It takes a great deal of effort to find the right person to help with your art business, so you want to get it right. That means you need to find a way to retain good team members. You want them to take ownership in your business and pride in the work they do on your behalf. You may not be thinking about this from the beginning of the relationship with a new team member because you're so focused on getting the help you need fast. But you absolutely should be thinking about it: How do I keep good people on my team? In this episode of The Art Biz, I talk with Ali Manning about the responsibilities she feels as the person in charge of her business, including the responsibilities she has to team members. We discuss her membership-based business model, the dynamics between team members, how she hires, when and why she hires employees instead of contractors, and how she keeps team members happy. We also get into the hiring mistakes that both of us have made in the past—freely admitting that it was our fault, not the employees. Highlights The ah-ha moment in Ali’s art journey. (2:45) How does Ali make money in her art business? (6:25) Running a business with 1,500 members requires the help of several assistants. (10:15) The key difference between employees and contracted help. (12:27) Bringing your team together regularly starts with a weekly meeting and the right technology. (15:09) You might be surprised at where you can find the right help. (19:07) Hiring mistakes and how to correct them quickly. (24:15) Tests and onboarding processes that can smooth out the new hire process. (28:56) Clearly defined business processes and procedures will help your team members succeed. (31:35) Your assistant can’t actually read your mind, but taking these steps can help them out. (34:06) Keeping your employees—and keeping them happy. (38:46) A peek at Ali’s upcoming launch. (42:41) Mentioned Kolbe A Index Loom Asana Upwork The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Resources Show notes, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Quotes “From a business standpoint, I want to be able to offer my help a secure job. It’s important to me that they’re invested.” — Ali Manning “With as many moving parts as I keep in my brain, it’s no wonder that I needed some help with this stuff.” — Ali Manning “It’s important to slow down, take a step back and really think about what you want and how you would like your assistant to do it.” — Ali Manning   Guest Bio Ali Manning creates bindings that showcase the stitching and the handcrafted nature of books. Her mixed media books are inspired by the forests of New England and the gardens of her home country England. Working from her studio in a converted textile mill in Massachusetts, Ali has taught thousands of students via her blog, Vintage Page Designs, in person and with her latest online adventure, The Handmade Book Club. Teaching others to express their creativity through handmade books is her greatest joy. She believes that anyone can create a handmade book and it shouldn’t require expensive tools or equipment. Ali's work has been featured in Somerset Studio, Take Ten, Paper Crafts Magazine and Cloth, Paper, Scissors. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/being-boss-podcast

Art Biz Podcast

Learning How to Be a Boss with Ali Manning (#106)

In order to have a successful working relationship with anyone, you need guiding ground rules. You need employee policies and agreements, and boundaries have to be established, especially when you’re working with family. It can feel unnecessary to enact these formal arrangements with those close to us, and yet it's even more important to have them when you’re navigating the relationships that mean the most. In this episode of The Art Biz, I talk with Trudy Rice about her working relationship with a family member. Trudy reflects on what her business was like before her sister Jenny started helping her, the specific tasks that Jenny is responsible for, and how they structure their business partnership to make sure each is happy and fulfilled. Highlights The point at which Trudy realized she needed help in her art business. (2:20) Why hiring her sister was a perfect fit for Trudy. (6:17) Writing a job description for a relative—or any employee—is an essential first step. (9:00) Establishing an appropriate pay rate to compensate for the skills your new hire brings to your business. (11:48) Structuring a typical week when you’re scheduling more than just yourself. (15:20) Maintaining your voice when someone else is writing your social media posts. (21:24) Communicating effectively in between weekly meetings. (24:01) What Trudy wishes she had known before hiring her sister as her assistant. (28:25) Identifying the areas that would allow you to accomplish more if you turned them over to someone else. (32:24) Trudy’s advice to anyone that is considering hiring help. (34:54) A look at what is coming up next in Trudy’s studio. (37:18) Mentioned Loomly Asana Creative Market Resources Show notes, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art   Guest Bio Artist and entrepreneur Trudy Rice has been a professional artist for more than 10 years. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Trudy has a diverse business consisting of original artworks on paper, paintings, commissions, large projects, wallpaper, and linen homewares. Her artworks are inspired by our natural world, particularly flora and fauna. Her works on paper and paintings are created with mindful observation, the initial drawings are etched in the very sun and water from which the original specimens are found. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/working-with-relatives-podcast

How to Work Successfully (and Sanely) with a Relative with Trudy Rice (#105)

