Episode 144: What to Track in Your Art Business (And What to Forget About)

If you want to sell more art, stop tracking likes and start tracking the leading indicators that actually create consistent sales. In this episode, I'm breaking down the most important concept artists miss when it comes to growing income: sales are a lagging indicator.  Sales are the harvest. The smoke. The result. So if you want consistent sales, you have to track the leading indicators, the seeds you're planting that create those results later. We'll cover metrics across five areas: Creativity metrics Visibility metrics Email metrics Relationship metrics Mindset metrics And then we'll land on the one metric that matters most: consistency. Because better art, better marketing, and better sales won't happen without it.  If you've been feeling powerless when sales slow down, this episode will give you your agency back, plus a simple tracking framework that helps you adjust without spiraling. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Join me for an in-person workshop: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Looking for an artist community? Join us in the Honest Art® Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/has  Jodie's FAVORITE business tool. Does Instagram feel overwhelming? Learn how to attract collectors on IG Need to learn how to use email marketing? This episode is for you! Active Campaign: www.activecampaign.com  Flo Desk: www.flodesk.com   Mailchimp: www.mailchimp.com Stop playing small and start creating with courage with the Honest Art® Society Elevate Your Art, Business, and Community inside the Studio Elite Mastermind Join Jodie for one of her upcoming workshops Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima: https://amzn.to/47x68bA  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast   DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission at no additional charge on your end. Thank you for supporting my channel!

Finished your painting and wondering, "now what?" These next steps protect it, professionalize it, and help you actually sell it. So many artists stop at the last brushstroke and miss the steps that turn a finished painting into a sellable asset. In this episode, I break down the exact workflow I use after the painting is dry. We cover the studio basics, and then move into the part most artists forget about: letting people know the painting exists! Because collectors do not buy from "here's a pretty picture." They buy from a connection. They buy a story. And if you hide your prices or make it confusing to purchase, people will assume they can't afford it and keep scrolling. Your painting is finished, but your process isn't. Let's do the next right steps so your art can live in the world, not die in a studio corner. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Join me for an in-person workshop: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Looking for an artist community? Join us in the Honest Art® Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/has  Grab the PDF That Covers How to Wire and Hang Paintings: https://www.jodiekingart.com/how-to-hang-a-painting  Fixative Spray: https://amzn.to/4dcEvZ1  The satin varnish Jodie loves most: https://amzn.to/47zFPBs  Jodie's Favorite Posca Markers: https://amzn.to/4dcEXqb  The D-Rings Jodie Uses from Ook: https://amzn.to/4bhpS4f  Artwork Archive artworkarchive.com/jk for 20% off the first year  Learn more about Artwork Archive in Episode 32: Artwork Archive: The Business Tool I Can't Live Without Join Jodie's e-mail list here: https://www.jodiekingart.com/jointhelist  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast   DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission at no additional charge on your end. Thank you for supporting my channel!

If you are afraid to change your art style because you might lose collectors, this episode will set you free. After 22 years as a professional artist, I have evolved through more styles than I can count. From sassy word paintings to farm animals to mixed media to abstract expressionism, every shift came with fear. What if they leave? What if I lose momentum? What if I ruin my brand? Here is the truth. Changing your style is not betrayal. Staying stuck is. When artists cling to a style just because it sells, they start to resent their work. Curiosity fades. Experimentation stops. The creative fire dims. And eventually, the business plateaus, too. In this episode, I share how to evolve your art style without losing your audience and why your voice matters more than your visual language. You will learn: Why your style is not your identity. How to bring collectors along in the process The one mindset shift that keeps your brand from going stagnant Collectors are not just buying your art. They are buying your courage, your voice, and your evolution. If you're feeling the itch to experiment, this is your permission slip. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Join me for an in-person workshop: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Learn more about my mentorship program, Studio Elite: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Looking for an artist community? Join us in the Honest Art Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/has  View some of Jodie's Past Work and How It's Evolved: https://shop.jodieking.com/collections/sold-works?page=1  Not sure about your artistic voice? Listen to Episode 95: Unleashing Your Inner Rebel: 10 Tips to Owning Your Voice Discover Your Why with Episode 109: How to Turn Your Why Into Revenue Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast

