The Art Biz

Every artist wants to know "how much time?"
How much time on the business side, how much time making the work, and how long before any of it pays off.
In this episode of The Art Biz host Alyson Stanfield gives straight answers to the two questions that matter — including a number you might not want to hear — and offer a better question to ask yourself instead.
She covers:
Why "how much time?" is the wrong question, and what to ask yourself instead
The difference between your daily time and the longer stretch it takes to establish yourself
Why willingness and commitment matter more than the number of hours you have
How much of your working time goes to business and marketing when you're serious about income
Why more success means more business, not less
The timeframe to expect for the hard work to pay off and why steady work matters most
 
Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post.
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This.
 
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Making a living from your art takes more than passion and talent. In this solo episode, Alyson Stanfield walks through the real considerations — from committing to your studio practice to making friends with marketing — for artists who are serious about turning their practice into a livelihood.
It starts with a question worth considering: is this really for you?
In this episode, Alyson covers:
Why marketing your art too early can undermine everything you're working toward
The financial math many artists avoid, and why ignoring it is not an option
The old stories that hold you back and what it means to let them go
Why your artist community is a valuable asset
The difference between being busy and being productive
Structure is what makes creative freedom possible
Why you need to make friends with marketing.
Read more and get links and resources on the extensive companion post
 
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
 
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Venues aren't looking for artists who need them, they're looking for artists who are ready.
Host Alyson Stanfield introduces the attraction method: a way of building genuine relationships with venues long before you ever make an ask. For alternative venues, the timeline from first contact to a yes can be weeks instead of years.
In this episode, Alyson covers:
Why readiness is more than finished work, and what signals to a venue that you're prepared
How alternative venues operate on an entirely different timeline than galleries
The research and in-person visit steps that show a space you're worth talking to
What separates "Can I show my art here?" from an opener that actually starts a conversation
Why consistent, genuine presence means venues sometimes do the asking before you do
Visit this episode's page for all resources
MENTIONED
Beyond White Walls workshop
Elevate Your Art workshop
RELATED EPISODES
The artists who don't wait to be chosen (264)
Use the attraction method for art venues before you make the ask (265)
 
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
 
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

You don't need a gallery to put your work in front of people. You don't need to wait for the next juried show application just for the promise to compete with a hoard of other artists.
In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that waiting for gallery representation — or cycling through the same juried shows — keeps artists from the kind of visibility they could be creating themselves. This is a practical, imagination-expanding episode for artists who are ready to take control.
In this episode, Alyson shares:
Why "white walls" can be a metaphor for playing it too safe
Three real art shows she attended that will stretch what you think is possible
The lesson a hotel show taught her about personal invitations
The difference between announcing, commanding, and inviting, and when to use each for promoting your show
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Elevate Your Art on-demand workshop
Why the lone artist mindset keeps you small (263)
How to write an art show invitation: announcing, commanding, or inviting? (article)
BEYOND WHITE WALLS :: May 7 Workshop
Your next exhibition space is closer than you think. Join Alyson on May 7 for Beyond White Walls, a 70-minute live workshop on finding and approaching non-traditional venues for your work. Registration is $37 and includes email templates, a companion guide, and the recording. Details at https://artbizsuccess.com/whitewalls
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield explores why collaboration is often the missing piece in an artist's growth. While working alone feels easier, it can quietly limit what's possible.
This episode makes the case for thinking bigger by asking a simple but powerful question: Who else belongs in your work?
Alyson shares:
Two powerful examples of artist collaborations and how they reached audiences that the artists couldn't have reached on their own
How collaborations build accountability, momentum, and deeper work
Why it's important that your work be part of the larger dialogue
What to look out for when collaborating
Visit this episode's page for all resources
 
RELATED EPISODES ON COLLABORATING
This Artist Turned Six Partnerships Into a Sold-Out Gallery Show with Meredith Nemirov (262)
A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (183)
Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show's Impact with Jill Powers (27)
Multi-State Multi-Year Multi-Artist Art Project with Marilyn Artus (30)
Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (64)
Collaborating on Your Art Business with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin (86)
Play Tops Work, Connection Tops Solitude, and Confidence Tops Fear with Willie Cole (126)
Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (128)
 
Email me to discuss strategic consulting for your long-term career goals.
Think you'd make a good guest on The Art Biz? Read This
The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.