The Art Biz

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

What happens when you realize the way you've been working isn't sustainable? When you've built something successful but it's costing you sleep, peace of mind, and the very things you set out to protect? In this solo episode, host Alyson Stanfield gets really vulnerable with a question most artists face at some point: Who am I if I change the way I've always done things? It's about the pressure to maintain what you've always done because that's what you identify with, the FOMO that makes you say yes when your gut says no, and the overwhelm that comes from adding more and more to your plate. Artists don't need more information—they need containers to organize it, filters to prioritize it, and boundaries to protect themselves from overwhelm. You'll hear about identity shifts, the power of asking "where can I lower the bar?" and what it looks like to evolve from consuming content to building frameworks that actually support your business. 🔦 HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 The Artist's Annual Review and why reflecting is an act of courage 02:50 The truth is you don't need more information 04:10 We need to prioritize creating containers, filters, and serious boundaries 06:40 Artists keep telling me they're "so behind" and I never want you to feel that way 09:10 I'm preaching sane planning while juggling an insane schedule 13:50 This is about IDENTITY—who I am at my very core 17:20 The right question: what do I need to let go of? Where can I lower the bar? 20:20 This is about evolution, trusting that what already exists is enough 📖 To read more and find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/beyond-info 🔶 FREE! Download The Artist's Annual Review and ask yourself: What do I need to let go of? Where can I lower the bar? Not just what you want to accomplish in 2026—but what you want less of, and how you want to feel as you move through your days. https://artbizsuccess.com/reviewyouryear 🔶 🔶 OWN YOUR YEAR 2026 🔶 🔶 If you're ready to take that clarity and turn it into a plan—not a plan that adds more to your plate, but a plan that honors where you are and what you actually have the capacity for—join me for Own Your Year 2026. This planning workshop happens January 13-15, 2026. This isn't about tactics or strategies or adding more to your list. It's about alignment. It's about creating a year that feels sustainable and maybe even radiant. Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/makeaplan ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. Think you'd make a good podcast guest? Give me your best pitch ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

host: Alyson Stanfield Alicia Bailey and Melinda Laz are part of a four-artist collaborative group in Denver that's been working together for years because it's made them better artists. In this conversation, they share the practical realities of collaboration: the systems that keep things organized, the communication that prevents problems, and the trust that makes it all possible. If you've ever wondered whether working with other artists is worth the effort, this episode will show you what's possible when you get it right. 🔦HIGHLIGHTS 01:50 How their friendship evolved into collaboration over 25 years 04:10 The early collaborative work between Alicia and Melinda 05:30 Expanding from a duo to a four-artist collaboration with Catherine Chauvin and Sharon Strasburg 08:30 Why they choose loose collaboration over a more formalized collective 10:40 Drafting proposals together without ego 13:20 Choosing "Perseverance" as their theme to allow broad interpretation 16:10 The systems they use to stay organized and on track 18:00 Why one person serves as the point of contact with galleries 20:40 The importance of going to lunch and doing studio visits 25:40 Learning when to say no to opportunities that don't align 36:20 Communication, clear expectations, and getting everything on the table 40:20 Keeping ego in check while maintaining leadership 🏃THE ARTISTS' ACTION FOR YOU Go to openings and talk to other artists, especially those whose work you feel a resonance with. Go view art even if it's not an opening, then dig deeper by looking at artists' websites or social media pages to learn about the community right in your backyard. Don't be afraid to reach out—send that Instagram message, ask for coffee, introduce yourself at the opening. Artists want to talk to other artists and form community. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/friendships-collaborations ⭐️ Connect with the artists: https://aliciabailey.com and https://melindalaz.com 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Interested in collaboration? Check out these episodes: Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show's Impact with Jill Powers (ep. 27) Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (ep. 64) Collaborating on Your Art Business with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin (ep. 86) A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (ep. 183) 🔶 Community can support your journey in so many ways. We have that kind of community in Essentials for Artist Success. While there are plenty of lessons in our vault—including our current focus on The Artist's Annual Review and planning work we'll dig into in January—our real emphasis is on action and progress. We're here to help you move forward without getting bogged down in more information than you need. Find all the details at artbizsuccess.com/essentials ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here's how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Too many artists graduate from art school with crushing debt and then spend years figuring out how to make money while trying to maintain a studio practice. Stephanie Brown did the opposite. She graduated from a private art school debt-free, secured a fully funded MFA, and has been treating her art career like a business from day one. In this conversation with host Alyson Stanfield, Stephanie breaks down exactly how she did it, and why being strategic about money doesn't make you any less of an artist. 🔦 HIGHLIGHTS 02:00 Why interactive art transforms viewers into participants and creates lasting memory points—and how Stephanie intentionally studied education theory to understand this 06:40 How she graduated from a private art school (SCAD) debt-free by maximizing scholarships and strategically taking general education classes at community college 09:40 Why she only applied to fully funded MFA programs and what made University of Michigan's program worth it 16:30 The best advice Stephanie received about graduate school: only go when you know what you want to say to the world as an artist 23:10 How watching her mother's creative side hustles shaped her belief that artists can make money from their work 24:40 The rules she set for herself (one residency, two exhibitions per year) to ensure she could always say "I'm an exhibiting artist" 31:10 Why working from home during the pandemic was the unlock that gave Stephanie energy and time for serious studio practice 33:20 The transferable skills from her art practice (managing budgets up to $50,000) that landed her higher-paying jobs in project management and business operations 🚀 YOUR ACTION Create your own non-negotiable parameters for your art practice. Stephanie's are at least one residency and two exhibitions per year. What would your rules be? 🎧 RELATED EPISODES She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be with Kelly Pelfrey (162) Being an Artist with Geoffrey Gorman (124) Starting Your Art Career (173) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/debt-free-brown ⭐️ Connect with Stephanie and see more of her art: https://stephaniebphotos.com 🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention. ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here's how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

