

The Art Biz
Alyson Stanfield
Looking for art career inspiration and ideas while you're working in the studio or schlepping your art across the country? Alyson Stanfield helps you be a more productive artist, a more empowered artist, and a more successful artist.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 25, 2024 • 14min
The Career Journey of Growth-Minded Artists (ep. 186)
host: Alyson Stanfield I want to talk about something that I think gets in the way of how you think about what a successful art business is or can be. I want to help you reframe your daily decisions, actions, and results (or lack thereof)—to embrace the volatility of an artist life. To understand that there will be highs and lows, and that just comes along with the territory. One of the most-used business metaphors is the ladder of success, which is problematic for two reasons: Nobody reaches the top of anything in life by going straight up. What happens when you get to the top? I have a different vision. Your art career is a circle consisting of 3 areas: Inspiration+Research, Studio Practice, and Business+Marketing. You're a sphere (okay, a ping pong ball) bouncing back and forth from one area to the next as you grow your art career. Let me explain … 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Calculating Risks in Your Art Business with Leah Smithson (ep. 94) What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95) Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114) How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/growth-minded-artists 🔶 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/

Apr 18, 2024 • 41min
Leaning Into Her Roots and Community Art with Marilyn Fontaine (ep. 185)
Marilyn Fontaine, a multidisciplinary artist in East London, discusses her feminine-themed work and integrating community history. Topics include studio rituals, embracing rejection, and letting go. She emphasizes building a network, securing funding, and the importance of community engagement. The conversation touches on digital artwork ownership, seeking a museum for a migration collection, and navigating artistic growth. The episode explores collaborations, grant applications, and balancing spiritual faith with artistic challenges.

26 snips
Apr 4, 2024 • 10min
How Your Art Makes People Feel (ep. 184)
Explore the emotional impact of art and how it connects with viewers. Understand the importance of evoking feelings and building relationships with buyers. Learn how to nurture genuine connections through workshops and mailing lists.

Mar 28, 2024 • 41min
A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (ep. 183)
Host: Alyson B. Stanfield In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Lori Sokoluk and Susan Purney Mark, who met in my coaching group many years ago and started a collaboration during the pandemic. When I teach about collaboration, I'm usually talking about an exhibition or event. Lori and Susan took it to the next level and collaborated on the artwork itself—resulting in a two-person exhibition that recently closed. I wanted to know what the artmaking process was like when you're presented with someone else's marks on the canvas. I think you'll enjoy hearing about it and what they discovered during the process We also discussed: The parameters of the collaboration. The challenges they faced, such as Lori's physical limitations. How they titled the pieces together (a fascinating theme and process). How they divided up the business stuff. How the exhibition was organized. How it has affected their individual work. The advice they share with any artist who is open to collaboration. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Here are a few more episodes about collaboration: Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show's Impact with Jill Powers (ep. 27) Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (ep. 64) Play Tops Work, Connection Tops Solitude, and Confidence Tops Fear with Willie Cole (ep. 126) Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/sokoluk-mark ⭐️ Connect with Lori and Susan and see more of their art: https://lorisokoluk.com https://susanpm.com 🔶 Please join me for THE PEOPLE PLAN 🔶 a planning workshop to identify, establish, and nurture stronger relationships with buyers, collectors, curators, students, gallerists, and more. May 7-9, 2024. https://artbizsuccess.com/peopleplan ⛰️ 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/

25 snips
Mar 21, 2024 • 9min
Rethinking Mailing Lists for Artists (ep. 182)
Discover the intricacies of artist mailing lists, including the importance of building genuine connections, differentiating between email, VIP, and online follower lists, and optimizing engagement and growth. Learn valuable insights on maximizing your marketing asset for artistic success.

