The Art Biz

Fun isn't a word used very often when we think of marketing or business tasks. Still, it's one of the criteria I suggest considering when you're thinking about whether to add something to your busy schedule. When lockdown started, Brooke Harker threw her fears about doing live video out the window and created Saturday Night Live Art Shows—because she thought it would be fun. It started with just her, but quickly grew to a core of regular artists, with new ones added each week. I wanted to talk with her about it because these weekly events are open to any artist who wants to show off their art or, perhaps, the art that you collect. In fact, as you'll learn, the rules are, well, ... What rules? This could be a great way for you to connect, practice your video (because imperfections are encouraged), and maybe even sell some art. Brooke Harker is a contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, California. Her lively paintings of cities and coastal scenes are characterized by energetic brushstrokes in ink and thick oil paint applied with palette knives. These vibrant depictions of daily life capture a sense of motion and highlight moments of synchronicity. Harker calls herself a historian of the ordinary. Her paintings are a collaboration with all of the people who’ve contributed to a place over time: architects, engineers, city workers who’ve placed street signs and pedestrians whose colorful fashion landed in view at the perfect moment. All of their individual actions brought together one moment, fated to be captured on canvas. Follow Brooke on Instagram: @brookeharker. Read more about the Saturday Night Live Art Shows and how you can participate. Find them on Facebook and Instagram. This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career. Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 62). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Patricia Miranda, founder of The Crit Lab, discusses the value of critique groups for artists and the format of day-long critique sessions. She emphasizes that art is a verb, not an object, and that artists should focus on engagement more than intent. The podcast also explores the transformative nature of critique groups, the importance of empathy in art, and the impact of the pandemic on these groups.

I'm a planner, and I like helping artists plan. I'm good at it! If you've taken any of my courses, or even read my book, you anticipate that there will be at least one plan involved. This is one of the special episodes I'm adding since Covid hit—a topic that will help you stay in control of your art business. In talking with my students and clients, I realize how devastating this year has been. Truth be told, I didn't really have to talk with them to know that their plans had been dashed, but it helps to understand the extent. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on everyone's plans. Canceled shows and travel. Shuttered studios and exhibition spaces. And the kids! Suddenly the kids are at home and you are tasked with the awesome responsibility of their education. You're on Zoom all of the time, so that brief sigh of relief you felt for not having to get dressed and put on makeup was short-lived. In the early days of the outbreak, I encouraged my clients and students to plan just 1 week at a time. We didn't know what was going to happen. How long things would be closed. I wanted them, again, to control what they could and not worry about months into the future. We now know that Covid is going to be with us for the foreseeable future. The planner in me said, Okay! Time for a new plan! So I developed a short program to help you do this. Read about Reclaim Your Year at ArtBizNow.com. This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career. Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 60). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Four and a half years ago I hired the best assistant I have ever had at Art Biz Success. She has been loyal, prompt, and 200% dependable. She was 21 years old at the time—about to turn 22—and had just graduated early from college. After making many hiring mistakes in the past, I was determined to do it right this time And I did. I hit the jackpot. Mesa is moving on to new professional opportunities, but I wanted to give her a little surprise send-off. (Any typos are on me this week!) In episode #59 of the Art Biz Podcast I tell you exactly how I hired the perfect person for my business at the time. I also give you the steps I put in place to make sure that we maintained a good relationship and that, above all, she enjoyed her position. I touch on the hiring process, setting up an assistant for success, working together, and keeping her happy. I also share my mistakes. I’m sure there are more that I’m unaware of, but I can tell you about those I know. I get a little vulnerable and a lot sentimental. I’m sharing the story because I don’t know of a single artist who wouldn’t like a little more help with their business. Perhaps you’ll benefit from my experience. I'm grateful that Mesa and I have dedicated so much energy to greasing our systems. All tasks are properly documented in our Notion app, and we've spent three weeks poring over them to make sure that someone else could take over the tasks. THAT's why I love systems so much--because they help my business run (almost) on autopilot. If your systems are broken or, worse, non-existent, I invite you to take a look at the Art Career Success System, an intensive program that guides you through the systems you need for a successful art business. Whether you need to create an income plan, find new venues, write an artist statement, or improve your marketing, I've got you covered in the ACSS. See the individual courses, calls, and download a suggested syllabus at http://artcareersuccesssystem.com . Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 59). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Why wouldn't you make it easier for people to buy art directly from you? That's what Lynn Goldstein thought. She built a shopping cart for her website earlier this year. And the sales rolled in immediately after the March launch. To date, Lynn has sold 18 original paintings and about a dozen reproductions directly from her site, and I wanted to find out how. It must be said that neither Lynn nor I are not experts in all of the options you have for shopping carts. I wanted to share Lynn's experience and, above all, her results. Listen in if you're curious about how she did it. See Lynn's art: https://lynngoldstein.com. Follow her on Instagram: @lynngoldstein_art. This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career. Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com. Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com. Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 58). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield. Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Adri Norris was born in Barbados and raised in New York and New Mexico. A former U.S. Marine, she says she was raised to be a leader—to help people and improve lives. Adri is on a mission to tell stories of women who have made history. She does so through her art, her teaching, and her speaking. She is especially interested in shining a spotlight on women of color that have been overlooked in our history books. In this episode of the podcast, I asked Adri about her work, her teaching, and her activism. Less than one month ago, Adri was asked to design and direct the Black Lives Matter street mural in front of the Colorado State Capitol building. She selected the words Black Lives Matter Remember This Time for the mural. We discuss those words, as well as the symbolic colors she chose and how she involved community members in its making. I also asked Adri what steps white artists can take to be helpful right now. See Adri's art on her website: https://afrotriangledesigns.com/. Support her work: Patreon or send a donation to Afro Triangle on Venmo. Follow her on Instagram. This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career. Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com. Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com. Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 57). Follow me on Instagram: @AlysonStanfield and Facebook: @ArtBizSuccess. #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!  

