Category: marketing

Murals and other public art installations can be an exciting, effective way to transform the aesthetics of a property — and, oftentimes, the character of an entire community. Whether it’s for a business district looking to attract customers, a municipality creating a point of interest for visitors, or neighbors venerating a beloved member of their community, murals offer a unique opportunity to simultaneously capture attention, communicate a message and serve as a cultural beacon.

As enjoyable as murals are meant to be for the viewer, lurking behind the scenes is a complex legal framework that governs the ownership, production, maintenance, and protection of murals as one-of-a-kind pieces of art and as investments in the property. The best way to protect both the muralist creating the art and the property owner commissioning it is to discuss the terms of engagement at the start and enter into a written agreement memorializing the parties’ understanding before the work begins. Having an experienced attorney draft the contract couldn’t hurt either.

So, what should a contract between a muralist and a property owner say? Here are a few of the questions to discuss and seek answers to.

Who Owns the Copyright to a Mural?

Copyright, in its most elementary form, means “right to make copies,” so understanding who will own the copyright to the image embodied in the mural is critical to the commissioning process. Hiring a muralist to paint an image on the outside of a building doesn’t automatically grant the property owner the right to replicate that image on T-shirts, posters, advertisements, or other commercial products. The “right to copy” that image is owned by the creator of the image unless the creator transfers that right in writing to the property owner. The owner of the copyright decides which permissions, if any, to grant to others, and for how long, in the form of a license.

After determining which party will own the copyright to the mural image, it’s always a good idea (though not required) to register the artwork with the U.S. Copyright Office and include a copyright notice on the mural itself — typically the copyright symbol (©), followed by the owner’s name and year of creation. Registration with the Copyright Office grants certain benefits to the copyright holder in cases of infringement, including access to federal courts, statutory damages, and recovery of attorney’s fees. The copyright registration fee is generally worth the price of admission.

What Licenses Are Needed for a Mural?

If the contract commissioning the mural states that the artist will create and own the copyright to the image, then the property owner should seek a license from the creator to replicate the image however they intend it to be used. The scope of a license can be broadly or narrowly defined, so long as the permissions granted are clear. For example, if a restaurant owner commissions a mural and wants to replicate it on their website, menus and staff uniforms, the restaurant must negotiate a license for those uses in the contract. A licensing agreement can also explicitly deny certain permissions, such as restricting the property owner from using the image for political causes or campaigns. Failure to clearly state and abide by a license’s scope of use can give rise to costly breach of contract claims and copyright infringement, so it’s important for both the muralist and property owner to determine authorized and unauthorized uses during the contract negotiation phase.

In a different scenario, if the contract for the mural states that the property owner will own the copyright to the image, then the artist may want to consider negotiating a limited license for themselves. As an artist’s work history forms their professional résumé, having permission from the copyright holder to showcase the commissioned work online and in the artist’s marketing materials can prove to be a valuable proposition. A license is especially important for the artist when the mural incorporates another business’s trademark.

Additionally, if the mural contains any references borrowed from other creators, such as images, styles, characters, names, or logos belonging to someone else, then whoever furnishes that reference must determine if a license is necessary to use it. Consider, for example, a mural replicating a photograph of a real-life person. In that case, two licenses may be required: one from the person whose likeness appears in the image and one from the person who owns the copyright to the photo. Some rights holders choose to be more aggressive than others when it comes to policing the use of their copyrights and trademarks, so copying or incorporating others’ works without their permission can be a costly risk for both the artist and the property owner. The contract commissioning the mural should state who is responsible for acquiring and paying for third-party licenses, if any are needed.

How Are Muralists Compensated for Their Work?

A contract between a muralist and a property owner should consider not only the overall fee for services, but also the timeline for payment of the fee. Oftentimes the fee will be paid in installments as certain benchmarks are met. For example, a property owner might agree in the contract to pay the artist 25% of the negotiated fee upfront to begin the design work, 25% after the design is approved, 25% after the image is outlined on the building, and 25% upon completion of the mural. Sometimes the fee schedule is simply half up front and half at the end. Whatever the payment provisions are, they should be clear enough for both parties to follow and enforce as the mural gets underway.

Photo courtesy of Fotografia Inc. for istockphoto

Who Maintains the Mural Over Time?

A contract commissioning a mural should state exactly how long the property owner is required to keep, protect and maintain the mural. After all, at some point, the property owner may want to repair it, paint over it or replace it with something new, so the duration or “term” of the maintenance period should be part of the negotiation.

Setting aside natural wear and tear, especially to outdoor murals, a property owner is expected to keep the mural intact for the duration of the term and actively protect it from avoidable destruction. In 1990, Congress passed the Visual Artists Rights Act (“VARA”), a law amending the copyright code, to help visual artists better protect themselves against the unauthorized modification, distortion, or mutilation of their works. In practice, VARA serves as an incentive for property owners to negotiate their own terms regarding the protection and maintenance of the mural in their contract with the artist.

Determining a mural maintenance system requires careful consideration in the contract. A muralist may have an interest in preserving the integrity of their art by requiring the exclusive right to restore it themselves (think images of the infamous botched restoration of the Spanish Ecce Homo Jesus fresco). Meanwhile, the property owner has an interest in protecting their investment in the mural, which may include regular touch-ups from the original artist. At the same time, an artist cannot be expected to tend to every mural they’ve ever created, indefinitely. Whether the artist commits to maintenance for the next few years, reserves the right of first refusal to service the mural or allocates all maintenance rights to the property owner, the most important thing is that the parties agree on a plan to preserve the mural during the term.

The above questions represent a small sample of the many questions a contract commissioning a mural should cover. Every contract is unique and informed by the specific needs, past experiences, and professional counsel of each party.

When executed well, a mural can turn a blighted eyesore into a shining crown jewel overnight and inspire a domino effect that transforms the neighborhood around it, too. That’s the beauty and power of art. With a bit of advanced planning, public art and mural installations can remain a viable, enjoyable experience for everyone — the artist, the property owner, and the community.

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Beth Moore is of counsel in Arnall Golden Gregory LLP’s Atlanta office and co-chair of the Entertainment & Sports industry team. She can be contacted at beth.moore@agg.com.

