Coming up on today's Art Marketing Podcast, I'm talking with Kristen Harvey - an artist who went from designing video games for Sega to hand-making greeting cards that essentially run her local Arizona market. Not prints, not originals - greeting cards. She's cellophane-wrapping each one, taking custom orders from shops, running what amounts to a mini factory from her studio. And here's the kicker: she charges $3 wholesale because for her, it's not about the card money - it's advertising. She worked full-time for five to six years while building her art business on farmer's market tables that cost twenty bucks. Now she's teaching sold-out intuitive painting workshops where people aren't learning to paint like her - they're learning to find their own authentic voice.
What really got me was her Instagram strategy. She paints at night (because of course she's a night owl) and records it, then people wake up to see what she created while they slept. It's this whole community ritual. But she won't go live because she steps back from the canvas too much to contemplate. I spent half the interview trying to convince her to try live broadcasting - even offered her my Zoom account to test online workshops. Look, if you're juggling a day job, worried about finding your style, or trying to figure out galleries versus direct sales, this conversation hits different. Kristen's proof that you can start with nothing but shutters to hang art on and build something real.
00:00:00 - The Power of Live Demonstrations
Discussion on the impact of live painting on Instagram and connecting with audiences.
00:00:33 - Staying True to Your Authentic Voice
Advice for young artists on handling criticism and maintaining authenticity.
00:01:03 - Introduction to Kristen Harvey
Introduction of the guest artist, Kristen Harvey, and her background.
00:02:58 - Kristen's Artistic Journey
Overview of Kristen's transition from various creative fields to becoming a full-time artist.
00:04:52 - Transitioning to Full-Time Artist
Kristen shares her journey of leaving her corporate job to pursue art full-time.
00:05:13 - Relocation and Family Influence
Discussion on Kristen's move from California to Arizona and family dynamics.
00:06:06 - Balancing Art and Day Job
Kristen talks about her experience of juggling her art career with a full-time job.
00:07:50 - Farmers Markets as a Starting Point
Kristen explains how she began selling her art at local farmers markets.
00:08:29 - The Success of Greeting Cards
Kristen shares how creating greeting cards helped her gain recognition.
00:10:27 - Pricing and Sales Strategy
Discussion on pricing strategies for greeting cards and the importance of accessibility.
00:11:15 - The Importance of Diverse Revenue Streams
The value of having multiple income sources as an artist.
00:15:10 - Teaching Art Workshops
Kristen discusses her approach to teaching and the importance of interaction.
00:17:43 - The Challenge of Online Teaching
Kristen reflects on the difficulties of translating her teaching style to an online format.
00:19:07 - The Power of Live Broadcasting
Discussion on the benefits of live streaming art demonstrations.
00:20:48 - The Busker Analogy
Using the busker analogy to illustrate the power of live engagement on social media.
00:24:22 - Encouragement to Embrace Live Interaction
Encouragement for Kristen to embrace live broadcasts and connect with her audience.
00:30:14 - Navigating Gallery Relationships
Kristen shares her experiences with galleries and how she balances online sales.
00:31:14 - Advice for New Artists Seeking Gallery Representation
Key advice for emerging artists on finding their voice and opportunities.
00:34:31 - The Importance of Authenticity
Kristen emphasizes the need for authenticity in art and social media presence.
00:39:00 - Using AI for Artistic Support
Discussion on how Kristen utilizes AI tools for research and workshop preparation.
00:41:55 - The Promise of AI for Artists
Exploration of AI's potential to assist artists in their creative and business processes.
Kristens Website: https://www.kristinharveyart.com/shop-art
Her Instagram: @kristincre8s