Here’s to the mothers who are artists. And to the mothers who raise healthy, informed artists who make the world a better place.
To My Mom . . . Who is forgiven for not taking me to museums because she didn’t want me to misbehave in public. (She was probably right.)
An Appreciation of Mothers and of My Mom Read
When Skip Hill said he needed a system for following up with his collectors, I knew I wanted to help.
He was neglecting his important business relationships at the most basic level. He said he was tired of being the stereotypical bohemian artist and ready to hone his business chops. Skip understood that the place to start this new commitment was with his network.
How to Guarantee that People Remember You with Skip Hill (ep. 187) Read
I want to talk about something that gets in the way of how you think your art business possibilities: The ladder of success.
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. To do this, let’s consider a circle rather than a ladder.
The Career Journey of Growth-Minded Artists (ep. 186) Read
Marilyn Fontaine, a multidisciplinary artist whose work is spiritual with a strong foothold in feminine themes, finds fulfillment by collaborating with others outside of her studio walls.
Marilyn and I talk about the work she does within her Afro-Carribean community in East London, including how it is funded and why her growing network is essential. We also discuss her studio rituals, leaning into the discomfort of rejection, and learning to let go.
Leaning Into Her Roots and Community Art with Marilyn Fontaine (ep. 185) Read
For some artists, being asked why they make art is unfruitful—even debilitating. A better strategy is to focus on the people who will be viewing, talking about, and living with your art.
How does your art make people feel? Bernadette Jiwa says, “People don’t buy why you do something. They buy how it makes them feel.” If you think about it, this, ironically, leads to your Why: Connection.
How Your Art Makes People Feel (ep. 184) Read
When I teach about collaboration, I’m usually talking about an exhibition or event. Lori Sokoluk and Susan Purney Mark took collaboration to the next level by collaborating on the artwork itself—resulting in a two-person exhibition.
We discuss finishing a piece on top of someone else’s marks, how they titled the pieces, how they divided up the work, how the exhibition was organized, and what they learned from the process that they’ll carry forward.
A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (ep. 183) Read
Have you heard that reading complex works of fiction isn’t just enjoyable, it can also combat dementia? As long as we’re reading novels, why not look for ones with art and artists at the center?
This updated post, which is as much for me as it is for you, has 7 personal recommendations plus 28 that others have added to the list. Add yours!
35+ Novels With Art and Artists (updated) Read
Your artist mailing list is your most valuable marketing asset. It is the primary tool you use to share your art with the world. It’s your #1 marketing asset.
Let me emphasize that by saying it a different way: There is nothing more important you can do to build your art business and career than to nurture your relationships.
In reality, most artists have 3 mailing lists, not just 1. Here’s what I mean.
Rethinking Mailing Lists for Artists (ep. 182) Read
This episode is about coming to art later in life—an under-explored topic to date. Janice Mason Steeves shares the realization that the students in her workshops tended to be in the 60 to 80 age group, which piqued her curiosity and led to the book Bloom.
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.
Spotlighting Artists Who Bloom Later in Life with Janice Mason Steeves (ep. 181) Read
I believe in the power of daily affirmations. I first used them a number of years ago to increase my income and it worked. My income shot up 40% that year.
I do not believe that reciting affirmations alone will move the needle. You must have the commitment to your goals in the first place and take appropriate action to move forward.
Try them and adapt to your needs.
Video included.
The Art Biz ep. 180: Affirmations for Artists to Keep You Motivated Read
Get a transcript of episode 182 of The Art Biz (Rethinking Mailing Lists for Artists) followed by a 3-page worksheet to evaluate the overall health and usage of the 3 types of artist lists.
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