Enjoy the portfolio of self-taught fiber artist David Poyant, who creates exquisitely detailed embroideries inspired by nature. See more by visiting his website.

My name is David Poyant. I didn’t follow the traditional path to becoming an artist. I’m a cobbler by trade, with a background in shoe repair and handcrafted orthotics. I worked in the trade for 25 years and then completed my professional career in retail.

“Scarlet Macaw” 8″ x 12″ hand embroidery

Handcrafted artistry comes in many forms and provided me multiple pathways in work and art throughout my journey. As I approached retirement, I pondered my next steps. Always one to be working with my hands, I remembered my mother sitting in her chair knitting, cross stitching, and embroidering. She was always stitching something.

“Lionfish” hand embroidery, 12″ x 18″

Therefore, with no formal training, I picked up needles, embroidery threads, and a stretcher at a hobby shop and started sewing. But what do I sew? I began by finding photographers who would allow me to embroider their work, and I haven’t stopped stitching since then. Each thread-paint embroidery is hand stitched on artist canvas using both 1 and 2 strands of embroidery thread. It can take up to 60 hours to complete.

“Portland Head Light” hand embroidery, 12″ x 18″

I have neither a college degree nor any background in advanced art or stitching classes. However, I have always had an eye for design and many experiences in my 68 years of life that inspired me to develop my artwork. I was not shy about showing my thread-paint embroidery pieces to anyone interested while I worked in retail.

“Bald Eagle” hand embroidery, 12″ x 18″

Most of my thread painting pieces were landscapes, trees, and coastal scenes. While working, I met the director of the board at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She asked if I would be willing to do a thread painting of an animal for the fundraiser at the zoo. The Red Panda was the first of what was to become a series of animals adorning the walls of the zoo. I also created other pieces used to support their fundraising efforts.

“Cougar” hand embroidery, 12″ x 12″

This opened other forums to display my pieces, such as fishing boats for the Fisherman’s Heritage Museum in New Bedford and donations for fundraisers in support of the American Cancer Society.

“Lion” hand embroidery, 12″ x 18″

Handcrafting thread-paint embroidery is a constant reminder that one can find their passion at any time in life. For me, it was at the end of a retail career. Picking up thread and needle, I didn’t know if anyone else besides me would ever see any of my thread paintings later in life.

“White-tailed Eagle Skimming the Water” hand embroidery, 12″ x 20″

I enjoy seeing the reactions people have when they realize they are not looking at a painting. They are amazed to see the stitch-by-stitch effort that went into creating these one-of-a-kind pieces of art.  I invite you to enjoy my thread paintings and encourage you to find your passion, whatever it is.

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Welcome to season five, episode 23 of The Abundant Artist, the show that dispels the myth of “the starving artist” and shares how you can live an abundant life as an artist and make a living from your talent one interview at a time.

Internationally featured and award-winning artist/designer Cherish Flieder joins TAA founder Cory Huff in today’s podcast. Apart from being a creative entrepreneur, Cherish is also a teacher and the founder of a virtual art licensing community, ArtLicensingShow.com.

“(Art licensing) is a lot of risk, but when you hand your art over to people you trust, they can get it out there in a really big way.” — Cherish Flieder

In this episode, Cherish explains what is art licensing and how it can actually be a viable business model for artists, talks about her first love i.e. children’s book cover illustrations, and reminisces about her journey of art licensing from greetings cards and book cover to fashion apparel and ultimately launching her own art lifestyle brand.

Tune in to listen to Cherish’s journey in art licensing, and what you must know as an artist to potentially adopt this business model.

In this episode:

[:37] Cory introduces Cherish to TAA podcast listeners
[2:20] What is art licensing? Cherish explains how it’s a viable business model for artists
[3:35] Different types of products on which Cherish’s artwork has been shown. How she started with children’s book cover illustrations after art school
[4:30] Why do most artists start with licensing their artwork for greetings cards?
[5:20] How the process of licensing her art to fashion companies ultimately led Cherish to launch her own trademarked art lifestyle brand, Something to Cherish®
[7:37] Cherish describes her artwork as “whimsical elegance”
[9:45] Why Cherish believes in partnering with experts for production and marketing
[10:22] Cory asks Cherish what she thinks has changed in art licensing in the last couple of years
[11:00] How “Fast Fashion” brands are changing trends even on a weekly basis, and what artists need to know while licensing their art to fashion houses
[12:03] Why artists licensing their art must be connected with fellow licensing artists or communities
[14:51] How can artists position their art in the market to make the most of whatever opportunities come their way?
[17:06] Cherish throws some light on what her business planning process looks like
[18:30] The Notion App Cherish uses for the business side of her creative venture
[22:50] How the Clubhouse social audio network has been a useful community for Cherish
[24:35] Why do so few art schools have courses on art marketing?
[30:03] Why only ~50% of artists taking a marketing course implement the learning in their art business
[32:14] What is a more realistic expectation for an artist who’s just getting started selling their art?
[34:53] Why consistency is key while marketing your art
[35:43] Size of your social media follower base may not convert to actual sales. What social media strategies Cherish recommends for driving the sale of artwork
[43:] What steps does Cherish recommend for artists seeking to license their art to what she calls “companies behind companies”?
[45:09] What are Cherish’s favorite trade shows? Why is it important to visit trade shows to understand your chosen niche in the market for licensing your art e.g. gift items or home décor?
[47:07] Cherish advises artists to start researching the market first on their own before handing over their licensing business to agents. And it is important to have a lawyer check your licensing agreements
[47:32] Cory asks Cherish to explain for the audience what an ASMR video is, and why she recently experimented with creating one
[50:25] Cherish talks about her “Gratitude Practice”
[51:48] Cory thanks Cherish for joining the podcast!

