January 21, 2025 • 21 mins
"When you present your work professionally, something magical happens. Not only do others begin to see your work differently, but you also do so."
Introduction
In this episode, we explore the transformative journey of artists as they learn to present their work professionally. Our host, Kay, an experienced artist and educator, shares insights from their background in teaching sip and paint classes and the impact of professional presentation on both self-esteem and public perception. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of one's work and the readiness to showcase it, regardless of perceived perfection.
Episode Summary
We discuss the critical role of professional presentation in the art world, focusing on how framing influences both the artist's self-view and public perception, ultimately affecting sales and opportunities.
Key Insights
- Art presentation significantly impacts perception and self-esteem.
- Professionalism in presentation enhances the perceived value of artwork.
- Artists are often more ready to showcase their work than they believe.
- A dedicated website is essential for establishing a professional online presence.
- Shifting mindset to appreciate one's work can foster personal growth.
- Immediate action is encouraged; artists should present their work now, not wait for perfection.
Did you value this episode?
Please Help us reach more artists like you by leaving a review!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hello and welcome to the artist's guide to business.
I'm Kay.
I'm here to help you navigatethe business side of art in a
way that actually makes sense.
Why?
Because, as artists, your truecalling is to create and spend
your time where you belong inthe studio.
Our mission here is to empoweryou to earn a living doing
(00:29):
exactly that making your art.
So, whether you're a painter,sculptor, digital artist or wear
any creative hat, this podcastserves as your guide to a
sustainable and fulfillingartistic career.
We'll decode the business lingo, unravel marketing mysteries
and pave a clear path for you tothrive both creatively and
(00:52):
financially.
So grab your favorite brush, afresh canvas or just a cup of
coffee.
Welcome to the Artist's Guideto Business to business.
(01:14):
Okay, artists, let me tell youabout an unexpected lesson I
learned about how we frame ourart to the world.
So for years in the beginningof my career, I taught sip and
paint classes.
You know, those really like funevents where people gathered to
paint and enjoy themselves, andit was really a great revenue
stream for me.
I genuinely enjoyed helpingpeople connect to their
creativity.
I got to go to some fun townsaround Montana and I got to meet
(01:38):
a lot of really cool people.
So this is not about sip andpaints being a bad thing.
I think they're a very, verypositive opportunity for a lot
of self-employed artists.
However, something interestingdid start happening over time
(02:00):
really took over my social mediaand things like that.
Whenever I would post like myactual artwork, my personal
pieces, pieces I'd spent likeweeks developing, that
represented my growth as anartist, it was becoming somewhat
common for people to comment,hey, can we paint that next?
(02:20):
And that's when I realizedsomething crucial about how I
was framing my art.
By consistently presenting artas something anyone can create
in a two-hour session at abrewery, I was unintentionally
framing all of my work that way.
Now, don't get me wrong Again.
Those sip and paint classeswere valuable in so many ways.
(02:43):
And those sip and paint classeswere valuable in so many ways.
And actually one of my regularstudents from that later called
me up like five years later andcommissioned a $3,500 piece from
me and it was a super easy salebecause she already knew me and
we had established a lot oftrust, you know.
So there was a lot of positivethings to come out of that, but
the lesson about framing wasreally important and priceless,
(03:07):
you know, to be a really goodsip and paint instructor.
You want people to feelcomfortable with art.
You want them to feelaccessible.
You want them to feel like theycan do anything, because so
many of them are scared to eventouch paint right, and a lot of
them are very creative peoplewho just took different turns in
life, right.
So it's sort of like thatpersonality.
(03:30):
For that to be successful, ithad to be forefront, it had to
be so, you know, loud and vocalto overcome their own inner
critic.
But I was doing it too good,but I was doing it well and I
really did believe everything Iwas saying about it.
However, that balance started toshift and I had to make a
(03:51):
decision at that point.
Did I want to continue being asip and paint business?
Is that the messaging I wantedto continue?
Or did I want to shift back tohaving a little bit more
exclusivity around my work, alittle bit more unattainableness
or wonder about how I createdthings?
And so I slowly made the shiftback towards focusing more on my
(04:16):
own art skills and my own fineart.
