Discover the Proven Step-by-Step Methods to Grow Your Art Revenue and Reputation Online & Offline with The Art MBA: Mastering the Business of Art

Learn How to Raise Your Profile and Get Paid for Your Art Skills from Top Art World Experts without Compromising Your Art

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testimonials

real-life Art mBA Student case studies


Artists just like you are seeing a transformation in their art business and career after going through Mastering the Business of Art.

Here is what just a few M.B.A. students are saying...

I sold all four pieces from my last email within two days! I'm having fun with it and being creative.

- Jo Heckett

Wow! What a ride!!! So much incredible growth! Thank you for these invaluable lessons and for sharing your amazing wealth of knowledge. Thank you for your consistent support and guidance. I’m so happy I joined in. You have helped me create a new trajectory that is changing my life. Forever grateful.

- Jeanne Alley, Fine Artist

In the past, my tendency was to overwork, burn out, and then productivity would plummet and other areas of my life would suffer neglect. Now I have an abundance of time to both create and rest and enjoy my family and friends. It feels much more sustainable.

- Christopher Remmers

M.B.A. is great and just on-point with the questions all of us artists are struggling with. Your step-by-step approach allows us to work at our own pace, moving always forward towards our goal, keeping us on track. Thank you so much.

- Patricia M. Mansell, Wildlife & Nature Artist

Sold ~$3,000 in 5 weeks teaching online + landed $5,000 in commissions

Anastasiya Chybireva-Fender 

Found gallery representation when all seemed lost

Steve Munro

Featured in art magazine and secured an artist residency

Helene Planquelle

Got her artwork featured on TV (and sold!)

Amy Shamansky

Sold $12,000 of artworks in her first 4 weeks

Maryanne Pollock

Exhibited her first four shows in Italy, London, and Switzerland

Bhavya Dixit

INTRODUCING

The Art MBA - Mastering the Business of Art


Mastering the Business of Art is an intensive online professional development training for visual artists who are serious about the next step in their artist career.

Maybe you are a “second career” artist who is ready to go pro, and you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to start. Perhaps you have put your art on the back burner for years but finally have the time to reignite your career -- and so much is new, you feel like you’ll never be able to learn it all. Or are you an emerging artist looking to fast-track your reputation? Mastering the Business of Art will equip you with proven tools and step-by-step guidance to get REAL-LIFE results.

The methods taught in Mastering the Business of Art have been tested and proven among hundreds of artists around the world.

This program has been carefully designed to lead you from confusion into crystal clarity.

It all starts with having a sustainable foundation for your art business with...

Module 1

Multiple Income Streams for Artists

This module focuses on setting the foundation for your sustainable artist journey by helping you create multiple sources of income so that you will never have to quit.

When you have a stable foundation that dissolves financial stress, you will sleep better at night and have more time to make art during the day.

WORKSHOP: Multiple Income Streams for Artists

  • Facts: How professional artists truly earn their income
  • How to do what you love without compromising your artistic integrity
  • Applying the portfolio career model for a sustainable artist journey
  • Defining your ideal portfolio career mix based on your strengths and interests
  • Planning your transition
  • The top 3 most profitable “work from home” extra income sources that take less than 1 day per week and bring stability to your monthly revenue

LECTURES: Entrepreneurial Mindset for Artists

  • Be so good they can't ignore you
  • Beliefs checklist: What is holding your art career back, and how to reframe it
  • Ownership: Managing your own art career
  • Business mindset: When it helps, and when it can hurt you

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording: Questions & Answers with Elaine Grogan Luttrull, founder of Minerva Financial Arts

And much, much more...

After finishing this module, you'll have chosen at least one new income source that fits your available time and suits your strengths. You will have taken the first step toward increasing your monthly income this very month by an extra $1,000 to $3,000. You will have a renewed sense of confidence from knowing the 2 or 3 income sources in the new phase of your artist career.

MODULE 2

Your Professional Artist Writings

In this module, you will learn how to express your work and what you stand for in writing. Never again will you be at a loss for words when someone asks about your art.

The module covers literally everything you will ever need to write as a professional artist, and you get fill-in-the-blank templates so that you can get all your work done fast and easily -  and get on with making your visual art.

WORKSHOP: Everything You Will Ever Need to Write As an Artist

  • Applications and Proposals
  • Artist statement
  • Bio
  • CV
  • PR
  • Contests
  • Email etiquette

LECTURES: Productivity

  • The 80/20 principle: Less effort, less time, and more results
  • Parkinson's Law: How work expands to fit the time you have
  • Daily habits that build your destiny
  • You are not a widget factory: Optimizing for states of being
  • Why mindfulness is especially important for artists

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of actual artists’ writings critiqued by author Vicki Amorose

By the end of this module, you'll have a fully updated Artist Statement and bio and/or resume you feel confident about, along with a new, empowering understanding of the role of writing in your artist career.