Resources mentioned:

Cherish Flieder’s Website
Art Licensing Community founded by Cherish Flieder

About the guest:

Cherish Flieder is a highly acclaimed artist known for her whimsical watercolor paintings inspired by nature. With her brand Something to Cherish® she creates treasured fashion, stationery, and gift items with idyllic illustrations and uplifting messages, conveying love and self-worth. Cherish’s designs have sold worldwide and can be found in various retail outlets, including galleries, boutiques, department stores, and online marketplaces. With a triple-major BFA in Illustration, Fine Art, and Design, Cherish draws upon her experience in art licensing, marketing, and publishing to mentor creative entrepreneurs. She founded the global Art of Licensing network to empower art licensing professionals.

An open letter to the extroverts we know and love

As introverts, we pretty much understand how extroverts feel and think, mostly because they are constantly telling us.

On the other hand, I know that introverts can sometimes be a little difficult to figure out, and being involved in a relationship with one of us isn’t always easy.

So here’s a helpful little guide to help you better understand the introvert in your life, or if you happen to be one, perhaps better understand yourself. Just remember that you’re not alone, and who knows, maybe you aren’t quite as weird as you think.

Dear extrovert,

Here are a few things that you should know about us. We would tell you ourselves, but that’s not really our thing…

We only talk when we have something to say

As introverts, we don’t talk to work out our questions, problems, emotions—we do all of that in our frantic little brain. This isn’t our way of shutting you out; we just have to work through and overanalyze every little insignificant detail before we are willing to talk about it, so don’t take it personally.

We’re not going to answer your telephone call

We’re not going to pick up the phone when you call even if we want to talk to you. I know it sounds weird, but we have to be prepared for your conversation. Don’t call us, we’ll call you…. actually, who are we kidding, we won’t, but we might shoot you a thoughtful email. We prefer face to face communication. Telephone conversations are exhausting to us because we don’t have any context clues. Let’s face it, the reason that IT introverts created social media/texting/email in the first place was to avoid talking on the telephone.

We’ll get back to you (eventually)

We usually like to think carefully about our responses. As introverts, we specialize in writing stuff. Lengthy emails, blog posts and even tweets are written, edited, and then edited again. You know that email you received last week? It took us three hours to write and edit before sending it. Even then, we sent a copy to ourselves so we could obsessively re-read it and second-guess ourselves about whether or not it was worded correctly. Each blog post we write has been revised a minimum of 34 times before we hit the publish button and then, at least, a few more times afterward. We like to think that we’re simply perfectionists, but it’s far more serious than that.

We are not holding out on you or deliberately hiding what we are feeling.

We understand that some of your fellow extroverts may occasionally use silence as a weapon or as a method of deceit, but that’s not really our thing. Just because we are not speaking, that doesn’t mean that we are unhappy, angry, or trying to hide something from you.  However, the more you dig and try to make us reveal something we would prefer to keep to ourselves, the more we will push you away.

We like to listen, but we also need some quiet downtime

Although it’s true that we usually prefer to listen rather than talk, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we are available to listen anytime you may feel like talking. As introverts, we recharge our energy through our quiet downtime. This might include things such as reading, walking, watching television, meditating, listening to music, writing in a journal, or simply sitting alone with our thoughts. When we are engaged in these activities, please don’t interrupt us or think that we are bored and looking to be entertained by you. This type of downtime is necessary for us, and it will make us better friends and partners in the long run.

We’re not judging you, we’re thinking

We are constantly observing and over analyzing everything, just not you.  We are not sitting there judging you as you tell us about your latest breakup or run in with your former best friend from high school. Honestly, we’re probably only half-listening to what you are saying in the first place because we are so busy editing our latest blog post in our head or wondering if we should look over that email sitting in our draft folder just one more time before we send it out. We’re not mad or think that we’re somehow better than you; we’re usually just obsessing about something else.

We don’t dislike people, we just find them exhausting

We like to socialize and hang out with close friends, but we find it exhausting. We need downtime to recharge. Not sleep — we’re not physically tired, just mentally. Please don’t be offended that we want to be alone after spending time with you. It’s not you, it’s us. We need to have time to replay the entire event in our head and obsessively analyze every nuance of every word that was said. Even if you are the love of our life, we will still need some time away to recharge and organize our thoughts. We enjoy spending time with you, just not all the time.

Just because we’re quiet, that doesn’t mean that we’re shy or insecure

Many of us would much rather give a presentation to hundreds of people as long as we don’t have to mingle and make small talk with them afterward. There are many singers, performers, actors, who perform in front of a camera or a large audience without flinching (okay, maybe a little flinching) but just don’t ask us to go out with your friends afterward.

We will tell you when we have something to say, but please don’t interrupt us.

Yes, I realize that we sometimes pause awkwardly when we are gathering our thoughts, which annoys the bejeezus out of you, but that doesn’t mean that we are waiting for you to finish our sentences for us. Honestly, it’s pointless to try and guess what we are going to say because we usually don’t know ourselves until we say it. The more you interrupt us, however, the less likely it is that we’ll try to talk to you.

We’re not mad/upset/depressed/grumpy/moody just because we’re quiet

Please stop asking us “What’s wrong?” or “Are you okay?” just because we aren’t bubbly and enthusiastic. We’re not necessarily upset; we’re just quiet. I realize this can be confusing because the only time most extroverts stop talking is when they are either sad, asleep, or dead. Having said that, unless we are bleeding or lying unconscious on the ground, please don’t ask us if “we are okay?”. Sometimes silence is just silence.

We love a good party… as long as it’s a party of two

If you really want us to avoid you, just keep asking us to go to that overly crowded club, concert, or sporting event. They say that extroverts actually feed off the energy of a crowd. Well if that’s the case, they must be taking it from all of us poor introverts because after an hour or two, we are ready to go screaming (quietly) towards the exit. If you want to hang out with us, take us to a quiet restaurant, a museum, or to a local park. We love a good conversation, but only if it’s the two of us.

We are enjoying ourselves, it just doesn’t look like fun to you

I get it. Most of the things that we do for fun as introverts may seem incredibly boring to you if you are an extrovert, but this is how we recharge our mental batteries.  I understand that things like reading a book, hiking in the woods, visiting a museum, or watching a movie, may seem boring as snot to you, but this is our idea of quality time.

