Balance. 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? As much as I love the idea of being whisked away by my latest all-consuming project, I also know what it feels like to be out of balance. I much prefer being in charge of my time and my life, and that’s why I loved this conversation with Chris Maynard.

Chris turns feathers into intricate art. Working with delicate tools, he carves into feathers to create images of the very creatures that shed them. His unique feather sculptures are recognized by art collectors, bird lovers, and a variety of people from around the world.

In this episode, I talked with Chris about finding balance in life as well as in making and marketing art. He shares the secret behind his seemingly successful quest for balance, how he approaches requests for commissioned pieces, and the systems that he uses to stay on top of it all.

Balance may seem elusive, and, yet, we all need it in order to be our most creative and successful selves. Whether you’re currently searching for balance in your work or have already homed in on what the perfect balance means to you, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Highlights

 

• Chris Maynard explains the inspiration behind his unique artwork of carving feathers. (3:39)

• Details about the seven galleries that represent Chris’s work. (6:55)

• Chris’s income streams, including commissioned work, prints, and his book. (7:30)

• Why balance is important to Chris. (11:00)

• How Chris balances commission requests with his own creative license. (12:45)

• Maintaining relationships with galleries while accepting commissions. (15:47)

• Balancing commissioned pieces, for Chris, means working on one at a time. (18:04)

• Dancing, movement, and leaving work undone are all part of Chris’s typical work week. (23:55)

• Systems for staying on top of commissioned pieces and communications. (27:04)

• Finding the balance between making and marketing art. (29:28)

• Which marketing channels have brought Chris the most sales? (31:33)

• Balancing the marketing and the making of art starts with a feeling. (38:11)

• Chris shares the details and collaboration of his current piece. (41:03)

 

Mentioned

• Featherfolio
• Feathers: Form and Function by Chris Maynard
• Chris Maynard on Instagram
• Chris’s newsletter
• Chris’s blog

Resources

• Photos and full show notes 
• Art Career Success System
• Art Biz Success Community
• Art Biz Success Planning Sessions 
• Intro and outro music by Wildermiss

About My Guest

Oregon artist Chris Maynard combines his strong backgrounds in biology and ecology to pay homage to nature through the plumage of birds — using feathers acquired from legal sources such as zoos and private aviaries all naturally shed by birds. Working with delicate tools, he carves into feathers to create images of the very creatures that shed them, inventing poetic and playful compositions of birds in flight. His unique feather sculptures are recognized by art collectors, bird lovers, and a wide and interesting variety of people from around the world.

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, then tweak it just a bit so we can broaden our audience. My guest today has found a way to do just that.

Ashley Lucas (aka Lady Lucas) is an artist whose work features smartly dressed animals and other sweet anthropomorphic characters. She has illustrated numerous children’s books, coloring books, and other cute projects. By placing her characters in the local townscape Ashley has increased the appeal of her work to a specific audience that continues to grow.

In today’s conversation, I talked with Ashley about how she came up with the idea to tap into people’s love of a specific location and how she leverages it for her prints, products, and commissioned work.

We also discuss how she connected with a community even before moving there, how she juggles her life as an artist with that as a mother of a two-year-old, and which social media platform offers the greatest return for her work (it's not Instagram).

Even if you don't "do" cute or illustrations or location-specific art, you'll want to listen to ideas for connecting to new communities.

 

Highlights

 

• Ashley Lucas describes the inspiration behind her characters. (2:22)

• How COVID-19 and motherhood have affected Ashley’s income streams. (6:22)

• Juggling a growing art business and a busy two-year-old. (9:18)

• The value that community connections bring to your art business. (13:18)

• Distinguishing between prints and commissioned pieces and how to price each. (19:01)

• Customizing standard city pieces without redrawing each one. (21:41)

• How Ashley connected with her new community before moving there. (25:25)

• How the pandemic has made a strong online presence more important than ever. (28:21)

• Marketing through TikTok and exploring current culture. (31:20)

• Curating email lists for artists and for promoting products. (34:13)

