Comments on: The Circular Business Plan for Artists

By: Mary D Martin

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 22:52:55 +0000

Yes!

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:47:47 +0000

Mary: This is wonderful to hear. Congratulations! And it’s not really serendipity. You committed and started the work, which puts the wheels in motion. Always – never fails.

So … you should plan on coming to Art Biz Breakthrough November 3-5, 2016 – here in beautiful Golden, Colorado. Yes?

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By: Mary Martin

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:23:32 +0000

Alyson,
I listened to your webinar on the C-Plan on 11-16-2015.
Step 1–I committed myself to CREATIVITY that night (I didn’t produce as much art in 2015 as I had in 2014) deciding to make more art in 2016 than I did in 2014.
Five days later, I received an invitation to do a solo exhibit at a local college in their exhibit space. Talk about serendipity!
I wrote out notes using the C-Plan to create a plan of attack for pulling the exhibit together.
Step 2–I COMMITTED to doing the exhibit with opening day April 4. 2016 and opening reception April 8, 2016.
Step 3–I got CLARITY on the project, deciding on the theme for the exhibit. I used your Art Exhibition Checklist blog post (https://aaartbizold.wpengine.com/2015/06/exhibition-checklist.html) to set a timeline for all the important tasks that needed to be completed along the way in addition to producing art for the exhibit.
Step 4–I got the support of my COMMUNITY (my husband is my frame builder, got prayer support from my arts group, got a friend to do photography during opening reception, enlisted my college-age son to do sales during the opening reception, and the person who invited me to exhibit is a high school classmate who has been following my Facebook art page)
Step 5-I made CONNECTIONS with local arts groups I belong to, advertising the exhibit on our membership page, and with a local arts magazine that showcases the arts in my city. I advertised on my website (www.marymartinartstudio.com), my Facebook art page( http://www.facebook.com/MaryDMartinArt), FineArtAmerica events page, sent postcards to my personal Christmas Card list, and (drum roll please) I finally got my act together starting a MailChimp account and actually figuring out how to use their site to create a newsletter. I sent an announcement about the exhibit and opening reception to my relatively small list of email address that I have collected with permission to email. I was able to collect 65 additional email addresses from guests who signed the guest book at the opening reception!
The following week I sent an email to my newly expanded list with photos of the reception, thanking guests who came and reminding those who didn’t make the reception that the exhibit runs through Jun 20th and that they still have plenty of time to go see the exhibit.
Now I have to figure out how to use HTML tags.
Step 6–Oh, how my CONFIDENCE in putting together a solo exhibit has grown because I had all of this wonderful guidance from you, Alyson! All I had to do was just follow your formulas!
I have discovered that at least 50% of this artist life is just showing up and then doing the work.
Step 7–COMPLETION–I completed 14 new pieces (5 of them are 4x larger than I have been producing) between Jan 9 and April 4. WHEW!
Step 8–CELEBRATION–On April 11, I celebrated my accomplishments by purchasing a Raskog utility cart from IKEA. Now I can keep all my supplies together and roll them around the studio with me. I work on several pieces at the same time, moving from one to another while one is drying. Having this cart will make this process even easier.

Thank you, Alyson, for making so much information readily available for anyone who will commit to trying it. Thank you for helping this community of artists learn how to thrive in the business of art.
YOU are a blessing! Looking forward to meeting you in person some day!

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By: Kendra

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 03:45:07 +0000

I thought my web would be visible. It’s http://www.studiokendra.com

Thank you! Isn’t this exciting! I just found you!

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By: Kendra

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 03:39:34 +0000

Please take a look at my work. I’m focusing on a new Quest. It sounds magical! my current one is 17 more paintings by October, 3016.

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By: Carlos Joaquin

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 09:33:40 +0000

Love the link to Elise Blaha Cripe via the Challenge Yourself link. Thank you. Reading her story now: http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2014/10/this-is-my-business-story-part-one.html

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 22:57:41 +0000

In reply to Keri.

So happy this spoke to you, Keri. There’s a lot here so you’d better get started! 🙂

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By: Keri

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 17:42:55 +0000

Thank you for this plan- I’m trying to figure out how I make a living painting… in the meantime I just keep practicing, creating, producing, and selling. Love how you put this all together in a way that jives with my creative mind. Thank you! I’ll definitely be checking out everything else on your blog!!

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Sun, 29 Nov 2015 16:49:21 +0000

In reply to Erika Swafford.

Glad you can use this, Erika.

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By: Erika Swafford

Sat, 28 Nov 2015 19:38:57 +0000

I love the 8 C’s in this plan. A new way of thinking about business for creatives. It even tackles our weak spots! Love it!

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