Art Biz Podcast

You worked hard to get your art on those walls. So when only a handful of people show up to the opening, it stings. In this episode, Alyson Stanfield looks at the most common reasons your supporters stayed home — and what you can do differently before your next show. In this episode: Why the 5-10 days before a show are too late to fix most attendance problems How a cold list can cost you the people most likely to show up Why you can't rely on the venue to bring people to your exhibition Why one or two social media posts won't cut it The power of a personal invitation and letting people know why the show matters to you Why sending one email isn't enough, and why your supporters will thank you for the reminder Read the show notes, get links mentioned, and watch the video July 9 workshop: Follow Up Already Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that your best salespeople are already in your life, just waiting to be asked to help. This episode isn't just for artists with collectors. If anyone has ever responded enthusiastically to your work, it applies to you. Alyson reveals: Who counts as a potential advocate Why these people genuinely want to help Why the relationship has to come first How to make it easy with tools whether they are tangible, in-person events, or digital tools When and how to make the ask, and what it doesn't look like If the follow-up is a weak link for you, join Alyson for Follow Up Already: Don't Let Good Opportunities Go Cold. Read more, get links, and see featured artists on the companion post. Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

There are many ways for artists to make money, but more income sources don't always lead to more income. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield looks at the difference between an income source and an income stream—and why that distinction matters when you're deciding what belongs in your art business. You'll also hear about: Why adding a new income source can mean building a separate business The time, energy, marketing, and systems each source requires Why so-called passive income is a myth How to evaluate profitability, potential, and return on your time Questions to help you decide whether to add, keep, or let go of an income source The goal isn't to have as many income sources as possible. It's to understand what each one requires and decide whether it deserves a place in your art business. Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post. Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that research is not an academic exercise. And it's not separate from your art practice, but part of it. She encourages you to think of it as leading with curiosity, which strengthens the work and builds confidence. Alyson draws on her background as an art historian and her own current investigation into timelines to show what this actually looks like in practice. Alyson reveals: Why "I've always been drawn to this" isn't a good enough answer, and what happens when you push past it The difference between work that is beautiful and work that is about something Why you mustn't research to find the right or best answer, and why you cannot rely on Google and AI for a true research practice How a serious inquiry practice changes your artist statement, collector conversations, and confidence in the work What it means to make curiosity a practice rather than a phase you move through before a project begins Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post. Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Every artist wants to know "how much time?" How much time on the business side, how much time making the work, and how long before any of it pays off. In this episode of The Art Biz host Alyson Stanfield gives straight answers to the two questions that matter — including a number you might not want to hear — and offer a better question to ask yourself instead. She covers: Why "how much time?" is the wrong question, and what to ask yourself instead The difference between your daily time and the longer stretch it takes to establish yourself Why willingness and commitment matter more than the number of hours you have How much of your working time goes to business and marketing when you're serious about income Why more success means more business, not less The timeframe to expect for the hard work to pay off and why steady work matters most Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post. Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This. The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Making a living from your art takes more than passion and talent. In this solo episode, Alyson Stanfield walks through the real considerations — from committing to your studio practice to making friends with marketing — for artists who are serious about turning their practice into a livelihood. It starts with a question worth considering: is this really for you? In this episode, Alyson covers: Why marketing your art too early can undermine everything you're working toward The financial math many artists avoid, and why ignoring it is not an option The old stories that hold you back and what it means to let them go Why your artist community is a valuable asset The difference between being busy and being productive Structure is what makes creative freedom possible Why you need to make friends with marketing. Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Venues aren't looking for artists who need them, they're looking for artists who are ready. Host Alyson Stanfield introduces the attraction method: a way of building genuine relationships with venues long before you ever make an ask. For alternative venues, the timeline from first contact to a yes can be weeks instead of years. In this episode, Alyson covers: Why readiness is more than finished work, and what signals to a venue that you're prepared How alternative venues operate on an entirely different timeline than galleries The research and in-person visit steps that show a space you're worth talking to What separates "Can I show my art here?" from an opener that actually starts a conversation Why consistent, genuine presence means venues sometimes do the asking before you do Visit this episode's page for all resources MENTIONED Beyond White Walls workshop Elevate Your Art workshop RELATED EPISODES The artists who don't wait to be chosen (264) Use the attraction method for art venues before you make the ask (265) Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

