The Optimistic Artist

This week's question was around how to approach galleries when you're first starting out. I share my personal journey from emerging artist having no clue to gallery representation and doing a solo show. During this episode I highlight the steps I took throughout my journey and how I believe they contributed to the incredible opportunities I've had with galleries over the past few years.   If you're looking for some practical tips for starting your gallery experience or looking to strengthen your presence in the gallery scene, this episode is for you.   SHOWNOTES: Get 50% off Flodesk and sort out your email marketing! (discount code:MONIQUE50 **expires 30 July 2023) Free Resource: Define your story and tell it in a way that sells Submit your question for the fortnightly Q & A

In today's episode, I sit down with Laura Brandon, an experienced art consultant and mentor with over two decades of experience in the art world. We discuss the traits that set successful artists apart, navigating gallery partnerships, and alternative paths to boost your art career. Follow the podcast for an inspiring conversation packed with practical advice and don’t forget to check out the show notes. SHOWNOTES

The  first Optimistic Artist Q&A episode! Every fortnight I go live on instagram answering your questions in detail. In this episode, we tackle the question that every artist asks: how to find consistent buyers for your art. Join me as I share personal experiences and valuable insights on how to keep the art sales coming in. At the end I share a new strategy that's been a game changer for me. SHOWNOTES Discover your story and tell it in a a way that sells. Submit your question on my Instagram highlights Learn more about email marketing Get 50% off FloDesk here (use code monique50)

Have you ever considered media visibility as an art marketing strategy? Here’s the thing, there IS an audience of excited art collectors who will connect with you and your work, but it takes more than luck and a few instagram posts to find them. In this episode I chat with media visibility coach Jess Hughes who has been featured in Forbes, TED, and NBC to name a few…Why? Because she understands how to leverage media coverage to build traction in her art career. We chat about the mindset required, some dos and donts for getting featured in the media and the value of persistence and human relationships. If you’re looking to grow your audience or to expand your reach while maintaining relational integrity, today’s episode is going to be your jam!   SHOW NOTES AND LINKS Click here for episode mentions, resources and links. RATE & REVIEW THE SHOW Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap 5 stars and select “Write a review” to let me know what you love about the show. INSTAGRAM Come say hi!

Consider this your free workshop on discovering your story and telling it in a way that sells. Before you listen, download my free workbook that accompanies this episode so that you can follow along and implement what you learn. I attribute every sold out launch first and foremost to the strength of my connection with my online community. How do you build the kind of connection that turns followers into loyal collectors who are excited to buy your work? Story! In this episode I talk about how your story is your superpower, how to discover your own story and tell it in a way that sells. To get the most out of this episode download the accompanying workbook below. It’s totally free. It will help you step by step to uncover your own story and give you practical ways to use your story to sell your art.     DOWNLOAD THE WORKBOOK: https://www.moniquestorey.com/storythatsells Do you have a creative BFF? Why not send them this episode and do the workbook together. Click here, to share this episode. INSTAGRAM Come say hi!  

If you’re wondering where to next in your art business, this episode will take you through some helpful how to’s when it comes to reflecting on your past season and deciding where to next.  I share what’s next for me and we chat about how to to make decisions for your next season that will leave you feeling confident, full of clarity and a lot more likely to achieve what you set out to do. SHOWNOTES: Connect with me on Instagram Jump onto my artist email list for my best tips and tricks

If every part of my art business disappeared and I could choose just one aspect to rely on, my email list would be it!  I’d take 1 email subscriber over 1000 Instagram followers. Every. Day. Of. The. Week. In this week's Q and A episode I chat about What on earth to write about in your emails as an artist."   If you have a question you'd like answered, ask it here.   Highlights of this weeks episode: How to write a killer welcome sequence that pulls your reader in The importance of automation so that you can keep making connections and sales on autopilot. A bunch of ideas for what to write emails about. Tips for making sure that your emails actually convert to sales. I also dish out a 50% discount code for the email service provider I use after a kajillion hours of research. DISCOUNT CODE: Give flodesk a try for free. No credit card needed. Get 50% off with the code MONIQUE50 here.    

Who doesn't love a good come back story! This week's episode has a good one as I chat to Amanda Van Gils from The Artist Business Lounge. In this episode, Amanda shares her inspiring journey, and we delve into the crucial role that mindset plays in our success as artists. Find out more about Amanda's Success System Program. Connect with Amanda on Instagram.

This episode is a behind the scenes look at my recent solo gallery show. If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind bringing a solo exhibition to life, this episode is going to be your jam. I talk about everything from how I got the opportunity to get into a gallery, my planning process, my pricing strategies, and my top marketing techniques for what was a really successful show. If you’re an artist seeking gallery opportunities, you’ve got a show coming up or you’ve ever wondered that it’s like to put on a solo exhibition, follow the podcast for this and other episodes bringing my artist perspective. SHOWNOTES: Free Resource- Story that Sells: Learn how to use your story to turn followers into loyal collectors.  Want to know more about how to approached galleries when you're starting out? Check out Cassandra’s work who uses morse code.    

A little update from me about why I've been MIA Connect with me on Instagram to stay in the loop. Check out my free resource library.

Did you know that my email list is my number one driver of art sales? If every part of my art business disappeared and I could choose just one aspect to rely on, my email list would be it! In this episode I chat with art mentor Cycy Recoura about the power of an email list to drive sales. She tells her story about when Instagram just wasn’t working, her email art newsletter transformed her business. We chat everything from how to get started, how to get people on your list and what to write. If you’re wondering how to make better connections with collectors that lead to sales, this episode if for you! Be sure to check out the SHOWNOTES to connect with Cycy and grab some of the resources we chat about in this episode.

