I Recommend These Services for Your Art Business
In the beginning months and years of Art Biz Success, I thought of my services as a one-stop shop. Bad idea. It’s never a good idea to try to be everything because you then become known for nothing.
Over the years, I have learned to work to my strengths, which include helping artists with foundational marketing pieces like building mailing lists, nurturing relationships, and improving professional presentation.
Regarding other business services for artists, I am happy to have had long-standing relationships with the following people. I consider them to be my team of experts. We’re partners in helping you share your gifts with more people, and I confidently recommend each of them.
It's All About Your Mailing List
Michelle, a woman in my mastermind group, marveled at my list size: How did you get that many people on your email list? It was easy for me, I replied, because I understood the value of a list when I started my business. I was fortunate to appreciate the importance of a list due to positions in my past work experience. How I Built My List As an assistant to a U.S. Senator, I came
Notes From an Artist Lecture
As I was flipping through my notebook last week, I came across notes from a lecture by ceramic artist Doug Casebeer at the Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado on January 25, 2014. There is so much wisdom here that I’ve decided to share them in their raw form. Enough time has passed since I first heard these words that I hope I am honoring Doug’s intent. What The Artist Said It’s difficult to wear
Shine a Light on Your Art Business
I recently came across this quote from a student from 2005: I have adopted the habit of NEVER leaving my studio dark! … Nothing positive EVER happens in the dark. Life comes from the light around it. Art is created to live and to be seen and felt, not to be hidden away in some dark studio (even overnight). Your attitude will change about your work environment when you enter the space and find “it”
I Love Email (But I Love Real Mail More)
You know I love email, right? I don’t necessarily love all of the spam that hits my inbox or the countless hours I spend reading and replying to email, but I can’t imagine running my business without it. How would I ever be able to help as many people as I do for such a bargain rate? And as much as I love email, I love real mail even more. Why You Should Rave About
Write a Better Artist Statement with These 3 Questions
A strong artist statement is essential to the effective marketing of your art.
There’s no shortcutting this one. You need at least one artist statement for each body of work you create.
Writing your statement is a process. Like any other type of writing or artmaking, you can’t expect to nail it in a single sitting.
And, like all good things that take time, it will be time well spent. The process helps you gain clarity about your art.
If you can’t define your art in a statement, you will likely face difficulty marketing your work. Where else will you get language for wall labels, brochure and website text, informal presentations, and conversations?
Answering these three questions will help you write a better artist statement.
1. What, in particular, do you want people to see in your work? Is it . . .
- Your labor?
- A special material?
- An emotion?
- Color? Line? Texture?
What is important to you?
Discuss how you handle this aspect of your work. The words you choose for your statement should be clues that lead viewers to these discoveries.
Declaring “I love color” is weak language. Who doesn’t love color? Show us exactly how you respond to color and use it to transfer meaning from your head and heart to the viewer.
2. What is a distinguishing characteristic of your art?