Module 3

Perfecting Your Artist Website

This module boils down 20 years of website building experience into the few principles and tactics that matter most for a visual artist -- even if you are not tech-savvy at all.

You will understand how to create the two key outcomes that matter: raising your credibility, and converting visitors into subscribers or collectors.

Through this module, you will create a clear vision for an artist website that makes both you and your work shine. You can then follow the  simple steps to bring that vision to life.

WORKSHOP: Perfecting Your Artist Website

  • Getting the two outcomes clear
  • How to choose the right website builder for you
  • Domain name and hosting
  • Front end and back end
  • Types of artist websites
  • Raising your credibility
  • Website “must haves” and “nice to haves”
  • Maintenance that takes minimal to no time

LECTURES: Navigating Uncertainty

  • The power of testing: How to never fail again
  • How to make uncertainty benefit you
  • Rejection and failure
  • Your unique entrepreneurial path: Make a plan, but be ready to burn it

When you complete this module, you'll have a fully updated professional artist website you feel proud of. You won’t be shy anymore when people ask to see your art on their phone, or when submitting applications to prestigious international calls for artists. 

Everything about your website will clearly state, “I am a professional artist. Here is my work. You can buy now or join my private list.” 

MODULE 4

Decision Making and Time Management

Do you ever get stuck in a rut and keep thinking about what to do… for months on end? Do you struggle with finding time to both make art AND market your work? 

Hope is not a strategy. You will learn how to manage your time, energy, and focus to establish daily habits that lead you to your definition of success--almost inevitably.

WORKSHOP: Time Management for Making Art

  • How much time do you need to make great art every week?
  • The time audit
  • Carving out your ideal "nest" of weekly hours
  • BONUS: Design and establish your ideal morning and evening routine

LECTURES: Decision Making

  • Making decisions: How to make the right choice
  • Avoid dilemmas: Thinking in circles & colors (Venn diagrams)
  • Location: Why it matters and why it doesn't
  • Goal setting vs. process orientation

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of problem-solving coaching with Miguel Mayher

By the end of this module, you will have finally faced a roadblock that has been bothering you for months (or years!) and hold effective alternatives to move forward. Your daily routines will be attuned to your natural rhythm and goals. Instead of push push push, you will feel gracefully on track.

Module 5

Start and Grow Your Email Newsletter

What is the #1 channel to sell art online? It’s not social media… it’s” good old email”. Email is what people with disposable income still use every day. And it allows you to build a one-on-one relationship with your followers in their private inbox.

In this module, you will learn how to build an email list like a pro. You will stop any amateur practices you may have fallen into (which sometimes are illegal without you knowing it). You will go from zero to 100 people on your list, and then into the thousands.

WORKSHOP: Start and Grow Your Email Newsletter

  • Setting up your email service provider (ESP)
  • Setting up your email collection form
  • Your call to action
  • Your first subscriber
  • Your first 100 subscribers
  • Strategies to scale into thousands of subscribers
  • What to say
  • How to monetize

LECTURES: Resourcefulness

  • The Rodriguez List: Making the most out of all you've got
  • Multiplying opportunity: HUBS
  • Multiplying opportunity: IDEAS
  • Multiplying opportunity: PEOPLE

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of list growth and newsletter critiques with Miguel Mayher

You will end this module having gained your first 100 subscribers in a week, with specific strategies to multiply your growth into the thousands of subscribers. You will also have a defined frequency that works for you to connect with your private email list that includes opportunities for them to buy your work -- while making them feel special.

MODULE 6

Instagram for Your Artist Career

Would you like to 10x your Instagram following? If you have been struggling to get traction, chances are you need to change the way you are using social media. 

In this module, social media influencer and artist Dina Brodsky will share what steps to follow so you can  get all the benefits of Instagram as a professional artist while avoiding  the pitfalls of screen addiction.

WORKSHOP: Grow Your Instagram Audience

  • People’s attention so they stop scrolling
  • Start making people stay in your post
  • Engagement tactics
  • The truth about hashtags
  • How frequently should you post?
  • The hidden risk of Instagram addiction for artists
  • Connecting with others through Instagram
  • Self-audit your profile: Set a strong foundation to give the right impression
  • Starter boost: Pay a little, grow a lot
  • Long-term opportunities
  • Instagram inspiration: Treasure trove of great sample posts
  • Influencer accounts list (bonus resource to speed up your follower growth)

LECTURES:  Networking for artists (Part 1 of 2)

  • Your artist friends: The “5 chimps” theory
  • Strong ties: Your support community
  • Weak ties: Your network

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of real-life artist Instagram account critiques with Dina Brodsky

After finishing this module, you’ll know how to self-audit your Instagram profile and fix what is broken. 