You don't need a gallery to put your work in front of people. You don't need to wait for the next juried show application just for the promise to compete with a hoard of other artists. In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that waiting for gallery representation — or cycling through the same juried shows — keeps artists from the kind of visibility they could be creating themselves. This is a practical, imagination-expanding episode for artists who are ready to take control. In this episode, Alyson shares: Why "white walls" can be a metaphor for playing it too safe Three real art shows she attended that will stretch what you think is possible The lesson a hotel show taught her about personal invitations The difference between announcing, commanding, and inviting, and when to use each for promoting your show RESOURCES MENTIONED Elevate Your Art on-demand workshop Why the lone artist mindset keeps you small (263) How to write an art show invitation: announcing, commanding, or inviting? (article) BEYOND WHITE WALLS :: May 7 Workshop Your next exhibition space is closer than you think. Join Alyson on May 7 for Beyond White Walls, a 70-minute live workshop on finding and approaching non-traditional venues for your work. Registration is $37 and includes email templates, a companion guide, and the recording. Details at https://artbizsuccess.com/whitewalls Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield explores why collaboration is often the missing piece in an artist's growth. While working alone feels easier, it can quietly limit what's possible. This episode makes the case for thinking bigger by asking a simple but powerful question: Who else belongs in your work? Alyson shares: Two powerful examples of artist collaborations and how they reached audiences that the artists couldn't have reached on their own How collaborations build accountability, momentum, and deeper work Why it's important that your work be part of the larger dialogue What to look out for when collaborating Visit this episode's page for all resources RELATED EPISODES ON COLLABORATING This Artist Turned Six Partnerships Into a Sold-Out Gallery Show with Meredith Nemirov (262) A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (183) Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show's Impact with Jill Powers (27) Multi-State Multi-Year Multi-Artist Art Project with Marilyn Artus (30) Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (64) Collaborating on Your Art Business with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin (86) Play Tops Work, Connection Tops Solitude, and Confidence Tops Fear with Willie Cole (126) Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (128) Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Artist Meredith Nemirov joins host Alyson Stanfield to walk through how she built a rare sold-out show — not by luck, but by design. Starting with a short proposal to a national nonprofit before she ever approached her gallery, Meredith assembled six collaborators, two opening nights, and a donation structure that gave everyone a reason to say yes. Meredith reveals: Why she approached a national nonprofit before she walked into her own gallery The three options she gave American Rivers for the collaboration How the gallery staff went far beyond hanging the work, and why it mattered The missed opportunity she'd handle differently next time How having people depending on her changed what happened in the studio Connect with Meredith Visit this episode's page for all resources Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

The daily work of running an art business always feels urgent. The strategic work doesn't. So it waits. But postponing that deeper evaluation isn't okay. In this solo episode, host Alyson Stanfield names five specific costs that accumulate when the strategic work keeps getting pushed to next month, next quarter, next year. In this episode: Why tactical delays and strategic delays are two different problems The question Alyson asks every client when a deadline feels far away What it means to leave money on the table, and why it's such an easy cost to ignore How unresolved strategic questions become a constant tax on your attention Why execution without direction is just activity What happens psychologically every day you don't begin the work you've been putting off Resources & links Stop Being Busy. Start Being Strategic. (258) Do You Have the Art Business You Actually Want? (259) The Art Business Self-Assessment Every Artist Should Do (260) Read more in depth, get links, and see featured artists Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

My Art Business Assessment — Used with Every Client 50% In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield introduces the 3-zone framework she uses with every private client to assess where an art business actually stands. It's the same structure at the heart of the Art Business Reset workshop, and this episode is your chance to walk through it on your own. Alyson covers: The question she asks before any strategy conversation The 3 zones that account for everything you do to build your art business outside of making the work: Outreach, Presence, and Systems The breakdown of what each zone covers and questions to ask for your assessment Why you can't neglect in-person networking and follow-up Mentioned Do You Have the Art Business You Actually Want? (259) Stop Being Busy, Start Being Strategic (258) Art Business Reset on March 31, 2026 Read more, get mentioned resources, and see featured artists Email Alyson