We value our privacy (no snooping)

Please don’t ask to see the pictures on our cell phone or rummage through our CDs, DVDs, or bookshelves without asking. To introverts, these things are extensions of who we are. We choose them very carefully, and we often become overly attached to them. Sometimes, however, they may reveal more about us than we are comfortable sharing with others. Don’t worry. We are not trying to hide things, deceive you, or be weirdly secretive—we just need our personal space.

If you have a complaint, tell us in private

We are sensitive enough to criticism without having to absorb and respond to it in front of others. If you insist on criticizing us or making an example out of us in public, we will quietly plot our revenge and chances are, you’ll never see it coming.

We hate surprises

We pride ourselves on our ability to plan, evaluate and see things from every possible angle. This not only helps us to make better decisions, but it allows us to prepare ourselves mentally for what’s going to happen.  This is the reason that we hate any type of surprise, even if it’s a good thing. By the way, under no circumstances should you have anyone sing “Happy Birthday” to us in a crowded restaurant….. ever

We don’t need dozens of friends to be happy

As introverts, we usually have a small handful of close friends. For whatever reason, extroverts see this as sad and will do whatever they can to get us “out there” to meet new people.  The truth is that we have friends, and we like being with our friends, but we just can’t handle a lot of friends because it becomes overwhelming and exhausting trying to keep up with them all. We are not lonely, but we are often very choosy about who we will hang out with.

Don’t interrupt us when we are working (even if it looks like we’re not)

When we are busy working, even if it may look like we are daydreaming — please don’t interrupt our thought process. While you multi-task activities, we are busy juggling thoughts and ideas inside our head. They are precious and fleeting, delicate creatures that once scared away, are often difficult to find again. Just give us a heads up when we need to wrap things up and allow us the time to organize, record, all the random ideas swirling around inside our heads before we stop.

We may envy your social skills, but we don’t want to become like you

We live in a culture that seems to idolize people who are loud, aggressive, and surrounded by swarms of people–but that’s not who we are. As introverts, we have our own ways of doing things. That doesn’t make it wrong or a problem to be fixed. We are who we are, and quite honestly, we kind of like it that way.

What would you like to tell the extrovert in your life?

Please take a minute to share your thoughts with the rest of us in the comment section below…

[Note: This post is an excerpt from my new book “Quiet Impact” which is about successfully navigating life as a creative introvert]

Your art labels should include your name, object title, and media/support/technique—at a minimum.

A retrospective of your work should also include the dates.

In a one-person exhibition, your name need not be as prominent on labels and you might, instead, make the title larger and put it before your name. 

When showing with other people, distinguishing between artists is more important and names should be first.

If there are multiple rooms in the exhibition and your show's title text doesn't appear anywhere near your works, you might need your name on every label.

Art Santa Fe returns for its 23rd edition to Santa Fe’s beautiful downtown Convention Center. And speaking of beautiful, the artists selected for this year’s coveted Spotlight Program are definitely doing something unique and forward-looking.

Of course, Art Santa Fe will once again have an interesting mix of exhibiting galleries, art dealers, and artists from across the globe, showcasing original work of hundreds of artists that includes prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, giclees, lithographs and glass works, among other contemporary and fine art.

This year’s Art Santa Fe is the culminating event for the fifth annual Santa Fe Art Week, July 14-16, 2023. Each year, the fair’s special programs range from immersive artist-led Art Lab experiences to compelling and exciting Meet the Artist sessions.

From the amazing list of exhibitors, Art Santa Fe’s curators present their Spotlight Program, providing collectors a focused look at several cutting-edge artists recognized for their skill and achievement in the visual arts.

Check out this year’s Spotlight Program recipients below!

Amanda Wood, Amanda Wood Sculpture – Booth 333

Amanda Wood’s artwork is a marvelous display of creativity and imagination that captures the essence of nature in a truly unique way. Her work is a masterful blend of intricate detail and vibrant color that instantly captures the eye and draws the viewer in. Wood’s artwork is not only beautiful but also thought-provoking. The work speaks to the power and resilience of nature, as well as the importance of cultivating a sense of harmony with the natural world. Her pieces would be a welcome addition to any collection.

Bernadette Youngquist, B. Youngquist Art – Booth 223

Bernadette Youngquist’s artwork is a stunning display of creativity and imagination that captures the beauty and power of nature in a truly unique way. Her use of color and texture creates a sense of depth and richness that is both hypnotic and enthralling. Youngquist’s mastery of detail and technique is evident in her work. The beauty and power of her work make each a statement piece that will inspire everyone who sees it.

Dale M. Sumner, Faces of Humanity – Booth 420

Dale M. Sumner is a self-taught artist whose mixed media sculptures are a stunning example of the power of creativity and imagination. His pieces are a fascinating blend of form and function, inviting the viewer to explore the hidden depths of his art. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, from mythology to modern culture, Dale’s work is a testament to his boundless creativity and conceptual vision. His sculptures are a vivid and powerful expression of the complexities of life, capturing the full spectrum of human emotion and experience.

Ruth Andre, Ruth Andre Art – Booth 332

Ruth Andre is a recent resident of the farmlands of southern Missouri having recently relocated from the back country of northern California. Early in her career, her interest in art led her to represent artists and photographers. Then she took her first painting workshop and her personal journey as an artist began. Her career as an artist representative and her individual art study was a molding that formed what she does today.  She has always taken her inspiration from her surroundings, but the seasonal changes and landscape in Missouri have enhanced her palette. She sees her works as an open door to her heart and what life and her surroundings bring her way.

For tickets to Art Santa Fe click here!

Since blockchain has now become a thing, we’ve been pelted with one development after another. The most recent “big thing” in the blockchain world was the picture of a NyanCat sold as an NFT. And that brings us to the question: “What is NFT?” Is it another weird acronym that you have to remember, or is this actually a game-changer?

What is an NFT?

The NFT acronym stands for non-fungible token. It is a collectible digital asset that has value as a cryptocurrency and as a form of art and culture. NFT is a digital token like Bitcoin and Ethereum; but unlike coins in the blockchain, it is unique and cannot be exchanged for something similar to it; that is why it is called non-fungible.

What makes NFT unique and different from crypto coins then? NFT files store information aside from currencies. That makes it possible for them to be converted into absolutely anything. There are different types of NFTs, but the most common one right now is digital art.

