Tough on Art

Jen chats with Virginia based artist Sarah Boyts Yoder for a casual conversation that rambles from desert light, homeschooling during the pandemic as an artist/mom, connecting with viewers, joyfulness in work, and her working process. Sarah Boyts Yoder is a painter based in Charlottesville, VA. She received a BFA in Painting from Eastern New Mexico University in 2003 and an MFA in painting from James Madison University in 2006. Her work has been featured in numerous publications and exhibitions throughout the US including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. She was awarded aprofessional fellowship in painting from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and has twice been a fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Boyts Yoder has also been awarded an artistic residency at 100W Corsicana in Corsicana, Texas, her home state, each year since 2017. In 2019 she had her first international exhibition in Sydney, Australia. Boyts Yoder is represented by Page Bond Gallery in Richmond, VA, by Show & Tell Art & Design in Charleston, SC, by Blue Print Gallery in Dallas, TX and by Jen Tough Gallery, based in Santa Fe, NM.Sarah's website: sarahboytsyoder.comJen Tough Gallery: www.JenTough.galleryJen Tough website: www.JenTough.com

Today I chat with abstract expressionist painter Natalie Dadamio, who has a very special view on art, art making, and the business of art. We discuss a lot about how art and spirituality intermingle, can heal, and the power of vulnerability and authenticity. Natalie embraced the Artist Alliance's 100 Rejections Challenge, and discusses how it empowered her and opened her up to new possibilities and opportunities.Follow Natalie on Instagram: @Natalie.Dadamio.artAre you interested in joining Jen Tough's art fair collective? She's gathering artists together and representing them at ArtExpo Dallas in September, and Red Dot during Miami Art Week. Apply now! www.jentough.com/art-fairsJoin the Artist Alliance!New benefits: discounts on Art Santa Fe, 12 month marketing program and morewww.JenTough.com/membership

Jen talks with Austin based artist Laura Klopfenstein, discussing what it's like to work full time in the science world, be a mom, and create her strange and beautiful pieces (often that contain teeth!). Laura creates collages and paintings that are intricate and curious, often reflecting her science-based life. Her work can be subtly political and often humorous, with subjects about climate change, American over consumption and cultural commentary. Check out Laura's work on her website, or at Jen Tough Gallery. Laura Klopfenstein's website: www.laklopfenstein.com Jen Tough Gallery website: jentough.galleryJoin Jen in Santa Fe in October for a 2.5 day workshop: The Tough Method for Artist Success! Sign up at www.jentough.com/santafe2022

Today Jen Tough dives into the most common mistakes artists make and gives a variety of simple solutions and helpful advice on how to avoid them. The top mistakes are:1. Out of date website2. Confusing online name identification3. Not networking enough4. Not entering enough juried shows5. Not having a spreadsheet to keep track of gallery approaches6. Not having a simple annual marketing plan7. Not tracking time spent in the studio and time spent on marketing8. Not interacting enough with galleries/curators/arts professionals9. Expecting to be "discovered"10. Spending the majority of marketing efforts on InstagramJoin the Artist Alliance: https://www.jentough.com/membershipJoin Jen in Santa Fe for a live workshop, "The Tough Method to Artist Success" October 10-12 / https://www.jentough.com/santafe2022

Today my guest is Gina Tuzzi, one of my favorite artists (and humans). Gina lives in Blue Lake, California and teaches art at Humboldt State University. Gina was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, has an MFA from Mills College in Oakland, and a BA from Humboldt State University. Gina's paintings are both magical and energetic: her bright saturated palette with complex detailed and dream-like imagery explore a world rich with symbolism with a touch of the psychedelic. Lush with a mixture of pop and ancient culture, icons of feminism, art and music, her work crafts new stories created through a collage of cultural references paired with lyrics from pop songs, ancient fables and symbolic elements.  Gina Tuzzi's website: www.ginatuzzi.comJen Tough Gallery: www.JenTough.galleryJen Tough website: www.JenTough.comNEW ARTIST WORKSHOPS:Zoom workshop: "The Tough Method for Getting Galleries" Sun April 24 www.JenTough.comSanta Fe workshop "The Tough Method for Artist Success" Oct 10-12 www.JenTough.com1-year Artist Alliance membership with 30 minute personal consult www.JenTough.com

