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In this episode, I have something a little different for you. I want to share a tool I found a number of years ago that helps me in life and in my business. And it’s helped many of my clients. It’s a life map, of sorts, called Human Design. Jahje Ives is an artist and a Human Design coach and guide. While I have worked with Human Design guides in the past, Jahje is the first artist I have met in this realm. I wanted her insights as to how knowing your Human Design could help with your art and art business. To get the most out of it, you have to have a little woo in you. As Jahje says, you might need to put on your tinfoil hat. She’s going to tell you what Human Design is, cover the 5 different types of designs and what each would mean for an artist. Human Design has taught me that there are no two people alike. We are each unique in our gifts and our approach to life and business. What works for one artist might not be just a bad idea for another—it could also be a huge waste of time. Or even damaging. Since learning Human Design, I’ve changed much of my approach to teaching and coaching. I’ve started tuning in to the differences among artists—differences that they were born with—so that I can meet them where they will be able to thrive. This episode probably isn’t for everyone, but if you’re open to the journey, please continue to listen. Maybe something will ring true. Here’s my conversation with Jahje Ives. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114) What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95) Are You Playing It Too Safe in Your Art Business? (ep. 92) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest (ep. 91) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/human-design-ives ⭐️ Connect with Jahje and see more of her art: https://jahjeives.com   🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator   ⛰️ 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/

Two things are clear when it comes to pricing your art. 1️⃣ It’s a struggle for most artists. 2️⃣ There’s a good chance that your prices are too low.   There are 5 reasons to raise your prices: 🔸 You’ve done the math and realized you aren’t paying yourself. 🔸 Your pricing has become uneven over time. 🔸 The cost of your materials has increased. 🔸 You can’t keep up with the demand for your art. 🔸 You start selling through galleries. I cover all of these in this episode and then tell you HOW to raise your prices.   🆓 GUIDE FOR PRICING YOUR ART Info and download > http://howtopriceyourart.com/   🎧 RELATED EPISODES Raising prices can mess with your mindset. These episodes might help: Raising Prices on Your Art, Valuing Community, and Balancing Motherhood with Bri Larson (ep. 166) 6 Ways to Be [Even] Happier About Running Your Art Business (ep. 155) Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114) What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Christa Forrest (ep. 91)   📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/raise-prices/. 🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.   ⛰️ 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/

I like to say that your art isn’t complete until someone else experiences it. Until you’re standing in front of it and talking about it with people who are interested. In real life. Digital-only viewing doesn’t count. Every person who sees your work brings themselves and their background to your work—adding new layers of meaning to your original intention. My guest for this episode is Susan Abbott, and she recognizes the importance of getting her work out of the studio and in front of people. We cover a lot of ground in our conversation, but there are 3 themes: The value of working in series, with special attention given to the series of paintings that came from her pilgrimage on The Camino. Creating a catalog of your art and what it can do for you. Getting a museum solo exhibition and why that’s important to her. We also discuss how Susan lost 14,000 instagram followers and rebuilt her account to where it is today (~46,000 at the time of this recording). See if you can pick up on why it pays to dress nicely when visiting gallery. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley (ep. 160) Putting Artists First in Curatorial Projects with Melissa Messina (ep. 136) Portrait Project and Museum Exhibition with Lisa Kovvuri (ep. 11) A Married Life in Art: Sam Woolcott and Poe Dismuke (ep. 8) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/series-abbott ⭐️ Connect with Susan and see more of her art: https://susanabbott.com 🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator ⛰️ 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/

So many artists are down on their galleries and considering leaving them. There are absolutely many reasons not to stick with your gallery, but that’s a different episode. I wanted to share the story of an artist who is thrilled with her gallery. My guest for this episode is Evita Tezeno—an artist who has grand ambitions for herself. Not content with the status quo, Evita aims for recognition by prestigious honors like the Guggenheim Fellowship and the MacArthur Fellowship, the so called “genius” grant. She knows she can’t get there by herself. She needs strong gallery representation and a team of people behind her, and she’ll tell you why. 💬 EVITA TEZENO QUOTES “I had this dream that an angel came to my door and gave me a blueprint of another style.” “This dream was right on target.” “[After Denzel Washington bought 8 pieces in 2019] I was able to get another studio and I have never worked for anyone again.” “The gallery now has me working larger. I love working larger. I love it.” “I consider myself a visual storyteller.” “[My life coach] has gotten me to dream bigger than I ever thought that I could dream.” “I want more museum collections and I want my work also to be known, not only nationally or regionally, but internationally…. So we are reaching toward the sky or the heavens.” “The art career that you dream of or you envision does not come easy. You have to struggle. You have to go through necessary pains to get to where you want to be.” 🎧 RELATED CONTENT Leaving Gallery Representation to Reach More Art Buyers with Adele Sypesteyn (ep. 163) Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (ep. 123) Why Artists Should Embrace Galleries (article) The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (ep. 19) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/tezeno-galleries ⭐️ Connect with Evita Tezeno and see more of her art: https://evitatezeno.com   🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers.   ⛰️ 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/

