The Art Biz

The daily work of running an art business always feels urgent. The strategic work doesn't. So it waits. But postponing that deeper evaluation isn't okay. In this solo episode, host Alyson Stanfield names five specific costs that accumulate when the strategic work keeps getting pushed to next month, next quarter, next year. In this episode: Why tactical delays and strategic delays are two different problems The question Alyson asks every client when a deadline feels far away What it means to leave money on the table, and why it's such an easy cost to ignore How unresolved strategic questions become a constant tax on your attention Why execution without direction is just activity What happens psychologically every day you don't begin the work you've been putting off Resources & links Stop Being Busy. Start Being Strategic. (258) Do You Have the Art Business You Actually Want? (259) The Art Business Self-Assessment Every Artist Should Do (260) Read more in depth, get links, and see featured artists 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.

My Art Business Assessment — Used with Every Client 50% In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield introduces the 3-zone framework she uses with every private client to assess where an art business actually stands. It's the same structure at the heart of the Art Business Reset workshop, and this episode is your chance to walk through it on your own. Alyson covers: The question she asks before any strategy conversation The 3 zones that account for everything you do to build your art business outside of making the work: Outreach, Presence, and Systems The breakdown of what each zone covers and questions to ask for your assessment Why you can't neglect in-person networking and follow-up Mentioned Do You Have the Art Business You Actually Want? (259) Stop Being Busy, Start Being Strategic (258) Art Business Reset on March 31, 2026 Read more, get mentioned resources, and see featured artists Email Alyson 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.

A focused checklist for artists who feel like their career happened by accident. Short prompts to inventory income streams, venues, and systems. A reset question that asks whether you would rebuild your art business the same way today. Practical areas to examine so you can move from drifting into deliberate design.

A lively take on the difference between doing busy work and doing strategic work for your art business. Short comparisons show which tasks consume time and which actually move you forward. Practical routines and questions help you schedule real review time. Tips for balancing execution with planning and swapping endless plans for shorter, vision-driven cycles.

The conversation contrasts selling mass-produced products with selling original artworks and why that shift often happens. It explores the fears that push artists away from originals and what collectors truly seek. Practical tactics are shared for differentiating originals online and in person, plus concrete website and email changes to help originals stand out.

Hannah Cole, an artist-turned-tax advisor and founder of Sunlight Tax, helps creatives untangle taxes and money mindset. She recounts a dismissive accountant moment, losing decades of work to a hurricane, and why artists often view money as corrupting. Short, practical rituals and systems for bookkeeping, separate accounts, and mindset shifts are highlighted.

Daniel Sipe and Karlë Woods didn't set out to start an arts organization. They just wanted to talk to artists during the pandemic. Four years later, Lights Out has produced 95 artist documentaries, thrown 18 popup exhibitions across Maine, and built a funding model that includes everything from $10 monthly donors to six-figure state contracts. Their story, shared with host Alyson Stanfield, offers a masterclass in starting before you're ready, investing in what matters (yes, including marketing), and building something sustainable through collaboration rather than competition. They reveal: Why a power outage became the best thing that could have happened at their first art show The $800 investment that felt reckless at the time but proved essential to their credibility How they turned what could be seen as competition into their superpower The state contract that nearly bankrupted them before it saved them The simplest way artists can support arts organizations in their communities Read more, see images, find resources mentioned Connect with Lights Out Website Videos on YouTube Instagram 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.

Damien Davis is a visual artist and writer who questions the art world's power structures from an artist's perspective. In this conversation with host Alyson Stanfield, he exposes the gatekeeping mechanisms—from application fees to institutional approval—that keep artists competing for artificially scarce opportunities instead of recognizing the abundance they could create together. Damien reveals: How learning business skills like grant writing and fundraising allowed him to stop waiting for gatekeepers and reclaim his studio practice Why he defines a successful artist as simply someone who keeps making art, regardless of galleries or institutional validation How barriers like application fees serve to keep artists competing for resources that should be abundant Why people at the center of the art ecosystem benefit from keeping artists in perpetual competition with each other How his writing exposes exploitation directly while his colorful sculptures draw viewers into uncomfortable conversations about erased histories Read more, see images, find resources mentioned Connect with Damien: Website and Newsletter Instagram Hyperallergic Articles 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 insightful discussion, the host reveals that the real hurdle for artists is not a lack of knowledge, but building confidence. Explore how January ambitions often fizzle out by February, and identify three main confidence killers: doubt, false beliefs, and comparison. Unpack the concept of perfectionism as a form of procrastination. Gain practical tips like creating a 'loved' file and daily wins list to combat self-doubt, while learning how self-care and visualization can fuel creative risk-taking.

Ebony Iman Dallas, a public artist based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, transforms Black history into vibrant murals and a graphic memoir. In this engaging conversation, she discusses her transition from advertising to art, where 90% of her income comes from public projects. Ebony reveals her struggles with marketing and the fear of rejection, advocating for proactive opportunities. She shares insights on building systems to track proposals and the importance of being visible through targeted marketing strategies. Her upcoming memoir aims to heal and empower through storytelling.