Now there was also anotheroption.
I could have gone fully, likecreated a separate business for
Sip and Paints, and that wouldhave been a really good option
too.
I just, you know, my heartwasn't in it by the time.
It was, you know, time to makethese decisions, and then COVID
happened.
So, basically, those decisionsended up getting made for me
(04:38):
because we could not gather andpaint for two hours at a brewery
.
But okay, let me get back ontrack, because here's why I'm
telling you this story.
If you're listening to thisepisode, I'm guessing you've had
the thought like maybe I shouldhave a real website or a real
presence online, but also mywork is maybe not ready for that
(05:01):
, or is my work ready for that?
It's quite possible that you'vetold yourself you need more
pieces in your portfolio first,or that you need better photos
or more sales under your belt.
So today I want to talk aboutthat uncertainty and possibly
flip it on its head, and I'mgoing to share something that
(05:22):
might completely change how youthink about being ready.
First off, your art.
If you have been making art fora little while now and it's
something you're excited aboutand you're passionate about it,
it is ready for professionalpresentation right now.
You don't have to wait untilyou have more pieces.
(05:43):
You don't have to wait untilyou've mastered another
technique or when you have madecertain number of sales.
Right now it's ready and you'reprobably good enough.
It's about creating the rightcontext for people to experience
what you have already created.
So let me share something thatdrove this home for me.
(06:14):
I had been a professionalartist for about eight years.
When I hired some studio help,the person I hired was actually
like a close and personal friendwho knew me well and she knew
my work well.
You know, she'd been aware ofmy business throughout the years
and then, while I was trainingher on our business voice and
(06:34):
about what we're about, I pulledup my website and it was so
interesting because, despite ourlong friendship, she was like
genuinely surprised and she saidsomething like wow, you're like
, yeah, a professional.
I mean, there's a lot here.
And in that moment she saw mybusiness as a business and she
(06:54):
saw me as a professional in away she had never seen me before
, even despite knowing me and mywork for years.
There's just something aboutbeing presented in that manner
that clues it in for people.
Hey, this is established, thisis real, you know, especially
(07:14):
for family and friends, peoplewho follow you online because
they like your art, or peoplewho are interested in your art.
They think you're an artistalready.
It's the friends and family whoprobably don't.
I'm just kidding Kind of.
Anyway, this goes to show tolike the art hadn't changed and
(07:34):
my skills weren't any different.
The only thing that had changedwas the frame through which she
viewed it.
I mean she was literallyhelping me package and send like
16 pet portraits in one holidayseason.
That to me sounds like aprofessional artist, right.
But seeing it lined out likethat on a website just changed
(07:55):
the perception or reallysolidified it.
Does that make sense?
So it's kind of about howyou're presenting.
It will also be how peoplereceive it.
But it goes beyond justworrying about, like, how people
and others see your work.
It also changes the way you seeyour work.
So this is really crucial tounderstand.
(08:17):
When you present your workprofessionally, something
magical happens.
Not only do others begin to seeyour work differently, but you
also do so.
You know, I experienced thismyself with my live wedding
painting.
When I finally startedpresenting this service
professionally from my ownappearance to how I photographed
(08:40):
myself and showcased the worksomething really shifted.
Initially, when I was startingthat service, I was not 100%
confident in it, and I wasdefinitely piecing it together.
It was appropriate for where Iwas, though, in that business
right, like I was newer on thatscene, I was learning from other
(09:00):
artists, I was taking it all inmashing it up and putting it
out there in a new way.
But, just like the firststrokes on a canvas or any sort
of beginning parts of your art,the first time you start
presenting your work is going tobe sort of like a test.
It's going to be feeling yourway, finding your way through it
(09:20):
.
You know how does this lookwhen I present it this way.
Where is it falling short, etcetera, et cetera, and it's
really good to go through thatprocess authentically where you
are.
If I had started my live weddingpainting, you know marketing
and display as highly polishedand highly perfect, there would
(09:41):
have been a disconnect betweenwhat I was selling and what I
was presenting, because I wasnew to it, right.
