Many years ago I heard poet and critic Dana Gioia speak to a group of arts leaders. At the time he was head of the National Endowment for the Arts and found himself in the position of making… Read More

What are you doing to take care of yourself? To keep up your energy? To maintain a positive mindset? To balance out the hours in the studio and on the computer? There it is. The B-word. Bala… Read More

Cheers to those who look forward my recipe for Bert's Eggnog each year! I'm a little like Susan Stamberg who annually recites her cranberry relish recipe on NPR and, despite its ghastly Pept… Read More

The way we promote, sell, and buy art is rapidly changing, but there are still many good reasons to consider gallery representation. Here’s a list to remind you of the upside of workin… Read More

A lot of artists make a good living, or at least a significant part of their income, from commissions. You know how it goes. Someone approaches you to repeat that piece you've already sold… Read More

So many art venues shut down during the pandemic. Many of them undoubtedly mourned not only what might have been, but also the fact that there wasn't an opportunity for closure. ©Mai Wy… Read More

People. You need them. You need people to buy your art, people to show your art to, people to attend your shows, people to write about your work, and, let's face it, you need people to suppo… Read More

We’re all about the quest for more followers, more likes, more shares, more views, and more comments these days. It feels good when more people respond to your art because, as I’… Read More

Whether you're overseeing a single part-time assistant or a team of helpers, when you’re the boss, you have to step up and own your authority. You have to be more organized, more focus… Read More

I can't think of a single relative that I would hire to help me with Art Biz Success. I love them (most of them) dearly, but working with them? No thanks. And yet so many artists are lucky t… Read More

It's darn hard to hire someone to help with your business. You've been working by yourself for so long that you aren't sure you can trust anyone to do the tasks the way you'd like them done… Read More

Whenever you have multiple art styles or subjects, you probably also have multiple audiences. The abstract work might have one following, the functional pottery another, and the pet portrait… Read More

Do you ever wonder what a regular marketing schedule for your art would look like? Every week I comb through the hundreds of ideas I have for articles because I always find something new. So… Read More

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. This topic came up back in… Read More

When I started thinking about the 100th episode of The Art Biz podcast, I had very little enthusiasm around marking the milestone. The podcast exists to talk about artists' challenges and th… Read More

Don’t be content to break even when running an art business. You need money to survive and shouldn’t be ashamed to admit it. Everyone needs an income to put a roof over their hea… Read More

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. &copy&hell…Read More

Sometimes you 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 wer… Read More

Are you seeking a profitable art business? This is the Art BIZ Podcast on the blog at Art BIZ Success. I assume that, if you’re listening, you are interested in an art business, not ju… Read More

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 ev… Read More

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… Read More

Many artists take risks in their businesses and in their art without even thinking about it. They are hard wired to experiment. To stretch the boundaries of what is possible. Artists are inn… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

Artists are worthy of more. You who contribute so much to our intellectual, spiritual, and creative lives shouldn't have to live leftover budgets. But that's exactly what happens. It starts… Read More

Elitism in the art world is not an easy topic to tackle. To help make sense of its complexity, I  invited Megan Auman back to the Art Biz Podcast. Megan and I wrestle with what, exactly… Read More

Appearances shouldn't matter. They shouldn't, but they do. In his book, Blink, author Malcolm Gladwell says we have just seconds to make a good impression. Like it or not, people start formi… Read More

At what point do you get to call yourself an artist? What do you need to have achieved in order to earn that title? It's not an easy question to answer. Some of my clients think they need to… Read More

The subject line in my inbox said Podcast Pitch. Oh no, another one of these, I thought. But this had an addition. It included a reference to one of my clients after the words Podcast Pitch… Read More

Collaborations aren't for the faint of heart—especially for artists who are used to working alone and making decisions without having to get approval from another human being. But my g… Read More

Back in 2015, Kelly M. O'Brien started selling a lot of work, in a way that surprised her at the time. And while she has continued that work, she has added new work—what she calls emer… Read More

When we think about cleaning out we usually think of physical things or digital files. We want to Kon Mari that sock drawer—keeping  only the socks that spark joy, of course. Or d… Read More

It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If true, why do we continue to manage our art businesses the same way… Read More

This month we're focusing on the benefits of cleaning out—removing physical clutter that leads to disorganization, eliminating obligations that are no longer serving you, and slowing d… Read More

Spring is here in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s the perfect time to consider the aspects of your life that are weighing you down without contributing to your happiness and success… Read More

If you’re an intentional artist, you’re in the right place. I’m wrapping up a month of talking about how systems can keep you organized and make you a more productive artis… Read More

Betty Franks loves her business and life as an artist. She just might have found the secret sauce—a healthy combination of passion for the work and a continuing curiosity about busines… Read More

For the sake of her art, Jennifer Printz has been very successful tapping into that part of her that is, as she says, typical Pisces. On the other hand, she has learned to access another par… Read More

