Art Biz Blog

Deep Thought Thursday: Improve the audience for your art

You have the audience you deserve. To enlarge or improve your audience requires all of the energy you have. You get back what you put out.

--Alex Katz
from Letters to a Young Artist

(See previous Deep Thought about your studio from the same book.)

Get your art online without spending a fortune

This is a courtesy reminder that the Web Site Basics teleseminar with Patricia J. Velte will be tomorrow, November 29 at 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

If you don't have your own Web site yet, or if you are starting over, this is something to look into.

The cost for the teleseminar, detailed (10 pages) handouts, and MP3 recording is just $9.95 if you order before the call. If you can't call in and only want the recording and handouts, you'll save by ordering before the call. After the call, the price of the recording and handouts is $14.95. Sign up now.

I just sent the above email to 6000 people with the message below and failed to post a direct link for them to use to sign up. Duh.

Lesson #1: Don't do as I did. Make it easy for patrons to buy your art.

Lesson #2: Rushed emails are rarely error-free.

Podcast: Don't delay your artist mailing list

Listen in on this week's podcast—an audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

Why you should start your mailing list now and never look back.

[4 min. 57 sec.]

Get more when you join the Art Marketing Action Inner Circle community. You can get an extra audio recording, a premium newsletter, one-on-one coaching days, and discounts when you join the Inner Circle. Right now, it's only $10 for the first two months of your subscription. Learn more about the Inner Circle.

Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.

Updated database software for artists

From an old post, I wanted to update the list of software below was designed specifically for artists' special needs. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend one of these over the others. (Maybe you can!) Artists seem to be all over the map as to their preferences. However, I can tell you that not all are available for Macs, so Mac users will have fewer choices.

Flick!
Art & Craft Business Organizer
eArtist
WorkingArtist
ArtWorks
Artist's Butler

And I just received an email about GYST.

New June 2009: A recommendation for My Art Collection. The recommendation was for inventory. I can't tell that My Art Collection has a great system for keeping track of contacts, but it might be worth exploring.

Many artists who use Macs have been very happy with Bento. It's not just for artists, so it requires formatting.

You want software that can store all of your inventory as well as your buyers and network. Think about what else you need for it to do, like print mailing labels and export data and . . .

Amazingly, most of these are unattractive. I don’t know who they thought they were making them for, but they’re not visually appealing. I have used FileMaker since my early days in the museum. You can make it look however you like, but it requires a lot of setting up whereas the others come ready to use.

Related post: Things to look for in artist software

An artist in the holiday spirit

Kudos to Stephen Stavast, who is offering a gallery discount to anyone who brings in a donation to Toys for Tots.

No, it's not a huge discount. That's not the point. The point is that it puts a worthy charitable organization in front of his list. Each act of philanthropy encourages other philanthropists and makes you a valuable part of your community.

More for your artist mailing list

Today’s Art Marketing Action newsletter is all about your mailing list--a topic critical for your success so be sure not to miss it.

In the newsletter, I mention the importance of putting your mailing list in a database that is easily searchable and easy to update. In a previous blog post, I gave you a list of artist database software. Since then, I have also become aware of Artist's Butler. I suggest you take them out for a spin and see which one fits your needs the best.

I also talk in the newsletter about how important it is to match your work and long-term goals to the names you choose to add to your list. Only add those that are a match for you! I mentioned the Art Biz Report, Approaching Galleries without Fear, but for those who are more museum-minded, there is also the e-book and audio CD The Artist-Museum Relationship.

Do you have a Squidoo lens?

I'm interested in hearing from artists who have built an art-related Squidoo lens. I know well of Katherine Tyrrell's Art Business Squidoo lens.

Tell me about yours. What is the focus? How has it helped you promote your art? Or how has it helped you in other ways?

Art business magazines

Ethel Hills asked for recommendation on art business magazines.

There are only a small handful of magazines focused on the business of art. The Art Calendar is up  near the top and The Crafts Report as well. Sunshine Artist is good for those who do art festivals. But nothing more detailed than those three selections. I think there is more for graphic designers. (Feel free to leave your own or different recommendation below.)

I write for Art Business News, which is aimed primarily at galleries. For that same market, there is also Art World News.

There comes a time when artists will eventually outgrow these selections--a time when the business of art means keeping up with what is going on in the venues to which you aspire and the artists who are showing in those venues. Of course, I hope you can do this simultaneously with studying the business aspects of being an artist. They're very much inseparable since part of being good at your business means keeping up with what is current. Do do this you will read publications like ARTnews, Art in America, Modern Painters, Fiberarts, Metalsmith, Ceramics Monthly, Sculpture, Southwest Art, and the like (depending on your media, your goals, etc.).

Learn art history with this calendar

Jennifer D. Anderson recommends the Taschen Art Now calendar (365 days tear-off calendar) for learning about contemporary art.

You can find a longer description and pictures on the Taschen site.

Image (c) Jennifer D. Anderson, Within Without.

Thank you

Just a quick and sincere note of thanks on Thanksgiving for following along on the Art Biz Blog for the last three years.

I am truly grateful for your participation. I learn from each and every one of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Image (c) Tracy Wall, Pumpkin Pair.