host: Alyson Stanfield La Vaughn Belle is a visual artist based in St. Croix whose interdisciplinary practice explores colonial histories and Caribbean identity. Host Alyson Stanfield talks with La Vaughn about building a thriving art career outside traditional art centers through strategic networking, intentional collaboration, and the bold decision to hire a publicist for her monument project I Am Queen Mary. La Vaughn reveals How she built strategic networks that expanded her reach beyond her local community Why collaboration with people outside her discipline opened unexpected doors The power of consistent newsletter practice and following up with genuine curiosity How she hired a publicist for her monument project and landed coverage in The New York Times, Guardian, and Time Magazine Why separating your work (obra) from your career (carrera) requires different strategies How dedicating 20 studio hours per week transformed her practice HIGHLIGHTS 01:30 How living in the Caribbean has shaped La Vaughn's cosmopolitan perspective as an artist 06:40 How La Vaughn's work explores colonial histories through material remnants and storm metaphors 09:00 The three key practices La Vaughn built to develop her reputation outside St. Croix 10:30 What La Vaughn looks for in collaboration and how working with non-artists sharpens her practice 17:00 How people find La Vaughn for collaborations and the importance of a strong website 20:10 La Vaughn's consistent newsletter practice and how she asks permission to add people to her list 23:40 Why La Vaughn's friend insisted she hire a publicist and how she overcame her resistance 26:30 Describing the two-and-a-half-story sculpture that combined coral stones and a reimagined Huey P. Newton image 33:30 How La Vaughn dove into her practice after the media attention died down 38:40 Using affirmations and strategic positioning to attract the right gallerist 43:20 The difference between obra (work) and carrera (career) that La Vaughn learned in Cuba 46:40 Why committing to 20 studio hours per week is essential for competing at an international level 🚀 YOUR ACTION Pick one relationship you already have—maybe someone who expressed interest in your work, a curator you met once, or an artist in a different discipline—and reach out this week. Not with an ask, but with genuine curiosity. Invite them for a coffee chat or Zoom conversation and see where it takes you. 🔶 Map out your follower's full journey from discovery to purchase: Follower —> Fan —>Buyer —> Collector. Learn how people find your art, engage with it, build trust over time, and buy when they're ready. $97 (podcast listeners can save $20 with promo code PODCAST20) Sign up now at ArtBizSuccess.com/f2c 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/visibility-belle ⭐️ Connect with La Vaughn and see more of her art: https://www.lavaughnbelle.com/ 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Boldly Reaching Out to Art World Influencers with Laurence de Valmy (108) Lessons from a Wildly Successful Pop-up Art Gallery Event with Mai Wyn Schantz (109) Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley (160) ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here's how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