When you think of NFT art, imagine a physical collectors’ item. But instead of getting an oil painting on a canvas to hang on your wall, you get a JPEG file. NFT art owners can sell artwork in the form of a blockchain gif just as legally as traditional artists sell their paintings.

How do NFTs Work?

NFTs have become very popular in the digital art and gaming worlds. For digital artists, stepping into NFTs is an avenue to showcase their work to the world. With these digital expressions of their art, they can get support and recognition and earn money.

In the gaming world, NFTs have shaken up the concept of buying game assets too. Initially, people purchased virtual gaming assets belonging to a company. But with NFTs, players can own these gaming assets.

Do NFTs Give Hope to Digital Artists?

As they say, modern problems require modern solutions. Plagiarism has hit the art world hard since the pandemic. So, artists, especially those who produce cyber art, have been at a loss.

Cyber art is a non-traditional style of painting that uses computer software and hardware. The most common cyber art tools are tablets, styluses, and software that can render images. But because this art style is digital, it is nearly impossible for artists to control how their art moves from hands to hands. A reliable way for digital artists online to protect their work while making a profit is by making it an NFT art.

Let’s use the Rainbow Cat GIF by NyanCat as an example. 

Courtesy: The Verge

The artist sold this shaking GIF of a pixelated cat for $693,000, and it is an NFT art. But do you think we paid that much money to use it in this article? We aren’t Bill Gates yet, unfortunately.

Yes, anyone can download this GIF online, but our downloaded versions aren’t as valuable as the original NFT artwork nestling in a secure blockchain. There will only be one original Rainbow Cat gif and wealthy art lovers will fork out a fortune for its ownership rights.

So, is NFT Art Here to Stay?

NFT art has apparent benefits. The artwork Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple was auctioned off at $69.3 million at Christie’s. 

After that sale, the internet and tabloids were frenzied as artists didn’t think digital art should cost that much money. Understandably, people fear what they don’t understand. For some, it felt like NFT art was stealing the thunder of other handmade works.

But the skepticism around NFT has steadily increased. Artnet analyzed Beeple’s art and found out that it contained many racist and sexist references. While that doesn’t necessarily undermine NFT art, it takes some shine off the Beeple’s milestone.

Is NFT Art Sustainable?

Since NFT is under the Ethereum blockchain, this information does not fill us with much hope because an Ethereum transaction takes up the electricity equivalent of an American household for two days. Even a single Bitcoin transaction takes up more electricity than Argentina does. So, for every NFT minted, there is a drawback.

NFTs operate in a largely unregulated market, just like cryptocurrencies. And if you are looking to buy NFT art for investment purposes, such a market may not be your kettle of fish. Items appreciate and lose value on a whim in the crypto market.

As an NFT art investor, there is little guarantee that you will profit when you hold an artwork to resell later. How much profit you make by reselling in the NFT marketplace depends on the demand for your art, not on its value. Additionally, the fact that anyone can download superficially indistinguishable copies of your art means that ordinary folks have less incentive to pay for it.

When you purchase an NFT art, what exactly do you own? Why stake that much for something intangible? At the moment, there is no indication that you get paid when users freely download or share an NFT art that you own. These and many more question marks form a bubble around what the future holds for NFT artists and collectors.

The Bottom Line

The pandemic has affected every sphere of our lives and livelihoods. Art creators also had a tough time selling their works since people were stocking up on essentials. So NFTs became an innovative response for these artists to make money.

As an artist, you can decide to make your work a non-fungible token, but don’t put all your eggs in that basket yet. The value of your artwork hinges on the trends in a market that you have little control of, and a digital token can drastically lose value at any point. NFT art is making waves right now, but we haven’t seen enough to believe that it will stand the test of time. While we admire the concept behind the NFT marketplace, it is likely to be a fast trend.

Author’s Bio: Amanda Dudley is a professional essayist who works in a college essay writing service agency. She is also a professor of history at Stanford University, lending to her credibility in the world of academic writing. Amanda is passionate about teaching and has worked with special needs children. To sharpen her mind, she stays abreast of new developments in art and technology.

Painter Qingzhu Lin, on an artistic journey to find and express beauty, presents a striking portfolio of watercolor portraits. See more from this talented artist by visiting his website.

I humbly embark on a lifelong pursuit of beauty through my artwork. Inspired by the Great Masters of the European Renaissance, I strive to create figurative paintings and landscapes that reflect the wonders of the natural world, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation.

“Exquisite in Nature” watercolor, 20″ x 13″

My artistic journey traces back to the simple wonders of childhood memories. The stamps I collected and the vivid recollection of a cherished oil painting in my childhood home ignited a spark of inspiration within me. This early fascination set me on a path of lifelong devotion to art.

“Spring Morning” watercolor, 12.5″ x 8.5″

Throughout my career, I eagerly immersed myself in the art world through international travels. Museums, exhibitions, and galleries became my sanctuaries, where I found solace in the pure joy of experiencing art.

“Elegant Lady” watercolor, 20″ x 13″

Upon retiring, I embarked on a personal quest to develop my artistic talent and express the beauty I see in our awe-inspiring world. I delved into the realms of creativity, exploring new techniques and honing my skills. Each brushstroke became an opportunity to capture the essence of beauty and share my unique artistic perspective.

“Thai Elegance” watercolor, 19.5″ x 12.5″

My portfolio stands as a testament to my unwavering dedication. Influenced by my Chinese origins and the aesthetics of the Renaissance, my paintings embody a harmonious fusion. Portraits, inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s attention to the human figure, captivate viewers, revealing my meticulousness and commitment to capturing the spirit of my subjects.

“Tibetan Girl” watercolor, 19″ x 13″

My art also embraces the characteristics of Chinese painting, celebrating my deep-rooted connection to my cultural heritage. Through primarily portraying portraits and landscapes, I express my affinity for traditional subjects. Employing the delicate brushwork reminiscent of traditional Chinese ink paintings, I skillfully bring depth and form to my lines using oil and watercolor paints.