It can be very difficult to hire someone to help with your business, but if you want your business to grow, there comes a point at which you must hire to support that growth. And the wisdom is to hire before you think you can afford it. In this episode I talk with Angela Fehr and Robin Edmundson. Angela has been building a thriving business teaching heart-led watercolor, along with a community of artists to support one another on that journey. She knew she needed help, but she wasn't prepared to struggle to find that help. She was content in setting her intention and being open. Enter Robin—Angela’s student as well as a member of my former Inner Circle program for artists. In our conversation you'll hear how Angela has handled building a team and how Robin has been able to support her in this process. We talk about the technology they use, how they communicate with one another, and how they work with other team members who have since come on board. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/fehr-edmundson-podcast Highlights Angela and Robin both focus on watercolor and Angela’s teaching offers regular lightbulb moments. (1:43) How has Angela’s approach to watercolor grown her art teaching business? (4:45) Building a thriving business while raising families and connecting in the artist community. (9:09) At what point do you know it’s time to get help? (11:15) Finding the best fit—from both Robin and Angela’s perspective. (13:25) Learning how to hire correctly while trusting and protecting your values. (16:22) Finding assistants that have the skill set you might be lacking. (19:35) Building a support staff as your art business needs expand. (24:13) A typical week in this thriving art business. (29:32) The first step of a journey might be a boring one, but it can lead to a great adventure. (32:18) Email support, tech support, and everything you might want to hire an assistant to do for you. (34:54) The policies and procedures that keep a sustainable business running smoothly. (39:18) What are the rewards and challenges of supporting another artist? (43:32) Mentioned Angela Fehr Angela on YouTube Angela on Instagram Robin Edmundson Robin on Instagram Resources   Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art   Guest Bios Angela Fehr first picked up a watercolor brush as a shy teenager newly returned to Canada. During her teen years she’d lived in a remote village in Papua New Guinea, and the solitude had cemented a passion for art that she was excited to pursue. She quickly realized that watercolor was a perfect fit, and along the way, realized that she wanted something more for her paintings than simply to copy what she could see with her eyes. Angela aims to show her heart in her paintings, to pair the beauty of the world with a loose, intuitive, heart-led style. She launched her first online course in November of 2013, with the goal of teaching technique and empowerment to help painters become their own favorite artist. Angela shares her home in northern British Columbia with her husband and three teens. The beauty of the Peace River and northern Rocky Mountain region serves as the main source of inspiration for her paintings. Robin Edmundson paints everyday rural things in new ways with bold and unusual colors, using simplified shapes and lines to emphasize the patterns and rhythms of rural life. Robin grew up in northern Indiana in an old farmhouse on a property full of old farm buildings. Her early goal was to learn as many languages as she could. In college, she quickly found Linguistics and earned a Ph.D. in that field. She taught in various capacities at Indiana University for twenty-seven years. Always looking for creative outlets to balance her academic life, she learned to dye and weave and became an award winning fiber artist.   In 2011 she began blogging about rural life in southern Indiana. It took her a while to realize that she was still searching for a language that could express some things she wanted to say about life in rural southern Indiana. Imagine her surprise when she finally figured out that the language she was looking for was one of paint, color and line instead of words. Nothing makes her happier than to communicate through her paintings her deep love and respect for the unruly places and people of rural Indiana.

Trusting Another Artist to Help You Run Your Art Business with Angela Fehr and Robin Edmundson (#104)

Whenever you have multiple styles or subjects, you probably also have multiple audiences. This can also mean that you're essentially running multiple businesses. I'd never tell you not to do this, though I'd be tempted, because experimentation and play are such important parts of your life as an artist. But I will always caution you about the extra work involved. Today we're examining the work and reward that comes with working in multiple styles. In my conversation with Robin Maria Pedrero you’ll hear about the three different styles and subjects she paints. Robin has a very full art business, and she has joined the podcast to share her story about how she juggles her various styles of art and diverse audiences for her work. Highlights Robin’s evolution into the artist she is today. (1:30) Trying new things, making mistakes and moving forward. (7:05) More styles means more audiences and more effort. How does Robin juggle it all? (13:34) Track your inventory with tools that work. (16:49) Robin’s approach to marketing on social media. (18:23) Managing multiple Facebook groups and social media sites means creating more content, but Robin has a system for all of it. (26:36) Robin’s tools for staying so productive with such a long to-do list. (31:09) Lessons learned for successful print on demand. (35:45) Robin’s simple approach to bookkeeping and connecting with buyers. (39:11) The tools, assistance and move that are keeping Robin moving forward. (43:04) A snapshot of Robin’s typical day. (45:39) Providing excellent customer service is a major part of what the best artists do. (48:12) Paper planner or electronic task list, and all Robin uses Artwork Archive for. (50:38) What’s coming next in Robin’s very full art business. (52:45) Mentioned Robin Maria Pedrero Robin’s Instagram Robert Brackman Café Tu Tu Tangos HGTV and DIY Networks star Tamara Day Mary Mirabel Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art   Guest Bio Robin Maria Pedrero is an award-winning artist with work in museum permanent collections in Florida, Greece, public, corporate and private collections. Her abstract paintings are defined by layers of translucent color and overlapping forms, while her whimsical nature work, the paintings she calls “Joy Bringers,” is characterized by bold color and texture. Robin has had solo exhibitions at the Orlando Museum of Art and Lake County Museum of Art. More recently, Tamara Day of HGTV’s Bargain Mansion, has selected Pedrero’s artwork for that show. Pedrero creates from her studios in Frisco and McKinney Texas. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/multiple-styles-pedrero-podcast