One of the first steps an artist makes when turning professional is to decide on an art business name, and many new artists make this more complicated than it should be. Allow me to bottom line this entire podcast episode: If you are a fine artist, your first choice is to always use your given name for marketing your original art. I understand it isn't always this easy. There are sometimes reasons for not using your own name, including, as I've learned, reasons of physical and emotional safety. Setting those very real concerns aside, the most frequent arguments against using given names for an art business are the following. My name is too common / Someone else already owns the URL with my name [And she’s a porno star!] My name is too hard to spell I sign my name as X on my paintings, but I want to be known as Y I consider these objections one by one and give you tips for overcoming them in this episode of the Art Biz Podcast. This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career. Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 56). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Sandra was born in Mexico City and received her BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1995. She uses lines, marks, patterns, and textures to speak metaphorically and poetically of things that make no reference to the physical world. Her art constructs a sensual surface that weaves a path between process and narrative, mark and meaning, intention and abstraction. When Covid-19 struck, Sandra wanted to make a difference. She started a twice-weekly Instagram Live program, Tap Into Your Creativity. On it, Sandra interviews artists at home in their studios—hoping to inspire and to be a light amid all the darkness. The artists, in turn, agree to donate a 10"x10" painting to be auctioned to benefit Feeding America. On this episode of the Art Biz Podcast, Alyson talks with Sandra about how she makes it happen. See Sandra's art: https://sandrafeleart.com. Follow her on Instagram and watch her show there: https://instagram.com/sandrafeleart. Follow #armyofartists This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career. Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com. Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 55). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

This is a special episode of the Art Biz Podcast, which features my recent comments about #BlackLivesMatter on social media and to my students and subscribers. I don’t know where I’ll be going from here, but, as I said, I won’t be silent. And, what I know is that I’m not the person you should be listening to about this topic. However, I am the person who is happy to ask questions of those you should be listening to. That said … I’m looking for new voices who would like to speak up on this podcast. I’d love to share this platform with you. Not just in this moment, but at any point in the future. You'll find my contact info below. This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program, the Art Career Success System, a program I have perfected for more than 17 years working with artists. All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will do over and over again throughout your art business and career. That’s why it’s a SYSTEM. In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation using my video and audio lessons, worksheets, and transcripts. And you will be part of a community of artists who are forward-thinking and forward-moving. Join us now and grow your art business. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com. Read a complete transcript of this special episode, see featured artists, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 54). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Born in California, raised in Mexico City, Carmen Mariscal had been living in Paris for many years when our paths crossed. She's been sheltering in place with her family in the north of France during Covid, but will soon be returning to London, where they resettled a couple of years ago. I've watched Carmen's career soar as she devoted herself to serious projects and exhibitions. Along the way, it's been my pleasure to guide her when she needs it. Carmen has been working on Chez Nous, a large installation for a number of years, which was to be installed in March of 2020 near the high-trafficked area of the Louvre in Paris. It happened just in the nick of time—hours before shelter in place orders were given for France. But she couldn't have predicted what would happen next. I had to share this story with you. It speaks to the power of art and the fact that you, once you put your art out into the world, have no control over how it's perceived—over what it comes to mean to others. Please enjoy my conversation with Carmen Mariscal. See Carmen's art: https://www.carmenmariscal.com/en/work Read about Chez Nous: http://cheznousproject.com Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/car_mariscal/ "I think of you frequently when painting and thank my lucky stars that I worked my way through the Art Carer Success System and went from a sad, insecure artist who could not get into a group show to a confident one who is is invited to be in group and solo shows and even museum shows." - Susan McLaughlin I can’t begin to tell you how much it means for me to read messages like this one from Susan. THIS is why I keep doing the work that I do after all of this time! So that I can be around long enough to see artists transform their work and their lives. To see them gain confidence in their purpose. I’d love to work with you, too, in my Art Career Success System. This business training program is designed for serious artists who want to present themselves in the most professional light. It’s all on demand and you can begin immediately. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 53). Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!