In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that waiting isn't ambition — it's longing. She unpacks why so many artists organize their careers around a big break that rarely comes, names the three kinds of openings available to every artist, and offers a simple five-step cycle for building real momentum on your own terms. She covers: Why waiting has no relationship with ambition Why hustling isn't the alternative most artists think it is The 3 kinds of openings, and the one most underused What "building a career on someone else's schedule" actually costs you The 5 A's that turn intention into follow-through Why doing this alone is exhausting and often uninspired Read more and see featured artists   The Next Opening is a small coaching group for ambitious artists who are done waiting for the big break and ready to make their next move. A year of aiming, acting, assessing, adjusting, and doing it again, with support and accountability. Application only. Next cohort starts in September. artbizsuccess.com/next   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 worked hard to get your art on those walls. So when only a handful of people show up to the opening, it stings. In this episode, Alyson Stanfield looks at the most common reasons your supporters stayed home — and what you can do differently before your next show. In this episode: Why the 5-10 days before a show are too late to fix most attendance problems How a cold list can cost you the people most likely to show up Why you can't rely on the venue to bring people to your exhibition Why one or two social media posts won't cut it The power of a personal invitation and letting people know why the show matters to you Why sending one email isn't enough, and why your supporters will thank you for the reminder Read the show notes, get links mentioned, and watch the video July 9 workshop: Follow Up Already 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.

Host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that your best salespeople are already in your life, just waiting to be asked to help. This episode isn't just for artists with collectors. If anyone has ever responded enthusiastically to your work, it applies to you. Alyson reveals: Who counts as a potential advocate Why these people genuinely want to help Why the relationship has to come first How to make it easy with tools whether they are tangible, in-person events, or digital tools When and how to make the ask, and what it doesn't look like If the follow-up is a weak link for you, join Alyson for Follow Up Already: Don't Let Good Opportunities Go Cold. Read more, get links, and see featured artists on the 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.  

There are many ways for artists to make money, but more income sources don't always lead to more income. In this episode, host Alyson Stanfield looks at the difference between an income source and an income stream—and why that distinction matters when you're deciding what belongs in your art business. You'll also hear about: Why adding a new income source can mean building a separate business The time, energy, marketing, and systems each source requires Why so-called passive income is a myth How to evaluate profitability, potential, and return on your time Questions to help you decide whether to add, keep, or let go of an income source The goal isn't to have as many income sources as possible. It's to understand what each one requires and decide whether it deserves a place in your art business. 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.

In this episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield makes the case that research is not an academic exercise. And it's not separate from your art practice, but part of it. She encourages you to think of it as leading with curiosity, which strengthens the work and builds confidence. Alyson draws on her background as an art historian and her own current investigation into timelines to show what this actually looks like in practice. Alyson reveals: Why "I've always been drawn to this" isn't a good enough answer, and what happens when you push past it The difference between work that is beautiful and work that is about something Why you mustn't research to find the right or best answer, and why you cannot rely on Google and AI for a true research practice How a serious inquiry practice changes your artist statement, collector conversations, and confidence in the work What it means to make curiosity a practice rather than a phase you move through before a project begins 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.  

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.