How to Sell Art: The Abundant Artist Podcast

In this episode, we cover:

0:35- How Cory met Jeffrey

1:45- How Jeffrey made the decision to go into full-time photography

3:45- How Jeffrey leverages a specific kind of tourism- grown adults without kids in tow- to increase his gallery sales

4:35- How Jeffrey identifies which galleries may fit well with his business plan

5:45- Jeffrey's "secret shopper" method of evaluating galleries

6:30- There is no way to accurately judge a person's amount of wealth and likelihood of buying art simply by their appearance

10:20- A different gallery model charges artists a small rent, then takes a smaller commission than a conventional gallery and encourages artists to market themselves. This model is more collaborative- is it better?

12:40- Being reliable and easy to work with will improve your overall opportunities with galleries. The "basics" of professionalism will help artists stand out.

17:20- Including personal extra touches in shipped art is always a good idea

18:05- Which social media platforms Jeffrey is spending the most time on

19:00- Jeffrey shares how he got involved in producing published photo books

22:25- Jeffrey's advice for up and coming artists: make art that resonates with a large group of collectors, and be willing to create a series of art with a theme

In this episode, we cover:

0:40- What Betty is currently doing with art galleries and how she's selling her art

2:30- How Betty tells a story with social media in order to sell her art and connect with collectors

5:25- How Betty, who used to be very shy as a child, cultivated her comfort interacting on social media and her approachability

6:45- Betty refers to her work as acrylic painting with mark making- she explains why she identifies her art this way

8:35- How Betty came to better understand her audience and how to connect with them

10:45- Betty caters to two different audiences- she shares why she hasn't focused exclusively on the higher-end audience

12:30- Advice for artists who hesitate to use social media or share images of themselves with their art.

15:05- How often artists should post on social media

18:00- How Betty's social media interactions translate into sales

20:00- Focusing on getting new followers vs. focusing on putting out good work

24:45- The different tools that Betty has been experimenting with on Instagram and Facebook

26:40- Betty's advice for artists getting started

In this episode:

1:30- What is an art therapist, and what do they do?

4:20- What Brushes with Cancer does, how it's connected with the larger organization Twist Out Cancer, and how Jacquelyn got connected.

7:15- What the application process looks like for artists interested in joining Brushes with Cancer.

8:15- What the process of connecting with an Inspiration looks like for artists who join the organization, how those relationships are formed and how the art is formed from that.

10:55- How interested artists can connect with Brushes with Cancer and apply to be involved in the program.

11:40- Upcoming Brushes with Cancer cities in 2019.

12:40- Where artists need to be located in order to participate, what commitment is required.

Links:

Brushes with Cancer

In this Facebook Live conversation, Cory chats with mastermind group facilitator Sarah Guthrie:

2:38- What is a Mastermind group? Recommended reading includes Think and Grow Rich.

6:15- How Cory started his first mastermind group, and the important things to consider when getting started.

8:12- Sarah's experience being involved in mastermind groups, how they made a difference for her in her business.

9:50- Sarah's shares her facilitation background and how she now translates that to assisting other artists in clarifying and meeting their goals.

11:25- How mastermind groups are typically run. At the core is finding a group of people you feel comfortable with who can also share their knowledge with you, and vice-versa.

13:00- Matching up with another anchor person whose personality balances yours can be really useful for forming a good group.

15:55- Why high level mastermind groups cost so much.

16:33- The main difference between peer mastermind groups and paid mastermind groups. (That's where Sarah comes in!)

17:30- How Sarah runs accountability groups as a coach rather than a peer, what the structure looks like.

23:00- TAA is now launching the next version of the mastermind groups, how to apply.

24:24- How to set proper expectations for your paid or peer mastermind group.

27:15- What additional support is typically provided in mastermind groups including TAA's mastermind groups.

30:48- Questions and answers, including whether TAA's mastermind groups will be ongoing and how much they cost.

34:20- The impact of mastermind groups for artist entrepreneurs and their unique challenges.

37:25- The grounded space of a mastermind group can help all your other relationships in life.

38:15- Are there mastermind groups for people at the very beginning? Where beginning artists can go instead.

Links:

* denotes affiliate link

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill*

How to Sell Your Art Online by Cory Huff

The Twelve Week Year by Brian Moran*

In this Facebook Live conversation, Cory chats with watercolor artist and teacher Rebecca Rhodes.

1:30- How Rebecca went from a music teacher to a full-time artist, and how her creative family encouraged her in her pursuit.

