Why do I need an email list? What would I even say in a monthly email? Do people want to hear from me? Don't they just want to see the art? These are all valid and popular questions I get when I start to talk about email lists. But your email list is the life-blood of your business. As artists, we spend a lot of time trying to find and cultivate collectors for our work - hopefully those that return time and time again. Some of us spend a lot of time on social media trying to

After participating in my first two juried art festivals of summer 2021, it feels very appropriate and timely that we are discussing what to expect when you show your work at an art festival and the things to do afterward. This is part three of my series about juried art festivals - if you missed part one (applying) or part two (preparing), be sure to check those out too! Let's dive in! LOAD IN: each festival will have specific instructions for how and when to arrive to their

Welcome to part two of my series all about juried art festivals! (If you missed the first one, head over to read all about Applying to Juried Art Festivals.) Today I'm talking about the preparation phase, which includes everything from making artwork to sell at the event, travel arrangements, gathering supplies, preparing for weather, and more. Let's jump in! One of the first stages to preparing for a juried art festivals is CREATING THE ARTWORK that you will display and sell

A website is your place to shine and a space where you control your audiences' experience. You can take them on a journey through your work, your processes, your story and guide them along the way. A website, blog, online gallery or portfolio allows you to showcase your work in exactly the way you want. You can tell stories and share information about each piece, as well as provide information about how you work and where they can see your work in person. Having your own plat

Do you ever feel like people are going to call you out for not being an expert or a "real [insert your chosen title here]"? Do you feel like you don't truly belong within your industry or fit into the mold like everyone else? Imposter syndrome is SO REAL and more common than you'd think - especially for women. I deal with imposter syndrome all the time as a professional artist and now artist coach with no degree or professional training in the fine arts, business, or coaching

50 Social Media Topic Ideas for Artists Social media marketing is about building a community and strengthening relationships with your audience, which means that you need to be intentional with what you post and consistent in showing up to engage with your audience. If you're struggling to come up with things to post, other than your finished artwork, I have a list of 50 ideas to help kickstart your content strategy and planning. Grab the free download of this list! 1. Finish

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your physical or mental space? Do you forget to do things because you don't have a central location for your projects and tasks? Does managing your business finances give you butterflies? If your answers were YES, please know that you are certainly not alone and I am here to help you straighten that all out. My superpower is organization and I have FIVE tips to help you organize your work and your business! Organization will save you time, mone

Pricing your work is a very personal and individual decision. No one else can determine the value of your creation. There is no one ‘right’ formula to use to create your pricing system, but there are FIVE different things you should consider when setting your prices – especially if you are building a business and making a living from your art. Grab my free Pricing Formula Guide here to put this into action! ____________________________ TIME: calculate the amount of time you s

Social media marketing is a beast and we are all trying to figure out how to harness its magical powers to our advantage. Instagram, in particular, is amazing for artists and makers because it is a highly visual platform. With a little work and intentionality, Instagram can be a great tool for you to build your audience, gain feedback from your followers, connect and engage with other artists, teach others, build your email list, and sell your work! There are no magical formu

Hey there! I’m Melissa – the professional scratchboard artist running a successful fine arts business with no “background” in fine arts or business. At 25, I decided that it was time to take my hobby to the next level and in one weekend made the decision to try my hand at being a professional, full-time artist. Here’s how it happened… I was showing my work at a local juried, fine arts show. I spent the first day of the festival chatting with my neighboring artists and receive

Knowing and understanding the finances of your business is probably the most important part of being an entrepreneur! I know it feels complicated and frustrating most of the time. It is an easy thing to sweep under the rug until tax time, but you need to know where your business stands, so you can plan appropriately for the future. As the owner of your business, it is your responsibility to understand your finances. Plain and simple. You can get help from a bookkeeper or acco