In this episode, Jen Tough answers questions from artists about how to get art galleries. Unscripted and off the cuff!Sign up for Jen's April 24th live workshop (via Zoom), "The Tough Method for Getting Galleries". You'll have a chance to ask questions relevant to you and your situation, get email scripts, a spreadsheet template, a printable workbook, and more! Go to JenTough.com to sign up today! Interested in being part of the Artist Alliance's Instagram Challenge? Go to JenTough.com to sign up! It's free!Become a member of the Artist Alliance! Members now have shows monthly on Artsy.net! Go to JenTough.com to sign up!

On today’s show, I’ll be speaking to Marie Cameron. Marie Iis a realist painter and mixed media assemblage artist living and working in Los Gatos, California. Her work ranges from large scale realist paintings with images from the natural world, some creating a repetitive kaleidoscopic image, others that involve quiet contemplation such as birds perched on dainty teacups. During the pandemic, Marie created and launched her “Rainbow Project”, where she embroidered rainbows on found vintage photos creating new and charming narratives. She invited the world into her studio, one person at a time, to take in her wall of rainbows. At a time when the world felt painfully disconnected, this project created community and optimism amongst a backdrop of isolation and a worldwide pandemic. NEW: The Tough Method for Getting Galleries (a live 5 hour workshop via Zoom) Sunday, April 24 Learn how to get a gallery from a gallerist in an easy, step-by-step method!Sign up at JenTough.com/getgalleriesMarie Cameron's website: www.mariecameronstudio.comJen Tough Gallery website: JenTough.gallery

Laurie Blessen lives in San Francisco and focuses on minimalist, color-field monotypes. Her works are bright and bold, with rectangular or square fields bumping against each other while intermingling with more delicate textures and pattern. Reminiscent of aerial views of landscapes and fields, Laurie says she creates with intuition leading the way. She says the “magic happens” when a 1500 pound steel roller presses her designs onto dense paper, and no matter how many prints she pulls, there is always a bit of a surprise. Laurie's website: www.laurieblessen.comWorks available through Jen Tough GalleryBecome a member of the Artist Alliance at www.jentough.com/membershipBecome a member of Kindling, a FREE art marketing community www.kindlingmembership.com

Unscripted and "off the cuff Tough" for episode 9 of Gallerist Q&A!Questions include:Making prints, and does it devalue workPricing on websitesHow to get a galleryBest online places to sellAre online shows worth it?And more!Submit your own question here and it may be answered on the podcast!https://airtable.com/shrCGnbW4gHtctcKaBecome a member of one of Jen's artist communities:Artist Alliance: https://www.jentough.com/communities Kindling Art Marketing: https://www.jentough.com/communitiesSign up for the MARCH 26 live workshop, "The Tough Method to Getting Art Galleries"https://www.jentough.com/

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Ellen Dieter’s interest in art began at an early age. After graduating high school, she began traveling in between studies at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Cooper School of Art. llen settled in Paris, France for over a decade and studied part time at L’Ecole des Art Appliqué.Over the years, Ellen has worked as a seamstress/designer in a leather shop, a fashion model in the US and abroad, she has taught art for ages k-9, portfolio class for seniors and workshops for adults. Working as a scenic artist for the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Ellen found her love for painting large.In 2007 Ellen left the traditional work force, and started devoting all her time to her painting practice.Ellen’s work is bright and colorful, her abstracted figures and  landscapes have a whimsical and raw quality. Never one to shy away from a bright palette, Ellen’s work reflects the sun drenched world seen in her two home locations: San Diego and Hawaii.There's a lot of talk of Cleveland.... (you've been warned)! .NEW WORKSHOP FOR ARTISTS:The Tough Method for Getting Galleries, a live workshop via Zoom Sat March 26Get in the galleries of your dreams with this simple, step-by-step system!End the guessing game and anxiety for approaching galleries, and gain knowledge to last a lifetime. We’ll give you a step-by-step plan, email scripts and spreadsheet templates. Plus, you’ll be able to ask Jen questions relevant to your own unique situation in our closing Q&A.Register NOW because enrollment is limited! Go to JenTough.com .Jen Tough Gallery: www.JenTough.gallery