Juggling Multiple Art Styles and Audiences with Robin Maria Pedrero (#103)

Does the thought of expanding your mailing list give you a headache? Do you constantly push tending your mailing list to the back burner because it feels like the least productive or enjoyable task on your lengthy to-do list? Your mailing list is your art business’s #1 marketing asset, but it’s absolutely useless if you aren’t using it and intent on growing it. Too many artists neglect their mailing lists simply because they don’t know the real power that it holds. In this solo episode, you’ll hear a new definition for your mailing list that just might inspire you to give it your full attention again. You’ll learn about the five groups of people that need to be included in your list and how you should treat each of them. You will also hear about the upcoming Grow Your List program — our final program for 2021 that is designed to help you create a reliable system to attract new people to your list and nurture them in ways that can make a major difference in your art biz success. Highlights How important is your mailing list, really? (1:30) Questions to ask yourself about your mailing list. (2:24) Broadening your definition of a mailing list to include everyone you know. (3:12) The five groups of people that need to be on your list. (4:44) The hardest part about growing your mailing list — and what to do about it. (8:47) How not to grow your mailing list, and what to do instead. (9:49) Finding the fuel that will power the growth of your list. (14:24) Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Quotes “When clients aren’t getting good results I can often trace it back to the fact that they’re neglecting their lists.” — Alyson Stanfield “Your mailing list is the number one asset in your art business, but only if you continue to develop it.” — Alyson Stanfield “You have to treat everyone on your list well.” — Alyson Stanfield “It’s not easy to get people on your email list right now, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.” — Alyson Stanfield “Stop looking for shortcuts. Start doing the hard — and much more interesting — work of caring about people and connecting with them authentically.” — Alyson Stanfield   First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/people-on-your-list/ Grow your mailing list: https://artbizsuccess.com/growyourlist

Redefining Possibilities for Your Art Business Mailing List (#102)

Why do we make things so difficult for ourselves sometimes? We don't mean to. It's our nature to appreciate simple solutions that we can quickly grasp and execute. I think we unnecessarily complicate our businesses because we lose focus. We get distracted by social media posts and emails. The next great invention makes it to our line of vision and we suddenly wonder how we ever did without it. And during this month while we're working on improving productivity, it's even more tempting to search for solutions outside of ourselves. But the truth is, you probably already have everything you need to simplify your to-do list and increase your productivity. To help unpack this idea, I’m joined on this episode of The Art Biz by Amelia Furman, who says that her to-do list was out of control before she took charge and started eliminating obligations from her life. She tells us why simplifying has become a way of life for her; what exactly she has simplified; and how she schedules her days, weeks, months and even her year in a way that is more productive than ever. Highlights Amelia shares her artist's journey. (2:19) The breaking point that revealed that Amelia’s to-do list was out of control. (4:53) For Amelia, making big changes starts with a deliberate start to every day. (9:58) Why is simplifying so important? (13:29) Focusing on one goal or one word each year can help you recall what matters most. (15:05) Setting boundaries and saying no helps Amelia reach her main goals. (22:00) Doubling her gross income doesn’t mean that Amelia is doing more of everything. (24:17) How to schedule your time in more productive ways. (26:08) What does your ideal day look like? What about an ideal week or month? (29:45) Bullet journaling, calendaring and planning your life. (35:32) How to create a loose monthly flow that allows you to meet your goals. (37:38) Simplifying, eliminating and focusing have increased Amelia’s productivity. (40:18) The value of participating in a business owners group. (42:00) Amelia’s advice for simplifying a complicated artist's life. (45:26) A look at what is coming up next for Amelia. (46:30) Mentioned Bullet Journaling The Originals by Adam Grant Amelia Furman Amelia Furman on Instagram Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art   Quotes “A to-do list can help you get all the things done, which is awesome until it’s the end all be all. Then it’s not awesome anymore.” — Amelia Furman “Organizing what needed to happen for that day only really helped to focus in and start this journey toward simplicity.” — Amelia Furman “Now I’m not saying yes to things just because I can do them. I’m saying yes to things based on my goal.” — Amelia Furman “So much of this is being honest with myself about how much time something actually takes.” — Amelia Furman “I have no further plan beyond each day, and that really helps me stay focused on that day and simplifies it so much in my mind.” — Amelia Furman “Be brave and start taking stuff out.” — Amelia Furman About My Guest Amelia Furman grew up in rural, central Pennsylvania amidst pastoral scenes of farms, fields, and forests, and now calls Colorado home. Nature has captured her attention for as long as she can remember. Visual arts were also a dominant force in Amelia’s life from an early age. After graduating with a degree in visual art from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2003, Amelia began to explore how she could use paint to express her love of the natural world. Amelia’s background in printmaking and illustration has heavily influenced the direction of her work. She works in a combination of paper collage, text and thin layers of acrylic paint. Using a selection of documents, vintage images, handwritten text, and symbols associated with the painted image, Amelia reminds the viewer that places and objects have many layers of meaning, memory, and beauty. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/simplifying-furman-podcast Make a plan for your art business: https://artbizsuccess.com/planningsessions

