Marketing Art for Holiday Gifts [94]

Apple podcast

With only two months until Christmas, this seems the perfect time to revisit a topic we first discussed in episode 43 – how to encourage people to consider giving your art as a holiday gift (or requesting it as one for themselves!)

This time, we cover the importance of good copywriting; the benefit of a flexible returns policy; and the value of offering gift certificates. We also suggest ways to create and market less expensive items such as prints, coffee table art books, mugs, and calendars, and we discuss how “drop shipping” firms can reduce costs and workload.

In other news, Louise has had a breakthrough on some large paintings that she feels have really pushed her into new territory and this sparks a discussion about what that means. What does it feel like to be working in a new way? How do we recognise what works and re-create those conditions over and over again? 

Mentioned:

Contrado https://www.contrado.co.uk/
Red Bubble https://www.redbubble.com/
The Rabbit Hole https://www.nytimes.com/column/rabbit-hole
Kate Green http://kategreenart.com/

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

Let’s get positive! Upbeat stories to lift our spirits [93]

Apple podcast

Back in March, as we all went into lockdown, we speculated about how the pandemic would affect artists. (see episode 66) This week, we are revisiting the topic to share some positive stories from this time during the Covid pandemic.

The episode was prompted by Cherrie Trelogan, who asked if we knew of any positive lockdown stories and we both rubbed our hands in glee because we know of too many to list in just one hour! 

Our discussion begins with our own situations, and as seems to be customary, we find ourselves in very different places. Lockdown has left Alice feeling a little out of sorts, although new ideas are bubbling up. Meanwhile, Louise has resolved what she will do with her Ted Hughes paintings and this has given her new energy and focus. But going beyond ourselves, we share just a few of the positive stories we know including fundraisers, books, virtual events, online sales, and the surprising success of art supply retailers. The conversation is really uplifting and just proves that, as creatives, we are better placed than anyone to make a go of things in tough times.

We also answer a listener question about gallery relations – “what to do when a gallery returns your work?” – and Louise shares an inspiring letter.

Mentioned:

Carlene Bronner https://www.newartforyou.co.uk/artist=Carlene%20Bronner

Rachel Davis fundraiser https://www.racheldavisstudio.com/fundraiser

Abigail Bowen’s Dark Days series http://www.abigailbowen.com/dark-days-part1

Gwynne Penny https://www.gwynnepenny.com/memories-of-st-ives-in-print/?v=79cba1185463

Tracy Elizabeth Downing https://www.traceyelizabethdowning.com/my-poetry-book-moems-in-mind

Faye Bridgewater https://www.fayebridgwater.com/

Karen Stamper episode 63 https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/ebq61i

Ted Hughes letters https://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-Ted-Hughes/dp/0571221394

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

Inspiration or Imitation? [92]

Apple podcast

This week’s topic was inspired by a question from Sharon Mayfield who wrote “can you discuss imitation and originality. Is there any such thing as ‘original’ art work these days? Is it ‘wrong’ to reflect styles of work or techniques we’ve seen used by other artists?”

This week, we discuss the difference between ‘stealing like an artist’ and copying. Of course we are all influenced by those who have gone before – it could not be otherwise. So how do we distinguish between taking an idea or technique and using it to inspire our own unique work, and simply copying what someone else has done? What does it mean to be influenced? How can you tell that’s what’s happening and when do you know you’ve crossed a line? And what does Austin Kleon mean by his idea of ‘stealing like an artist’?

We also share some information on copyright laws in the UK and US – but be warned that we are not experts! It does, in the end, all come down to common sense. And usually, if you are taking from someone else, you know when we have gone too far.

Mentioned:

Steal Like an Artist : Austin Kleon  
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steal-Like-Artist-Austin-Kleon/dp/0761169253

Ted Hughes – Poetry in the making
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poetry-Making-Handbook-Writing-Teaching/dp/0571233805

US copyright:
https://www.artbusinessinfo.com/copyright-and-fair-use-for-artists.html

UK copyright digital images and the internet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/481194/c-notice-201401.pdf

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

What Moves You Forward? Internal vs. External Motivation [91]

Apple podcast

This week, we’re discussing the ways in which we motivate ourselves and move our work forward. Sometimes that comes from external input such as workshops, groups and one-on-one coaching. Sometimes we find the inspiration within ourselves.

In this episode, we share our experiences of workshops, discuss how we choose the right teachers, and make suggestions on how you might evaluate a course before signing up.  

Questions to ask about art workshops include:

  • whether you prefer learning in a group
  • will this cover what you next need or want to learn
  • how much instruction you want (vs exploring on your own)
  • do you enjoy listening to the person leading the workshop?

Or perhaps the answer is yours to explore?

Alice makes the point that when we are drawn towards a specific workshop, it can often be a sign that we should explore that topic on our own. Often it’s worth asking whether you can teach yourself what you need to know, either from online videos, books, or just through practicing in your studio.

We also discuss finding the motivation internally – how can you ensure that you feel good about your work so that you want to go into your studio? How can you find the motivation to show up regularly? And how can you create the right emotional state for yourself so that you can move your art forward? 

Mentioned:

Trust by Jonathan Hall https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2k

Ghosts – BBC –https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m00049t9/ghosts

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