Today Jen does another artist interview with Bay Area artist Liz Steketee. We discuss moving to California from the midwest, how her photography has evolved over time, motherhood, exhaustion and how to keep going with your work, how mothers who are artists tend to get less attention in the art world simply because they are mothers, and why one of her favorite sayings is "plant the bulbs now". About Liz:Liz steketee is a mixed media artist focusing on photography and fiber. Originally from Michigan, Liz now lives in the Bay Area of California with her husband and two kids.Liz’s work has a haunting quality to it, touching on memories, family, and the natural world. She photographs people, places and things that resonate with her, prints them on paper or fabric, and then assembles them into unique and hard to look away pieces. By wrapping wood or rocks with photos printed on fabric, sewing together paper photographs, or stretching photo printed fabric over embroidery hoops, Liz creates new and intriguing narratives.Liz Steketee website: www.LizSteketee.comGallery Website: Jen Tough Gallery Jen Tough's Blog: JenTough.comArtist Alliance membership: artistalliancemembership.com

All artists know the importance of showing their artwork. But what about showing themselves? Ask most artists, and you'll get.... "ugh". Today Jen talks with therapist and artist Dr. Dee Tivenan, EdD, MFT about the anxiety of showing up online, showing ourselves, selfie culture, and how it can cause, well.... dread. Dee presents easy to follow tips and tricks to help alleviate this dread and anxiety, soften any blows that may come, and how to keep moving forward. Dee Tivenan is an artist and therapist in the Bay Area of California, has been in private practice for over 35 years, and hosts "Head Talk" in the Artist Alliance community. Check out her art on her website: https://deetivenanartist.wixsite.com/homeJOIN THE CONVERSATION ON KINDLING our free art marketing community!www.Kindling.communityBECOME A MEMBER OF THE ARTIST ALLIANCE:www,artistalliancemembership.comJEN TOUGH GALLERY:www.JenTough.galleryJEN TOUGH'S BLOG:www.JenTough.com

Bay Area artist Karl X Hauser joins Jen for a conversation about his long career in art. Karl creates narrative drawings and sculptures that are quirky, playful but also a little dark. His characters spring from his imagination, and seem to be up to childlike antics, but always with a slightly sinister edge. Working in materials such as cast metals, kiln formed glass, wire and nails, and keeping them in a raw unpolished state, Karl’s materials tamper any overly playful sense of innocence or purity. This contrast creates a yummy combination of slightly sinister and sweet, and encourages the viewer to ponder just a little longer. Check out Karl's work on the gallery website:https://jentough.gallery/collections/karl-x-hauserOn Karl's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/karlxhauser/On Karl's website:https://www.karlxhauser.com/Become a member of the Artist Alliance! We offer stay-in-place residencies, exhibitions where artists earn 100%, challenges, workshops and a friendly community of artists of all levels! Join today: https://artistalliancemembership.com/

Miriam Hitchcock is a California based artist, mother and teacher, who has had a fascinating and prestigious career that has taken her from San Francisco, to Yale to Italy and back again. We dig into the "boys club" that was present in the east coast art scene when she was there, living in Italy, the east coast vs. west coast critiques, the "camp" of abstraction, motherhood, and more.Miriam primarily makes paintings often using eccentric shaped formats. She uses a hybrid visual language that is both abstract and figurative, fusing domestic and landscape elements. To me, her work is simultaneously quirky and elegant. Her shaped substrates have an animated quality that magically work with her simplified forms and colors. Miriam's home and studio are on an Arroyo and Santa Cruz, California, where she lives with her spouse, two cats and an Australian shepherd, a bay area, native Merriam completed her BFA at the university of California, Santa Cruz, and received her MFA in painting from Yale. She began teaching, painting, drawing, and design at Brown and Rhode Island school of design. She was also an assistant professor at Cornell university led studio courses in Rome ,Italy through both Cornell and the American university. Returning to live in Santa Cruz in 1990, she taught drawing and painting courses at Stanford and San Jose state. She was a continuous member of the art faculty at university of California, Santa Cruz from 1992, until 2012.Miriam's website: http://www.miriamhitchcock.comMiriam's work on Jen Tough Gallery: https://jentough.gallery/collections/miriam-hitchcockMiriam's work on Artsy: https://www.artsy.net/artist/miriam-hitchcock/works-for-sale

