Art Business Practices

Painting of brightly-colored urban buildings with light in the distance and hanging laundry between them.

5 Lists every artist needs to keep (282)

We all love a good list and probably wouldn’t get much done without our to-do lists. But there are other lists that can make you more productive and organized.

In this episode of The Art Biz, I give you 5 lists (a list of lists!)and tell you where to keep them and how to use them: good ideas, absolute no’s, things someone could do for you, 10-30-minute tasks, and done—your accomplishments. Don’t skip that last one.

5 Lists every artist needs to keep (282) Read

Collage-style painting of a tan and red dilapidated brick building with weathered green shutters and a palm-like plant growing from the roof.

How much time will your art career take? (267)

The artists who ask me “how much time?” are usually the ones still deciding whether they’re in. How much time should you spend on business versus making art, and how long before any of it pays off?

In this episode of The Art Biz I answer both truthfully — including a number you might not want to hear — and offer a better question to ask yourself instead, one that has less to do with hours and everything to do with commitment.

How much time will your art career take? (267) Read

Farnsworth House

What You’re Not Doing: 7 Mistakes Artists Make

Over the past decade, my thinking about artists’ mistakes has evolved. Most aren’t dramatic failures—they’re quiet habits of avoidance. In this updated post, I group the seven biggest mistakes into three themes: mindset, connection, and structure. Each includes a reflection to help you take honest inventory.

These aren’t fatal flaws—they’re invitations to shift. Awareness is the first step toward momentum in your art career.

What You’re Not Doing: 7 Mistakes Artists Make Read

Photo of Alyson Stanfield, Art Biz Success

The 4 core beliefs that lead to art business success (216)

There are four core beliefs that guide everything I teach—principles that help artists make better decisions, market more effectively, and build thriving careers.

These aren’t quick tips or passing trends. They are the bedrock of everything I do. They’ve been tested over time, refined through years of working with artists, and proven essential to building a thriving art career.

The 4 core beliefs that lead to art business success (216) Read

Ceramic sculpture by Melinda Laz

A Blueprint for Producing Your Artist Newsletter

For more than 16 years I published a weekly newsletter without skipping a single issue for any reason. We’ve had the current system of multiple defined steps in place for many years, so it’s a well-greased machine.

I thought hearing about how we’ve made it work at Art Biz Success might help you create a blueprint for your own newsletter process—even if you do it alone without help. Here goes …

A Blueprint for Producing Your Artist Newsletter Read

A Fresh Start: Actions To Take Before January 1

Seeing January 1 on the calendar is enough to get almost anyone’s blood pumping.

The thrill of starting fresh! The anticipation of creating new benchmarks and attaining new dreams!

Oh, but wait. There’s a lot of crap that you need to get rid of –stuff that might get in your way if it doesn’t drive you crazy first.

What would it be like if the New Year felt . . . well . . . felt truly new?

A Fresh Start: Actions To Take Before January 1 Read

How to warm up a cold email list

What good is an email list if you’re not using it? (Answer: No good.)

Neglecting subscribers for months or,yikes!, years, renders your list cold. If you’re ready to commit to staying in touch with the people who asked to hear from you, you might need to reintroduce yourself.

It’s not as difficult as it sounds, but the longer you wait, the bigger the task seems.

How to warm up a cold email list Read

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