mindset

Jahje Ives

The Art Biz ep. 178: Every Artist Is Designed Differently and What It Means with Jahje Ives

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 to reflect the differences among artists—differences that they were born with. I wanted to share this tool with you.

The Art Biz ep. 178: Every Artist Is Designed Differently and What It Means with Jahje Ives Read

Anna Fine Foer collage

The Art Biz ep. 177: Why You Should Raise the Prices of Your Art and How to Do It

Two things are clear when it comes to pricing.

First, it’s a struggle for most artists. And, second, there’s a good chance that your prices are too low.

The difficulty with pricing art is legendary. You’re not the only one who doesn’t have it all figured out.

Fear not! In this post and podcast episode, I give you 5 reasons to raise your prices and then thoughts on how to do it.

The Art Biz ep. 177: Why You Should Raise the Prices of Your Art and How to Do It Read

Acrylic painting by Jane Appleby

The Art Biz ep. 155: 6 Ways to Be [Even] Happier About Running Your Art Business

Artists who embrace their role as CEOs of their businesses fare better than those who resist it.

Wishing away the responsibilities only leads to frustration and anxiety.

When you decide to turn your art into a business, do it wholeheartedly—finding joy in the journey rather than grumbling about the hard work. It’s a matter of deciding how you want to navigate through life.

The Art Biz ep. 155: 6 Ways to Be [Even] Happier About Running Your Art Business Read

spiritual painting of green sinuous trees under a cotton-ball blue sky protecting spirit-figures by Michelle Hinebrook forest spirit landscape | on Art Biz Success

How to Be More Successful and Lucky

Luck has had little to do with the success of your art career regardless of whether you feel lucky, were born into luck, or are convinced you are unlucky.

I’m fond of quoting Thomas Jefferson on this subject: I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. When you work hard and make progress every day, you put yourself in a better position for luck to find you. Chances are good that the artists you admire worked hard for the luck they seem to have.

How to Be More Successful and Lucky Read

Memory project art installation artist Christine Aaron strips of printed paper hanging from ceiling | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 114: Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron

You’re going to make mistakes. You will absolutely make the “wrong” decisions from time to time. And you’re going to be rejected from shows and opportunities. Count on them. Prepare for them. You’ll survive.

You may be a bit black and blue. But you’ll use courage muscles you never had before.

You’ll become more and more resilient every time you take a risk that doesn’t work out as you had intended. You’ll bounce back. And you’ll be stronger for it in the long run. Promise. Listen to how this plays out for Christine Aaron.

The Art Biz ep. 114: Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron Read

Wood sculpture quilt by Laura Petrovich Cheney | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 95: What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney

Failure. We fear it. We ask, What if I fail?,  as if failure at one thing would mean the end of all other opportunities.

But failure is necessary for growth. If you are succeeding at everything, there is no way you’re learning and growing.

Laura Petrovich-Cheney is not afraid to fail. She’s also ambitious and knows what she wants.

In this episode of the Art Biz Podcast, you’ll hear Laura’s philosophy that failure is the result of not listening to your instincts and not doing your best. This builds on what Leah Smithson was talking about in episode 94 when she said how important it was to listen to her gut to avoid what she called disasters.

We tend to sweep failures under the rug—hoping that nobody will see or notice and that we’ll forget about them. But, as you’ll hear from Laura, we can’t improve without examining what went wrong.

Laura talks about a few failures she has learned from, why it’s helpful to have a little bit of time and space before examining failures, and the shame that gets in the way of sharing failure with others. We also discuss the inevitable comparisons with other artists that arise when you fail and see only their successes.

The Art Biz ep. 95: What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney Read

Jenny Hope Antes watercolor painting | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 92: Are You Playing It Too Safe in Your Art Business?

We are hard wired for self-protection.

The moment we smell risk, our physical bodies start preparing for the encounter. Our mental faculties begin telling us how we can avoid it or, short of that, deal with it.

This is a convenient human feature you were given. It keeps you safe. But it can also keep you small when you give it all the power for decision-making. It can hold you back from becoming the person you dream of becoming and the artist you were meant to be in the world.

Playing It Too Safe

I want to share some of the ways you might be allowing your built-in sensor to rule your life and impede your growth. See if any of these ring true.

You enter the same exhibitions year after year.


When you just started your art business, you began entering juried shows. You found one that was a good fit. You got in. Yay you! That wasn’t so bad. So you enter again the next year. And then the next.

Juried shows are a natural first step for artists, but what I’ve witnessed is that many artists use them like a crutch. They’re easy and comfortable.

You maintain membership in a group whose members are not growing. 


This is similar to sticking to the same shows year after year. You’re comfortable with the people you already know, so it’s easy to stay involved. The problem, of course, is that you get frustrated because the group members aren’t thinking at the same level you are. You become angry and resentful about the time it’s taking up.

There’s no reason to get mad. You can’t expect

The Art Biz ep. 92: Are You Playing It Too Safe in Your Art Business? Read

Christa Forrest painting of seated woman | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 91: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest

Imposter syndrome is the hairy beast that shows up when we’re trying to take that next big step in our lives.

We know what we want to achieve. We know we want more for ourselves. And we know we have to embark on a new adventure in order for that to happen.

There is scary stuff ahead. Stuff we don’t know how to do. Stuff that doesn’t come with a guarantee of success. This fear is real, and it’s trying to keep us safe.

Danger ahead! Watch out!

In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert writes:

Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity, because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome, and fear hates uncertain outcome.

When we allow that fear to be in charge, we give away our power, our hopes, and our dreams. We hear voices whispering …

Who do you think you are?

Most artists have battled these voices, which is why I was happy to discuss imposter syndrome on the Art Biz Podcast with corporate-world-turned-full-time-artist Christa Forrest.

Christa is a big advocate for fake it til you make it, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have doubts and insecurities. In this episode, you’ll hear how Christa developed thick skin by showing her work at art festivals, why she is laser focused on building her email list, and how she overcomes feelings of inadequacy in her art practice.

The Art Biz ep. 91: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest Read

Is Being Too Cheap Hurting Your Art Business?

I am tired of watching artists and arts organizations live on leftover scraps.

Mind you, the organizations and agencies aren’t cheap with the patrons and board members with the big bank accounts. They are cheap with the artists, without whom their passionate interest would not exist.

Artists, in turn, grow to feel they are not worthy of more.

Don’t get me wrong. Frugality isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it can be good.

I don’t believe in spending for spending’s sake or in extravagance.

But frugality becomes detrimental when it feeds the notion that we are not worthy of more.

Many of my clients develop this sense of unworthiness that is perpetuated by the very organizations that were created to serve them.

I confess that I behaved similarly in the past.

For years I have been writing about how artists can show that their work has value. But I continued to allow the organizers who hired me for workshops to do things “on the cheap,” and I was doing the same with the workshops and events I organized myself.

How can I save money? was my modus operandi.

My first workshop, in 2003, was held at an office building that a friend managed. I recall my parents (!) picking up and delivering boxed lunches to the group.

At a much later workshop, I ran my team ragged making coffee all day long – trekking repeatedly to the kitchen on the other end of the building. Coffee! Because I didn’t pay for a venue that had food service.

No more.

I began attending

Is Being Too Cheap Hurting Your Art Business? Read

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