But then when I became moreconfident in it, then when I saw
, okay, this is something Ireally truly want to pursue,
that's when I up-leveled how Iwas presenting the services and
the art, and that way, now youknow it fits with what people
(10:04):
are going to expect and whatthey're going to receive.
So I also then felt prouder ofwhat I was offering.
I felt like, yes, this is theproduct I want to offer, and a
lot of that was literallythrough seeing images of my work
presented in a way I felt proudof and that looked really
professional.
(10:24):
So clients, you know they'llbegin more readily accepting
higher price points.
But, more importantly, I beganseeing my work differently and
the professional presentationreflected back to me kind of the
value of the experience and ofthe art I was creating.
It's like you know, just anypiece of art you make, when you
(10:48):
put it in a frame, it says a lot, it changes the experience of
that art.
I mean, you guys, like therewas a banana duct taped to a
wall and the context of thatbanana made it worth billions of
dollars, which I know isannoying and like we don't like
talking about it, but that'sreally just like.
(11:08):
That explains it right there.
Right, this is an issue offraming, and so that's what a
professional website does foryour art, or a professional
looking website does for yourart.
When I say professional website, all I mean is one that you own
, one that you can kind ofupdate, and one that you have
created for your art.
(11:28):
It's not about waiting untilyour art is, like, better.
It's about giving your currentwork, the work you have today,
the space and the context thatit deserves to truly shine.
I mean, even just think aboutit from that perspective, right,
like it's a way for you to saythat you respect and you
appreciate your artwork.
Who cares what anyone elsethinks?
(11:49):
That in and of itself, isreally powerful for you.
Also, I have lots of alsos, butI can tell you, like I have put
work up online before and justthat simple act of making it
public helps you to see it in adifferent light.
(12:10):
Act of making it public helpsyou to see it in a different
light and sometimes it's a morepositive light.
And also sometimes you're like,oh, you know what, that piece
actually isn't ready and thenyou pull it off and you fix it
so it can really work to yourbenefit too, because the act of
putting your work on display ina public way helps you, helps
you see it differently, okay,okay, moving forward your
(12:35):
readiness for a professionalpresence is a lot of times
simpler than you think.
I've heard numbers from peoplethat you have to have like 50
pieces of artwork so that anyonewho's looking at your site
knows that you have like a style, and that, to me, is just
bonkers.
You guys, that's a crazy amountof work to make before you even
(12:55):
start selling or showing it,and also that's a big portfolio.
A lot of times it's better tohave a small portfolio with
stronger pieces in it.
So let's break down what beingready like actually means.
So let's break down what beingready like actually means.
So, basically, you guys, ifyou've ever had one piece that
(13:17):
you're really proud to show,that you're like excited about,
then you are ready to show itprofessionally on a website.
And if you can take a clearphoto of your work, then you're
also ready.
Then you're also ready.
If you can describe what youmake in one sentence, something
like I paint landscapes of mylocal area, then you are ready.
(13:43):
You know, if you've ever soldanything to anyone, even if it
was a supportive family member,then you're ready.
When I started selling my art,it was not that good, although
it had its charm and it was nottotally terrible, but I had so
many supportive family membersand friends support my efforts.
Even in those early stages.
They appreciated what the artwas.
(14:06):
They appreciated the buddingartistry.
My price points were right forwhat kind of work I was making
and they were able to support me.
I've always said it like findsomeone who is willing to pay
you where you are now so thatyou can learn and continue going
where you want to go.
(14:27):
It's very hard to get where youwant to go if you don't have
any resources.
Okay.
So even if someone from yourfamily has purchased a piece of
art from you, take that as asign that you are ready to
display your art in aprofessional way.
And these aren't really highbars to clear, they're just your
(14:48):
starting points, because here'sthe truth.
High bars to clear, they'rejust your starting points.
Because here's the truth.
Starting with a professionalpresence, it's not about being
perfect.
It's about creating afoundation that helps both you
and your audience see the valuein what you're creating.
That's all, it is Okay.
The last piece of this, or oneof the last pieces, is that your
(15:13):
professional presentationcreates space for you to grow
into.