Artist Tom Owen joins gallerist Jen Tough for a fun and casual conversation about his life and work. Tom is part of the roster of Jen Tough Gallery. Tom and Jen met five years ago when he responded to a call for entry for a show called Guilty Pleasures. Tom is an art collector and painter living in northern Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. We nerd-out on spreadsheets and their power to connect artists and galleries, making the huge transition from a 9-5 job to being a full-time artist, life in the midwest, how a business background is beneficial to being an artist, art collecting, dogs and other good things.  You can check out Tom's work on the gallery website: https://jentough.gallery/collections/tom-owenOn Artsy:https://www.artsy.net/artist/tom-owen-2/works-for-saleOn Tom's website:https://www.tomowenfineart.com/

Take away some great tips from two seasoned artists who are also married and run a thriving art business. It's a casual conversation (pre-pandemic) with artists Diane Williams and Chuck Potter, who are some of the hardest working artists we know. They both maintain prolific painting practices, work full time, are addicted to art collecting, and also run a thriving art workshop business.We discuss the power of community for artists, and how it can help with an art practice in ways you may not consider. We also discuss:•how they literally raised their kids inside their loft art studio•maintaining a practice while raising kids•a strict schedule is what allowed them to work full time and still paint•how attending events is very important, even if you're shy or introverted•how collecting art benefits galleries and artistsDiane Williams is represented by Jen Tough Gallery.Diane William's website: www.dianewilliamsart.netChuck Potter's website: www.chuckpotterart.netMembership in the Artist Alliance: ArtistAllianceMembership.com

One of the most common questions artists have is about achieving gallery representation. In this episode, I present three ways to improve your chances of representation: research, connection and understanding the actual mechanics of selling art and how a gallery operates. I also cover the importance of maintaining a database to track your approaches, the best way to maintain a positive relationship with your gallery, and more. Gallery website: www.JenTough.galleryJoin the Artist Alliance: ArtistAllianceMembership.com

Discussing the ideas behind emerging and re-emerging artists, older artists and marketing, painting the edges of your painting, concern about too many creative directions, online sales, and switching gears in your art making. Visit the gallery website: www.JenTough.galleryAsk a question for the podcast: www.ToughonArt.comJoin the Artist Alliance: ArtistAllianceMembership.com

"Different is better than better". Author and all around deep thinking marketer and branding expert Sally Hogshead coined this term. She argues that "different is better than better" because better is transient. But what does “different is better than better” mean for artists? In this episode, art dealer Jen Tough discusses what being different means as far as your art and art marketing, how to push your practice in little ways to make art that is just a little bit different from the pack, and how being authentic and not gimmicky is absolutely key. Check out Jen Tough Gallery's new redesigned website at www.JenTough.galleryJoin the Artist Alliance community at ArtistAllianceMembership.comChallenges, Stay-in-Place Residencies, Critiques, Exhibitions and ResourcesAs always, no entry fees and members earn 100% on sales.Thank you for your support! If you'd like to send Jen a message:Info@JenTough.gallery

Today I talk with Writer and artist Maya Stein, who just published a new book The Poser: 38 Portraits Reimagined. In it she documents how she transcended the pandemic isolation by re-creating contemporary portraits as part of the “museum at home” movement. For more information and photos of this project, please go to our website, Tough on Art .comJEN TOUGH GALLERY 2.0Jen Tough Gallery is rebuilding! Follow us along as we move online, offering a larger roster, auctions and deeper artist profiles. Check it out at www.JenTough.galleryJOIN THE ARTIST ALLIANCE If you're interested in joining our online community for artists, we'd love to have you! Sign up for our waiting list to know when we begin open enrollment, or when a spot opens up at ArtistAllianceMembership.com