business Made Simple Podcast Cynthia Morris's Stumbling Toward Genius Podcast Notion app Descript audio and video editing Podfly podcast production Resources Show notes, featured artists, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Quotes "When we don't acknowledge the milestones, when we don't pause to savor and appreciate and see what we did that brought us there, we really lose out on a lot of the benefits that we've accrued in the course of making our way to that milestone." — Cynthia Morris "Every milestone shows you that you are making progress." — Alyson Stanfield "We've seen so many people sit on the sidelines of things because they haven't figured out the right way or the perfect way. And then they never do anything." — Cynthia Morris Your plan is going to be imperfect and you just may have to change it." — Alyson Stanfield "When you promise something to people you're promising something to yourself." — Alyson Stanfield "You can't make more money if you're doing all the things that you're not good at." — Alyson Stanfield "The more artists that I talk with, the more artists I'm able to help and the better advice or consulting or coaching I can give." — Alyson Stanfield "You're not really living unless you're learning." — Cynthia Morris About the Guest Host Cynthia Morris helps writers, artists and entrepreneurs make their big dreams a powerful reality. Cynthia is a certified coach, teacher, author and artist. In 1999, she founded Original Impulse, a boutique coaching company that empowers creative people to focus, follow through and finish projects that matter. The author of The Busy Woman's Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book, Cynthia has published seven e-books on writing and creative travel as well as the Paris historical novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. She is a watercolor artist and visual journal keeper who uses art as a way to express joy and consistently access inspiration. Follow Cynthia on Instagram. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/celebrating-achievements-podcast Build your well-greased art biz machine: https://artbizsystem.com

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-accelerating plan that shapes a realistic strategy for increasing your income. This four-step process is what you need to begin to more easily visualize a more profitable future. If you're ready to dramatically up level your business IQ by gaining insights into where your income came from, where it can come from, and how you can make it happen, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Highlights You cannot be content to just break even in your art business. (:10) The value of creating an income-accelerating plan. (1:20) How can you make a plan for more money when you don't know if anyone will buy your art? (2:35) Step 1- Figure out where your income has been coming from. (3:38) Step 2- Analyze the numbers and what they can tell you. (6:32) Step 3- Set your next income goal. (7:25) Step 4- Make a plan that will allow you to achieve your new income goal. (8:51) Join the Artist Planning Sessions to get real about the work you can realistically commit to. (9:35) What other artists are saying about the income-accelerating process. (10:57) Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Intro and outro music by Wildermiss Quotes "Don't be content to break even when running an art business." — Alyson Stanfield "You need money to survive and shouldn't be ashamed to admit it." — Alyson Stanfield "One of the best things you can do to improve your chances of success in any area is to create a plan." — Alyson Stanfield "You make a plan because you're the CEO of your art business and that's what CEOs do." — Alyson Stanfield While you don't have any control over results, you do have control over the actions you take (or don't take) to get the results." — Alyson Stanfield

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. But more is exhausting. My guest for this episode knows how to get what she wants without doing more. Jill Soukup, who has been a student and client of mine over the past decade, is dedicated to becoming a better artist. She methodically improves her work to make sure that her career, her business, and her life are what she wants them to be. In this conversation, Jill and I discuss how and where she sells her work, how teaching fits in with her income plan, how she makes sure she remains profitable, and why it's important for her to keep things simple. Highlights Jill's transition to full-time artist and where she shows and sells her art today. (1:51) The inspiration behind Jill's Western-themed art. (5:56) Selling on Instagram is changing the dynamics of Jill's work. (8:39) Logistics of selling prints and giving customers what they want. (11:34) You have to spend money to make money. (15:25) The strategies that allow Jill to get work done without working harder. (19:31) For Jill, doing less has resulted in even more success in her art business. (23:47) Dedication to your craft and honing your skills is the hallmark of an exceptional artist. (29:10) Teaching, raising prices, and decreasing her painting output keeps Jill's income steady. (30:45) Bookkeeping details and how Jill knows she is profitable. (37:24) Why is simplifying so important in Jill's business — and life? (40:56) Insights from Jill's typical work day and what she's working toward now. (46:14) Mentioned Jill Soukup Jill on Instagram Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale Ranchlands Later social media scheduling Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Intro and outro music by Wildermiss Quotes "As artists we ebb and flow in our process and what we're producing." — Jill Soukup "This experience is teaching me to dig deeper and to see things that I wasn't seeing before." — Jill Soukup "At that point I recognized that I was so overwhelmed. I wasn't making any decisions because I had too many decisions to make." — Jill Soukup "At that moment I realized what really was important to me, and that all of the other things on my list were not even necessary." — Jill Soukup "Everything I chose to do had to meet one of my three goals and it just simplified everything. And it was such a beautiful thing." — Jill Soukup About My Guest Jill Soukup was born in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Colorado, where she still resides. Jill's affinity for horses as a young girl resulted in countless drawings and studies of them, which made for a strong drawing foundation. As a teen, she started a pet-portrait business, acquired jobs painting murals, and designed logos for local organizations. Jill graduated from Colorado State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art. There, she received awards for illustration and design and worked as an illustrator and designer for the university. She initially pursued a career in graphic design while continuing to paint part time. After 11 years as a designer, she made the switch to full-time painting. Her work continues to gain recognition as she receives awards, appears in national publications, and shows in important juried and one-woman exhibitions. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/online-events-griffin-podcast Let's do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community Music by https://wildermiss.com