Alyson Stanfield, Author at Art Biz Success

Jessica Burko encaustic and found drawers

How to feel like a successful artist (165)

No two artists have the same path to success—or even define success in the same way.

In order to feel successful, break down your success into smaller increments that are achievable, stay tuned in to your life circumstances, embrace failures that allow you to course correct toward a direction that’s more aligned with who you are now, and celebrate—even for a brief moment—your accomplishments, regardless of how big or small.

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Maintaining your studio practice with a busy teaching schedule with Sally Hirst (164)

Sally Hirst was born to teach, and she was also born an artist. Like most of us, she adapted to the new reality that she was faced with at the beginning of the pandemic.

Sally and I discuss her income sources before and after Covid, the skills she had to acquire to teach online, how she attracts new students, and how she manages to maintain her studio practice with her busy teaching schedule.

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Leaving gallery representation to reach more art buyers with Adele Sypesteyn (163)

Have you ever been so focused on a goal you thought was right for you that you missed opportunities that might have been better?

You just knew that this one direction was the path you needed to take. And you might have ignored that it wasn’t working or didn’t feel like the right fit. Adele Sypesteyn discusses adjustments she has made to her art business over the years.

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She knows exactly how much her art income will be every month with Kelly Pelfrey (162)

Kelly Pelfrey’s goal in 2020 was to replace her $50,000 teaching salary, but she quadrupled that. Her income has allowed her husband to leave his job to focus on his doctorate, feel comfortable about taking maternity leave, and save for college for her children.

In this episode of The Art Biz, Kelly shares her income sources, which are dominated by sales of commissions, followed distantly by releases of small paintings.

She knows exactly how much her art income will be every month with Kelly Pelfrey (162) Read

The Art Biz ep. 161: My Money Odyssey and the Evolution of Art Biz Success

I’ve always thought that my money story was pretty boring. As it turns out, I have some good (and funny) stories around my encounters with money throughout the decades. They involve balancing checkbooks, collecting for charities, perfect accounting scores, starting a business with too little money, and the creation of the income accelerator for artists.

This is from Parker Stevenson’s interview with me on The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance podcast.

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Overcoming anxiety about making art world connections with Heather Beardsley (160)

Heather Beardsley has managed to transform her social anxiety into opportunities—realizing that real growth could only happen when she overcame the urge to play it safe by sticking to open calls for entry.

Heather has learned to navigate the art world with intention, which has led to her current solo show at the Chrysler Museum of Art. We discuss funding, being prepared for opportunities, and building authentic relationships.

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How do artists make money? (159)

One thing above all else can get in the way of feeling successful: Money. So let’s talk about it—starting with income sources. Where does the money come from?

In this episode, I discuss why you might want to diversify beyond originals, how to categorize your income sources, and how to analyze where the money has come from in the past so you can plan for the future.

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Following her curiosity and making new connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (158)

Discover Jan McCarthy’s vibrant life beyond 60, where being an artist is more than painting or drawing. She prefers the term “maker.”

With a diverse portfolio ranging from businesses and fundraisers to artwork and interior design, Jan pursues her passions. We discuss her creativity workshops for corporations, casual yet impactful women’s mastermind dinners, and her heart-driven project, Art for the Heart. Jan also reveals her strategies for connecting with interior designers.

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Increasing self-sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (157)

Sarah Becktel reveals how she increased her self-sales income by 400% by focusing on 5 indoor art fairs per year—all juried or curated—with different price points, up front costs, and markets.

She talks about her strategy for selecting the work each one: one is for only originals, another for only reproductions and products, and the third is a mixture of the two. Sarah also shares wisdom for other artists.

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Pointers on Wall Labels for Your Art Exhibition

You don’t really think about art exhibition labels until you can’t read them or they look like a sloppy afterthought.

In order to give yourself proper credit for your art, it should have an object label next to it—wherever it’s shown, in person or online.

The only wrong way to do this is to not do it at all. I suggest you standardize your format so that it’s easy to use every time.

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