I am the queen of systems. There is a reason why my signature program is the Art Career Success SYSTEM. I believe that when you take the time to put in place easily repeatable steps to do a… Read More

I don't know anyone who doesn't think it would be great to attract more Instagram followers. More email list subscribers. More sales. More of anything! Because it makes our efforts feel wort… Read More

I live to track down art off the beaten path—traveling to out-of-the-way places to see works of art that delight and inspire, or even confound me. I like knowing that 1) there won't be… Read More

What is something special you can do for your email subscribers and collectors when your shows and large events are canceled because of a pandemic? Give them a private viewing experience, of… Read More

We’re obsessed with how many likes we get on social media posts or how many views our videos received. We are consumed by “getting” more followers and subscribers. But do n… Read More

Have you been promoting your art the same way for years without seeing better results? Allow me to remind you of this quote. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again an… Read More

We all seek success (whatever it means to us individually) but aren’t always prepared to deal with it when it comes along. That's okay, because, as you'll hear in this episode of the A… Read More

Taking charge of your art business isn’t only about bookkeeping, inventorying the work, and promoting your art effectively. Taking charge of your art business is about assuming 100% re… Read More

Ambitious artists hire me because they want more recognition for their art and support as they get their art out of the studio and into the world. I strung together these words during a smal… Read More

I teach setting goals for artists. It’s the first lesson in the Art Biz Accelerator. I encourage all of my artist-clients to articulate their goals because they have to know what they… Read More

Balance is the holy grail of every entrepreneurial artist’s quest. What does a balanced artist’s life look like? And what happens when you actually achieve balance? ©2020 Ch… Read More

I don’t believe in making art for a market. I believe in making art from your soul and then finding the right audience for it. But sometimes we are lucky enough to make the art we want… Read More

By now you may have picked up on the fact that I am a sucker for a reliable system. My signature program is called the Art Career Success System for a reason. Systems work. They provide… Read More

So many artists have benefited from Instagram. This isn't news. It comes up frequently in my interviews, and it's so ubiquitous that I haven't been able to pinpoint a specific lesson to devo… Read More

In order to project a professional image as an artist, you must be able to distinguish yourself and your art from a sea of other talented artists. To do this, you must first develop your art… Read More

Are you giving art this holiday season? Before wrapping up your art as a holiday present, it's nice to know that the recipient will truly love and want to display it. Banskia scarf and penda… Read More

Blogging about your art may seem less fashionable these days, replaced entirely by the quick and simple posts of Facebook or Instagram, but Lisa Call has proved that nurturing a blog can be… Read More

If you find it difficult to introduce yourself as an artist, you're not alone. “I’m an artist” doesn’t seem to roll off the tongue easily for some people. And yet it… Read More

Sales from your art gallery are not what you expected or need them to be. They sold a lot of your work at one point, but sales have dropped off significantly in the past couple of years&mdas&hell…Read More

At the intersection of craftivism and the world of campaign finance is Eve Jacobs-Carnahan. Eve is taking the historical practice of knitting circles and re-envisioning them as modern crafti… Read More

I'm always on the lookout for artists with interesting business stories to tell. I consider it my good fortune when I find them from one of my students or clients, and am equally happy when… Read More

Fun isn't a word used very often when we think of marketing or business tasks. Still, it's one of the criteria I suggest considering when you're thinking about whether to add something to yo… Read More

My experience with critiques is limited to memories of undergraduate painting classes with George Bogart. I was crammed into a space outside the studio classroom with my fellow students.&mda&hell…Read More

I'm a planner. If you've taken any of my courses, or even read my book, you anticipate that there will be at least one plan involved. Often with every lesson or chapter. It doesn’t do… Read More

Four and a half years ago I hired the best assistant I have ever had at Art Biz Success. She has been loyal, prompt, 200% dependable, and absolutely indispensable. Mesa on the grounds of Bil… Read More

Every day takes too much thought. – Gwen Meharg Gwen left this comment in our private community. I was struck by her insight because I had been reading about this at the time. Decision… Read More

Everything is Googleable these days, right? If you want to know who painted Las Meninas, Google it and you'll quickly find it was Diego Velázquez in 1656. From there, you'll see that… Read More

Twenty years ago it would have been unthinkable for me to suggest that artists add shopping carts to their websites. Above all, it was crazy expensive to do so at the time. But also it was c… Read More

Adri Norris is on a mission to tell stories of women who have made history. She does so through her art, her teaching, and her speaking. Adri Norris painting the Black Lives Matter mural in… Read More

Covid strikes. Hospitals start filling. Her doctor-husband continues to go to work in a building that is treating those who have fallen ill to the virus. She feels helpless, but not for long… Read More

Covid strikes. Hospitals start filling. Her doctor-husband continues to go to work in a building that is treating those who have fallen ill to the virus. She feels helpless, but not for long… Read More

This is special episode of the Art Biz Podcast. No music. No promotions. Just me and the microphone. Last week I received an email from a listener, who wrote: I am a fan of your podcast. I t… Read More