So having a nice website,having a space on the internet
that you own, it isn't justabout presenting what you have
today.
It's also about presenting orcreating the space for what
you're going to create next, orcreating the space for what
(15:36):
you're going to create next.
So if today you are notcreating the masterpieces that
you hope to create someday, atleast get these systems going
and started so that, when youare creating that work, it's a
simple maneuver to move theminto your website and your
systems.
It's not hard for you to thenpresent the work in a digital
presence or on an online website.
(15:57):
Okay, establishing thisframework now and helping
yourself see yourself as aprofessional artist, working out
all those kinks and everything,it will help you understand
where you're going and where youwant to become.
So.
One of my clients actuallyrecently experienced this.
She was raising her prices andshe had someone inquire about a
(16:22):
piece and instead of apologizingfor the higher price, which she
often had done before, she tookthe time to educate this
potential buyer about everythingthat went into creating that
piece.
She framed her workprofessionally and helped them
to understand its value, and theresult was very promising.
(16:44):
The buyer didn't blink twice ather higher price point, and
that's the power of professionalframing.
It's not about pretending to besomething you're not you
certainly don't want to do thatbut it's about helping people to
see the value that you alreadyhave there.
Here's what actually matters forgetting started, like can
people see what you make, canthey understand how to buy it?
(17:06):
Can they contact you or reachyou and can they get a sense of
who you are and what your art'sall about?
If you can answer yes to thesebasic questions, you literally
have everything you need tobegin.
The truth is, waiting until youfeel completely ready means you
might be waiting forever.
(17:26):
Art and business is totally ajourney and it's not a
destination.
Every small step compounds andleads you to where you're hoping
to go.
There is no waiting for thatperfect moment or waiting for,
like, the perfect readiness.
It's kind of like the artistswho get stuck waiting for the
(17:49):
perfect studio space.
If you're not creating the artin the space that you have right
now, you're just delaying theprocess.
Maybe the perfect studio spaceexists and it is exciting when
you get some really great studiospace.
I'm not discounting that dream,but it shouldn't be the thing
(18:10):
holding you back from startingnow.
Today I started literally inlift shacks.
If you don't know what that islike at ski hills, you know the
people that run the lifts.
I was one of those at asomewhat sleepy ski hill, so I
had a ton of time to just bedrawing in my sketchbook.
(18:32):
I was learning skills while Iwas, you know, on the clock at a
ski hill, so I had a ton oftime to just be drawing in my
sketchbook.
I was learning skills while Iwas, you know, on the clock at a
ski mountain.
But those skills they came withme.
They didn't require the perfectlighting, they didn't require
the perfect setup, and it'sabsolutely the same for
something like your professionalwebsite or your business.
(18:54):
All right, so here is yourpermission slip your art.
I'm telling you right now and Imean this from the bottom of my
heart your art deserves a veryprofessional presentation right
now, and it's not because it'sperfect, but because it's yours,
because you made it, andbecause that alone means it has
(19:16):
value.
So where do we go from here?
This week?
I really want you to take alook at your work with fresh
eyes, not the voice of yourinner critic, not the voice of
how you want it to be or how itcould be better, not the voice
of how you want it to be or howit could be better, but with
eyes of someone who really lovesit and who really admires it,
(19:38):
and of someone who wants to helpothers discover what you
yourself have created.
Gather your work, even if it'sjust a few pieces, and look at
them as if you're seeing themfor the very first time and ask
yourself what would these pieceslook like in a professional
space?
How would I present them if Iwas going to put them in a
(20:00):
gallery?
What do I want people to knowabout them?
What do I want people to feelwhen they see them?
Remember creating a professionalonline presence.
It's not about pretending to besomething you're not.
This is really important.
It's not about your ego.
It's not about anything likethat.
It's literally about creatingthe right environment for people
(20:20):
to discover and connect withwhat you've already created, and
in doing so, you might justdiscover something.
You might discover you've beenready a lot longer than you
thought.
That happens to a lot ofartists.
Thank you for joining me today.
If this episode helped you seeyour work in a new light, please
(20:41):
share it with fellow artistswho might need this message too.
