Strategic Growth, Collector Relationships, and Costly Lessons with James Corwin (232)

Wildlife artist James Corwin has built a thriving art business by putting his originals first—and building everything else around them. In this episode of The Art Biz, he talks with host Alyson Stanfield about how he strategically developed multiple income streams through prints, commissions, and galleries, all while prioritizing his painting time.

James shares the mindset shift that helped him focus, the failures that taught him the most, and why nurturing collector relationships is a cornerstone of his success. His perspective as both an artist and gallery owner offers valuable insight for anyone seeking representation—or thinking about opening their own space.

Plus, he reveals how he handles marketing, team-building, and staying connected to buyers in a way that’s rare, but powerful.

Highlights

• 02:00 – James’s start and finding his niche
• 07:00 – Focusing the business and saying no
• 13:00 – Early business experience and multiple revenue streams
• 20:00 – Print systems, marketing, and building a team
• 23:00 – Strategic growth and personal planning
• 28:00 – How James actually plans and thinks while painting
• 31:00 – Major failures: financial loss and Aspen gallery stress
• 36:00 – Representing artists and running a gallery
• 39:00 – Advice on gallery representation
• 43:00 – Building collector relationships
• 48:00 – Teaching, online academy, and omnipresence
• 52:00 – Business books/podcasts and what’s next

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

These episodes discuss multiple income streams for the artists:

Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128)

Juggling Multiple Art Styles and Audiences with Robin Maria Pedrero (ep. 103)

Beyond Comparison and Jealousy with Jason Kotecki (ep. 191)

Transform Your Creative Ideas into Multiple Income Streams: Helen Hiebert (ep. 18)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/growth-corwin

⭐️ Connect with James and see more of his art: https://jamescorwin.com

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, 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.

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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/