writing

The Awesome Responsibility of Titling Your Art with Fran Gardner (229)

Titling your art is more than a finishing touch—it’s a meaningful step in your creative process. In this episode, artist and writing consultant Fran Gardner shares how naming your work gives it independence, reveals deeper insights, and strengthens the connection between artist and viewer.

Discover why titling matters, what it can teach you about your work, and how to approach it with intention and care. A thoughtful conversation every artist should hear.

The Awesome Responsibility of Titling Your Art with Fran Gardner (229) Read

©2020 Before Falling. Acrylic on wood glazed with a thick layer of Dammar Resin one person leaned over another holding back

Comprehensive Guide for Writing an Effective Artist Statement (221)

Writing your artist statement can feel like a big task, but it doesn’t have to be. In this guide, I’ll walk you through simple steps to help you figure out what to say and how to say it.

You’ll get writing prompts, editing advice, and ideas for how to actually use your artist statement once it’s done. Let’s make it easier—and way less intimidating.

Comprehensive Guide for Writing an Effective Artist Statement (221) Read

Samantha Clark

Fostering Clarity and Confidence Through Writing with Samantha Clark (211)

From sketchbook notes and letters, to authoring her own exhibition catalogues and eventually publishing a memoir, to her thoughtful weekly Substack newsletter, The Lifeboat, Samantha Clark reflects on how writing fosters clarity and confidence for herself and the artists she mentors.

We discuss how writing can deepen one’s creative practice, the value of opening conversations, and how Samantha maintains a writing schedule alongside her work in the studio.

Fostering Clarity and Confidence Through Writing with Samantha Clark (211) Read

Ann Miller

Writing on Substack Can Be Integral to Your Creative Process with Ann Balaam Miller (210)

Ann Balaam Miller has found a powerful way to merge her creative passions with her love for writing while growing her audience. Using Substack, she refines ideas for books, shares insights into calligraphy and design, and engages her audience with educational content.

Substack has become integral to her process, helping her manage projects, organize thoughts, and extend her teaching. By offering free content to build community and exploring paid options, Ann balances creativity with income generation.

Writing on Substack Can Be Integral to Your Creative Process with Ann Balaam Miller (210) Read

The Art Biz ep. 51: Imperfect Journaling for Artists with Cynthia Morris

Peeking at artists’ journals is my definition of heaven. I love to see how ideas develop and change—how creative thought processes evolve.

The illustrations that often punctuate artists’ journals are a bonus that can’t be found in the journals of those less visual.

But don’t keep a journal to satisfy my whims. Keep one for yourself. Write things down in order to remember and reflect. And keep writing because it contributes to your art marketing.

I mentioned journaling last week as a vital part of writing your artist statement. In this latest episode of the podcast, I talk with author/coach/artist Cynthia Morris about journaling. It was recorded over Facebook Live.

Cynthia and I give you a framework to help you commit to a journaling practice and discuss how we use journals for our businesses.

We discuss the types of journals we think are best for this process, why it’s important to write by hand before moving to the computer, a structure for your journaling process, and how to use prompts to get your ideas down.

Remember that we recorded this as a video conversation with one another. Some things might not translate. For example, we did show and tell about our journals. That’s why I’m sharing the video here as well.

Here it is … my conversation with Cynthia Morris about an imperfect journaling practice for artists.

The Art Biz ep. 51: Imperfect Journaling for Artists with Cynthia Morris Read

Painting by artist Carol McIntyre

The Art Biz ep. 37: Publishing a How To Book for Artists with Carol McIntyre

Do you think you might have a book in you?

Why not do it?!

Writing a book could increase your credibility, contribute to your legacy, and impact many lives.

A lot of people think that writing a book is the hard part of getting your book published. Not to take anything away from the difficult work that goes into the writing, but it is only a small portion of the entire book publishing process.

I learned about the process when the first edition of my book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio, was published in 2008 and was reminded of the long book-publishing journey when the 4th edition was released earlier this year. There are so many moving parts and, like many businesses today, book publishing is a fast-moving industry.

Those moving parts come, of course, with an expense line in your budget, which means it’s very helpful to know what you’re getting into before you start down the book production path.

You really want to know 1) that you will be able to pay for the cost to publish and 2) at what point you’ll begin to make a profit. In order to accomplish that second thing (the profit thing), you also need a marketing plan specifically for your book.

I confess I didn’t talk to enough people.

My guest for this episode of the Art Biz Podcast is artist Carol McIntyre, the author of I Just Want to Paint: Mixing the Colors You Want. In the book, Carol teaches a step-by-step color mixing method for frustrated painters of all media who want to stop making mud and start mixing the colors they want with ease.

Listen now to hear Carol’s process and advice so you can avoid the sticker shock of publishing your own book.

The Art Biz ep. 37: Publishing a How To Book for Artists with Carol McIntyre Read

Woman typing on keyboard

Writing A Guest Post for Someone Else’s Blog

Want more traffic for your website or blog? Write a guest post for someone else’s blog.

Guest posts broaden your audience instantly. You not only receive recognition on the other blog, but you’ll hopefully get a bit of traffic to your own. It’s free advertising and it’s more effective than paid advertising.

Think about it. If you paid for an ad, you’d get a small bit of space. With a guest blog post, you get about 500 words–a much larger virtual space + your images and credit. With a guest blog post, you’re being helpful to a community and generating good karma. Not so with an ad.

Write For This Blog

Please note: I no longer publish guest posts on this blog, but I’ve kept this here for 3 reasons:

  1. It might help you pitch your story to other blogs.
  2. I might write your story myself if it meets the criteria below.
  3. I might want to interview you on the Art Biz Podcast.

From time to time, I feature guest bloggers who share their stories of success (or utter failure). Do you have one to share?

Writing A Guest Post for Someone Else’s Blog Read

iZoar-Focus

6 Tips for Recovering Your Focus

I’ve been thinking a lot about Focus lately – enough that it deserves a capital “F.” It’s not that I’ve never written about focus, but it seems more critical than ever to remove ourselves from the chatter of social media, family squabbles, and needy pets. We have to give ourselves space to focus on a project.

6 Tips for Recovering Your Focus Read

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

Cover of free report: When Your Art Isn't Selling
  • External Factors
  • The Work Itself
  • How You’re Showing It
  • The Buying Experience
  • How You’re Connecting
  • How You’re Promoting It

CAN I SEND YOU THE LIST?

Be sure to check all of your email folders to ensure delivery. You’ll also receive my regular news for your art business.

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28 Prompts to Shape Your Marketing Message

Get clarity for your bio, statement, media pitches, social media posts, conversations, …

Your Background . Your Approach & Process . Your Audience & Impact . Your Vision & Voice

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