income streams Archives

From Relief to Revenue: 5 Years into Her Art Business with Dawn Trimble (250)

In 2020, Dawn Trimble was laid off during the pandemic while going through a divorce—and felt relief. That moment of freedom became a turning point. Within months, she launched her first collection, which sold out in days.

Dawn talks about building multiple revenue streams as a watercolor artist, what she brought from her design background into her business, and why the most important thing any artist can do is simply start.

From Relief to Revenue: 5 Years into Her Art Business with Dawn Trimble (250) Read

Being the Artist I Want My Son to See with Stephanie Brown (248)

In part two of my conversation with Stephanie Brown, she gets specific about how she actually makes money as an artist, and why becoming a mother made her bolder rather than holding her back.

She breaks down her income streams, shares her five-year vision for gallery representation, and explains why she wants her son to grow up watching her do work she loves while staying financially stable.

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Strategic growth, collector relationships, and costly lessons with James Corwin (232)

Wildlife artist James Corwin has built a thriving business around his original paintings—intentionally adding prints, commissions, and a gallery to support his studio practice. He shares how he found his niche, structured his income streams, and learned to prioritize focus over endless growth.

Pay close attention to how James nurtures collectors. It’s not just good customer service—it’s a smart business move that many artists overlook or don’t make time for.

Strategic growth, collector relationships, and costly lessons with James Corwin (232) Read

She knows exactly how much her art income will be every month with Kelly Pelfrey (162)

Kelly Pelfrey’s goal in 2020 was to replace her $50,000 teaching salary, but she quadrupled that. Her income has allowed her husband to leave his job to focus on his doctorate, feel comfortable about taking maternity leave, and save for college for her children.

In this episode of The Art Biz, Kelly shares her income sources, which are dominated by sales of commissions, followed distantly by releases of small paintings.

She knows exactly how much her art income will be every month with Kelly Pelfrey (162) Read

How do artists make money? (159)

One thing above all else can get in the way of feeling successful: Money. So let’s talk about it—starting with income sources. Where does the money come from?

In this episode, I discuss why you might want to diversify beyond originals, how to categorize your income sources, and how to analyze where the money has come from in the past so you can plan for the future.

How do artists make money? (159) Read

Following her curiosity and making new connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (158)

Discover Jan McCarthy’s vibrant life beyond 60, where being an artist is more than painting or drawing. She prefers the term “maker.”

With a diverse portfolio ranging from businesses and fundraisers to artwork and interior design, Jan pursues her passions. We discuss her creativity workshops for corporations, casual yet impactful women’s mastermind dinners, and her heart-driven project, Art for the Heart. Jan also reveals her strategies for connecting with interior designers.

Following her curiosity and making new connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (158) Read

Increasing self-sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (157)

Sarah Becktel reveals how she increased her self-sales income by 400% by focusing on 5 indoor art fairs per year—all juried or curated—with different price points, up front costs, and markets.

She talks about her strategy for selecting the work each one: one is for only originals, another for only reproductions and products, and the third is a mixture of the two. Sarah also shares wisdom for other artists.

Increasing self-sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (157) Read

4 considerations for wholesaling your art with Katie Hunt (138)

What does it mean to wholesale your art and products? Who is it for? Who is it not for?

What’s the difference between wholesaling and retailing? Where does licensing fit in?

Katie Hunt, founder of Proof to Product, is a wealth of information, and generously shared 4 considerations for wholesaling as well as a helpful list of 4 things she assesses when making business decisions.

4 considerations for wholesaling your art with Katie Hunt (138) Read

Expanding your skillset to respond to opportunities with Detour (128)

Detour doesn’t want to be limited by what he currently knows, so he’s learning how to use new technologies to help him land complex opportunities. He isn’t afraid to discover that the best way to approach an artistic problem is something he hasn’t done before.

Big on presenting himself in the most professional light, he says, “You never know who is watching.”

Expanding your skillset to respond to opportunities with Detour (128) Read

artist Willie Cole with long dreadlocked hair and black shirt

Play tops work, connection tops solitude, and confidence tops fear with Willie Cole (126)

This is inspiration for when you feel like your art becomes work and there’s little to look forward to.

Willie talks about the faith he has in his practice as a result of being consistent throughout the years, why he prefers to approach his studio in the spirit of play, and how he uses visualization.

Play tops work, connection tops solitude, and confidence tops fear with Willie Cole (126) Read