Be an awesome host or hostess: Part 2

Your open studio or open house is for showing off your art and nurturing relationships with current and future collectors of your art. In Part 1 of this series, I wrote about preparing for your event. This week, I’ll give you a series of tips focused on handling sales.
To begin, designate a space in your [...]

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Be an awesome host or hostess: Part 1

The holidays are coming up, and you might be planning an open house or open studio event. Make your guests feel welcome. In this first article, I focus on how to best prepare for the day with a list of thirteen tips.
Preparations

Tell everyone you invite if your event is open to all. If it is, [...]

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Exercise your gratitude muscle

Saying thank you, sincerely and in a meaningful way, should be ingrained in your business practices. In fact, it should be ingrained in your life. Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles, writes:
“When you are in a state of appreciation and gratitude, you are in a state of abundance. You are appreciating what you do [...]

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Play nice (artist ethics)

Artist ethics is a subject that is usually overlooked until someone has done something unethical. Dictionary.com defines ethics as “the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.” Of course, the particular group we’re concerned with is artists. So, artist [...]

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The exhibit proposals that came across my desk

A lot of exhibition proposals came across my desk when I worked in art museums. Most were from exhibit touring companies, but some were from individual artists or art organizations.
In the museum, it was important that any exhibit we booked from outside our collection was (1) fundable, (2) educational, and (3) something that would bring [...]

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Submit a proposal you’re proud of

There is no right or wrong way to submit a proposal unless you’ve been asked to write it in a particular format. Grant applications come to mind. Always follow directions for grant applications.
Joe Versikaitis emailed me because he has a terrific opportunity to submit a portrait proposal to a dream client, and he didn’t want [...]

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Workshop proposals

I am packing and getting ready to head to Oklahoma (to visit family) and then to Amarillo, Texas to lead a workshop on Saturday. I know of at least three artists driving from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and I’m always excited to hang out with committed artists for the day.
The Amarillo workshop, like all of [...]

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Tweak Your Email Habits

Connie Lippert, Order (Cocochineal Series). Wool hand-dyed with natural dyes, linen, 24 x 24 inches. © The Artist
It’s probably the marketing tool you use most. So much so, in fact, that you do it without even thinking. You dash off an email. You quickly hit Reply. Or you blast your list at the [...]

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Use (or Drop) Another Name for Your Art Business

Deborah T. Colter, Calculated Dream, 2008. Mixed media on panel. © The Artist
Last week I encouraged you to use your real name–in whatever form you choose–for your art business. This week I want to give hope to those of you already creating art under a different name or business name.
There are two primary [...]

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Use Your Name for Your Art Business

James McClure, Inner Strength. Mulberry and Pecan. ©The Artist
Art history is a history if individual artists, not of company names. Since my master’s degree is in art history, I naturally want you to use your name when promoting your art. Using a company name puts you in league with all of the companies [...]

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