The Art Biz

• What to Do With 400 Paintings: Artist Legacy and Economic Reality with Alissa Quart (243)

  When Alissa Quart's 90-year-old mother received a terminal diagnosis, she faced a daunting question: what to do with 400 paintings created over three decades. Her solution was unconventional, distributing the work directly to neighbors, friends, and anyone who wanted to live with her mother's art. The story she shares with host Alyson Stanfield touches on something much larger: what artists actually need to sustain their practice and how we think about legacy when the traditional art world isn't an option. You’ll learn: How to approach inventorying and distributing an artist's work when they can no longer do it themselves Why affordable housing is critical infrastructure for artists and what happens when creative communities are priced out The legal and economic barriers that prevent cities from supporting working artists How one New York Times article elevated an artist's work in ways decades of painting couldn't When to stop building an artist's legacy and how to set boundaries around the work HIGHLIGHTS 01:30 Barbara Quart's journey from East Village bohemian to 30 years of daily painting  05:40 The horror story that sparked a mission to honor her mother's wishes 08:20 Looking for external validation through local gallery shows in the Berkshires 10:40 The circumstances that allowed 30 years of sustained art practice 12:50 Why artists need community, not just queen bees but worker ants too 14:40 Legal barriers that restrict housing developments for artists 17:00 How art production creates billions in economic activity 23:10 Starting with an inventory and creating a catalog system 26:30 Women who inherit their husband's art and sacrifice their own lives 29:20 The art destruction party where artists let go of their work 34:10 How one piece in the New York Times changed everything 38:10 Barbara started painting again after the article's positive response 42:00 Collective joy and questioning the myth of individualism 44:00 The promise that consciousness can persist beyond the hand that picked up the brush 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Spotlighting Artists Who Bloom Later in Life with Janice Mason Steves (181) Proactively Planning Your Art Legacy with Heather K. Powers (143) Confronting Your Professional Legacy with David Paul Bayles (15) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/quart-legacy ⭐️ Connect with Alissa: https://alissaquart.com Learn more about and support the Economic Hardship Reporting Project: https://economichardship.org Follow Barbara Quart’s art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbaraquartpainter/ 🔶 Map out your follower’s full journey from discovery to purchase: Follower —> Fan —>Buyer —> Collector. Learn how people find your art, engage with it, build trust over time, and buy when they're ready. $97 (podcast listeners can save $20 with promo code PODCAST20) Sign up now at ArtBizSuccess.com/f2c ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/  

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• Community, Kinship, and Career Stability with Malene Barnett (242)

  host: Alyson Stanfield Artist and activist Malene Barnett joins host Alyson Stanfield to unpack how she balances a multidisciplinary practice while designing work that “holds memory” in space. Malene shares the planning, community, and process-sharing that keep a long, installation-driven practice moving, and she offers a resonant lens on clay as a tool for liberation grounded in Caribbean and West African heritage. Bits of her wisdom: Plan your studio around time-intensive mediums so momentum never stalls. On social media, share process, tools, and research to connect when finished work is scarce. Think in space: design work and installations that carry memory and story. Build stability outside the studio to support long-term creative growth. Form intentional communities for critique, support, and opportunity. HIGHLIGHTS 02:10 Family lineage and a first-generation background shape Malene’s practice. 04:20 The pact to center ancestry and identity in her work from art school onward. 08:20 Clay as a tool for liberation through Caribbean pottery history and markets. 13:10 Leaving bespoke rugs, after a sabbatical, to reclaim her voice and move into clay. 19:20 Tiles and architecture as ways to create a space that holds memory. 21:00 Planning around clay’s long timelines for drying, firing, and glazing. 22:20 Residencies, film, and building an archive of Caribbean potters. 26:40 Why sharing process, tools, and research sustains audience connection. 32:10 Founding the Black Artists and Designers Guild and how to start a community. 35:10 Crafted Kinship: agency, blurred lines between art, craft, and design. 41:10 Career advice: seek stability, invest, and take the long view. 43:20 What’s next: a large-scale ceramic mural in Greensboro, with installation in 2027. ACTION This week, share one piece of your process with your community: a tool you rely on, a test tile, or a research thread you’re following. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (223) Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128) Leaning Into Her Roots and Community Art with Marilyn Fontaine (185) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/kinship-barnett ⭐️ Connect with Malene and see more of her art: https://malenebarnett.com 🔶 If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels on random marketing tasks and instead build a strong, reliable foundation for your art business, check out Essentials for Artist Success. Inside, you’ll find the structure, coaching, and accountability to help you turn intentions into consistent action. Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/essentials. ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/  