Simplifying to Improve Your Productivity with Amelia Furman (#101)

Welcome to the 100th episode of The Art Biz! In this milestone episode, the tables are turned as I become the guest of host Cynthia Morris. Cynthia was one of the first guests on my second attempt at this podcast, and I have learned so much from her wit and wisdom. In our conversation, Cynthia is set on helping me not only celebrate this important milestone but also reflect on just how far this podcast has come and what it took to get it where it is today. More than just a self-congratulatory episode, together we discuss the value of acknowledging your progress, however imperfect it may be. We share what it takes to do the work, create the content, and develop the tenacity that results in milestones worth celebrating. Highlights Why should you take time to celebrate milestones? (0:07) Alyson reflects on the progress she has achieved at this milestone podcast episode 100. (2:16) Fumbling your way toward success means just doing it! (6:04) What helps Alyson maintain consistency in her content? (9:06) The value of taking full responsibility for your commitments. (12:55) Overcoming the challenges that might be holding you back. (16:32) The systems that make podcasting a seamless part of Alyson’s life. (19:46) Celebrating progress starts with reflecting on where you might be otherwise. (24:55) The tools that Alyson uses to organize and produce this podcast. (27:23) Celebrating milestones, developing key qualities and recognizing your progress. (32:41) Mentioned Donald Miller’s Business Made Simple Podcast Cynthia Morris’s Stumbling Toward Genius Podcast Notion app Descript audio and video editing Podfly podcast production Resources Show notes, featured artists, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art   Quotes “When we don't acknowledge the milestones, when we don't pause to savor and appreciate and see what we did that brought us there, we really lose out on a lot of the benefits that we've accrued in the course of making our way to that milestone.” — Cynthia Morris “Every milestone shows you that you are making progress.” — Alyson Stanfield “We've seen so many people sit on the sidelines of things because they haven't figured out the right way or the perfect way. And then they never do anything.” — Cynthia Morris Your plan is going to be imperfect and you just may have to change it.” — Alyson Stanfield “When you promise something to people you’re promising something to yourself.” — Alyson Stanfield “You can’t make more money if you’re doing all the things that you’re not good at.” — Alyson Stanfield “The more artists that I talk with, the more artists I'm able to help and the better advice or consulting or coaching I can give.” — Alyson Stanfield “You’re not really living unless you’re learning.” — Cynthia Morris About the Guest Host Cynthia Morris helps writers, artists and entrepreneurs make their big dreams a powerful reality. Cynthia is a certified coach, teacher, author and artist. In 1999, she founded Original Impulse, a boutique coaching company that empowers creative people to focus, follow through and finish projects that matter. The author of The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book, Cynthia has published seven e-books on writing and creative travel as well as the Paris historical novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. She is a watercolor artist and visual journal keeper who uses art as a way to express joy and consistently access inspiration. Follow Cynthia on Instagram. First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/celebrating-achievements-podcast Build your well-greased art biz machine: https://artbizsystem.com  

Qualities and Tools That Lead To Achievements Worth Celebrating (#100)

What can you do if your art business isn’t profitable? When you’ve trimmed business expenses as far as you can, the only other thing you can do to be profitable is to increase your income. Your goal as the CEO of your art business should be to increase income and lower expenses while also increasing joy and lowering your frustration level. In this solo episode, you will learn about the income-accelerating plan that shapes a realistic strategy for increasing your income. This four-step process is what you need to begin to more easily visualize a more profitable future. If you’re ready to dramatically up level your business IQ by gaining insights into where your income came from, where it can come from, and how you can make it happen, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Highlights You cannot be content to just break even in your art business. (:10) The value of creating an income-accelerating plan. (1:20) How can you make a plan for more money when you don’t know if anyone will buy your art? (2:35) Step 1- Figure out where your income has been coming from. (3:38) Step 2- Analyze the numbers and what they can tell you. (6:32) Step 3- Set your next income goal. (7:25) Step 4- Make a plan that will allow you to achieve your new income goal. (8:51) Join the Artist Planning Sessions to get real about the work you can realistically commit to. (9:35) What other artists are saying about the income-accelerating process. (10:57) Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Intro and outro music by Wildermiss Quotes “Don’t be content to break even when running an art business.” — Alyson Stanfield "You need money to survive and shouldn’t be ashamed to admit it.” — Alyson Stanfield “One of the best things you can do to improve your chances of success in any area is to create a plan.” — Alyson Stanfield “You make a plan because you’re the CEO of your art business and that’s what CEOs do.” — Alyson Stanfield While you don’t have any control over results, you do have control over the actions you take (or don’t take) to get the results.” — Alyson Stanfield 