Your artist website is your portfolio these days. It’s usually the first place people go to get a full picture of you and your art. They might initially find you on Instagram and scroll through the images there, but when their interest is piqued and they want to know more, they’ll click that almighty link in your bio. Your website is the 1 piece of virtual real estate that you have 100% control over. You select what people see and define how they will navigate the experience. Are you ready for them? In this episode of The Art Biz, I have a very focused conversation with Jessica Burko about artist websites. [ We’re focused on your professional presentation this season in Establish Yourself: Essentials for Artist Success ] Jessica and I discuss: Her philosophy about artist websites. What artist websites should and should not include. How artist websites can be organized for a better viewer experience. How you can use Instagram and Pinterest to organize portfolios of work. Why one of your jobs is to educate people. She says, “What gets people to be very interested in your work, to buy your work or hire you or show your work, and to really tell them the breadth of what you do and to show them all the different aspects of your arts career, your arts business, yourself as an artist” is your website. It’s a much more appropriate place to do that than Instagram. 💁🏼‍♀️ My bonus tip is to check the footer on your website to see that it has the current copyright date in it. Some websites adjust automatically to a new year, but others do not. Make sure yours is current. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES How to Name Your Art Business (ep. 56) How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165) Introduce Yourself Confidently as an Artist (ep. 65) Starting Your Art Career (ep. 173) What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney (ep. 95) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/websites-burko ⭐️ Connect with Jessica and see more of her art: https://jessicaburko.com 🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers.   ⛰️ 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/

This episode isn’t for artists who want to dabble and keep art as a hobby. I so respect your desire to enter and exit the studio whenever you feel like it, but this isn’t for you. This isn’t even for artists who want to set up a side hustle of selling art here and there to make some extra cash. Again, I respect the fact that you want or need to do that, but what I share here isn’t for you. This is for anyone who is serious about building and living the life of an artist. This episode is also for you if other artists ask for your advice about how they can do what you have done. (All you have to do is send them here.) I cover: Why devotion to the work has to come above everything else in your artist life. When you can call yourself an artist. Why you shouldn’t be devoted to 1 medium. The first 6 practical business steps: Decide on your professional name. Decide on your business structure. Register your business. Get a tax ID number. Gat a sales tax license. Separate your business and personal finances. 🔶 Just starting your art career? Please see my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers. YourArtistLife.com 🎧 RELATED EPISODES How to Name Your Art Business (ep. 56) Your Decision Filter (ep. 139) Risk, Rejection, and Resilience with Christine Aaron (ep. 114) How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165)   📖 To read the transcript of this episode, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/starting-art-career   ⛰️ 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/

My guest for this episode of The Art Biz is Kamal X. Kamal recently released his book, Black Astronaut, which is a collection of photographs he started after the murder of George Floyd. It was, as you recall, the height of Covid and like many, Kamal was hesitant to travel and be in crowds. But, as he said, he knew he had to risk it all because the moment was bigger than him. In our conversation, you’ll hear about how and why Kamal learned photography and how he approaches his subjects on the street. What I enjoyed most about talking with Kamal is his message. Through photography, he learns about himself, and he shares his positivity through his words and deeds. He says, “Remember you are the light and you can create and visualize something bigger for yourself.” And he encourages you to be true to yourself and avoid making art for the algorithms. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES These are great episodes for positive inspiration. 7 Essential Verbs for Artists to Embrace (ep. 170) How to Feel Like a Successful Artist (ep. 165) Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (ep. 158) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/kamalx ⭐️ Connect with Kamal X and see more of his art: https://www.instagram.com/iamkamalx/ 🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a year-long training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers. https://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/

Carol MacConnell has built a strong business foundation over her long art career. I was particularly interested in talking with her about how she works with interior designers. You’ll hear us discuss: Carol’s income streams, 30% of which comes from working with interior designers and the vast majority through open studio events. How she, as an artist who is legally deaf, navigates conversations. How she segments and uses her list of 2,000 interior designers and 2,000 other subscribers. What the working relationship with interior designers is like. You’ll also hear me plead my case for contracts that spell out the details of a relationship with anyone who sells your art. My favorite thing about this conversation is that Carol doesn’t get anxious about missing out on [whatever]. She is focused on getting the work done and being authentic about what is going on rather than fussing over the algorithms and other mind traps. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Following Her Curiosity and Making New Connections After 60 with Jan McCarthy (ep. 158) She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be with Kelly Pelfrey (ep. 162) Increasing Self-Sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (ep. 157) 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/macconnell-designers ⭐️ Connect with Carol and see more of her art: https://carolmacconnell.com   🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a year-long training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. https://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/