And until next time, keepcreating, keep growing and
remember you are ready now, justas you are.
And that wraps up anotherepisode of the artist's guide to
business.
(21:02):
I hope you found insights thatresonate with you and your
business and will help you onyour artistic journey.
If you enjoyed today's episode,please subscribe to our podcast
, leave a review and share itwith your fellow artists.
Your support truly makes adifference and helps us reach
more creative minds like yours,and we're all in this together.
(21:22):
We'll see you next week anduntil then, keep creating, keep
dreaming and remember your arthas a place in this world.
Hello and welcome to the artist's guide to business.
I'm Kay.
I'm here to help you navigatethe business side of art in a
way that actually makes sense.
Why?
Because, as artists, your truecalling is to create and spend
your time where you belong inthe studio.
Our mission here is to empoweryou to earn a living doing
(00:29):
exactly that making your art.
So, whether you're a painter,sculptor, digital artist or wear
any creative hat, this podcastserves as your guide to a
sustainable and fulfillingartistic career.
We'll decode the business lingo, unravel marketing mysteries
and pave a clear path for you tothrive both creatively and
(00:52):
financially.
So grab your favorite brush, afresh canvas or just a cup of
coffee.
Welcome to the Artist's Guideto Business to business.
(01:14):
Okay, artists, let me tell youabout an unexpected lesson I
learned about how we frame ourart to the world.
So for years in the beginningof my career, I taught sip and
paint classes.
You know, those really like funevents where people gathered to
paint and enjoy themselves, andit was really a great revenue
stream for me.
I genuinely enjoyed helpingpeople connect to their
creativity.
I got to go to some fun townsaround Montana and I got to meet
(01:38):
a lot of really cool people.
So this is not about sip andpaints being a bad thing.
I think they're a very, verypositive opportunity for a lot
of self-employed artists.
However, something interestingdid start happening over time
(02:00):
really took over my social mediaand things like that.
Whenever I would post like myactual artwork, my personal
pieces, pieces I'd spent likeweeks developing, that
represented my growth as anartist, it was becoming somewhat
common for people to comment,hey, can we paint that next?
(02:20):
And that's when I realizedsomething crucial about how I
was framing my art.
By consistently presenting artas something anyone can create
in a two-hour session at abrewery, I was unintentionally
framing all of my work that way.
Now, don't get me wrong Again.
Those sip and paint classeswere valuable in so many ways.
(02:43):
And those sip and paint classeswere valuable in so many ways.
And actually one of my regularstudents from that later called
me up like five years later andcommissioned a $3,500 piece from
me and it was a super easy salebecause she already knew me and
we had established a lot oftrust, you know.
So there was a lot of positivethings to come out of that, but
the lesson about framing wasreally important and priceless,
(03:07):
you know, to be a really goodsip and paint instructor.
You want people to feelcomfortable with art.
You want them to feelaccessible.
You want them to feel like theycan do anything, because so
many of them are scared to eventouch paint right, and a lot of
them are very creative peoplewho just took different turns in
life, right.
So it's sort of like thatpersonality.
(03:30):
For that to be successful, ithad to be forefront, it had to
be so, you know, loud and vocalto overcome their own inner
critic.
But I was doing it too good,but I was doing it well and I
really did believe everything Iwas saying about it.
However, that balance started toshift and I had to make a
(03:51):
decision at that point.
Did I want to continue being asip and paint business?
Is that the messaging I wantedto continue?
Or did I want to shift back tohaving a little bit more
exclusivity around my work, alittle bit more unattainableness
or wonder about how I createdthings?
And so I slowly made the shiftback towards focusing more on my
(04:16):
own art skills and my own fineart.
Now there was also anotheroption.
I could have gone fully, likecreated a separate business for
Sip and Paints, and that wouldhave been a really good option
too.
I just, you know, my heartwasn't in it by the time.
It was, you know, time to makethese decisions, and then COVID
happened.
So, basically, those decisionsended up getting made for me
(04:38):
because we could not gather andpaint for two hours at a brewery
.
But okay, let me get back ontrack, because here's why I'm
telling you this story.