One of the most frequently asked question is “How do I price my work?” And I get it. It’s hard because it feels so subjective, right? Well in this episode I'm going to help you see that there's not as many subjective grey areas as you might think. If self doubt and confusion has you grabbing numbers out of the air, then this episode (and the attached free pricing guide) is going to bring you so much joy. I cover everything pricing from prints, to commissions to a super handy little formula to help guide you as you price your work. I also share my new free resource “Pricing your art with ease” which you can download below. SHOWNOTES + FREE PRICE GUIDE AND CALCULATOR. Come say hi on Instagram.

Have you ever looked at your favourite brand and thought. ”My work would look great on that?!” If you’ve ever imagined your art on the local cafe’s coffee cups, as a mural or on a dress by your favourite brand then this episode, all about art licensing and brand collaborations is for you. If you’re curious about licensing your artwork or landing a brand collab, make sure you follow the podcast. In this episode I ask the very lovely and talented Jasmine Kroeze all the questions you want to know from contracts to how she landed her collab with Kathmandu. We also reveal something super exciting towards the end so keep your arty ears listening to the end! SHOWNOTES AND SIGN UP FOR THE BIG REVEAL!!  

Commissions are a great way to not only bring in extra income between collections and shows, but to develop deep relationships with collectors who become life long advocates for your work. But how do you get those commission spots filled right?! If you’re curious about the commission process or just getting started I highly recommend listening to episode 4 first which acts as guide for getting started with commissions. If you’ve already listened to that episode and you’re ready to hear more, this week's episode is full of practical things you can implement today to see those commission spots filled. Episode Mentions and Links:  Listen to Ep. 4: A guide for doing commissions and grab your free drag and drop template to create your very own commission info pack. Come say hi on Instagram. Rate and Review the show by clicking here, scrolling down and tapping ‘write review”

Ever wondered if an art fair is right for you? In this episode I chat about art fairs- the good, the bad and how to know if they’re right for you. If an art fair is in your future you're gonna wanna listen until the end where I go through 4 things to make sure your fair experience is a success. SHOW NOTES AND EPISODE MENTIONS Artist Shout out: Go say hi and give Melissa some support! Rate and Review the Show: Tap here, scroll right down to the bottom and tap "rate" and "write a review." Come say hi on Instagram Learn more about getting started with email marketing. Check out these art fairs: The Other Art Fair The National Indigenous Art Fair The Affordable Art fair

Video is by far the most powerful tool to grow your audience and make meaningful connections that ultimately lead to sales. Whether you’re new to using video or you’ve been using video for a while in your art business, you will find some gold in this episode with Zach Wolfson. From how to fit it into your art practise, to equipment lists and marketing tips- this episode will simplify and inspire you to start, keep going or level up your video game. I took so many notes! I also include my absolutely free resource that shows you how to get more life out of your content. Follow the show and don’t forget to check out the shownotes. CHECK OUT THE SHOW NOTES:  

Exhibiting in a gallery, art prizes, social media, being a guest on a podcast, email marketing, brand collaborations, art fairs…there are so many possibilities for propelling your art career forward. But with so many possibilities often comes a huge sense of overwhelm for artists. If you find yourself in a place where you’re not sure what your next step is or you’re always looking at what other artists are doing and wondering if you should be doing it too, then this episode is for you. I talk about what causes that overwhelm and comparison and how to swap it for focus, calm and clarity. I also include a bunch of free resources to help you get clarity on what YOUR best next step might be. Make sure you are following the show to keep learning with The Optimistic Artist community. SHOW NOTES: Free Resources: Learn how email marketing can help you sell more art. Simplify your commission process with this fill-in-the-blanks template. Discover your story and learn how to tell it in a way that creates demand sells your work online. Four steps to turn your art hobby into a business. Follow me on Instagram: Rate and Review the show:  

When it comes to the beginning of a new season, people are often thinking about what they want to add to their lives. But in this episode, I want to encourage you to think about what you want to leave behind. In particular, the stories you have been living out of that you want to leave behind as you head into the next season of your creative journey. I found this episode very hard to record because I'm super honest about the bizarre things that go on in my mind. But I know that my honesty and vulnerability will help you get honest with yourself as an artist and step into your next season just a little lighter with more clarity and confidence. Don’t forget to follow the podcast to make sure you don’t miss an episode. Check out my free resource library. Follow me on Instagram. Rare and review the podcast here.

To reel or not to reel...it's not what you expect! I recently had an art launch that didn’t go so well. And I’m not embarrassed to talk about it. Like I always say- failure is prerequisite to success. My superpower is that I love learning- from failure or success! In this episode I chat about what I learnt about Instagram reels and when NOT to use them. I talk about the difference between reels and still images, when to use which and what numbers really matter. Make sure you’ve added the podcast to your podcast listener so that you don’t miss an episode.  SHOWNOTES: https://www.moniquestorey.com/post/how-canva-can-help-your-art-business INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/monique_storey_/

Were you always creative? Was being an artist always on the cards or was it something you discovered later on in life? Regardless of which camp you fall into, this episode with the incredible Phoebe Gander will encourage you to keep on discovering and rediscovering who you are as a creative…no matter what season of life you find yourself in. Like many creatives, Phoebe started off knee deep in paint when she was younger- before life, a “real job” and family realities slowly pulled her away from her creativity. Hear the story of how through the journey of motherhood, hardship and realising she had ADHD Phoebe came home to an even better version of herself and built an incredible and joyous art business.  We chat vulnerably about origin stories, pivoting as an artist, her reel that got over 9 million views, being neurodivergent and so much more. Grab yourself a little something something, hit subscribe and enjoy this beautiful conversation. SHOWNOTES: https://www.moniquestorey.com/post/episode-5-rediscover-yourself-as-an-artist-with-phoebe-gander