Comments on: 4 Ways to Graduate to a More Fulfilling Art Career

By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 18:59:51 +0000

Tina: I’m glad you found this post helpful. Feel free to check out the Art Biz Incubator for further support: http://artbizincubator.com

]]>

By: Tina Michaud

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 23:55:15 +0000

Hi Alyson.
Thank you so much for this post. I have made many changes this summer and have come to an almost stand still. I have been asking myself these questions and have not known how to move forward. You have it! I need to show my work in new places and rethink and redesign my marketing and get paid my worth….that’s a biggie huh? And be the boss that I can be so well. Mix it up and find new artist friends….wow…Just get it done! Love your input…thanks again Alyson You are very good at what you do!
Tina

]]>

By: Stephen Melancon

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 01:34:37 +0000

Hey Alyson. What a great post! I can’t believe I missed this one when it was originally published. This is excellent advice for any artist. Actually, points 1,2, and 4 apply to any business. What I really like is that it limits the focus to only 4 key areas. That’s empowering…. anybody can do it!

]]>

By: Yvonne Ham

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:54:48 +0000

This reminder to stay focused and graduate to newer venues was spot on today. I was going to enter the same old shows and this kicked me back into action. I know what I need to do and now I take on the challenge to get my art into the local shops. Thanks for the reminder, I am the boss.

]]>

By: Paula Christen

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:35:05 +0000

Great post Alyson. I realized it was time for “fresh eyes” to look at my work and my website, so I took part in a critique series by a well known watercolor painter and hired a professional to update at my website. Both helped a tremendous amount. They saw places for improvement that I didn’t see and saved me time/energy from focusing on the wrong things.

]]>

By: Tom

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:17:50 +0000

Thanks Alyson, great article. Number one was a tough one for me personally, but when the reality hit that unless I started to be more realistic with what I was selling at and charging for commissions (ie stop underselling/undervaluing) I was going to have to subsidize my art income with another job that would massively set back my business. This was a big kick up the necessary to get on with it, get real and get more professional, and I haven’t looked back since. A really good point regards undervaluing work and its affect on other artists and peoples perceptions too.
Number two I find very exciting and liberating, but of course scary at times. Number 3 is a definate one for me to look at, graduating from local markets, onto art fairs, onto solo exhibitions and ‘better’ venues can feel like big leaps sometimes but I guess stops the business from becoming to stagnant.
Number 4 is a good one – even for little things was and is a suprisingly tough one. Somethings I like to do myself where as others like book keeping/accounts, a lot of printing, framing etc have all been great to outsource after getting over the initial hump of paying someone else. I can all ready see how down the line I will require more and more…..will definately be checking back on this post to make sure I keep pushing to graduate!!! Thanks

]]>

By: Debbie Shirley

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:40:28 +0000

You know Alyson, there was something in each point you made that really hit home with me. I am at the point where I know I have to really push myself out of my comfort zone to try some new things (and new venues) and to think about things in a different way. Number 4 is probably the hardest for me, but is definitely something I need to consider.

]]>

By: Tina Mammoser

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:27:16 +0000

I’m going for 3! It’s been hard, and takes patience because I’m saying no to things. But things seem to be trickling in now. I’m thinking of it as a fresh start. The hardest was saying no to a summer show I’ve done for 12 years. It’s been a difficult year financially so it was difficult when when the sign-up email came to stick to my “no”. Then was a couple of friends tried to convince me, to say “no” again.
4 is happening too. I’m paying someone to stretch a large canvas for me, for the first time ever. My hand joints will thank me.

]]>

By: Lisbet Damgaard

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:12:59 +0000

Thank you Alyson. The timing on this brief and precise article is incredible. A couple of days ago I passed on an invitation to show along with 50 other amateur painters in a crowded location, and the show would be taking a lot of my attention and time. It was my gut feeling that told me to lean back, focus more on improving my work, contact a local art gallery and then go out and find a couple of smaller venues with 1-2 other artists. I can recognize the eagerness to show my work, and the lack of confidence to put a decent price on them as a universal challenge to budding artists. Growing pains, I guess

]]>

By: Alyson Stanfield

Thu, 09 May 2013 03:19:14 +0000

In reply to Rance C. Holiman.

Thanks, Rance.

]]>