If you're listening to thisepisode, I'm guessing you've had
the thought like maybe I shouldhave a real website or a real
presence online, but also mywork is maybe not ready for that
(05:01):
, or is my work ready for that?
It's quite possible that you'vetold yourself you need more
pieces in your portfolio first,or that you need better photos
or more sales under your belt.
So today I want to talk aboutthat uncertainty and possibly
flip it on its head, and I'mgoing to share something that
(05:22):
might completely change how youthink about being ready.
First off, your art.
If you have been making art fora little while now and it's
something you're excited aboutand you're passionate about it,
it is ready for professionalpresentation right now.
You don't have to wait untilyou have more pieces.
(05:43):
You don't have to wait untilyou've mastered another
technique or when you have madecertain number of sales.
Right now it's ready and you'reprobably good enough.
It's about creating the rightcontext for people to experience
what you have already created.
So let me share something thatdrove this home for me.
(06:14):
I had been a professionalartist for about eight years.
When I hired some studio help,the person I hired was actually
like a close and personal friendwho knew me well and she knew
my work well.
You know, she'd been aware ofmy business throughout the years
and then, while I was trainingher on our business voice and
(06:34):
about what we're about, I pulledup my website and it was so
interesting because, despite ourlong friendship, she was like
genuinely surprised and she saidsomething like wow, you're like
, yeah, a professional.
I mean, there's a lot here.
And in that moment she saw mybusiness as a business and she
(06:54):
saw me as a professional in away she had never seen me before
, even despite knowing me and mywork for years.
There's just something aboutbeing presented in that manner
that clues it in for people.
Hey, this is established, thisis real, you know, especially
(07:14):
for family and friends, peoplewho follow you online because
they like your art, or peoplewho are interested in your art.
They think you're an artistalready.
It's the friends and family whoprobably don't.
I'm just kidding Kind of.
Anyway, this goes to show tolike the art hadn't changed and
(07:34):
my skills weren't any different.
The only thing that had changedwas the frame through which she
viewed it.
I mean she was literallyhelping me package and send like
16 pet portraits in one holidayseason.
That to me sounds like aprofessional artist, right.
But seeing it lined out likethat on a website just changed
(07:55):
the perception or reallysolidified it.
Does that make sense?
So it's kind of about howyou're presenting.
It will also be how peoplereceive it.
But it goes beyond justworrying about, like, how people
and others see your work.
It also changes the way you seeyour work.
So this is really crucial tounderstand.
(08:17):
When you present your workprofessionally, something
magical happens.
Not only do others begin to seeyour work differently, but you
also do so.
You know, I experienced thismyself with my live wedding
painting.
When I finally startedpresenting this service
professionally from my ownappearance to how I photographed
(08:40):
myself and showcased the worksomething really shifted.
Initially, when I was startingthat service, I was not 100%
confident in it, and I wasdefinitely piecing it together.
It was appropriate for where Iwas, though, in that business
right, like I was newer on thatscene, I was learning from other
(09:00):
artists, I was taking it all inmashing it up and putting it
out there in a new way.
But, just like the firststrokes on a canvas or any sort
of beginning parts of your art,the first time you start
presenting your work is going tobe sort of like a test.
It's going to be feeling yourway, finding your way through it
(09:20):
.
You know how does this lookwhen I present it this way.
Where is it falling short, etcetera, et cetera, and it's
really good to go through thatprocess authentically where you
are.
If I had started my live weddingpainting, you know marketing
and display as highly polishedand highly perfect, there would
(09:41):
have been a disconnect betweenwhat I was selling and what I
was presenting, because I wasnew to it, right.
But then when I became moreconfident in it, then when I saw
, okay, this is something Ireally truly want to pursue,
that's when I up-leveled how Iwas presenting the services and
the art, and that way, now youknow it fits with what people
(10:04):
are going to expect and whatthey're going to receive.
So I also then felt prouder ofwhat I was offering.
I felt like, yes, this is theproduct I want to offer, and a
lot of that was literallythrough seeing images of my work
presented in a way I felt proudof and that looked really
professional.
(10:24):
So clients, you know they'llbegin more readily accepting
higher price points.