• Which social media platform generates the most work for Ashley? (35:25)

• Ashley’s strategy for promoting her web stores. (37:14)

• The key to making your art appealing to buyers. (40:28)

• A look at Ashley’s next project and the future of Lady Lucas. (43:00)

 

Mentioned

 

• Episode 21- Creating Opportunities for Your Art Career with Meg Black

• Lady Lucas

• Linzer Lane

• Ashley Lucas on Instagram

• Ashley Lucas on TikTok

• Willem de Kooning

 

Resources

 

• Photos and full show notes

• Art Career Success System

• Art Biz Success Community

• Art Biz Success Planning Sessions

• Intro and outro music by Wildermiss

 

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 Business Success System for a reason — systems work. They provide you with a framework that, once in place, you can return to repeatedly and update to match where you are at any given moment in your art business. I love figuring out systems, maybe even more than I love following them because systems are always there to support my progress. And my guest today has proven that a clearly defined system can take your art business to the next level.

Sema Martin is a full-time artist living in the French Riviera. She currently has a four-month waiting list for her pet portraits, which is due in part to the flawless 8-step system that she has developed that keeps her organized and keeps her customers satisfied.

In our conversation, Sema shares the system that she has in place for her commission-based business. We walk through the eight stages of commissioning work from her, which are clearly outlined on her website. We discuss how she standardized her sizes, how she makes it easy for clients to buy from her by offering multiple currencies, and how social media serves a dual purpose to both promote her work and to share her progress with clients. You’ll hear how she stays organized and at the end of this episode you can find out how to get a copy of her system spreadsheet.

Highlights

• Sema shares the journey that led her to becoming a full-time commissioned artist. (2:11)

• Income streams and the percentages of Sema’s income that comes from commissions. (5:50)

• Developing the stages of the commission process, starting with sizing the art. (7:32)

• What should be included in your pricing? (12:15)

• A comparison of Squarespace and MailChimp. (14:18)

• Contact forms and how to make sure you have proper communication with clients. (16:03)

• The importance of collecting money before you start drawing. (20:46)

• Handling a waiting list and details of a payment plan. (22:09)

• Guidance for helping customers choose the details of the piece. (26:54)

• Sema’s workflow and how she works in the drawing zone. (30:03)

• How many social media posts should highlight your current piece? (34:24)

• Final approval ensures that the customer is happy before the piece is shipped. (37:00)

• Mounting, packing and delivery of the final piece and how each step ensures you will have happy customers. (37:56)

• The bonus stage and how many customers take advantage of it. (42:08)

• How do people find Sema? She maintains a focus on SEO that really pays off. (43:52)

• Staying organized and implementing the systems that will keep you straight. (46:11)

• A glimpse inside Sema’s current project. (49:06)

 

Mentioned

• Sema Martin

• Art is My Career — How to Start an Art Business by Sema Martin

• Guide for Photographing Your Pet

• Sema Martin on Instagram

 

Resources

• Photos and full show notes

• Art Career Success System

• Art Biz Success Community

• Art Biz Success Planning Sessions

• Intro and outro music by Wildermiss

So many artists have benefitted from Instagram — it’s a topic that comes up frequently in these interviews, but it’s been difficult to pinpoint one key lesson to devote an entire episode to, until now. Jeanne Rosier Smith made a conscious decision to focus on using Instagram to grow her following and expand her art business and it has definitely paid off. Jeanne has been focused and deliberate in her use of the platform while also allowing a great deal of flexibility in the process.

Jeanne paints seascapes and landscapes with pastels and works with the abstract underlying designs beneath the realistic images she paints, seeing just how far she needs to go in order to maintain realism while still leaving something to the imagination. She loves pastel because the rich, pure pigments allow vibrations of color and visual mixing impossible to capture with any other medium.

In our conversation, Jeanne shares the strategies that she has used for the past three years to build a following of more than 37,000 and reach the six-figure mark in sales for each of those three years. She shares how she maintains good relationships with her eight galleries, even while selling on Instagram, and why she doesn’t schedule posts in advance.

