solo Archives

Collage-style painting of a tan and red dilapidated brick building with weathered green shutters and a palm-like plant growing from the roof.

How much time will your art career take? (267)

The artists who ask me “how much time?” are usually the ones still deciding whether they’re in. How much time should you spend on business versus making art, and how long before any of it pays off?

In this episode of The Art Biz I answer both truthfully — including a number you might not want to hear — and offer a better question to ask yourself instead, one that has less to do with hours and everything to do with commitment.

How much time will your art career take? (267) Read

Christie Marks oil and acrylic painting of a large pink and white lotus flower with dramatic, dripping rich colors like magenta, turquoise, and yellow in the water’s reflection

Use the attraction method for art venues before you make the ask (265)

So many artists reach out to venues too soon — before the relationship exists and before the venue has any reason to say yes.

Introducing the attraction method for building visibility with a space manager/director/curator long before you make an ask. It removes the awkwardness and allows you time to ensure a good fit. When the time comes to ask for a show, you’re not a stranger.

Use the attraction method for art venues before you make the ask (265) Read

Abstract acrylic painting by Gail Salzman of a combination of large geometric blocks and curved, organic elements in earth tones of olive green and ochre contrasted with softer tones of peaches and tans.

The artists who don’t wait to be chosen (264)

Waiting for gallery representation or other opportunities to cross your path is a common theme I see among artists, but it’s not a good strategy.

In this episode, I make the case for taking control of where and how your work is seen, with real examples of artists who showed up in unexpected places and made it work. If you’ve been cycling through juried shows or hoping a gallery will find you, this one is worth your time.

The artists who don’t wait to be chosen (264) Read

Marie Bender Still life painting of a black crow perched on a dish surrounded by rocks, a pitcher of rocks, nuts, pears and floral elements

Why the lone artist mindset keeps you small (263)

Going it alone feels easier. No coordination, no compromise, no communication overhead. But the artists building the careers you admire are rarely doing it alone.

In this solo episode, I make the case for collaboration as a strategic habit, not a one-time favor. I shares real-world examples, explain what makes them work, and offer a question to ask the next time you’re planning a show or a new body of work.

Why the lone artist mindset keeps you small (263) Read

Miwa Gardner emotive watercolor portrait of a woman surrounded by birds and with vine-like markings on her face. The subject is wearing a high-necked garment adorned with intricate gold filigree patterns.

What are you waiting for? The real costs of postponing strategic work in your art business (261)

The daily work of running an art business — making art, posting, responding, shipping — always feels urgent. The strategic work doesn’t. So it waits. But postponing that deeper evaluation isn’t neutral.

There are five specific costs that accumulate when you keep the strategic work on the back burner, quarter after quarter. None of them announce themselves. And that’s precisely what makes them so damaging.

What are you waiting for? The real costs of postponing strategic work in your art business (261) Read

The art business self-assessment every artists should do (260)

Before you can decide what to do next in your art business, you need to know what you actually have. In episode 260 of The Art Biz, I walk through the three-zone framework I use with every private client: Outreach, Presence, and Systems.

It’s a structured self-assessment that gives you a clear, honest picture of where your business stands, so you can stop guessing and start making decisions that actually move things forward.

The art business self-assessment every artists should do (260) Read

Behnaz Ahmadian mixed media on canvas of colorful floral blooms in a blue patterned vase

Do you have the art business you actually want? (259)

Most artists didn’t design their art business. They drifted into it. A gallery here, a commission there, a product line because someone asked.

In this episode of The Art Biz, I invite you to step back and ask a question most artists never take the time to ask: if you were starting fresh today, would you build it this way? That one question can change everything.

Do you have the art business you actually want? (259) Read

Abstract painting that is primarily green with spots of bright colors. Includes black linework and patterns on the surface.

Stop being busy, start being strategic (258)

There’s a difference between working in your art business and working on it, and most artists spend almost all of their time on one of them.

This episode breaks down what each mode looks like, why the balance matters, and what it actually looks like to step back and think strategically rather than just execute.

Stop being busy, start being strategic (258) Read

When you want to sell more original art (257)

Selling products—giclées, pillows, notebooks—can be a smart move for many artists. But if you’ve been asking yourself how to sell more of your original art, something might need to shift.

This episode draws on a background in museum work to explore what actually gets in the way of selling originals, why the mindset piece matters as much as the tactics, and two practical moves that help you lead with what matters most.

When you want to sell more original art (257) Read

Practicing steady confidence as an artist (253)

After 23 years teaching artists, I realized something uncomfortable: I’ve been contributing to information overwhelm. The problem isn’t that you don’t know enough—it’s building confidence to act on what you already know.

This episode reveals the confidence killers that derail your plans and six practical ways to build the steady foundation you need to keep showing up for your art business.

Practicing steady confidence as an artist (253) Read

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