But, more importantly, I beganseeing my work differently and
the professional presentationreflected back to me kind of the
value of the experience and ofthe art I was creating.
It's like you know, just anypiece of art you make, when you
(10:48):
put it in a frame, it says a lot, it changes the experience of
that art.
I mean, you guys, like therewas a banana duct taped to a
wall and the context of thatbanana made it worth billions of
dollars, which I know isannoying and like we don't like
talking about it, but that'sreally just like.
(11:08):
That explains it right there.
Right, this is an issue offraming, and so that's what a
professional website does foryour art, or a professional
looking website does for yourart.
When I say professional website, all I mean is one that you own
, one that you can kind ofupdate, and one that you have
created for your art.
(11:28):
It's not about waiting untilyour art is, like, better.
It's about giving your currentwork, the work you have today,
the space and the context thatit deserves to truly shine.
I mean, even just think aboutit from that perspective, right,
like it's a way for you to saythat you respect and you
appreciate your artwork.
Who cares what anyone elsethinks?
(11:49):
That in and of itself, isreally powerful for you.
Also, I have lots of alsos, butI can tell you, like I have put
work up online before and justthat simple act of making it
public helps you to see it in adifferent light.
(12:10):
Act of making it public helpsyou to see it in a different
light and sometimes it's a morepositive light.
And also sometimes you're like,oh, you know what, that piece
actually isn't ready and thenyou pull it off and you fix it
so it can really work to yourbenefit too, because the act of
putting your work on display ina public way helps you, helps
you see it differently, okay,okay, moving forward your
(12:35):
readiness for a professionalpresence is a lot of times
simpler than you think.
I've heard numbers from peoplethat you have to have like 50
pieces of artwork so that anyonewho's looking at your site
knows that you have like a style, and that, to me, is just
bonkers.
You guys, that's a crazy amountof work to make before you even
(12:55):
start selling or showing it,and also that's a big portfolio.
A lot of times it's better tohave a small portfolio with
stronger pieces in it.
So let's break down what beingready like actually means.
So let's break down what beingready like actually means.
So, basically, you guys, ifyou've ever had one piece that
(13:17):
you're really proud to show,that you're like excited about,
then you are ready to show itprofessionally on a website.
And if you can take a clearphoto of your work, then you're
also ready.
Then you're also ready.
If you can describe what youmake in one sentence, something
like I paint landscapes of mylocal area, then you are ready.
(13:43):
You know, if you've ever soldanything to anyone, even if it
was a supportive family member,then you're ready.
When I started selling my art,it was not that good, although
it had its charm and it was nottotally terrible, but I had so
many supportive family membersand friends support my efforts.
Even in those early stages.
They appreciated what the artwas.
(14:06):
They appreciated the buddingartistry.
My price points were right forwhat kind of work I was making
and they were able to support me.
I've always said it like findsomeone who is willing to pay
you where you are now so thatyou can learn and continue going
where you want to go.
(14:27):
It's very hard to get where youwant to go if you don't have
any resources.
Okay.
So even if someone from yourfamily has purchased a piece of
art from you, take that as asign that you are ready to
display your art in aprofessional way.
And these aren't really highbars to clear, they're just your
(14:48):
starting points, because here'sthe truth.
High bars to clear, they'rejust your starting points.
Because here's the truth.
Starting with a professionalpresence, it's not about being
perfect.
It's about creating afoundation that helps both you
and your audience see the valuein what you're creating.
That's all, it is Okay.
The last piece of this, or oneof the last pieces, is that your
(15:13):
professional presentationcreates space for you to grow
into.
So having a nice website,having a space on the internet
that you own, it isn't justabout presenting what you have
today.
It's also about presenting orcreating the space for what
you're going to create next, orcreating the space for what
(15:36):
you're going to create next.
So if today you are notcreating the masterpieces that
you hope to create someday, atleast get these systems going
and started so that, when youare creating that work, it's a
simple maneuver to move theminto your website and your
systems.
It's not hard for you to thenpresent the work in a digital
presence or on an online website.