 

Highlights

 

• Jeanne shares her personal art history and passion for pastels. (2:08)

• The instant feedback and fun factor that has made an Instagram strategy the right choice for Jeanne. (5:48)

• Steps that will take your Instagram account to the next level. (7:45)

• Connecting with collectors starts with sharing your inspiration. (11:56)

• The frequency of your posts needs to reflect your growth goals. (14:15)

• Which content results in the greatest connection, followers, and sales? (15:49)

• Is the ROI worth the effort of maintaining an Instagram account? (20:41)

• Maintaining a good relationship with galleries while growing on Instagram. (25:22)

• Marketing opportunities that will result in sales. (28:42)

• A look inside Jeanne’s personal collection. (33:45)

• Do your posts need to be scheduled in advance?? (34:45)

• A successful hashtag strategy starts with thinking like a collector. (40:09)

• Is there a best time of day to post on Instagram? (44:46)

• A peek at what Jeanne is currently working on. (45:51)

Mentioned

• Jeanne Rosier Smith

• Jeanne Rosier Smith on Instagram

• Instagram for Artists

• Artists Helping Artists Podcast

• Gallery 31

• Artist Support Pledge

• Loriann Signori

• Marc Hanson

Resources

• Art Biz Success Community

• Intro and outro music by Wildermiss

Blogging may seem like an art form of years gone by, replaced entirely by the quick and simple posts of Facebook or Instagram, but my guest today has proved that nurturing a blog can be one of the most beneficial and rewarding outlets that an artist can pursue, both personally and professionally. Lisa Call dove headfirst into the blogging world years ago and created such an excellent blog that I have referenced it many times both on my website and in the first three editions of my book. Unfortunately, her blog went up in flames before I could mention it in my fourth edition, but that major set back hasn’t stopped Lisa from continuing to create what I consider one of the best corners of the art blogging world.

Lisa makes textile-based art and uses hand dyed fabric to create large abstract compositions. She uses her blog not for marketing her work but as a place where she can share her opinions about art and learn more about herself and her work. In fact, Lisa credits her blog as the single greatest factor in her success as an artist.

In our conversation, she shares the benefits of blogging and why she decided to revive her blog after all those posts disappeared. We also go over some of the steps she’s taking to republish old posts and how her blog has led her to opportunities that she otherwise never would have imagined. Of course, blogging isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy writing and sharing insights about your life as an artist, this is an episode you are going to want to listen to.

Highlights

• Lisa shares the evolution of her textile-based abstract compositions. (2:21)

• Why blog? Lisa offers insights into the value of blogging as a way to unite the artist community, share opinions and increase marketing. (4:08)

• Structuring blog posts in a meaningful way. (8:40)

• Recovering a broken website, republising missing posts, and discovering yourself along the way. (10:10)

• Lisa’s method for categorizing her current blog posts. (19:00)

• Defining your purpose in blogging and setting boundaries within your posts. (24:53)

• Details of the Make Big Art blog and juggling the ins and outs of SEO for two blogs. (27:25)

• The benefits and accountability that come with blogging about art. (33:50)

• How to find the balance between blogging, Facebook posts and email lists. (35:30)

• Lisa’s advice for successfully blogging about your art. (40:06)

• A glimpse inside Lisa’s current project. (44:32)

 

Mentioned

• Lisa Call

• Lisa’s Blog

• Make Big Art Blog

• Lisa Call on Instagram

• Online Workshops

Resources

• Art Biz Success Community

• Intro and outro music by Wildermiss

 

Introducing yourself as an artist is a topic I never could have dreamed up while I was working in art museums. It wouldn’t have occurred to me that artists would have a hard time introducing themselves. It seems like all you have to do is say, “I’m an artist” and the conversation opens wide.

But what I’ve learned in the years since working in the museum bubble is that it isn’t always that easy to say “I’m an artist”. Then, when the words finally do come out, what do you say after that? If you’ve found yourself struggling to confidently introduce yourself as an artist, know that you are not alone. A well-crafted introduction should seem effortless but it also has the potential to change the course of a conversation and connect you with people who can have a great impact on your work.