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• Maybe It's Time to Rethink Pinterest with Hayley Price (241)

  host: Alyson Stanfield Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and home décor—it’s one of the most underutilized marketing tools for artists. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield talks with artist coach Hayley Price about how she’s still getting traffic from pins created years ago and why Pinterest should be part of your long-term strategy. Discover how to turn your existing content into evergreen visibility for your art. Why Pinterest functions more like a search engine than a social platform How pins can drive traffic for years, not hours or days The easiest way to start using Pinterest if you already post on Instagram Smart strategies for linking pins so they keep working—even after artwork sells How to use Pinterest not just for marketing but also for creative inspiration HIGHLIGHTS 00:30 Meet Hayley Price—artist, gallerist, coach, and podcast host 02:20 Why Pinterest offers long-term visibility compared to Instagram 03:20 How Pinterest functions as a search engine (not social media) 05:10 How interior designers and collectors use Pinterest to discover art 06:30 Doubling your SEO efforts by linking blog posts to pins 08:40 First steps: setting up a business account and connecting Instagram 12:20 Creating multiple pins from one piece of content (without extra work) 19:00 What kinds of pins perform best for artists 24:40 How to keep pins working even after artwork has sold 28:20 Success story: 40–50% of gallery traffic still coming from old pins 29:50 Why ads often perform better on Pinterest than Instagram 33:20 Pinterest as a digital mood board for artistic inspiration 37:00 Hayley’s creative routine and how she balances her multiple roles ACTION Choose one Inspired Pinterest Action: Repurpose something you’ve already shared on Instagram Start a new board for your blog posts or a collection Revive an old board with fresh pins Just one step this week can set you up for visibility long after you hit publish. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Presenting Yourself Professionally on Your Artist Website with Jessica Burko (174) Technology Is Your Colleague in the Studio with Iris Scott (203) What Artists Need to Know About SEO with Meg Casebolt (222) 22 Tactics to Thoughtfully Invite People to Visit Your Art Website (228) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/pinterest-price ⭐️ Connect with and see more of her art and the artists she features: https://thescoutedstudio.com/ 🔶 If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels on random marketing tasks and instead build a strong, reliable foundation for your art business, check out Essentials for Artist Success. Inside, you’ll find the structure, coaching, and accountability to help you turn intentions into consistent action. Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/essentials. ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/  

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• Entrepreneurial Fatigue, Market Uncertainty, and the Case for Slowing Down with Katie Hunt (240)

  Host Alyson Stanfield talks with Katie Hunt about the findings from her 2025 State of the Product Industry survey. While Katie’s audience includes product-based artists and makers, many of the themes—pricing pressures, burnout, and the need for stronger systems—apply across the creative sector. They explore what’s really happening behind the scenes of creative businesses right now: why some are thriving while others are closing or stalling, how tariffs are complicating planning and profitability, and the surprising number of businesses still not using email marketing. Katie and Alyson reflect on the connection between sustainability and simplification, and how support, community, and structure can make all the difference. 03:50 Who was surveyed and what kinds of businesses they run 09:00 How hiring and systems correlate with reduced hours and greater sustainability 11:30 Why email marketing is still underused—and still effective 15:30 The mindset blocks around unsubscribes and “bothering” your list 17:40 Social media as a visibility tool vs. a sales driver 18:30 Why community, mentorship, and education accelerate growth 21:00 Emotional tone of the industry: cautiously hopeful, but tired 24:20 Following up and closing the loop when no one responds 26:40 30% of respondents have considered closing their business 30:00 Tariffs, planning challenges, and the ripple effect on pricing 34:20 What separates those who sustain their business from those who burn out 38:00 The role of peer support and accountability 🎧 RELATED EPISODES 4 Considerations for Wholesaling Your Art with Katie Hunt (138) Worrying About the Economy with Elaine Luttrull (141) Increasing Self-Sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (157) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/fatigue-hunt ⭐️ Connect with Katie and listen to the Proof to Product podcast at https://prooftoproduct.com 🔶 Ready to make real progress in your art business? Essentials for Artist Success is where you stop spinning your wheels and start taking focused, intentional action. It’s not just another course—it’s a structured system for building momentum, making better decisions, and implementing the right strategies at the right time. Designed to support you through every season of your business, Essentials gives you the clarity, accountability, and community you need to keep moving forward. Learn more >>> Essentials for Artist Success ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/  

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• Why Every Artist Needs a Brand Kit (239)

  host: Alyson Stanfield Artists thrive on creative expression, but that same impulse can scatter your marketing. Without consistency, collectors are left confused about who you are and what you stand for. In this solo episode, I share why identity comes before design, what goes into a brand kit, and how it saves time while building trust. Your next collector is just one connection away. Make it a memorable one. ✨ HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 When artists relied on printed packets 02:40 Why tactile marketing materials still matter today 05:40 The tough love: artists aren’t designers (and why that matters) 08:00 Why your Identity — with a capital “I” — comes first 10:20 What a brand kit includes and how it helps 12:00 The pitfalls of DIY and how we can give you support in Essentials 13:40 Wrapping up: identity, design, and consistency in action 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/brand-kit 🎧 MENTIONED These are the other solo episodes (so far) leading up to the Followers to Collectors workshop. When the Art Sales Stop: 6 Areas to Investigate (235) Clean Your Email List to Improve Deliverability and Engagement (236) Remove Barriers to Buying Your Art (237) You Don’t Need a Gallery, You Need Conscious Connections (238) 🎧 RELATED EPISODES These episodes feature guests who have clarity around who they are as artists: Married to a Single Art Project Forever with Michelle Fung (227) How You Want to Be Perceived as an Artist with Alexandra Squire (133) What a Commitment to Audience-Building Means to Noelle Phares (225) 📥 RESOURCES Planning Workshop: Followers to Collectors – September 9–10 Essentials for Artist Success: Ongoing coaching, support, and training ⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes. ~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~ This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

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