to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Most artists didn't design their art business — they drifted into it. In this solo episode, Art Biz host Alyson Stanfield invites you to slow down long enough to ask a question most artists never take time to ask: if you were starting fresh today, would you build it this way? In this episode, Alyson covers: Why most artists are running a business they drifted into rather than designed — and why that matters What a business model actually is (and why you already have one whether you designed it or not) The difference between examining your business and evaluating it, and why the order matters The foundational question she asks every new private client before anything else The six areas to examine when you're ready to take honest stock of what you've built Read more, get links, and see featured artists Mentioned Stop Being Busy, Start Being Strategic (258) When You Want to Sell More Original Art (257) Beyond Information: Why Artists Need Frameworks (251) Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term art career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Being busy is boring. In episode 258 of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that most artists are so deep in execution mode that they never step back to evaluate, redirect, or ask whether any of it is actually working. This episode draws a clear line between working IN your art business and working ON it, and explains why both matter, but one gets almost all of the attention. IN THIS EPISODE Why execution without direction is just activity, and what it costs you. The side-by-side difference between IN and ON work across four common artist tasks The two failure modes: too much IN (reactive, no filter) and too much ON (perfect systems, no execution) What working ON your business actually looks like in practice, including the questions to ask Why multi-year plans have lost their usefulness, and what to hold onto instead QUESTIONS TO ASK IN YOUR "ON" TIME What is actually working — and why? Is this still where I want to go — and why? What on my to-do list no longer serves me? What has the best potential for a long-term payoff? Where am I playing it too safe? How can I enjoy my art business even more? Read more, get links, and see featured artists Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Selling products — giclées, pillows, aprons, notebooks — made sense when you started. But if you've been asking how to sell more original art and not getting traction, something may need to shift. Host Alyson Stanfield draws on her background as a museum curator and educator to explore what actually gets in the way and what to do about it. In this episode: Why the pivot to products is understandable, and when it starts working against you The fear that drives you away from leading with originals What collectors are actually buying when they choose to live with original art The screen equalization problem: why your $4,000 painting and your $40 print look identical online (and what to do about it) Two tactics for selling more original art Read more, get links, and see featured artists Check out Elevate Your Art: Museum-Quality Standards That Command Higher Prices Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Artist and tax advisor Hannah Cole knows firsthand how shame can poison an artist's relationship with money. When her dad's accountant asked "When are you gonna get a real job?" instead of helping her understand quarterly taxes, she experienced the dismissal that makes so many artists avoid financial conversations altogether. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield and Hannah explore why artists develop allergies to money talk and what it takes to build confidence with your numbers. Hannah reveals: Why "when are you gonna get a real job?" creates a lasting money allergy How believing money corrupts prevents you from advocating for fair pay Her ritual for making bookkeeping feel like self-care instead of dread Why you must have a separate bank account for your art biz What losing 20 years of art in a hurricane revealed about capitalism and grief Connect with Hannah: SunlightTax.com The Sunlight Tax podcast LinkedIn: Hannah Cole Instagram: @sunlighttax Tiktok: Sunlight Tax Youtube: Sunlight Tax Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Daniel Sipe and Karlë Woods didn't set out to start an arts organization. They just wanted to talk to artists during the pandemic. Four years later, Lights Out has produced 95 artist documentaries, thrown 18 popup exhibitions across Maine, and built a funding model that includes everything from $10 monthly donors to six-figure state contracts. Their story, shared with host Alyson Stanfield, offers a masterclass in starting before you're ready, investing in what matters (yes, including marketing), and building something sustainable through collaboration rather than competition. They reveal: Why a power outage became the best thing that could have happened at their first art show The $800 investment that felt reckless at the time but proved essential to their credibility How they turned what could be seen as competition into their superpower The state contract that nearly bankrupted them before it saved them The simplest way artists can support arts organizations in their communities Read more, see images, find resources mentioned Connect with Lights Out Website Videos on YouTube Instagram Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Damien Davis is a visual artist and writer who questions the art world's power structures from an artist's perspective. In this conversation with host Alyson Stanfield, he exposes the gatekeeping mechanisms—from application fees to institutional approval—that keep artists competing for artificially scarce opportunities instead of recognizing the abundance they could create together. Damien reveals: How learning business skills like grant writing and fundraising allowed him to stop waiting for gatekeepers and reclaim his studio practice Why he defines a successful artist as simply someone who keeps making art, regardless of galleries or institutional validation How barriers like application fees serve to keep artists competing for resources that should be abundant Why people at the center of the art ecosystem benefit from keeping artists in perpetual competition with each other How his writing exposes exploitation directly while his colorful sculptures draw viewers into uncomfortable conversations about erased histories Read more, see images, find resources mentioned Connect with Damien: Website and Newsletter Instagram Hyperallergic Articles Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals. Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Host Alyson Stanfield reveals an uncomfortable truth in this solo episode: the problem isn't that you don't know enough. The real challenge is building the confidence to act on what you already know. After 23 years of teaching artists, Alyson has realized she's been contributing to information overwhelm when what artists actually need are practices that build steady confidence. In this episode, you'll discover: The five major confidence killers that derail your plans Six practical confidence-building practices you can start today Why your January plans typically fade by February How to close the gap between planning and execution The difference between accumulating knowledge and trusting yourself HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Alyson reflects on episode 251 and her realization about information overwhelm 01:00 The real problem isn't lack of knowledge—it's information overload 02:00 What typically happens to January plans by February 03:10 Three things that kill confidence: doubt, false beliefs, and comparison 04:10 How perfectionism is actually procrastination in disguise 05:30 The inner critic voices that keep you stuck 06:30 Learning from outside critics versus harsh feedback 07:20 Six practices for building steady confidence 13:00 The gap between planning and working your plan 14:30 Practice steady confidence this season SUGGESTED ACTION This week, start one confidence-building practice. Choose the one that resonates most: begin a daily wins list, create your "loved" file, write one affirmation, or commit to one self-care practice. You don't need to do all of them at once. Pick one and practice it consistently. RELATED EPISODES Beyond Information: Why Artists Need Frameworks (251) What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (96) How to Be a More Confident Artist with Gwen Fox (24) To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/steady-confidence 🔶 For the first time, Essentials is available as a single season option—four months focused entirely on building steady confidence. Running through April, you'll get weekly practices, community support, and access to all learning modules when you need them. The planning workshop gives you the plan. The season gives you the practices to meet your goals. Learn more: Essentials for Steady Confidence The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. HOW TO BE A GUEST Think you have a story to share with other artists here on The Art Biz. Take the first step ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

host: Alyson Stanfield In this coaching-style episode, host Alyson Stanfield coaches Ebony Iman Dallas through the challenges of building a sustainable public art career while navigating motherhood, a regional market, and the fear of rejection. Ebony makes 90% of her income from public art but struggles with systems, marketing that highlights events instead of her work, and waiting for opportunities instead of creating them. If you've ever felt stretched between creative work and life responsibilities—or stuck in a local market—you'll recognize yourself here. HIGHLIGHTS 01:30 Ebony's journey from advertising to opening the first art gallery in post-war Somaliland to full-time public art practice 06:10 How Ebony's income breaks down: 90% public art, 10% studio sales 08:30 Why she needs both institutional recognition and sales to spread her messages about Black Oklahoma history 16:30 Ebony admits she has no systems for tracking proposals and keeps everything in her head 21:10 Her graphic memoir Through Abahay's Eyes aims to clear her father's name and show healing is possible 30:20 The critical marketing shift: promote primarily—over events 33:10 Building a VIP list and postcard strategy to stay visible with the right people 40:50 Why fear of rejection keeps your dreams small 44:00 Weekly accountability check-ins take the emotion out and make it a numbers game 46:20 The three main takeaways: accountability structure, VIP postcard strategy, and intentional art-focused marketing ACTION Take one of these strategies and put it into action this week. Reach out to one curator or gallery director. Start your VIP list of people who should know about your work. Or schedule a weekly check-in with an accountability partner to share what you've applied for. RELATED EPISODES Remove Barriers to Buying Your Art (237) How to Guarantee that People Remember You with Skip Hill (187) Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (114) To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/shape-opportunities ⭐️ Connect with Ebony and see more of her art: https://ebonyimandallas.com 🔶 If you heard Ebony talk about keeping everything in her head and thought "that's me," join us for Own Your Year 2026, January 13-15. This three-day planning workshop will help you get it all out of your head and onto a plan that actually supports your goals. Registration closes January 12th at artbizsuccess.com/makeaplan. 🔶 If you're looking for more customized support beyond group workshops, I also work privately with a small number of artists each year. Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/consulting. The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. HOW TO BE A GUEST Think you have a story to share with other artists here on The Art Biz. Take the first step ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/