This week, we’re diving into a topic we’ve both wondered about … how much should we share? If we let people in to all aspects of our creative process, does our art lose its mystery?

Do collectors really want to see the good, the bad and the ugly of our artistic process? And what about sharing with other artists? Should we keep some things as trade secrets? If we share everything, are we worried about people copying us?  During our conversation, we share some of the benefits we’ve both experienced from sharing our work, our processes and our creative lives. We also discuss the potential pitfalls of being open and honest.

Later, we answer a listener question from Wendy about substrates … why do we choose to work on boards or canvas or paper? What factors do we weigh and how does that decision impact our work? All this, plus the week’s inspiration, which includes a kick-ass group of artists and the story of how one amazing woman turned hardship into massive success.

We decided to keep “Your Best Art Year Ever” open and the content in place through to the New Year to give you more time. Here are some comments from the week so far:

Thank you both so much for a wonderful, inspiring week! And for the ongoing delightful podcast sessions. You are both AWESOME!

Margaret Stott

Your course has given me a huge Wake Up call. I simply have NO excuses not to paint, none whatsoever, so I have to “invent” them. Finding out exactly Why has been a valuable lesson.

Angela Barker

Just click HERE to join, or the image above

I’ve just done unit 2 and already my perspective has changed. ? Thank you so much

Claudia Gunton

Mentioned:

Thought for the Day: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07vp1z4

Wharfedale Grange wedding venue: https://www.wharfedalegrange.co.uk/

Louise’s free acrylics video: https://www.louisefletcherart.com/acrylics

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

As the holidays approach, we discuss how you can encourage others to give your art as a gift (or to ask for your art as a gift). The challenge, of course, is that art is a highly personal choice, so buyers might be concerned about “getting it wrong.”

We put our heads together and came up with a range of tips and tricks designed to make it easy and risk-free for someone to give your art to a loved one. Our ideas range from the types of products you offer, to the ways in which you allow people to buy. There are a few twists so make sure to listen but a quick list is also below.

• Make sure your range includes smaller pieces or even gift items
• Highlight your return policy to take away the risk element
• Talk about a test at home option
• Gift certificates – but perhaps not as you think
• Can you create a payment plan? Paypal credit is just one way to do this.
• Create a page or post on your website about giving your art as a gift
• Mention gift options in your seasonal newsletters and invite people to get in touch
• Set up an open studio event with a few other local artists pre-Christmas
• oh, and a genius last secret idea!

This is also the last week to join our exciting end-of-year event scheduled for the week of November 18th. “Your Best Art Year Ever” will be an interactive live 5-day event during which we will share our approach to planning for success. There will be chat, laughs, sound advice, a chance to ask questions, and even a few free downloads so that you can plan your own “best art year ever.”

Just click HERE to join, or the image above

You can join the Facebook group now and start to get to know everyone, so that you’re ready for when we start on November 18th. No sales pitch, no sign-up required.

Mentioned:

You can find out more about Paypal credit here: https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/paypal-virtual-credit

Kevin Ghiglione:  https://ghiglione.ca/critique

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License