A Realistic Strategy for Increasing Your Income

Being profitable as an artist doesn't necessarily mean you need to do more. Sometimes it's about doing less by being discerning about what you take on and where you invest your energy. This is extremely difficult to do when you are trying to show and sell your art. You want to do more. To add new income streams and the latest marketing platforms. The ads and social media posts want you to do more. But more is exhausting. My guest for this episode knows how to get what she wants without doing more. Jill Soukup, who has been a student and client of mine over the past decade, is dedicated to becoming a better artist. She methodically improves her work to make sure that her career, her business, and her life are what she wants them to be. In this conversation, Jill and I discuss how and where she sells her work, how teaching fits in with her income plan, how she makes sure she remains profitable, and why it's important for her to keep things simple. Highlights   Jill’s transition to full-time artist and where she shows and sells her art today. (1:51) The inspiration behind Jill’s Western-themed art. (5:56) Selling on Instagram is changing the dynamics of Jill’s work. (8:39) Logistics of selling prints and giving customers what they want. (11:34) You have to spend money to make money. (15:25) The strategies that allow Jill to get work done without working harder. (19:31) For Jill, doing less has resulted in even more success in her art business. (23:47) Dedication to your craft and honing your skills is the hallmark of an exceptional artist. (29:10) Teaching, raising prices, and decreasing her painting output keeps Jill’s income steady. (30:45) Bookkeeping details and how Jill knows she is profitable. (37:24) Why is simplifying so important in Jill’s business — and life? (40:56) Insights from Jill’s typical work day and what she's working toward now. (46:14)   Mentioned Jill Soukup Jill on Instagram Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale Ranchlands Later social media scheduling   Resources Complete transcript, images, and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Intro and outro music by Wildermiss   Quotes “As artists we ebb and flow in our process and what we’re producing.” — Jill Soukup “This experience is teaching me to dig deeper and to see things that I wasn’t seeing before.” — Jill Soukup “At that point I recognized that I was so overwhelmed. I wasn’t making any decisions because I had too many decisions to make.” — Jill Soukup “At that moment I realized what really was important to me, and that all of the other things on my list were not even necessary.” — Jill Soukup “Everything I chose to do had to meet one of my three goals and it just simplified everything. And it was such a beautiful thing.” — Jill Soukup   About My Guest Jill Soukup was born in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Colorado, where she still resides. Jill’s affinity for horses as a young girl resulted in countless drawings and studies of them, which made for a strong drawing foundation. As a teen, she started a pet-portrait business, acquired jobs painting murals, and designed logos for local organizations. Jill graduated from Colorado State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art. There, she received awards for illustration and design and worked as an illustrator and designer for the university. She initially pursued a career in graphic design while continuing to paint part time. After 11 years as a designer, she made the switch to full-time painting. Her work continues to gain recognition as she receives awards, appears in national publications, and shows in important juried and one-woman exhibitions.   First posted: artbizsuccess.com/online-events-griffin-podcast Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community Music by https://wildermiss.com

Being Profitable Doesn't Have to Mean Doing More with Jill Soukup (#98)

