Spring Cleaning to Streamline Your Art Business (#82)

04/01/21 • 36 min

Spring is here in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s a perfect time to consider the aspects of your life that are weighing you down without contributing to your happiness and success. April is the month for cleaning out in the Art Biz Success community. In this episode, I’m highlighting some of my previous interviews with artists who have discussed cleaning out in one form or another, from removing physical items to cleaning out business ideas and strategies, modes of working, and even the venues where you show and sell your art.

If you are ready to deep clean your art business, to release what isn’t serving you and banish all that is getting in the way of your productivity and creativity, then you won’t want to miss the insights and inspiration from these successful artists.

Highlights

April is the month to focus on cleaning out your art business. (0:01)
Is there one single best way to get organized? Heather Powers says no. (2:23)
Tips to help you get started on cleaning out and organizing your spaces. (6:09)
Redefining your relationship with things so that you can let go. (10:41)
How to prepare your studio for a big move. (14:50)
Take control of your business so that it works for you, even if it means emptying out your galleries. (19:16)
Control your income by controlling your inventory. (23:29)
Connecting with buyers outside of the galleries. (27:02)
Releasing old work so you can focus on what is most meaningful. (28:21)
Increasing your creativity begins with cleaning out the cobwebs. (34:32)

Mentioned

Episode 36 — Reaching the Other 99% for Your Art Business with Adele Sypesteyn
Episode 33 — Reinventing Your Art Career with Ali Cavanaugh
Episode 23 — Leaving Behind What is Safe with Jan R . Carson
Episode 10 — Creative Organizing

Highlights

April is the month to focus on cleaning out your art business. (0:01)
Is there one single best way to get organized? Heather Powers says no. (2:23)
Tips to help you get started on cleaning out and organizing your spaces. (6:09)
Redefining your relationship with things so that you can let go. (10:41)
How to prepare your studio for a big move. (14:50)
Take control of your business so that it works for you, even if it means emptying out your galleries. (19:16)
Control your income by controlling your inventory. (23:29)
Connecting with buyers outside of the galleries. (27:02)
Releasing old work so you can focus on what is most meaningful. (28:21)
Increasing your creativity begins with cleaning out the cobwebs. (34:32)

Mentioned

Episode 36 — Reaching the Other 99% for Your Art Business with Adele Sypesteyn
Episode 33 — Reinventing Your Art Career with Ali Cavanaugh
Episode 23 — Leaving Behind What is Safe with Jan R . Carson
Episode 10 — Creative Organizing

Previous Episode

Art Business Procedures to Keep You Organized (#81)

If you’re an intentional artist, you’re in the right place. In this episode, I'm wrapping up a month of talking about how systems can keep you organized and make you a more productive artist.

Today’s solo episode focuses on the secret weapon of a successful art business — your art biz handbook. An art biz handbook is the number one way to organize every aspect of your business. If you’re looking for ways to stay on top of the never-ending tasks that every artist faces, this episode is for you. You’ll hear the step-by-step process that will keep you in control of every aspect of your schedule, how I have evolved systems that weren’t working for me, and the satisfaction, productivity, and control that you can come to expect from an art biz handbook that is working for you.

Highlights

An overview of the value of a high-quality, clearly defined art business system. (0:01)
Documenting your systems — why you need an art biz handbook. (2:07)
Your system doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective. (4:56)
Steps that will make your systems more reliable. (6:12)
Practical examples of systems that have simplified processes in my art business. (9:01)
How to prioritize the process of capturing your procedures. (10:11)
Why your art biz handbook will never be finished. (12:35)

Mentioned

Episode 68 — Procedures for Art Commissions with Sema Martin
Episode 78 — How to Increase Your Productivity and Creativity with Art Business Systems
Episode 79 — Tools to Shape Up Your Art Business with Jennifer Printz
Episode 80 — Systems to Effectively Managed a Dizzying

Next Episode

Tools to Help You Emerge from a Struggle Even Stronger Than Before with Kelly Milukas (#83)

This month we’re focusing on the benefits of cleaning out — from physical clutter to organizing your lives, eliminating obligations that are no longer serving you to slowing down enough to focus on what matters most, in your art business and in your life. Kelly Milukas has been through more in the last 10 years than anyone should have to endure, and yet she never lost hope and determination.

Kelly and I scheduled our conversation to discuss her "life edit," which involved getting rid of what no longer served her. It quickly became apparent that ridding herself of stuff when she had to downsize her studio is something she had been preparing herself for in the many years leading up to that moment.

This conversation is about coming out on the other side of a long struggle stronger than you were previously. Join us as we celebrate the triumph of one artist's positive spirit, discover the tools she used to facilitate the process, and hear about the people she relied on along the way.

Highlights

Kelly Milukas reflects on her journey from athletics to music and to art. (1:57)
Kelly works with scientists and starts researching stem cells for a commission for a biopharmaceutical company. (8:30)
A shift in health can create a shift in focus for any artist. (12:15)
Embracing the tools that are available to you can help you get through anything. (16:52)
Forging through the messy middle to come out stronger on the other side. (21:26)
Can 17 seconds or a deeper breath change your mindset? (25:23)
How to know when to power through and when to pull back. (28:55)
The power of giving yourself permission to feel your biggest emotions. (32:48)
Cleaning out physical objects to move your art business forward. (34:50)
Creating an organized studio that works for you on any budget. (41:10)
A look inside all that is keeping Kelly busy in her new studio. (45:00)