If you love making art, but worry that building an art career will burn you out, this episode is for you. Hustle culture is built on productivity and output, but artists don't thrive that way. Creativity needs openness, joy, and space. When you're depleted, you start avoiding the studio, your work feels flat, and you begin doubting yourself. In Episode 141, Jodie breaks down how to design your art career around your real energy levels, not hustle culture. You'll learn how to find your creative rhythms, how to match tasks to high, medium, and low energy, and how time blocking can protect your creativity and help you sustain the long game. Jodie also talks about why scarcity drains artists fast, and how multiple streams can create peace, reduce desperation, and make your work braver. And she calls out the boundary issues that deplete artists the most, including people pleasing, undercharging, and discounting from insecurity. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Curious about Studio Elite? Our next cohort starts late February 2026: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Learn more about Upcoming Workshops: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Looking for an art community? Join us in the Honest Art® Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/has  You might also like Episode 137: Art Fair Application Secrets Every Artist Should Know: https://jodieking.com/episode-137-art-fair-application-secrets-every-artist-should-know/ Jodie also talks about time management in Episode 111: The Hidden Studio Habits That Sabotage Your Creativity: https://jodieking.com/episode-137-art-fair-application-secrets-every-artist-should-know/ Learn More about Commissions in Episode 41: How to Have Fun and Make Money with Commissions: https://jodieking.com/episode-41-how-to-have-fun-and-make-money-with-commissions/ Interested in Licensing Your Art? Listen to Episode 134: The Art Licensing Playbook with Cat Coquillette: https://jodieking.com/episode-134-the-art-licensing-playbook-with-cat-coquillette/ Learn How to Price Your Art So It Sells with Episode 69: https://jodieking.com/episode-69-best-of-how-to-price-your-art-so-it-sells/  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast  

Stuck mid-painting and convinced you ruined it? You didn't. You're just in the fuglies. In this episode, Jodie shares a 15-step checklist she uses to get out of the fog and back into flow. This isn't fluffy advice. These are practical, actionable questions you can ask the moment a painting turns muddy, confusing, or "I want to throw it away" ugly. Takeaways you can use immediately: ✨How to spot when your painting needs more value contrast ✨How to avoid the mud zone by stepping away at the right time ✨How to adjust brushstrokes, lines, and sizes of color for more interest ✨Why "fucking it up" can actually be a win … as long as it's honest. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Curious about Studio Elite? Our next cohort starts late February 2026: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Learn more about Upcoming Workshops: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Improve Your Cohesive Colors with Color Course for Rebels 102: https://www.jodiekingart.com/ccfr Checklist on Getting Unstuck and Out of The Fuglies: https://www.jodiekingart.com/bye-bye-fuglies  Posca Markers: https://amzn.to/4a1ox1Z  Learn More about Values in Episode 124: 7 Art Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner: https://jodieking.com/episode-124-avoid-my-mistakes-7-art-tips-i-wish-i-knew-sooner/ You'll Also Like: Episode 82: How to Choose Your Color Palette as an Artist: https://jodieking.com/episode-82-how-to-choose-your-color-palette-as-an-artist/ Learn More About Adding Your Artistic Voice to Your Art in Episode 62: Elevate Your Representational Art with These Tips: https://jodieking.com/episode-62-elevate-your-representational-art-with-these-tips/ Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast   DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission at no additional charge on your end. Thank you for supporting my channel!

If you want to sell more art, you may need to hire freelancers before you feel ready. Trying to do everything yourself might feel responsible, but it's often the fastest way to burn out and stall your sales. Hiring doesn't have to be a full-time team or a huge commitment. Strategic, part-time help frees you up to make the art and respond to buyers consistently.  Jodie shares how to identify where you're getting bogged down, how to track your time, what tasks to outsource first, and how to set expectations so the freelancer you hire actually helps your sales grow. You'll take away: Why "doing it all" makes you the bottleneck How to fire freelancers without blowing your budget What to outsource first to increase time, sales, and sanity  Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Curious about Studio Elite? Our next cohort starts February 2026: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Learn more about Upcoming Workshops: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Join us inside of the Honest Art® Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/has  Need help finding someone to outsource? Check out Indeed:  https://www.indeed.com/  Need help finding someone to outsource? Check out Fiver:  http://www.fiver.com  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast    

Most artists quit in the messy middle before they can build their art career. Jodie Gear didn't. She built House of Gear by taking action before she felt ready. In this episode, I'm talking with Jodie, who went from a corporate career and quiet creative longing to building a full-blown creative space and homewares brand in Australia. Jodie shares how she learned to claim the identity of "artist, how belief became her turning point, and why she's focused on purpose, flow, and community while building something that's bigger than just selling paintings. If you've been waiting to feel ready, this is your sign. You don't need permission. You need intentional action. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Looking for a community like Jodie Gear mentioned in this episode? The next cohort of Studio Elite starts the week of February 23rd. Learn more & apply here: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Check out Jodie Gear's homewares line, House of Gear, on her website: https://jodiegear.com/collections/jg-home  Give Jodie Gear a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodie_gear_artist/  Follow House of Gear on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/house_of_gear_/  Join the Honest Art® Society so you don't miss next week's Live with both Jodies from the House of Gear in Australia!! Listen to Jodie Gear's First Interview, Episode 76: The Life Changing Effects of An Artist Committing with Jodie Gear: https://jodieking.com/episode-76-the-life-changing-effects-of-an-artist-committing-with-jodie-gear/  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast 