Sometimes you just need to throw out the old models for doing business and try something totally new. Maybe you're bored with business as usual. Maybe the results aren't as profitable as they were in the past. Or maybe you are no longer enjoying the same old way of doing business. It's okay to go off-script. In this episode, I talk with ceramic artist Patricia Griffin. If you visit her website during certain times of the year, you won't see anything for sale because she has sold out. Zero inventory. What you will see are items she has sold and an opportunity to get on her list so you don't miss a chance to purchase the next time her shop opens. Patricia and I discuss what she refers to as events — the 3- or 4-times a year sales of her ceramics that sell out within hours and have led to a dramatic increase in income. She'll describe the philosophy behind them, the promotional timeline, the collaborations to help raise money for nonprofits, and how the events are a valuable tool for her to cultivate relationships with buyers and potential buyers. Highlights   The book that changed the course of Patricia’s artistic life. (2:04) Patricia’s cautious first step into selling her art. (6:35) A visual description of Patricia’s functional stoneware. (8:52) An overview of Patricia’s sales philosophy and the online sales events that bring in more orders than she can quickly fill. (11:20) The learning curve that comes with selling art in a non-traditional way. (15:46) Cultivating a studio friends list allows Patricia to connect with interested buyers. (17:47) Timing sales events and refining the sales process. (21:50) How many pieces does Patricia have ready to go when her events go live? (26:25) The benefit of connecting your Instagram feed to your sales website. (27:14) Marketing for sales events and what launch day looks like for Patricia. (28:53) Collaborating with a non-profit does not have to mean donating your work for free. (33:05) Hosting online events, for Patricia, has resulted in a dramatic increase in sales and skills. (34:43) Stories of creating connections and increasing loyalty with buyers. (36:20) How to create the deadlines that will result in increased sales. (39:16) The success of Patricia’s most recent online event — by the numbers. (41:04) Which social media platform brings in the greatest number of customers? (43:18) How does Patricia balance the need to produce art for her soul and the need to produce art for her business? (46:07)   Mentioned Patricia Griffin Ceramics Patricia on Instagram The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron The Artist’s Way Ayumi Horie Shopify   Resources Complete transcript featured artists and listener comments Artist Planning Sessions Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art Intro and outro music by Wildermiss   Quotes “I like the association with the people who are buying my art through online sales. I don’t know that doing it another way would cultivate the same kind of relationships that I have now.” — Patricia Griffin “Some of these people had been on my email list for years and maybe just purchased something for the first time.” — Patricia Griffin “Hosting online events has been really beneficial, not only to my business but also to my skills.” — Patricia Griffin “I don’t think I would have had those commissions if it wasn’t for the online events.” — Patricia Griffin “I’ve really felt the pull to do something else and get back to some of the experimenting that I like to do.” — Patricia Griffin “I’m continually walking that tight line between the need to produce art in my soul and the need to produce art in my business hat.” — Patricia Griffin   About My Guest Patricia Griffin is a potter-artist in the seaside community of Cambria on California's central coast. She makes functional ceramics that are hand-thrown and hand-built and etched with designs that look like woodcuts. Griffin’s work is sold primarily through shopping events held three to four times a year on her website. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/online-events-griffin-podcast Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community Music by https://wildermiss.com

Increasing Art Sales with Online Events with Patricia Griffin (#97)

You’re most likely listening to this podcast because you are in the art business. It’s more than a hobby to you. It’s your professional line of work. In this episode I want to talk about profitability—what it takes not just to make and sell art, but to also make money and to ensure that you have a positive net income in your art business. As the CEO of your art business there are things you—and only you—need to be doing to make sure that you are running your business in the most profitable and productive way possible. From running the numbers in your books to delegating the menial tasks that someone else can do so that you can focus on making art, I offer six different ways that you can ensure profitability in your art business.   Highlights   Getting serious about making money out of your art business—not your art hobby. (0:01) Yes, you really are the CEO of your art business. What exactly does that mean? (1:42) Art business CEOs know when and how to ask for help. (3:53) CEOs do what they do best and they delegate the rest. (4:43) Do you know exactly how you are spending money in your art business? (5:30) What you will learn from analyzing your profit and loss statements. (6:37) 3 evolving art business trends you need to be aware of. (9:23) A look at the upcoming and inspiring episodes on the Art Biz Podcast. (12:02)   Mentioned IRS Hobby Loss Rules 31 People Who Can Help You Sell Your Art What Is Your Art Business Costing You? (links to Liz Crane post) Ripping Through the Veils of Illusion Around Online Art Marketplaces by Liz Crane Art Biz Podcast Episode 18 with Helen Hebert   Resources Complete transcript, featured artists, and listener comments Art Career Success System Art Biz Success Community Intro and outro music by Wildermiss    First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/ceo Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community Music by https://wildermiss.com

Ensuring Profitability in Your Art Business (#96)