“Pathos” watercolor, 20″ x 13″

Art curator Roberta Desolati aptly describes my works as a harmonious blend of styles, cultures, and influences. My paintings resonate with both Eastern and Western traditions, bridging the gap between artistic legacies. Through masterful brushwork, I strive to capture the essence of beauty and breathe life into my creations.

“Costumed Lady” watercolor, 20″ x 13″

My ultimate goal is to create artworks that not only possess inherent beauty but also resonate with the desires and aspirations of the audience. With unwavering dedication, I strive to capture the true essence of art and unravel the profound significance it holds for the world.

Qingzhu Lin invites you to follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

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So many artists are living paycheck-to-paycheck in the most extreme sense. Sometimes it means they are never getting to go all-in, full-time in the first place. For a long time, this type of starving artist archetype was prolific.

Thankfully, over the last few years, a growing number of artists and authors have started to poke holes in this type of thinking, and we’ve begun to shift our collective mindset.

But while there are lots of conversations about how to aim higher than the starving artist status, there is comparatively little about how to actually achieve this in the real world.

Past the long shot of being discovered, how do you actually break the cycle?

Going from Just-Getting-By to an Established Professional

For starters, it’s a tricky transition going from someone just getting by to an established professional. Some people never manage to make the transition at all.

If you still want to be doing your work years from now and you’re tired of always feeling like you’re hustling for the next client or the next commission just to stay afloat, then this is for you.

Before we dive into the how-tos, I think it pays to understand a little about how and why people get stuck in the first place.

There are a couple common snags that keep good artists stuck. The first is the myth of the muse. If you think that inspiration has to be present before you can do your work, you’re not a professional yet.

Don’t get me wrong. Having ideas is good. But what matters is sitting down and doing the work. Check out The Practice by Seth Godin for more on this.

Another common reason people get stuck is fear.

Fear might be masquerading as excuses, or stalling, or second-guessing. It makes us do crazy things, preventing us from thinking clearly. Fear makes it seem like scrambling for what’s right in front of you is the only option.

Shift Your Horizon Line

The good news is that you don’t have to get your fear under control before you start.

Just make a habit of shifting your horizon line further out in front of you. It’s more than this week and this month. Where do you want to be a year from now? Three years from now?

Now backtrack your steps. If you want to be there in a year, what do you need to be doing six months from now? A month from now? This week? And then do that thing.

If you aren’t in the habit of thinking this way, maybe you start by setting annual goals and revisiting them once every three months. This is a transformative practice. Professional growth starts with personal growth.

Build a Community

Now that we’ve covered some common reasons why we get stuck, we can turn our attention to what frees us from the hustle.

There are lots of tools we can use (and we’ll talk about those later in this blog), but it all comes down to one thing. Building a community.

If you can build a passionate community of fans, of people who support you and share your work, and are excited to see what you do next, that’s when you enter an entirely new phase. This is what frees you from always chasing the immediate.

Building a community involves doing things today that may not yield results for a long time, years in some cases. It truly is a long game. You’re laying the foundation for clients, commissions and work that’s coming down the road. You do that by connecting with people and building relationships.

To effectively build a passionate community you need two things: consistency and personality.

Learn to Be Consistent

Let’s start with consistency.

Consistency is not the same as frequency. There is a lot of advice that tells you to do more. Post more often. Post on more platforms.

In my experience, this leads to overwhelm and adds to that always-behind feeling. More often than not, the quality of content you’re putting out suffers because of it. You’re putting out a lot, sure, but it’s not very good.

Volume is a good strategy for larger operations, when you have a team and dollars to devote to it. But when you’re small or when it’s just you, trying to keep up is a recipe for failure and burnout.

So, instead of trying to play their game, play to your strengths. Learn to lean into what makes you different.

When you choose platforms and content that you like to do and are able to do, this sets you up to be consistent. For example, don’t start a YouTube channel if you hate being on camera. No matter how profitable someone says it will be.

Next, set a schedule – not an overly ambitious one – and stick to it. Do less, but do it better. Let go of things that are dragging you down. Be brutally realistic with yourself.

What is a schedule you can stick to for years?

Let Your Personality Shine

The next question is what do you post? How do you connect with people? What do you say?

This brings us to the second half of community-building: personality.

When artists are holding back from putting themselves out there, from building an audience, from marketing their work, it’s almost always because they dread feeling salesy.

But that’s why personality is the secret sauce. It transforms something sleazy into something genuine. It’s about inviting people into your story, not tricking them into buying something.

And I get it, when you’re the one doing everything – making the art and doing the marketing, social media, billing, and bookkeeping – it’s understandable that you’re looking for less important pieces to offload.

But this outreach piece, this community building, is not something you want to offload. The best thing you bring to the table is your personality. Your interests, your quirks, your unique point of view. These are the things that are going to help you stand out in a noisy, crowded marketplace.

Lukewarm content is going to get lost. No one cares about your work like you do, understands it like you do. It’s highly likely that your nuance and care get lost when someone else is churning out content for you.

Another way to inadvertently zap out the personality is by copying what’s already out there.

The goal is to create a joyful little corner of the internet for you and people like you. If it already exists, why would they come to you?

So look for inspiration from what others are doing, but avoid blatant imitation. It’s a blueprint, not a checklist.

The magic happens when you take an idea and make it yours.

You’re More Interesting than You Think

Learn to see what you’re doing with fresh eyes. Turn to the people in your life and the followers you already have for insight too.

Your process may be banal to you, but it’s often interesting to others. Don’t you love getting a glimpse behind the scenes as another artist creates?

So, get outside yourself and see your work – and what you’re posting – from your audience’s point of view. Start by paying attention and taking notes. What creators do you follow? What do you love seeing from them? Who is your favorite person, on any platform, to follow? Why?

Then turn to your own process. How do you find inspiration? Do you read? If so, what books? Where do you go for inspiration? Outside? A Museum? YouTube? Again, what channels? These are all good starting points for finding ways to offer value.

Give your audience something they want to see, and give them a reason to care about what you’re doing. Remember, it’s relationship building. You’re not just consuming from your audience, only reaching out when you want a sale. It’s mutual.

What do people know about the type of art you’re creating? What do they not know?

