I was invited as a guest onto a podcast yesterday and of course, I said yes. If I have learned anything over the years, it's that anytime you have the chance to talk about your art, take it. The podcast is a Houston based production called THNX: A Feelgood Podcast, with host Rand Mintzer. Rand and I chatted for about an hour about everything under the sun, and the whole experience was delightful. The purpose of the interviews is to find people of interest, and ask them about the one person they would like to thank. It's a great concept when you think about it.

I thanked John Ross Palmer, a local painter who has had some international acclaim, and who started a mentorship programs years ago called the Escapist Program. John started a nonprofit that coined the idea of the Escapism movement, with the idea that artists need not be starving, and that there was a way to escape the whole gallery/museum tradition for artistic success.

I believe in my heart that if you survey a great many of the emerging artists in the Houston area, a significant number of those artists would owe John Ross Palmer a thank you too. It was then that I began to realize how important it is to have that sense of gratitude as I continue to build my art business. That same gratitude is a tool that we all should keep close as we meet other artists, collectors, gallerists, journalists, curators, and art critics. And therefore I want to say thank you to you as well. Your support for me and my journey means the world to me. You are greatly appreciated.

Now, let's go paint something!

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Season 4: Episode 12
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John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and he and Bogdan Mihai, are owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founders of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and Bogdan also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com

gBogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com

Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/

John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart

Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com

Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

I have joined the Professional Artists Association's individualized coaching program. This year-long program focuses on my professional art career, and very specific goals. My coach, Cristina, meets with me virtually via zoom, and monitors my progress, keeps me accountable, and answers questions I have along the way.

With my new coach, I've created a list of five revenue streams that I would like to develop/enhance to strengthen my art business.

1. Direct Sales: These are activities like open studio hours, events, art fairs, pop-up shows, and exhibitions. I am referring here to any activity that allows me to sell directly to the public, or my VIP collectors. These sales are great, because I get to keep all the money.
2. Commissions: These sales usually mean that I get all of the money, but there is a negotiation here with the client that must be satisfied before the sale is complete. I generally hate this kind of work, because I feel like it stifles my creativity, and there is always the possibility that the deal goes awry.
3. Teaching: This is also something I'm not comfortable with yet, but I do know that many artists make the majority of their income from teaching classes. This may take the form of art lessons, business tips, tutorial videos, or webinars. It is helpful to be viewed as a thought leader in our field, and becoming a teacher, or coach, can help to market the other parts of my art business as well. It can build community, and that is hugely impactful over time.
4. Online Sales: I know that other artists are able to sell their work online, though it has yet to work for me. We are living in an unprecedented age when a single artist has the ability to market to the entire planet virtually for free. Not developing a strategy for online sales would be a huge mistake, even if it means there are several false starts in creating a system that works.
5. Galleries: Being represented by a gallery gives a legitimacy to an artist, and collectors are often more likely to buy from someone they perceive to be an expert in the art market. And if that weren't enough, the galleries have lists of collectors that I don't have.

So there they are, the five revenue streams I hope to develop over the next 12 months as I work my way through the coaching program. The trick now is to develop the right strategies and steps to move me toward achieving success in each of these five areas.
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John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and he and Bogdan Mihai, are owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founders of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com

Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com

Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/

John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart

Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com

Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

John shares how he has enrolled in the Professional Artist Association's accelerator program complete with online coursework, webinars, and one on one coaching. It was a significant investment, but one that hopefully will see him into the next phase of his art career. John muses on this new development while painting an abstract piece. You can watch the video podcast at
https://youtu.be/VP1AQjmLlNY or enjoy the audio version wherever you get your podcasts. Hope you enjoy it.

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Season 4: Episode 10
_________________________

John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and he and Bogdan Mihai, are owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founders of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and Bogdan also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com

Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com

Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/

John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart

Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com

Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

An essential tool for sales is to know what needs your product fulfills in potential customers. So if we can apply the same measure to our art businesses, we can better approach what our collectors desire, and understand why they might buy our artwork over another. I've been journaling today, and came up with 6 needs that I believe my art solve for my collectors. What does your art do for the people who buy it?

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Season 4: Episode 9
_____________________

John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and he and Bogdan Mihai, are owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founders of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and Bogdan also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.
John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com
Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com
Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/
John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart
Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com
Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

Do you paint for local interest? We recently had people come into the studio looking for artwork that represented Texas. What a missed opportunity! I do nothing that represents where I live, and there are alway people looking to buy artwork that reminds them of a particular trip, or a place where they once lived. While I have no intention of just painting cows and barns, I do think it would be great to have some art that reflects where I live, where I'm from, and what kinds of symbols and images that geography brings to me.
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Mini Podcast 08/19/2024
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John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and partners with Bogdan Mihai, as owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founders of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and Bogdan also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.
John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com
Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com
Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/
John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart
Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com
Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

Spring has sprung, and as John and Bogdan deal with everything from running a new nonprofit to planning for Comicpalooza, the season has meant a flurry of activity and challenges for the art couple. John talks about all of the exciting things going on in their art business, and the opportunity to write a whole new curriculum for teaching other artists about what running an art business can mean.
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Season 4, Episode 8
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John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and partners with his husband, Bogdan Mihai, as owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founder of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and his husband also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com

Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com

Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/

John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart

Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com

Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

There is an inherent flaw as an artist to try to be all things to all people. While it is vital that we experiment, find our style and our voice, and explore where are artistic inspiration leads, how we are perceived by potential collectors can make a huge difference in how seriously we are treated as fine artists. The problem comes then in making choices that either present us as exclusive, high-end, art professionals who command the high prices required for our name and excellence, or do we create stuff that sells so that we can afford to keep the studio open and food on the table. How do we as artists manage to live in both worlds without alienating our collectors or being accused of "selling out"?

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Season 4, Episode 7
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John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and partners with his husband, Bogdan Mihai, as owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founder of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and his husband also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com

Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com

Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/

John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart

Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com

Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org

After a lot of thought and discussion, we've decided to change how we're branding some of our online content. Up until now, all of Bogdan's and my content lived on my YouTube channel, and while that has been working, it doesn't really present Bogdan in the best light. If there are people who are interested in Bogdan's work more than mine, it may be confusing for them to have to go to my channel to find his content. Conversely, those interested in my art may wonder why so much of the content is focused on Bogdan's work. We've decided to separate our content into John Bishop Fine Art, and Bogdan Foto Art, and to create a new YouTube channel called John & Bogdan to house our shared content.

Now that the new year is off to a good start, and the new nonprofit is up and running, we were able to host our first fundraising Gala celebration on March 1st. John is now creating new work for the Comicpalooza coming in May.

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Season 4, Episode 6
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John Bishop Fine Art is an art business run by visual artist John Bishop. John is based in Houston and partners with his husband, Bogdan Mihai, as owners of Buburuza Productions, LLC, and co-founder of the charity Aripa Arte. John is an abstract painter and illustrator, a blogger, a vlogger, podcaster, and creative writer. He has authored several children's zines and books, as well as co authored books on photography, and art business themes. He and his husband also own and manage a company in Romania, and travel often to Eastern Europe. He maintains a studio at Silver Street Studios in Houston. John posts a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. He wants to discuss what he's learning, what he's experienced, and whom he's met in his journey of running a freelance creative business. John's art explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Join the conversation, the community, and share the journey together.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com

Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com

Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/

John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart

Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com

Aripa Arte Nonprofit: https://www.aripaarte.org