As we learned when diagramming sentences in 4th grade, verbs are where the action is. No verb, no action. The first iteration of my newsletter for artists back in 2002 included a specific art business action at the end of each issue. My book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio, is broken down into 16 “actions” rather than chapters. I’m all about action, but am no longer interested in it in the form of obsessive hyper-productivity. I’ll leave that to the bro motivators out there. Action at all costs isn’t healthy. But action—even the tiniest step—moves the needle. Look back on how your confidence as an artist has grown over as a result not only of reading about something or hearing about it, but of doing it. Making more art. Having more shows. Submitting to more opportunities. With this in mind, I got to thinking about a few verbs to live by that you might not normally associate with your art career. Listen to hear why I selected these 7 verbs and see if they resonate with you: Devote, Begin, Understand, Connect, Avoid, Investigate, Finish. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES Ep 165: How to Feel Like a Successful Artist Ep. 160: Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley Ep. 150: How to Project Confidence Even When You’re Not Feeling It 📖 To read a full transcript, find resources mentioned, see featured artists, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/essential-verbs-for-artists/ 🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a year-long training program full of tools and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. https://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/

In this episode I talk with David Sandum who was driven to take up art personally and then professionally after being hospitalized with depression in 2001. His journey through depression led him to the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Edvard Munch—finding solace and a deep connection with their expression of raw emotions. We discuss how art continues to be a lifeline in his struggle with depression and his memoir, I’ll Run Till the Sun Goes Down: A Memoir About Depression & Discovering Art. David and I touch on the tension between making art for yourself and surviving in a commercial market, and, related, why he chose to focus on a series of Auschwitz paintings over seemingly more market-friendly paintings of beaches. We also talk about how he organized a community of artists on what was then Twitter to begin an annual international exhibition and fundraiser that has been going on since 2010. The Twitter Art Exhibit has evolved into the Postcard Art Exhibit, which accurately reflects its contents. Heads up that you’ll hear David abbreviate it repeatedly—and understandably—as PAE. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES The Art Biz ep. 168: Impacting Artists First in a Curatorial Project Focusing on Empathy with Nanci Hersh The Art Biz ep. 112: Leaning Into Creativity in Times of Pain with Rich Simmons The Art Biz ep. 52: Making Art While Grieving Loss with Jan Heaton 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/sandum-mental-health ⭐️ Connect with David and see more of his art: https://www.davidsandum.com 🔶 Sponsored by my new program, ESTABLISH YOURSELF: Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://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/

In this episode of The Art Biz I talk with Nanci Hersh about an exhibition she organized with 25 artists from multiple states and countries. The show used the central theme of tears to explore empathy, compassion, and understanding within a sacred space—a metaphorical chapel. She says, as artists “we are so fortunate that we can use our art to make sense of life experiences.” Nanci and I discuss: The ripple effect of art when it impacts the artist first. The training she received to facilitate uncomfortable conversations. The benefits of taking on such a big project and why it’s important that it aligned with her values. How the exhibition was paid for and ideas she has for improving funding options in the future. How she stayed organized. The importance of clear lines of communication, accepting help, and practicing gratitude.   ⭐️ ABOUT NANCI HERSH Nanci Hersh is a contemporary artist whose work is informed by the experiences, relationships, and places in her life. Her two-dimensional work, as well as her sculptures and installations, are at the intersection of personal narrative, art-making, and community engagement—exploring the grace, beauty and fragility of our lives. Nanci is also a curator, illustrator, educator, arts advocate, and former Executive Director of the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education. She has one foot in Pennsylvania and the other in Delaware. 🎧 RELATED EPISODES The Art Biz ep. 160: Overcoming Anxiety about Making Art World Connections with Heather Beardsley The Art Biz ep. 146: Remember The Many Opportunities We Have Because We’re Online with Barbara Muir The Art Biz ep. 30: Multi-State Multi-Year Multi-Artist Art Project with Marilyn Artus The Art Biz ep. 64: Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan   📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/empathy-hersh   🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator   ⛰️ 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/

Dare you have a sale of your art? I acknowledge that having a sale of original work might be unpalatable. It feels as if you are cheapening the work you put so much effort into. I get it. In just the last episode of The Art Biz (#166), I talked with Bri Larson about the mindset around raising prices and why it was important to do so. In this episode of The Art Biz I discuss the psychology and process around having a sale of your art or any products that you might sell. Products such as calendars, note cards, books, catalogs, or print I cover 6 options for structuring a sale, although, as you’ll see, promotion is probably a better word because not all of the options are about offering a discount. I also outline additional steps to take around your sale. Stick with me to the end and I'll share 3 mistakes you don’t want to make when having a sale of your art. 📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/ 🔶 Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator 🔶 a coaching group for strategies, support, and accountability inside a community of artists who get you. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator ⛰️ 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/