Art fairs can completely change the trajectory of your art career, but most artists apply in a way that lowers their chances before a juror even looks twice. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how to apply to art fairs with a stronger, more professional application package that gets noticed. From choosing the right fair for your style and price point, to submitting a cohesive body of work, to creating clean, high-quality photos and a booth shot that looks elevated and premium.  Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Studio Elite is getting started the week of February 23rd. Don't miss your chance to apply: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite Use CaFÉ Call for Entry to Apply to Art Fairs: callforentry.org Join us inside of the Honest Art® Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/has  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast    

Starting a painting is the hardest part. It can feel overwhelming, especially after time away from your studio. In this episode, I'll take you inside my art studio and share exactly how I start a painting when inspiration feels far away.  You'll learn why meditation is part of my creative process, how choosing fewer colors can unlock more freedom, and why every painting goes through the fugly stages. I'll break down the six phases of the creative process and show you how to move through the fog instead of quitting. This episode is a permission slip to start messy, play again, and trust yourself. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: This episode is a really great one to watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF Studio Elite is getting started the week of February 23rd. Don't miss your chance to apply!: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite   Snag a Free Guided Meditation for Creative Clarity: https://www.jodiekingart.com/guided-meditation The Palo Santo I Use: https://amzn.to/3Nv08ZC  The Color Course for Rebels will help with composition and colors: https://www.jodiekingart.com/ccfr Learn more about The Mother Color™ color mixing: https://www.jodiekingart.com/offers/LX7esQzG/checkout  Episode 124: 7 Art Techniques I Wish I Learned Sooner: https://jodieking.com/episode-124-avoid-my-mistakes-7-art-tips-i-wish-i-knew-sooner/  Water Soluble Graphite: https://amzn.to/4bg9n9V  Charcoal: https://amzn.to/49EVdhp  Fat Sharpie: https://amzn.to/44VMXXT  Graphite Pencils: https://amzn.to/3KX1n3e  Fixative: https://amzn.to/4jt1kc4  Episode 16: What to Do if Your Painting Is In the Fuglies: https://jodieking.com/episode-16-how-to-get-out-of-the-fugly-stage-of-art/  Palette Knives: https://amzn.to/4pm4Lmc  Pastels: https://amzn.to/4qxNveB  Posca Markers: https://amzn.to/495n0HJ  Scott Shop Towels: https://amzn.to/4jq2O6I  Shop all supplies on my Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/jodie_king_  Edge canvases: ​​https://www.jerrysartarama.com/the-edge-all-media-cotton-canvas-1-1-2-inch-boxes-of-three  My favorite paint by Nova: https://novacolorpaint.com/  Let's paint together at one of my workshops in 2026!: https://jodieking.com/workshop  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast     DISCLAIMER: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission at no additional charge on your end. Thank you for supporting my channel!

2025 was messy, magical, and full of lessons. I'm sharing the truth about worth, fear, joy, and everything in between.  In fact, if 2025 had a theme, it would be uncertainty. In this honest and emotional episode, I'm sharing what this wild year taught me … about self-worth, fear, faith, and the four beliefs that carried me through the chaos. Inside you'll hear: They difference between confidence and worthiness Why fear can ride but never drive How joy and service can ground you when life feels unstable If you've ever felt shaken, unsure, or ready for a reset … this one's for you.  Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art®? Email me at [email protected]! Resources mentioned: Extended! You can snag the Color Course for Rebels Bundle until January 1st. Enjoy the Color Course for Rebels 101+102, The Mother Color™ Course, and Instagram for Artists for just $207:  https://www.jodiekingart.com/offers/FtkRAtLt/checkout   I do these episodes each year! Listen to Episode 94: From Art to Life: Lessons Learned in 2024 Read the book that changed my mindset this year: Worthy by Jamie Kearn Lima: https://amzn.to/48UPS46  Interested in attending a live workshop? Stay up to date on my 2026 in-person workshops here: https://jodieking.com/workshop   I highly recommend reading The Alchemist by Paul Coelho: https://amzn.to/48VYNlX  Have a question for Jodie? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/hxrVu4oL4PVCKwZm6  How are you liking the Honest Art® Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!     Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMquJfuMsSg0fr46BRdia1cWd-81GThzF For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast