Alyson Stanfield, Author at Art Biz Success

Building Community Through Art: The Lights Out Model (255)

What started as weekly artist video interviews during the pandemic became a statewide arts organization with popup exhibitions, state contracts, and a sustainable funding model.

Daniel Sipe and Karlë Woods share how they built Lights Out from scratch with no money, no connections, and a willingness to take risks—plus why they invested in track lighting and marketing before almost anything else.

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Art world gatekeeping forces artists to compete with Damien Davis (254)

What if the scarcity you’re experiencing isn’t real? Visual artist, educator, and writer Damien Davis exposes the gatekeeping mechanisms—from application fees to institutional approval—that keep artists competing instead of collaborating.

He shares why learning business skills helped him bypass permission structures, redefines what success actually means, and explains why artists talking to each other threatens the people who benefit from keeping you isolated.

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Memory project art installation artist Christine Aaron strips of printed paper hanging from ceiling | on Art Biz Success

Risk, rejection, and resilience with Christine Aaron (114)

You’re going to make mistakes. You will absolutely make the “wrong” decisions from time to time. And you’re going to be rejected from shows and opportunities.

You’ll become more and more resilient every time you take a risk that doesn’t work out as you had intended. You’ll bounce back. And you’ll be stronger for it in the long run. Promise. Listen to how this plays out for Christine Aaron.

Risk, rejection, and resilience with Christine Aaron (114) Read

Practicing steady confidence as an artist (253)

After 23 years teaching artists, I realized something uncomfortable: I’ve been contributing to information overwhelm. The problem isn’t that you don’t know enough—it’s building confidence to act on what you already know.

This episode reveals the confidence killers that derail your plans and six practical ways to build the steady foundation you need to keep showing up for your art business.

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Stop Waiting for Opportunities and Start Shaping Them with Ebony Iman Dallas (252)

What does it look like to move from waiting for opportunities to actively creating them? Topics include building systems around everything that’s been living in your head, shifting from marketing events to sharing yoru art, creating a VIP outreach list, and why fear of rejection keeps dreams small.

Ebony agreed to a live coaching conversation where we dig into where she’s stuck and map out strategies to move forward.

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Beyond information: why every artist needs frameworks (251)

I get brutally honest about anxiety, sleepless nights, and an identity crisis: Who am I if not a teacher creating content?

I reflect on information overload and why artists don’t need more lessons—you need frameworks, filters, and boundaries. A vulnerable look at what happens when you realize something fundamental needs to change.

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From Relief to Revenue: 5 Years into Her Art Business with Dawn Trimble (250)

In 2020, Dawn Trimble was laid off during the pandemic while going through a divorce—and felt relief. That moment of freedom became a turning point. Within months, she launched her first collection, which sold out in days.

Dawn talks about building multiple revenue streams as a watercolor artist, what she brought from her design background into her business, and why the most important thing any artist can do is simply start.

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Artist Friendships that Lead to Collaborative Exhibitions and Opportunities (249)

Four Denver artists turned casual friendship into strategic collaboration. Their approach reveals how artists can work together successfully, from writing proposals and managing group dynamics to keeping egos in check.

The conversation covers practical systems for staying organized, why trust matters more than perfection, and how collaborative skills strengthen every part of an art career.

Artist Friendships that Lead to Collaborative Exhibitions and Opportunities (249) Read

Being the Artist I Want My Son to See with Stephanie Brown (248)

In part two of my conversation with Stephanie Brown, she gets specific about how she actually makes money as an artist, and why becoming a mother made her bolder rather than holding her back.

She breaks down her income streams, shares her five-year vision for gallery representation, and explains why she wants her son to grow up watching her do work she loves while staying financially stable.

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The Strategic Artist: Zero Debt Art Degrees with Stephanie Brown (247)

Graduating from art school debt-free seems impossible, but photographer Stephanie Brown did exactly that—and then secured a fully funded MFA. In this episode, she breaks down the strategic decisions that made it possible, from maximizing scholarships to taking community college classes.

She also shares how she’s built a sustainable art career by treating it like a business from day one, leveraging transferable skills, and setting non-negotiable rules for her practice.

The Strategic Artist: Zero Debt Art Degrees with Stephanie Brown (247) Read