Let’s examine why introducing yourself as an artist can be such a struggle, why you should care about confidently introducing yourself as an artist, and what you can do today to master the art of introducing yourself as an artist.

 

Highlights

 

• Why is introducing yourself as an artist so difficult? (1:34)

 

• Why you should care about introducing yourself as an artist. (4:38)

 

• Take advantage of introductions as a starting point (6:26)

 

• Tips for refining your informal introduction. (7:37)

 

• What your informal introduction isn’t going to do for you. (10:17)

 

• Where to go next — preparing powerful yet natural follow-up statements. (11:35)

 

Mentioned

 

• ArtBizConnection.com

 

Resources

 

• Art Biz Success

 

• Intro and outro music provided by Wildermiss

 

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 craftivist assemblies. While bringing artists together to craft the building blocks of a characteristic state capitol building, she’s also leading conversations about changing the role of money in election campaigns. But the impact that Eve is going to make with this work is going to extend far beyond the current election cycle, in fact, it has very little to do with it. 

Kicking off in early 2020, Knit Democracy Together combines interested organizations, knitting circles, and conversation about election finance reform. The result will be a 5 foot by 3 foot knitted sculpture of a state capitol building that Eve hopes to exhibit in multiple venues.

The pandemic has certainly had an effect on Eve’s plans, but it hasn’t stopped her. In our conversation, she shares details about reimagining in-person knitting circles, funding and exhibiting the project, and the art of knitting as a daring act of social activism. Eve explains the stereotypes that she has to push against when using a domestic handcraft to increase social activism and the goals she has for this unique and powerful project.

Highlights

• Eve shares the objectives and the vision behind Knit Democracy Together. (2:43)
• The effect of COVID-19 on Eve’s plan for in-person knitting circles. (7:11)
• How Eve found people to participate in the project. (10:26)
• Details about the yarn and the sculpture dimensions. (14:48)
• The campaign funding message that Eve is working to increase awareness about. (17:26)
• Funding the project and what Eve learned from each declined request. (25:07)
• Questions surrounding the exhibition stage of the project.  (27:07)
• Understanding knitting as a daring act of social activism. (28:37)
• How Eve is leading a group project while remaining politically neutral. (32:27)
• Collaborating in a community project just might mean letting go of total control. (34:33)
• Steps that will move the Knit Democracy Together project to the next level. (41:10)

Mentioned

• Knit Democracy Together
• Art Biz Success Community
• Katharine Cobey
• Cat Mazza’s Nike Blanket Petition
• Eve Jacobs-Carnahan
• Eve Jacobs-Carnahan on Instagram

Resources

• Art Biz Success
• Intro and outro music provided by Wildermiss

Quotes

• “People are cynical about elections, but there are ways to improve the system rather than throwing the whole thing out.”
• “We are a community made up of all these different people, but together we can do something bigger.”
• “The goal of all of this is to get people to care more and be able to participate in the election process more than before.”
• “A lot of knitted art is activist art.  It’s a tool for social action.”
• “You have to push against stereotypes when you use any textile art, especially with knitting.”

About My Guest

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan makes knitted sculpture. Using the comforting qualities of knitting she explores human interactions with nature, democracy, and society. 

Eve’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States, receiving regional and national awards. Her work appears in Lela Nargi’s survey of knitted art, Astounding Knits! 101 Spectacular Knitted Creations and Daring Feats. She loves the notion of knitting as a daring act. When not engaged in such audacious pursuits, she can be found digging in her garden or cross-country skiing through the woods. Both activities put her in touch with the plants and birds that appear in her sculptures.

Eve majored in history at Swarthmore College, and knit several sweaters along the way. While earning a law degree at the University of Chicago she could often be found taking a study break at the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives in Vermont.

I'm not crazy about the word "pitch" but I'm going with it. I use it in the sense that you are making an argument for something. You're making an argument that I should pay attention to who you are and the art you make.