When Alissa Quart's 90-year-old mother received a terminal diagnosis, she faced a daunting question: what to do with 400 paintings created over three decades. Her solution was unconventional, distributing the work directly to neighbors, friends, and anyone who wanted to live with her mother's art. The story she shares with host Alyson Stanfield touches on something much larger: what artists actually need to sustain their practice and how we think about legacy when the traditional art world isn't an option. You'll learn: How to approach inventorying and distributing an artist's work when they can no longer do it themselves Why affordable housing is critical infrastructure for artists and what happens when creative communities are priced out The legal and economic barriers that prevent cities from supporting working artists How one New York Times article elevated an artist's work in ways decades of painting couldn't When to stop building an artist's legacy and how to set boundaries around the work HIGHLIGHTS 01:30 Barbara Quart's journey from East Village bohemian to 30 years of daily painting 05:40 The horror story that sparked a mission to honor her mother's wishes 08:20 Looking for external validation through local gallery shows in the Berkshires 10:40 The circumstances that allowed 30 years of sustained art practice 12:50 Why artists need community, not just queen bees but worker ants too 14:40 Legal barriers that restrict housing developments for artists 17:00 How art production creates billions in economic activity 23:10 Starting with an inventory and creating a catalog system 26:30 Women who inherit their husband's art and sacrifice their own lives 29:20 The art destruction party where artists let go of their work 34:10 How one piece in the New York Times changed everything 38:10 Barbara started painting again after the article's positive response 42:00 Collective joy and questioning the myth of individualism 44:00 The promise that consciousness can persist beyond the hand that picked up the brush 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Spotlighting Artists Who Bloom Later in Life with Janice Mason Steves (181) Proactively Planning Your Art Legacy with Heather K. Powers (143) Confronting Your Professional Legacy with David Paul Bayles (15) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/quart-legacy ⭐️ Connect with Alissa: https://alissaquart.com Learn more about and support the Economic Hardship Reporting Project: https://economichardship.org Follow Barbara Quart's art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbaraquartpainter/ 🔶 Map out your follower's full journey from discovery to purchase: Follower —> Fan —>Buyer —> Collector. Learn how people find your art, engage with it, build trust over time, and buy when they're ready. $97 (podcast listeners can save $20 with promo code PODCAST20) Sign up now at ArtBizSuccess.com/f2c ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here's how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

host: Alyson Stanfield Pinterest isn't just for recipes and home décor—it's one of the most underutilized marketing tools for artists. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield talks with artist coach Hayley Price about how she's still getting traffic from pins created years ago and why Pinterest should be part of your long-term strategy. Discover how to turn your existing content into evergreen visibility for your art. Why Pinterest functions more like a search engine than a social platform How pins can drive traffic for years, not hours or days The easiest way to start using Pinterest if you already post on Instagram Smart strategies for linking pins so they keep working—even after artwork sells How to use Pinterest not just for marketing but also for creative inspiration HIGHLIGHTS 00:30 Meet Hayley Price—artist, gallerist, coach, and podcast host 02:20 Why Pinterest offers long-term visibility compared to Instagram 03:20 How Pinterest functions as a search engine (not social media) 05:10 How interior designers and collectors use Pinterest to discover art 06:30 Doubling your SEO efforts by linking blog posts to pins 08:40 First steps: setting up a business account and connecting Instagram 12:20 Creating multiple pins from one piece of content (without extra work) 19:00 What kinds of pins perform best for artists 24:40 How to keep pins working even after artwork has sold 28:20 Success story: 40–50% of gallery traffic still coming from old pins 29:50 Why ads often perform better on Pinterest than Instagram 33:20 Pinterest as a digital mood board for artistic inspiration 37:00 Hayley's creative routine and how she balances her multiple roles ACTION Choose one Inspired Pinterest Action: Repurpose something you've already shared on Instagram Start a new board for your blog posts or a collection Revive an old board with fresh pins Just one step this week can set you up for visibility long after you hit publish. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Presenting Yourself Professionally on Your Artist Website with Jessica Burko (174) Technology Is Your Colleague in the Studio with Iris Scott (203) What Artists Need to Know About SEO with Meg Casebolt (222) 22 Tactics to Thoughtfully Invite People to Visit Your Art Website (228) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/pinterest-price ⭐️ Connect with and see more of her art and the artists she features: https://thescoutedstudio.com/ 🔶 If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels on random marketing tasks and instead build a strong, reliable foundation for your art business, check out Essentials for Artist Success. Inside, you'll find the structure, coaching, and accountability to help you turn intentions into consistent action. Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/essentials. ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here's how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/