Making Art Archives

Finding Your Artist Voice through Mentorship with Julie deBoer (ep. 201)

This episode of The Art Biz delves into developing an artistic style with the support of mentorship. Julie and I explore the challenges of finding a unique voice, the significance of embracing what naturally emerges in your work, her shift from gallery representation to self-sales, and the value of being part of an artist community.

We end with a conversation about how, with so many commitments, Julie prioritizes her art.

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The Art Biz ep. 149: The Traveling Artist: Residencies with Amy Clay

Artist residencies play important roles in an artist’s career, but there are as many different types of artist residencies as there are artists who fill them.

In this episode, Amy Clay shares what she has learned from being an artist-in-residence in more than 30 locations around the world, including what she looks for in a location, how she funds them, and why they’re important to her practice.

The Art Biz ep. 149: The Traveling Artist: Residencies with Amy Clay Read

Oil painting of group of people with same face peering into windows of house that is smaller than them | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 131: Injecting Personal Narrative into Your Art with Sara Lee Hughes

Will art sell when it’s focused on the artist’s personal narrative? Sara Lee Hughes is deep into a body of narrative paintings with that is steeped in her personal story.

We discuss the genesis of this body of work (It’s a great story!), how Sara Lee focuses on the long game, how she keeps her ideas, and how she balances motherhood with her studio practice.

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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.”

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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

wood rabbit sculpture images shows where artist found the materials he uses | on Art Biz Success

Being an artist with Geoffrey Gorman (124)

To know what a real artist’s life looks like on a daily basis, you have to study and talk to those artists. Short of visiting their studios, you read their biographies. Watch their videos. Listen to them on podcasts, like The Art Biz.

That’s what this conversation is about. Geoffrey Gorman talks about how he approaches his work and the rapidly-evolving art market.

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Jen McCaw boulder opal ring | on Art Biz Success

Ensuring a profitable art business (96)

Many artists try to make a little money here and there, and then find they no longer enjoy making art after trying to sell it.

The pressure to make money in a business is real. But businesses, by definition, seek profit. Breaking even can only work for so long. This episode of The Art Biz is for you if you’re ready to step up and be the boss of your art business.

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© 2017 Dawn Williams Boyd, All Through the Night: America's Homeless. Assorted fabrics, cotton embroidery floss, antique quilt, lace, buttons, child's socks, 39 x 61.5 inches. Ron Witherspoon Photography

The Art Biz ep. 72: Planning a Year’s Worth of Artwork with Dawn Williams Boyd

Taking charge of your art business isn’t only about bookkeeping, inventorying the work, and promoting your art effectively.

Taking charge of your art business is about assuming 100% responsibility for your actions—all of your actions, especially in your studio.

We all want to increase our productivity and creativity, and Dawn Williams Boyd has mastered doing exactly that by planning ahead.

Dawn makes figurative textile paintings that reveal stories—not always pretty ones—about life in America. Dawn’s work has an unapologetic social activist message that addresses the Black experience, feminine sexuality, social issues, and this country’s politics.

In today’s social and political climate, there aren’t enough hours in the day for Dawn to convey all of the messages she wants to share in her art. She has to carefully plan the body of work she is going to make throughout the year. She takes charge of her production for the entire year.

In our conversation for the Art Biz Podcast, Dawn and I discuss her process for plotting out which pieces she will make each year. We also talk about why now is not the time to make art that matches the couch, what kinds of conversations she wants people to have around her work, and how she makes the valuable connections that are helping her reach her most ambitious goals.

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The Art Biz ep. 40: Focusing on Making Work That Matters with Suzanne Gibbs

Two years ago, Suzanne Gibbs entered my Art Biz Inner Circle and began taking full advantage of everything that was offered.

As an aside, although we no longer offer the Inner Circle, we do continue to support artists through the Art Career Success System and our new small group artist masterminds. But, no matter how hard we try, we can’t make you do the work, whether it’s business or studio based.

And that’s where Suzanne’s story comes in.

What she wanted to share in this episode is critical to every artist’s success.

She and I started talking about the idea of doing less (not more) in order to accomplish your goals, but it turned into a conversation about focusing more. Focusing on what matters. For Suzanne, that meant making a new body of work.

Nothing is more important to your professionalism as an artist than a consistent studio practice. Nothing!

Listen to this episode to hear how Suzanne got over FOMO, set herself up for success, and used trusted artists to keep her on track for creating that body of work.

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The Art Biz ep. 23: Leaving Behind What is Safe with Jan R. Carson

One artist’s journey is never the same as another’s. Not only do you have to be creative in what you make, but also in how you get it out there, connect with the right people, and make a living. They all involve taking risks.

In 2010, Jan decided to begin the journey away from what had been a safe income (production work) to go after the art and life she wants for herself.

She discusses the balance of both worlds and how she is successfully transitioning from one to the other. She’s leaving what is safe and taking a risk by betting on her art.

You’ll hear about the following from Jan.

The many hats she wears in handling the construction of the mobiles, along with marketing, accounting, etc.
Why she found it easier to retain and train people as employees rather than interns.
Her commitment to letting her body make the work, and keeping her mind out of it.
How she got the confidence in herself and her artwork to exhibit it, and what it felt like to put it out into the world.
The important question artists need to ask themselves: What do I need to make? Not: How do I sell my art?
The social component of being an artist, and how Jan navigates the world as a self-proclaimed shy homebody.
The value of listening, connection, and staying open and present as an artist.

The Art Biz ep. 23: Leaving Behind What is Safe with Jan R. Carson Read

Making Art

Consider 44 possible reasons why your art isn't selling.