I'm more likely to pay attention to your art if you have a compelling story than if you ask me to buy, buy, buy.

What I share in this special bonus episode will not only help you get on the Art Biz Podcast, but will also serve you when you pitch to other podcasts, bloggers, writers, and publications.

The more interviews you do and the more experience you get, the better you become at telling your story. You will also grow your audience and maybe even sell some art or attract new students and social media followers. You never know who is listening.

5 STEPS FOR PITCHING YOUR STORY TO THIS PODCAST

1. Listen to the podcast. Remember I am looking for visual artists who have a dedicated studio practice and a business lesson to share.
2. Research. Show me that you know who I am and what I’m trying to do here.
3. Get clear on the business lesson you have to share with my listeners. Make it easy for me to envision the story and say Yes.
4. If you have been a guest on other podcasts or shared your story in a video, share that link with me.
5. I’ve made it easy for you. There’s a form to complete on this page. https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System.

All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections.

In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career.

Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com

Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com

Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 63).

CONNECT WITH ALYSON

Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield Facebook @ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizSuccess #ArtBizNow

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 your busy schedule.

When lockdown started, Brooke Harker threw her fears about doing live video out the window and created Saturday Night Live Art Shows—because she thought it would be fun. It started with just her, but quickly grew to a core of regular artists, with new ones added each week.

I wanted to talk with her about it because these weekly events are open to any artist who wants to show off their art or, perhaps, the art that you collect. In fact, as you'll learn, the rules are, well, ... What rules? This could be a great way for you to connect, practice your video (because imperfections are encouraged), and maybe even sell some art.

Brooke Harker is a contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, California. Her lively paintings of cities and coastal scenes are characterized by energetic brushstrokes in ink and thick oil paint applied with palette knives. These vibrant depictions of daily life capture a sense of motion and highlight moments of synchronicity.

Harker calls herself a historian of the ordinary. Her paintings are a collaboration with all of the people who’ve contributed to a place over time: architects, engineers, city workers who’ve placed street signs and pedestrians whose colorful fashion landed in view at the perfect moment. All of their individual actions brought together one moment, fated to be captured on canvas. Follow Brooke on Instagram: @brookeharker.

Read more about the Saturday Night Live Art Shows and how you can participate. Find them on Facebook and Instagram.

This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System.

All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections.

In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career.

Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com

Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com

Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 62).

Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield

Facebook @ArtBizSuccess

#ArtBizSuccess

If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Just a mention of the word critique can bring back painful memories for some artists. Or downright fear from those who have never participated in a professional critique.

Artists who have been part of formal and ongoing critique groups find them invaluable to their creative development.

In the latest episode of the podcast, I talk with Patricia Miranda, founder of The Crit Lab. She's been leading 7 separate critique groups in 3 states and has recently taken them online.

We discussed:

• Why artists need critical feedback and at one point they should ask for it.

• The format of a day-long critique session.

• Patricia's contention that art is a verb, not an object.

• Artists would benefit from thinking about engagement more than intent.

This is a deep and philosophical discussion that is different from my other episodes. I encourage you to listen more than once.

See Patricia's art: https://patriciamiranda.com

Read about The Crit Lab: https://thecritlab.com

Follow Patricia on Instagram: https://instagram.com/patriciasuzannemiranda

This episode is sponsored my signature business-building program for artists, the Art Career Success System.

All of the lessons you learn in the Art Career Success System are tasks you will address repeatedly throughout your art business and career—like rewriting your artist statement, submitting exhibition proposals, developing content, and nurturing your connections.

In the ACSS you will build a strong foundation that will last throughout your career.

Please join our community of ambitious artists. See http://artcareersuccesssystem.com

Music for the podcast is by Wildermiss: Wildermiss.com

Read the show notes, see photos, and leave a comment at https://ArtBizSuccess.com/podcasts (episode 61).

Follow me on Instagram @AlysonStanfield

Facebook @ArtBizSuccess

#ArtBizNow #ArtBizSuccess

If you have enjoyed this or other podcasts, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and comment wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

Thank you for listening.