6:00- Navigating the practicalities of the transition from teaching music in-person to teaching art online.

8:32- The apps and software Rebecca uses to record and edit her videos.

10:18- How Rebecca uses YouTube as a sales funnel to turn interested video viewers into paying subscribers using the Teachable platform.

12:53- How Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest compare to YouTube for the purposes of converting followers into paying subscribers.

14:55- How Rebecca makes money through Teachable.

16:20- How Rebecca supplements her teaching income, and how she chooses which art shows to attend.

18:48- Rebecca's advice to other artists interested in getting started teaching online.

In this episode we cover:

1:25- How Patricia began selling prints on Etsy

5:15- Selling digital prints comes with its own unique challenges

9:00- How Patricia came to realize that she could make a living from her art

13:20- The advantages and disadvantages of selling on Etsy

20:50- How to get website traffic from Pinterest

24:40- Finding success selling prints on Society6

29:30- How Patricia's licensing deal with Anthropologie came about

31:05- Finding the balance between living life and 24/7 hustle to build your business

36:05- Helpful productivity and time-management tools that Patricia recommends

In this episode we cover:

5:10-How Stephanie is inspired by the mythologies and fairytales that stem from oral tradition and span thematically across cultures and languages

13:38-Stephanie's struggle to convince college advisors of the validity of pursuing both computer programming and art, at a time before digital art had entered the scene

25:40-The complexity of "Kickstarter math" and the importance of having your numbers right before committing to a crowdfunding campaign

40:46-Stephanie used to exhibit at 12-15 conventions a year. She shares how helpful those conventions were in growing her business, and where she's at now

45:15-How early-career artists can have a profitable experience on the convention circuit

49:12-You can be successful at conventions even if you're an introvert!

53:40-Stephanie's recommended reading for those interested in fairy tales and ghost stories

In this episode, we cover:

1:43- How Artwork Archive got started

6:44- Artwork Archive's philosophy and process of providing valuable content to their audience

11:07- One of the big keys to good content creation is know thy audience

16:35- What it's like to run a business that serves artists

27:20- How the Artwork Archive discovery engine began and what it's for

31:45- How Artwork Archive plans to implement AI in their artwork discovery tools in the future

34:16- Some of the industry-level problems with the current technology available to help people discover new art

39:40- How Artwork Archive is helping artist grow their careers

In this episode we cover:

1:40- Rex explains his philosophy of "grow where you're planted".

6:14- Rex talks about the Hausmann Millworks Creative Community

16:25- The kind of shows you should be trying to get into depends heavily on your age, where you are in your career, and which of many art worlds you're a part of.

18:53- How artists should view and manage their upward career trajectory

23:50- Know the difference between the different art shows and art publications and don't waste your energy submitting to shows that don't represent your style

24:40- Rex talks about the different ways he sells his work, and the value of cultivating long-term relationships with collectors, curators, gallerists, etc.

28:11- What it looks like to be involved in the larger art conversation

33:17- Rex talks Francis Mallmann's work as a kind of performance art

36:26- Why most of Rex's work is autobiographical and his unique process of creating work

44:44- Alexander Calder and being a kid at heart

50:05- Good advice about living life and managing your art career

In this episode we cover:

1:35- A smaller but dedicated fan base that is passionate about your work is just as (if not more) valuable than a much larger fan base.

3:27- Paula's journey of spiritual self-discovery

7:07- Paula began her creative journey later in life, at the age of 45. She explains how this shift came about.

8:08- What it's like to be an artist working/living out of an RV for several months out of the year.

10:55- How Paula comes upon her painting ideas and messages, and noticed an increase in her Facebook likes and sales numbers when she stopped subconsciously discrediting the power of her messages.

14:45- Navigating the change from art that galleries want you to make, to making the art your soul asks you to make (and how this can actually lead to better sales of your art!)

25:38- How Paula sells her art on Facebook.

27:14- Why alienating a certain portion of potential collectors may be a sign that you're on the right track.

30:50- Paula's advice to artists new to selling their work to be true to who they are.

33:08- How Paula knows that her messages are the real thing.

36:42- How artists can become more comfortable sharing their ideas about their work on the Internet.

37:50- Changing or uncovering your true self and how helpful it can be for your art, and the shamanic journeying that Paula does now to continue to uncover her true self and receive her messages.

39:58- Artists should paint what they are obsessed or preoccupied with, and their passion will be apparent in their work.