(15:57):
Okay, establishing thisframework now and helping
yourself see yourself as aprofessional artist, working out
all those kinks and everything,it will help you understand
where you're going and where youwant to become.
So.
One of my clients actuallyrecently experienced this.
She was raising her prices andshe had someone inquire about a
(16:22):
piece and instead of apologizingfor the higher price, which she
often had done before, she tookthe time to educate this
potential buyer about everythingthat went into creating that
piece.
She framed her workprofessionally and helped them
to understand its value, and theresult was very promising.
(16:44):
The buyer didn't blink twice ather higher price point, and
that's the power of professionalframing.
It's not about pretending to besomething you're not you
certainly don't want to do thatbut it's about helping people to
see the value that you alreadyhave there.
Here's what actually matters forgetting started, like can
people see what you make, canthey understand how to buy it?
(17:06):
Can they contact you or reachyou and can they get a sense of
who you are and what your art'sall about?
If you can answer yes to thesebasic questions, you literally
have everything you need tobegin.
The truth is, waiting until youfeel completely ready means you
might be waiting forever.
(17:26):
Art and business is totally ajourney and it's not a
destination.
Every small step compounds andleads you to where you're hoping
to go.
There is no waiting for thatperfect moment or waiting for,
like, the perfect readiness.
It's kind of like the artistswho get stuck waiting for the
(17:49):
perfect studio space.
If you're not creating the artin the space that you have right
now, you're just delaying theprocess.
Maybe the perfect studio spaceexists and it is exciting when
you get some really great studiospace.
I'm not discounting that dream,but it shouldn't be the thing
(18:10):
holding you back from startingnow.
Today I started literally inlift shacks.
If you don't know what that islike at ski hills, you know the
people that run the lifts.
I was one of those at asomewhat sleepy ski hill, so I
had a ton of time to just bedrawing in my sketchbook.
(18:32):
I was learning skills while Iwas, you know, on the clock at a
ski hill, so I had a ton oftime to just be drawing in my
sketchbook.
I was learning skills while Iwas, you know, on the clock at a
ski mountain.
But those skills they came withme.
They didn't require the perfectlighting, they didn't require
the perfect setup, and it'sabsolutely the same for
something like your professionalwebsite or your business.
(18:54):
All right, so here is yourpermission slip your art.
I'm telling you right now and Imean this from the bottom of my
heart your art deserves a veryprofessional presentation right
now, and it's not because it'sperfect, but because it's yours,
because you made it, andbecause that alone means it has
(19:16):
value.
So where do we go from here?
This week?
I really want you to take alook at your work with fresh
eyes, not the voice of yourinner critic, not the voice of
how you want it to be or how itcould be better, not the voice
of how you want it to be or howit could be better, but with
eyes of someone who really lovesit and who really admires it,
(19:38):
and of someone who wants to helpothers discover what you
yourself have created.
Gather your work, even if it'sjust a few pieces, and look at
them as if you're seeing themfor the very first time and ask
yourself what would these pieceslook like in a professional
space?
How would I present them if Iwas going to put them in a
(20:00):
gallery?
What do I want people to knowabout them?
What do I want people to feelwhen they see them?
Remember creating a professionalonline presence.
It's not about pretending to besomething you're not.
This is really important.
It's not about your ego.
It's not about anything likethat.
It's literally about creatingthe right environment for people
(20:20):
to discover and connect withwhat you've already created, and
in doing so, you might justdiscover something.
You might discover you've beenready a lot longer than you
thought.
That happens to a lot ofartists.
Thank you for joining me today.
If this episode helped you seeyour work in a new light, please
(20:41):
share it with fellow artistswho might need this message too.
And until next time, keepcreating, keep growing and
remember you are ready now, justas you are.
And that wraps up anotherepisode of the artist's guide to
business.
(21:02):
I hope you found insights thatresonate with you and your
business and will help you onyour artistic journey.
If you enjoyed today's episode,please subscribe to our podcast
, leave a review and share itwith your fellow artists.
Your support truly makes adifference and helps us reach
more creative minds like yours,and we're all in this together.
(21:22):
We'll see you next week anduntil then, keep creating, keep
dreaming and remember your arthas a place in this world.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.