If you’re in ceramics, show people all the steps from shaping the clay to glazing, firing, and even shipping. If you’re a painter, what kind of paint do you use? How do you choose colors? What happens when you don’t like a painting? How do you prep the canvas? How long does it take to complete a painting?

Always look for ways to be unexpectedly generous. Maybe you pull back the curtain and share time-lapses of your creative process. Or tell people where you buy supplies. Give out some tips and tricks. Help people on their journey and they’ll help you on yours.

Share your struggles (within healthy reason) and your successes.

What do you do to help your mindset? Do you meditate? Have a therapist? What do you do when you feel stuck? What do your days look like? Did you just sell a piece of art or have a new opportunity?

Share your artist’s journey for other artists as well as those who appreciate the work you’re doing.

Where to Connect with Your Audience

Hopefully the ideas are flowing now. But where are you sharing them?

Social media is a go-to tool for reaching people. Algorithms can be tricky, but it’s also a free platform for sharing what you’re doing.

If you have a platform you like using, like Instagram, keep using it. If you haven’t already, go check out Charlie Mackesy on Instagram. He’s a great example of being genuine and generous online, plus he also gives you insights into how he creates.

But even when done flawlessly, social media shouldn’t be your whole strategy. These platforms own your audiences, not you. If Instagram would be gone tomorrow, how would you reach your community?

It’s old school, but look to create your own email list.

That way no matter what platforms come and go, you can reach your people. And keep the same concepts in mind. Look for ways to add joy and value to people’s lives. Be genuine.

Let’s say you have a gallery show coming up or new artwork is going to hit your site soon. Use your email list to talk about it – ask for support, even for a sale. A good rule of thumb is to send 3-4 emails to simply connect and add value for every email asking for a sale.

Patreon is another great resource for building a community of patrons in the online world. Again, the same principles apply. Look for ways to add value.

Be generous. Be consistent. Give people behind-the-scenes access to your creative process. Make it a relationship. These are the sorts of things that help you stand out and build the type of online community you can feel good about.

If you’re a filmmaker, consider creating original content for YouTube. If you are a talented writer, publish on your own website. Use that gift to write thoughtful emails too.

In short, find what works for you and commit to it. There is no one right way to build an online community. The goal is to leverage this brainstorming to spark an idea that works for you.

I don’t want to hand you a recipe. I want to show you how to be a chef and then watch what you create. To do anything else would be to destroy the personality and humanity that only you can bring to the table.

Trust the Process

I hope you feel excited about building your own passionate community. Maybe you even feel encouraged that this hustle culture, always-behind feeling doesn’t have to be forever.

As you start this new chapter, just remember to trust the process.

Do the work in the right way, and the outcome will take care of itself. Building this community is how you break the cycle of chasing the immediate. It’s how you make space (in your head and your schedule) for your best work.

And it’s also how you earn raving fans.

You don’t need a lot of them to thrive. It’s quality over quantity. Genuine over salesy. So use time to your advantage. Start now because there’s no shortcut to years of content and community building.

Your future self thanks you.

About the Guest:

Joella Marie is the founder of Creative Voices. She is an artist by nature who felt the pressure to “get serious” and opted to attend business school. A few years after college, she left marketing to make a career as a fine art film photographer before eventually finding a way to lovingly combine the two. Today, she is devoted to helping art entrepreneurs creatively brand and market their work without feeling sleazy or salesy. And ultimately she believes in the power of meaningful work to help us all feel more engaged in our lives, which is why she created a free mini-class. And yes, she still photographs.

by: Chey Rasmussen

For my whole life, I’ve wanted to create something amazing.

Things I loved growing up like The Legend of Zelda, Harry Potter, and Disney cartoons inspired my young mind and caused me to dream big.

Human beings made these awesome things; maybe I could too!

As creative people, expressing ourselves effectively and making things that are of great value to others is the lofty goal in mind. While the desire to create may be baked into our personality from birth, the specific skills required to bring a vision to life are not! As a result, we often look at where we are compared to where we want to be, and that gap seems more than just a little intimidating.

It doesn’t help either that we’ve been conditioned as a society to be all about instant gratification and convenience. An entire world of information is available at our fingertips– you don’t even have to walk to a library anymore!

You can drive up to a fast-food chain and expect to be eating food within five minutes without even getting out of your car. You can talk to someone you care about on the other side of the world and even see their face without leaving home.

This is why when something’s difficult and takes a lot of time, it’s more frustrating in our day and age than it ever has been before.

Creating something amazing is by its very nature not instantly gratifying. Building skill, worthwhile art, and an audience to follow that art just takes a good ol’ fashioned daily grind, no matter how you slice it up.

Patience is a Virtue Necessity

As we develop patience within our creative pursuits, we gain the power to follow through.

We grow in the ability to resist giving the canvas the middle finger or slamming the door on whatever we’re building. When trying to create something truly amazing, that ability to forge ahead and push through discomfort is EVERYTHING.

Without it, unfinished masterpieces pile up, and we’re left with nothing to show for any amount of work we’ve put in. We lose confidence in our ability to finish anything, and we begin to doubt our skill and ability to create.

We can then lose sight of the worth our own work holds to us and the potential it has to move others. Creative block sets in, and it’s hard to pull out of that mess.

Trust me. I’ve been there. It’s not a fun place for dreamers like you and me.

What is Patience?

Patience requires three things:

1. A goal or dream; something we want to see happen
2. An understanding of where we are right now, lacking the thing we desire
3. A process; a plan based on something we can rely on consistently to get us from point A to point B

Without the gap between where we are now and our dream or goal, there is no need for patience. We aren’t waiting for anything. Without something to rely on to navigate this gap, there’s no patience, only frustration.

Patience is when our burning desire to reach the end goal is complemented and reinforced by trust in a reliable process that we know will get us there eventually. This desire to achieve and this contentment and trust can seem to be antithetical to each other, but with practice, you can learn to have them cooperate and balance each other out quite nicely.

You can be accepting of where your skills are now while also deeply desiring improvement, and great creative power comes from this balance.

We have lofty goals, and these should serve as motivation to improve rather than stumbling blocks to bring us down and prevent us from working hard.

