Alyson Stanfield, Author at Art Biz Success

How Artists Can Apply Youtility Marketing

Jay Baer, author of Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is About Help, Not Hype, says “If you sell something, you make a customer today. If you help someone, you may create a customer for life.
Artists are often left out in the cold with marketing practices that seem to be suggested for more service- or product-oriented businesses. You can create resources for your buyers and collectors, students, other artists, and/or your local community, which are as helpful to them as your tools are to you.

How Artists Can Apply Youtility Marketing Read

You Are Not Your Art

One of my coaching mentors used to say that she couldn’t separate business coaching from personal coaching. “It’s all personal,” she would say.
If you read enough business motivation, you will come across attempts to help coach you through rejection and criticism with some form of the following. . . . “You are not your business.” . . .

You Are Not Your Art Read

©Andie Freeman, Fragile Heart. Oil on canvas, 8 x 10 inches. Private collection. Used with permission.

Artist Donations: Testing the Limits of Your Love

How often are you hit up for a donation of your art?

All artists are, at some point, asked to donate their work for a good cause. Most artists have soft hearts and want to help out anyone who asks.

The problem is that U.S. tax laws prevent artists from deducting fair market value for their donations. You can only deduct the cost of materials.

In light of this rule disfavoring artists, you might think these philanthropists are testing the limits of your love and commitment to their cause. But they’re only doing their job.

Rather than get upset about being asked, resign yourself to the fact that you will be asked for donations. You need to be prepared with a response that reflects your boundaries while educating those doing the asking.

It’s perfectly fine to have a policy against donating your art under any circumstances.

If you choose to donate, you’ll be well served with written guidelines that you can share in a moment’s notice. These donation guidelines could include the following three aspects.

Artist Donations: Testing the Limits of Your Love Read

Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Book Review

I highly recommend the book Living and Sustaining a Creative Life, a book of 40 artist essays edited by Sharon Louden.
From these successful artists, you’ll discover: You are not alone . . . The life of an artist doesn’t get easier with success. More people depend on you as you add to your list of obligations . . .

Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Book Review Read

Twitter Tweekly for February 9 2014

This Tweekly seems particularly juicy – my best tweets from the past two weeks. >>>
Take Two – Preparing for Baltimore < big show insight fr @lisacall zite.to/1d50Yhm . . . A little gem about shipping/insuring #art internationally in this articlemetroframe.com/blog/2014/01/m… Fun! @amanthat studio makeover amanthatsaros.com/2/post/2014/01… also very impressive

Twitter Tweekly for February 9 2014 Read

Tracy Miller represents herself and other artists through her gallery in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

The Mythological Artist Rep

If you become an effective artist rep, the world is your oyster. Many artists will be knocking at your door. You might find them lining up in the comments here. And I will want to interview you to see how you made it happen. I’m not saying it can’t happen. I’m just skeptical.

The Mythological Artist Rep Read

Have a Good Day with Me – Time Sensitive

Today, February 3, is my birthday and I hope you’ll celebrate with me. It would be meaningful to know that you had a really good day on February 3. So I outlined 8 (my favorite number) things that I thought would make for a next-to-perfect day.

Have a Good Day with Me – Time Sensitive Read

Art You Don’t Like

Sometimes we grow out of art that isn’t our own. Our tastes change.
Or we were gifted a piece by a generous artists, but it’s not really “us” or it doesn’t fit in our home or with our aesthetic.

Art You Don’t Like Read

Twitter Tweekly for January 26 2014

Only the best for you! My top tweets from the past two weeks – all in one place. Click on what you like and ignore the rest. >>>
Just booked travel for VT workshop on Feb 15-16. Hope you can come! artbizcoach.com/vt2014 . . . If the art is for sale, make sure the price is visible . . .

Twitter Tweekly for January 26 2014 Read

Would You Fire Yourself?

If you were the boss and had you as an employee, would you be happy with your performance, or would you fire yourself? Let’s pretend for a moment that you are conducting a performance review of your work. Evaluate whether or not your expectations as an employer are being met by your performance as an employee.

Would You Fire Yourself? Read

Alyson Stanfield