Born in California, raised in Mexico City, Carmen Mariscal had been living in Paris for many years when our paths first crossed in 2012. She's been sheltering in place with her family in the… Read More

Grieving is a necessary byproduct of being human. Perhaps it's the loss of a pet, a dear family member, a relationship, or a safe structure that was taken away from you, along with the memor… Read More

One of the first steps an artist makes when turning professional is to decide on an art business name, and many new artists make this more complicated than it should be. If you are a fine ar… Read More

Peeking at artists' journals is my definition of heaven. I love to see how ideas develop and change—how creative thought processes evolve. Cynthia Morris's stack of journals. The illus… Read More

Peeking at artists' journals is my definition of heaven. I love to see how ideas develop and change—how creative thought processes evolve. Cynthia Morris's stack of journals. The illus… Read More

I’ve been dedicating this blog and my podcast to what you can do now—actions you can take—to stay in control of your art business while galleries, studios, and exhibition v… Read More

A lot of people are using their self-isolating time to clean out. Not artist Daryl Johnson. She has nothing left to clean. (I can't imagine!) ©2020 Daryl D. Johnson, Clouds Wrapping. Oi… Read More

A number of years back I wrote a blog post called: What’s The Point of Making Art When The World Is So Screwed Up? Lately, we’ve noticed that that post has been getting a lot of… Read More

I'm using this time during the coronavirus outbreak, while we are sheltered in place, to help you focus on small things you can do now to stay in control of your art business. This post is a… Read More

About this Special Podcast Series for Artists For the foreseeable future, I’m dedicating the Art Biz Podcast and this blog to discussing what you can do now to stay in control of your… Read More

Back in 2016 I sat down with Cynthia Morris to discuss an affliction many of our artist-clients suffer from: Impatience. Especially around making money. This was the first episode of what be… Read More

Want more help selling your art? You have a sales force right under your nose: Your collectors. ©Katka Hubacek, Tree of Life. Mixed media, 35 x 30 x 12 centimeters. Used with permission… Read More

In 2014 then-promising artist Jennie Tucker received a challenge out of the blue from a friend: Paint my wedding. At my wedding. In front of all the guests. Most of the artists I know and lo… Read More

In the spring of 2018, Cathy Read took my Magnetic You course. Now this class isn’t for the faint of heart because it involves a lot of writing. And, if you’re like most of my cl… Read More

One of the tenets I abide by can be abbreviated as A.B.E. Always Be Evolving. Evolution, by definition, is something that happens over time. It’s usually not the result of a big b… Read More

When I was a kid I used to hole up in my room to draw—dreaming of being an artist. One of the books I worked from was titled something like How to Draw Wildlife. The drawing I remember… Read More

If you find it difficult to introduce yourself as an artist, you're not alone. “I’m an artist” doesn’t seem to roll off the tongue easily for some people. And yet it… Read More

Two years ago, Suzanne Gibbs entered my Art Biz Inner Circle and began taking full advantage of everything that was offered. (As an aside, although we no longer offer the Inner Circle, we do… Read More

As an artist, you may worry about the pressure to lead a minimalist lifestyle. Things weigh you down. Stuff is clutter. Stop being so materialistic. These are just a few of the admonishments… Read More

When I was little, my mother used to get me to clean up my room by telling me that the queen was coming. The room had to look nice because, for some lord-knows-why reason, Her Royal Highness… Read More

Caught you! You were looking at your calendar. You're counting the days until a fresh start. Thanksgiving … Christmas … New Year's Eve … and, at last, January 1. Or, rat… Read More

Do you think you might have a book in you? Why not do it?! Writing a book could increase your credibility, contribute to your legacy, and impact many lives. ©Carol McIntyre, Silent Trut… Read More

Productivity for artists doesn’t mean that you work harder or take on more than you can handle. It means that you work smarter—that you use your time wisely. If you want to be a… Read More

Have you ever been so focused on a goal you thought was right for you that you missed opportunities that might have been better? This week's guest, artist Adele Sypesteyn. Chances are good t… Read More

Relying on sales of original works of art doesn’t always pay the bills. Sales can be seasonal, galleries can shut their doors, or the economy might tank. No doubt you are already aware… Read More

Teaching art workshops for artist organizations and venues can contribute significantly to your art income. But you can dramatically increase your bottom line when you organize those worksho… Read More

People who buy from you once are more likely to buy from you again than people who have never bought from you. And … It’s less effort to nurture relationships with people who al… Read More

Living the artist’s life doesn’t necessarily flow with owning a business—with gaining valuable business skills that help you earn income from your creativity. Artist and po… Read More

Solo exhibitions, as well as 2- or 3-person shows, deserve your full attention. If you have an important exhibition coming up, give it the (virtual) space it deserves. Create a page on your… Read More

In 2014, Ali Cavanaugh had 11 galleries representing her work throughout the U.S. and even overseas. It was all she could do to paint fast enough to supply these galleries with new work. Ali… Read More