Failure. We all fear it, especially in our art businesses. But failure is necessary for growth. If you are succeeding at everything, there is no way you're learning and growing. My guest today is ambitious and knows what she wants, and she is not afraid to fail. In our interview, you'll hear about Laura Petrovich-Cheney’s philosophy that failure is the result of not listening to your instinct and not doing your best. Laura talks about a few failures she has learned from, why it's helpful to have a little bit of time and space between examining failures, and the shame that gets in the way of sharing failures with other artists. We also discuss the inevitable comparisons with other artists that arise when you fail and see only their successes. Highlights Laura Petrovich-Cheney shares the artist journey that led her to embrace failure. (1:40) Defining failure as a lack of listening to your intuition and not trying your best. (4:30) The difference between failures and mistakes. (6:14) The most productive timeline for examining your failures so you can learn from them. (11:45) Success comes from learning to do something better. (15:05) Compare rejection and failure — which one comes from within? (16:49) At what point should you define an experience as a failure? (19:47) Throw yourself a pity party, then let go and move on. (22:23) Should you share your failures with other artists? (25:42) Trying again, and again, and again, and knowing what to do better next time. (29:17) Laura shares the lessons she has learned from failing so successfully. (32:43) The benefit of asking others for help. (37:58) What is currently holding Laura’s attention in her studio? (39:05) Mentioned MacDowell Fellowships Bemis Center Artist Residencies Wolf Kahn Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowships Laura Petrovich-Cheney Laura’s Instagram Resources Full show notes including photos and listener comments Art Career Success System Art Biz Success Community Intro and outro music by Wildermiss Quotes "Failure is primarily a lack of listening to your intuition.” — Laura Petrovich-Cheney “If you really tried your best and you were only capable of a mediocre performance, that’s still your best.” — Laura Petrovich-Cheney “Failing to learn from an experience is another failure.” — Alyson Stanfield “In the failure, you learn how to do something better. And that sometimes is a bigger success.” — Laura Petrovich-Cheney “Listening to your intuition and honoring who you are is so important to being successful.” — Laura Petrovich-Cheney About My Guest Laura Petrovich-Cheney’s work is a profound assessment of contemporary issues merging with traditional folk art practices, quilting, woodworking and her repurposed materials with environmental issues of climate change. In all of the artist’s recent sculpture, a dialogue exists between environmental and individual concerns. Much of Laura’s work is feminist in nature, incorporating traditional women’s arts such as needlework and quilting, which are then transformed through found materials. Laura’s work has been published in several national and international publications including television, books, magazines, podcasts and NPR. Laura was born in Philadelphia and raised in Haddonfield, New Jersey. For twenty years, she has lived in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She earned her BA in Fine Arts and English Literature at Dickinson College. Laura also has an MS degree in Fashion Design from Drexel University and an MFA in Studio Arts from Moore College of Art and Design. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/failure-cheney-podcast Build your well-greased art biz machine: https://artbizsystem.com Music by https://wildermiss.com

What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (#95)

There is no such thing as the artist's path. Look at the careers of 50 artists side-by-side and you'll see 50 different paths. And probably none of them happened exactly as planned. In this episode I talk with Leah Smithson about her path, which kicked into gear after her father suffered a massive stroke and she began researching how creativity works in the brain. Leah's interest in learning has led to her untraditional portrait paintings, line of jewelry, public art, and murals. You'll also hear about how she embraces technology and has been teaching herself augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR). Leah and I discuss how she decides which risks to take on and which projects to get involved with, how she schedules her week, and how her well-meaning husband cajoled her into co-hosting a podcast with him. Leah has taken many risks in her art career, and I love her point of view — you'll never know until you try. You can decide to take a risk because even if it doesn't turn out as you'd hope — even if it's a disaster — you'll be glad you did it anyway, it's something that fits with your goals. If you’ve ever considered which step to take next or which opportunities are right for your art business, you need to listen to this advice from an artist who has failed and continues to experience success. Highlights Leah Smithson shares her art and the family experience that led her to focus more on her own creativity. (1:19) Unpacking the effects of art and creativity on the brain. (5:05) The evolution of Leah’s art in the face of emotion and self-expression. (6:46) Income streams and impact that Covid-19 had on Leah’s work. (10:55) Taking calculated risks in art and tuning in to what you want for your art business. (14:52) Learning from Leah’s failures. (17:10) How to identify the right opportunities for your art business. (22:08) The role of research in Leah’s art. (27:55) Creating digital art experiences with AR and VR. (31:43) Leah’s typical work week balances studio work, social media, podcasting and community projects. (36:37) Mentioned Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards Vessel: Art as a Doorway Podcast Leah Smithson Leah Smithson on Instagram Resources Full show notes including photos and listener comments Art Career Success System Art Biz Success Community Intro and outro music by Wildermiss Quotes "The faster you get it out there, the quicker you can make progress." — Leah Smithson “I try to balance an educated decision with being tuned in to what I really want to do, so even if it doesn’t go well at least it was because it was something I wanted to do.” — Leah Smithson “Even when I fail I can still be happy with the decision I made.” — Leah Smithson “I’ve learned that the next time I take a risk, it needs to be something that I really want to do. And even if it’s a disaster, I’m happy I did it anyway.” — Leah Smithson About My Guest Having moved around as a kid, Leah Smithson's style comes from a patchwork of influences from classical painting to cyberpunk. Through her murals, painting, NFT CryptoArt, and sculpture she often uses nature and portraiture to express the complexities of being human. She’s not afraid to take up new technology.   Leah was born in Tennessee. She has lived in Atlanta, the Bay Area of Northern California, and now calls L.A. home. She co-hosts the Vessel: Art as a Doorway podcast with her husband.