Developing Patience

While I have not yet fully mastered the virtue of patience, I have made some progress, and the following have helped me greatly:

1. Give yourself permission to dream big. As a result of past experiences, many of us try to temper our dreams a little too much. It’s OK to want to master your craft. It’s OK to want to make something amazing. It’s OK to want to build up a group of people that adore your work. Don’t let stinky old disappointments sour the process of dreaming. Throw them out. They are in the past.

2. Accept that what you make won’t be perfect, but that it will be human. In working on my own animation, I have to remind myself often that I’m not Pixar, Disney, or Dreamworks. I am one person with limited skill and resources. Regardless of the flaws that will undoubtedly be present, it can still be great, and it can still measure up to my lofty dream given enough time. Keep in mind that people absolutely love all kinds of deeply flawed and imperfect things.

3. Give yourself a process and trust it. This involves believing and acting on truths on which we can base a specific daily task. These truths often come in the form of if/then statements. For example, If you do one sketch from a reference every day, then you will look back in a year and see progress. That’s a solid, reliable truth you can base a process on.

My own personal trusted process for my dream project is this: If I sit down to work every day for 30 minutes after my 9 to 5 job, then there will come a day when my project is done. Trusting this process helps me to be patient with the fact that what I’m making might take years, and it puts my focus less on the joy of finishing and more on the joy of the process itself.

When it comes to creative work, patience is truly a necessity. Work to cultivate it, and you’ll find the ability to stay motivated to improve and create amazing work, while still remaining confident and content throughout the long process.

What steps have you taken to cultivate patience or to better enjoy your own creative process? What insights can you share from your work and experience?

Let us all know in the comment section below.

I seem to have to remind students and clients how important their network is, and that they need to make a point of seeking collaborations.

I use the term collaboration broadly to refer to working with other people to advance your goals as an artist. Any. Other. People.

Seeking collaborative relationships is some of the highest level thinking I’ve witnessed in the thousands of artists I’ve encountered over the past 2 decades.. Artists who collaborate simply have more ambitious goals.

I’ll give you four quick examples from The Art Biz.

In episode 27, Jill Powers talked about how she collaborated with volunteers, chefs, scientists, venues, and more for a single exhibition.

In episode 86, Jerry McLaughlin and Rebecca Crowell discuss how they collaborate on a learning platform for artists.

In episode 126, Willie Cole reveals how he collaborates with top brands.

In episode 153, Danielle SeeWalker discusses a long-running photo and film documentary with a fellow artist.

All very different collaborations designed to help the artists fulfill their creative visions.

I know it can sometimes be frustrating working with other people, but the potential reward is too promising to overlook. As curator Melissa Messina said in episode 136, your network is everything.

Not only will you be happier when you collaborate, you will also stretch your business muscles and expand your audience when you bring more people in on what you’re doing.

That brings me to my next idea for how to be happier about running your art business.

New York City-based art gallery, Artios Gallery, is an e-commerce destination for emerging and established artists. They will be exhibiting at Artexpo New York 2023 at Pier 36. Get to know the gallery owners below.

Q: Introduce yourself — who you are and what your gallery’s vision is?

A: Founded in 2018 as an e-commerce gallery, Artios showcases a number of emerging and established international artists selected for their unique creative and intellectual vision. The gallery aims to connect beautiful works of art with enthusiastic new owners and provide a platform for emerging artists of all styles and genres. We are working towards achieving this by creating online and physical exhibitions, printing art catalogs and advising our artists on various marketing strategies.

Q: What is your background?

A: Founders Elena Iosilvich and Ellen Opman bring their rich backgrounds to the development and business of establishing Artios Gallery, providing expertise to both the artists they represent and the collectors they serve. Elena Iosilevich (Seroff) is a New York-based artist and entrepreneur. She is the Founder and Art Director of Artios Gallery. Elena studied fashion design at LEX University in Tallinn and received a BA in Decorative art from Kaliningrad Art and Industrial College. Elena is an active member of many reputable art organizations, such as the National Association of Women Artists and the Association of Women Art Dealers. Elena has been living and working in NYC since 1996. Originally from Ukraine, Ellen Opman immigrated to the US over 30 years ago. Ellen holds a business degree from the City University of New York. Before co-founding Artios Gallery, she worked in several international firms in New York and London, UK. Currently, Ellen is combining her business commitments with pursuing a Master’s degree in the Museum Studies field.

Contemplation by Elena Seroff

Q: What is your work philosophy, and how does that impact the gallery?

A: Artios aims to be an inclusive and diverse place. Our philosophy is to provide our clients with various styles and genres suited to various tastes and needs. We constantly search for new talent, be it a local artist or someone who lives abroad. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, an online representation allows us to reach more people worldwide. As part of our strategy, we partner with art-selling global platforms. This partnership is essential for helping to expand our business and giving us a perspective on contemporary art trends and interests. 

Q: What artists and art styles do you represent?

A: Artios Gallery prides itself on selecting high-quality, exceptionally talented artists whose unique vision shapes the contemporary art scene. Our artists work in many styles and media, including abstract and figurative oil and acrylic paintings, prints, photographs, and digital art. They come from sixteen countries across South and North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The variety of styles our gallery represents is a testament to cultural diversity, the richness of imagination, and the versatility of methods used to create art.

Summer Vibes by Natalia Koren Kropf

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

A: The most important thing is humor. Everything else is nonsense. Here is a famous quote by Walt Whitman: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.”

Q: When you are not working, where can we find you?

A: Being at work is a constant process of our weekday schedule. However, when we are not working, you can find us touring the galleries of The MET or attending the numerous exhibitions and art fairs NYC offers.

Tale II by Alex Shabatinas

Q: What does exhibiting at Artexpo New York 2023 mean to you?

A: First and foremost, exhibiting at Artexpo New York allows thousands of people interested in art to see our gallery. As participants, this exposure allows us to forge new connections with potential clients, artists, and other exhibitors. It allows us to familiarize the audience with our talented artists, showcase their art and tell their stories, and learn more about other exhibitors. We are thrilled to be a part of the most buzzed-about art fair in New York.

Tickets for Artexpo New York 2023 can be purchased here.