Art Biz Blog

How can you possibly do it all?

Today's stop on the I'd Rather Be in the Studio! blog tour fits right  into this week's theme of prioritizing your life.

Lesley Riley asks how to do it all and still have time for family. It's not easy! But everyone is busy. Everyone has the same amount of time. It's what you do with time that sets you apart.

See what I have to say. (And maybe win a free copy of the book.)

Image (c) Lesley Riley, February

Deep Thought Thursday: Advertising on your site

Lolly Owens writes:

Google offers an opportunity to earn some money if you allow relevant ads to be placed on your blog or web site. What do you think of this idea?

I'll tell you what I think of this idea as soon as I hear from others. What do YOU think about accepting ads on your site?

Image (c) Lolly Owens, Holmes Beach Butterflies

New signature block

My new signature block:

Alyson B. Stanfield
Website --> http://www.artbizcoach.com
Blog --> http://www.artbizblog.com
Book --> http://www.idratherbeinthestudio.com
Twitter --> http://twitter.com/abstanfield
Facebook --> http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=725081176

P.O. Box 988, Golden, CO 80402, USA

I got the idea from someone else who sent me an auto-reply when I subscribed to his newsletter. I thought it would be neat to try adding Twitter and Facebook to my signature and see what happens.

In memory of . . .

Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) was one of the last of a generation that changed the face of art forever. Read the New York Times article, which has some terrific stories and quotes like this one:

"I usually work in a direction until I know how to do it, then I stop," [he said in an interview.] "At the time that I am bored or understand — I use those words interchangeably — another appetite has formed. A lot of people try to think up ideas. I’m not one. I’d rather accept the irresistible possibilities of what I can’t ignore."

Podcast: Prioritize your life

What do you do to combat the overwhelming number of tasks you have on your plate? Time to prioritize!

[4 min. 18 sec.]

MORE:

See Actions 1 and 3 in I'd Rather Be in the Studio! to help you define success and get organized.
Monday's post: Organizing Tips and Tools
How I prioritize and spend my day

Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.

Instructions for subscribing to this podcast.
This podcast is an audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

Can being famous online translate into real-world glory?

The I'd Rather Be in the Studio! blog tour resumes.

Today, Kirsty Hall asked me a great question. In a nutshell: How do you translate online success into real-world success? You may be sorta famous online, but what does that mean when you walk into a gallery and want them to notice your art?

Read what I have to say and maybe win a free copy of my book on Kirsty's Up All Night Again blog.

Image (c) Kirsty Hall, from The Pin Series

Twittering artists

Tina Mammoser, The Cycling Artist, wrote a post about using Twitter as an artist.

I'm still figuring Twitter out and am deeply intrigued that so many business folks are using it. If you tweet, have you found direct benefits for your art career?

By the way, you can follow me on Twitter here.

Organizing tips and tools

In today’s Art Marketing Action newsletter, I tell you how I try to stay on top of everything I need and want to accomplish. The key: prioritize. Here are some organizing tools and tips that help you set your priorities.

• I prefer paper. I have tried everything to get my task list on the computer (since I’m here most of the time), but it doesn’t work for me yet. I use the larger Moleskine notebooks because I can put a whole lot on one page and because they kind of roll up and fit into my large purse.
• The best computerized task list I’ve used is EasyTask Manager. It’s relatively inexpensive and is a simple list. I found many computerized applications to be too complex for my needs. This runs on both Mac and PC and will sync with my Apple Mail. I may return to it at some point.
• I rely heavily on my computer notifications (reminders) that I set up through Apple Mail. Note: These only work if you’re on your computer a lot or at regular intervals.
• I got a lot out of this audio program with Robert Middleton: Get Organized, Get On Track, and Get Unstuck.
• My Get Organized class is coming up this summer (June 25 to July 31).

Feel free to leave your own organizing tips--especially those that relate to keeping your task list and making sure you don’t forget anything.

Instead of "Buy Now" buttons

Image (c) Sharon Crute, Storm Approaching Assateague

Sharon Crute asks:

At your workshop I attended in Bradenton, Florida last year, you mentioned a dislike for "buy now" buttons on the artwork pages in a website. I am currently overhauling my site along with my web guru and I'm not sure what to replace them with. I do sell frequently from the website and the "buy now" buttons will go directly to PayPal. My web designer wants to replace them with an "add to collection" button. What do you suggest?

Anyone who has heard me speak in person knows of my tremendous distaste for Buy Now buttons (or Add to Cart buttons) next to fine art. I just think they look tacky. [See page 103 of I'd Rather Be in the Studio!.] However, I haven't given you an alternative. My bad.

I suggested to Sharon that she use a text link that says only "Purchase." It's unobtrusive and gets the message across.

Getting into out-of-town galleries

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition wants to know how they should advise their artists to get into out-of-town or out-of-state galleries. I had some advice for them on today's blog tour stop for I'd Rather Be in the Studio!

Read about getting into out-of-state galleries.