Mar 14, 2024 • 45min
Spotlighting Artists Who Bloom Later in Life with Janice Mason Steeves (#181)
Host: Alyson Stanfield, Art Biz Success My guest is Janice Mason Steeves, author of Bloom: On Becoming An Artist Later in Life. Which, as I say in our interview, is "a lovely mix of insights from a questionnaire, gentle guidance from someone who teaches and leads artist workshops all over the world, and wisdom from academics, professionals, and spiritual advisors." Janice has been in my orbit for a long time and I have been dying to talk with her about this book, the seeds of which she mentioned to me about 4 years ago. It's a book that needed to be written and proves that we have a lot more to talk about this topic. But let's kick off the conversation. Janice will share her background and the realization that the students in her workshops tended to be in the 60 to 80 age groups. This piqued her curiosity about taking up art later in life. We spend the first half of our conversation talking about how the book came to be. Then we discuss the advantages, benefits and challenges of becoming an artist after age 60. I, of course, want to know about how artists over 60 approach the business of art, but that's not Janice's concern. (And I have some experience that perhaps will lead to a different episode.) 🎧 RELATED EPISODESThese are episodes with other artist-authors >> Secrets from Copying a Masterpiece with Lilianne Milgrom (ep. 87) Publishing a How To Book for Artists with Carol McIntyre (ep. 37) How Two Artists Self-Published and Are Promoting a Successful Book Together (ep. 9) Mentioned: How Do You Know You're an Artist? with James Holmes (ep. 181) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/bloom-steeves. ⭐️ Connect with Janice and see more of her art: https://janicemasonsteeves.com If you want to learn about or improve your art marketing skills, 🔶check out my Essentials program. 🔶 It's for beginning and emerging artists as well as artists who just need a reboot. 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/

18 snips
Mar 7, 2024 • 9min
Affirmations for Artists (ep. 180)
Explore empowering affirmations and success strategies for artists, including valuing work, setting fair prices, networking effectively, and attracting support. Learn how affirmations can significantly impact success and income, and how commitment and action play crucial roles in achieving artistic goals.

Feb 29, 2024 • 41min
Virtual Assistance for Your Social Media and Websites with Artist VA Hallie Edlund (ep. 179).
In this engaging conversation, Hallie Edlund, a virtual assistant for artists and daughter of Carolyn Edlund from Artsy Shark, shares her journey into this niche after the 2008 economic downturn. She emphasizes the benefits of hiring virtual assistants to manage social media and websites, while integrating AI tools like ChatGPT. Hallie reveals her impressive organizational system using Gmail and offers practical Instagram tips that can elevate artists' online presence. Her insights on aligning with an artist's unique voice prove invaluable for successful collaborations.

Feb 15, 2024 • 55min
Every Artist Is Designed Differently and What It Means with Jahje Ives (#178)
In this episode, I have something a little different for you. I want to share a tool I found a number of years ago that helps me in life and in my business. And it's helped many of my clients. It's a life map, of sorts, called Human Design. Jahje Ives is an artist and a Human Design coach and guide. While I have worked with Human Design guides in the past, Jahje is the first artist I have met in this realm. I wanted her insights as to how knowing your Human Design could help with your art and art business. To get the most out of it, you have to have a little woo in you. As Jahje says, you might need to put on your tinfoil hat. She's going to tell you what Human Design is, cover the 5 different types of designs and what each would mean for an artist. Human Design has taught me that there are no two people alike. We are each unique in our gifts and our approach to life and business. What works for one artist might not be just a bad idea for another—it could also be a huge waste of time. Or even damaging. Since learning Human Design, I've changed much of my approach to teaching and coaching. I've started tuning in to the differences among artists—differences that they were born with—so that I can meet them where they will be able to thrive. This episode probably isn't for everyone, but if you're open to the journey, please continue to listen. Maybe something will ring true. Here's my conversation with Jahje Ives. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114) What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95) Are You Playing It Too Safe in Your Art Business? (ep. 92) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest (ep. 91) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/human-design-ives ⭐️ Connect with Jahje and see more of her art: https://jahjeives.com 🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator ⛰️ 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/

Feb 8, 2024 • 12min
Why You Should Raise Prices of Your Art and How to Do It (#177)
The podcast discusses the struggles artists face in pricing their art and the importance of fair pricing. It explores reasons to raise prices including covering costs and addressing uneven pricing. Tips are given on factoring in commission, gradually increasing prices, and seeking input from gallery owners. The podcast also provides criteria for determining when a price increase is necessary and advice on how to handle it. It emphasizes the importance of contacting collectors in advance, building trust, and offers resources for artists seeking to build a viable art business.