Calculated Risks, Guaranteed Rewards with Leah Smithson (#94)

Many artists take risks in their businesses and in their art without even thinking about it. They are hard-wired to experiment and stretch the boundaries of what is possible. Artists are innate problem solvers. My guest for this episode is one of those artists. The list of what Michael Gadlin has done (legally) to earn a living as a working artist for more than 20 years is impressive. He sells originals, consults, teaches, designs, builds websites, and even hosted a show on public television. He has also sat on boards and committees in his local Denver art community. Michael was gifted with what seems to be an endless supply of energy. I came at him with one topic and his mind connects it to numerous other experiences. The result is a wide-ranging interview. Michael waxes philosophically about the life of an artist, and you won’t want to miss his take on the lessons he learned from other working artists, the artist's collaboration with viewers, gallery representation, why it's important to be part of a community, and much more. Highlights Michael Gadlin reflects on his journey as an artist and the key role of mentors along the way. (1:32) The lessons Michael learned from reaching his first major studio goal. (6:28) The payoff that comes with showing interest in every opportunity that crosses your path. (9:34) Michael describes his approach to both figurative and non-representational art. (12:23) Experimenting, problem solving creatively, and collaborating with the art community. (18:55) You cannot be a one-person band and succeed in your art business. (27:00) Figuring out who you are as an artist (beyond the art that you make). (29:20) What does it mean to be an integral part of the art community? (31:24) Positioning yourself in the places that will allow you to shape the decisions that are being made in your community. (37:28) When can you truly consider yourself an artist? (43:18) Creating a legacy with your art and with your life. (46:01) Constant hustling — Micheal shares his multiple income streams. (47:36) Staying organized and getting things done starts with finding the right tools. (52:13) Mentioned Pratt Institute Art Students League of Denver Blue Silo Studios Darrell Anderson Aliki McCain Michael Gadlin Contemporary Vision on Instagram Resources Full show notes including photos and listener comments Art Career Success System Art Biz Success Community Intro and outro music by Wildermiss About My Guest Michael Gadlin began his art education at the Art Students League of Denver, followed by Metropolitan State University, Denver, and New York’s prestigious Pratt Institute of Art & Design in Brooklyn. He was awarded a residency at La Napoule Art Foundation in France. Gadlin sits on the board of directors at both Denver’s MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) and PlatteForum, an artist’s residency in the city. He has won numerous awards throughout his career as an artist, including the youngest artist ever to win Best of Show at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Gadlin’s work now hangs in the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art’s permanent collection among other city and government collections. First posted: artbizsuccess.com/problem-solver-gadlin-podcast Let’s do this together: https://artbizsuccess.com/community Music by https://wildermiss.com

Artist as Problem Solver with Michael Gadlin (#93)

Are you afraid to take risks in your art business? Do you spend your time playing it safe and sticking with what is comfortable and familiar in order to avoid facing the fear of the unknown? If so, you’re not alone. We are hard-wired for the protection that will keep us safe, but avoiding risks can also keep you small when you give up the power of decision-making. Avoiding risks can hold you back from becoming the artist you are meant to be in the world. In this solo episode, I will introduce our theme for the month — taking risks — and explore why taking risks is a critical step to growing your art business. Listen as I highlight the indicators that you are limiting yourself in your art business, the questions you need to ask yourself when facing new (and potentially risky) opportunities, and the simple steps you can take today to start moving toward the risk that just might bring the next level of success that you’ve been dreaming about. Highlights Transition from managing your mindset to taking risks in your art business. (00:07) Are you allowing your built-in sensor to impede your growth? (1:24) Challenge yourself to grow by getting a little more uncomfortable. (3:58) Growth demands risks, especially in your art business. (6:12) Simple first steps that will knock you out of your comfort zone. (7:48) Questions to ask yourself when facing a tough risk-taking decision. (10:22) Upcoming podcast episodes that will inspire you to take meaningful risks. (11:56) Mentioned Multi-State Multi-Year Multi-Artist Art Project with Marilyn Artus (#30) Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (#64)   Resources Full show notes including photos and listener comments Art Career Success System Art Biz Success Community Intro and outro music by Wildermiss Quotes “You’re not likely to take risks without the proper mindset.” — Alyson Stanfield “I challenge you to get a little uncomfortable with your art, with your marketing and in your life.” — Alyson Stanfield “Growth demands risks. Don’t even think about moving up a level without being prepared to face the little risks.” — Alyson Stanfield 

Are You Playing It Too Safe in Your Art Business? (#92)

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.

hubhopper

Art Biz Podcast

hubhopper