You will also understand the specific do’s and don’ts of what makes people stop scrolling, what makes them like and comment, and how you can best take advantage of the  algorithms to maximize your exposure. 

Finally, you’ll be able to harness the power of networking on Instagram and create new opportunities in your art career. This module includes  a “cheat sheet” of Instagram accounts you can approach to get featured to hundreds of thousands of their followers. You will also receive plenty of examples of great posts whose style you can model the next time you share your work.

Module 7

How to Grow Your Contacts in the Art World

Do you ever feel like the art world is a black box you can’t seem to figure out? In this module, you will learn how to become a world-class connector online and offline -- even if you are shy or introverted. 

We will share with you the mindset shift that changes your experience of social interaction from dread into curiosity. 

This module contains specific examples for every situation you’ll face in your career as an artist, from show openings to random encounters.d We will provide you with fill-in-the-blank templates that allow you to easily refine the messages in your own voice.

WORKSHOP: Start and Grow Your Email Newsletter Audience

  • Social Events Part 1: Start
  • Social Events Part 2: Middle
  • Social Events Part 3: End
  • How to pitch anything
  • How to pitch a podcast
  • How to pitch a blog
  • How to pitch an artist talk
  • How to stay in touch

LECTURES:  Networking for artists (Part 2 of 2)

  • Finding your audience: Your 12 collectors among 7 Billion people
  • How to connect with anyone
  • Networking for introverts: Leaning on your natural inclinations

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of networking coaching with Miguel Mayher

By the end of this module, you will be able to start a relationship with anyone by sending irresistible cold emails that get replies. You’ll no longer be hearing crickets when you reach out. 

You will know how to follow up with people without feeling like you are pestering them. And you will have a simple system that requires minimal time and effort for keeping in touch with your growing international art network.

MODULE 8

Get Unstuck with the 4-StepProblem Solving Formula

In this module ,you will finally be able to solve any problem in your art business or career by following a 4-step formula that works.

This the “whole brain thinking” they don’t teach in any art school that will allow you to take ownership of your results without depending on “hope”, “luck”, or “being discovered” (all of which are most welcome, but not required for you to succeed).

WORKSHOP: Get Unstuck with the 4-Step Problem Solving Formula

  • Apply the 4-step formula to one problem you are facing
  • Watch a REAL-LIFE example of the formula in action: video recording with a fine art photographer looking to transition into full-time
  • Step 1: DEFINE (DRAW)
  • Step 2: ANALYZE (CUT)
  • Step 3: PROPOSE (IMAGINE)
  • Step 4: ACTION (ACT)

LECTURE: 

  • The 4-step formula to solve any problem in your art career

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute recording of problem solving formula application with Miguel Mayher

When you finish this module, you will gain newfound clarity in facing ANY problem in your artist career. Listen to M.B.A. graduate and visual artist Jessica Feldheim talk about her experience with this formula:

Module 9

Showing Your Work to Raise Your Reputation

Imagine you could show your work next to artists you admire who are 10 years ahead of you in their art career. Would you say yes? This module will break down in minute detail how to make that happen instead of just hoping for a lucky break.

Artist-curator Rosalind Davis has organized more than a hundred shows. In this module, she will share with you the blueprint to go from obscurity to newspaper mentions. You’ll learn not only how to book the right venue and persuade the right artists but also how to promote the show in social media and press releases for a full house opening.

WORKSHOP: Group Show with Artists You Admire

  • Why this is the most overlooked strategy to boost your visibility and network
  • Envisioning
  • Planning
  • Artists
  • Venue
  • Promotion
  • During the show
  • After the show
  • Other resources: Exhibition proposal, press release, consignment Agreement… all you need for your successful show in a professional manner

LECTURES: Personal Branding

  • Your fingertip: Leveraging your DNA
  • Pick your approach: the artist persona or the personable artist
  • The myth of "build it and they will come"

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of group show coaching with Rosalind Davis

Once you finish this module, you will have full confidence to level up your artist profile and show your work alongside artists who used to intimidate you. You will stop waiting to “be discovered”. You will understand how to have gallery directors, critics, and other art professionals come to meet you instead of you knocking on their door.

MODULE 10

Gallery Representation and Marketing Your Art

What makes the difference between loving or hating your relationship with your gallery?

And, how do you get into a gallery in the first place?

Whether you prefer to market your own work or would rather have someone else take care of it, having the right gallery representation offers you a ticket to higher sales and recognition.

In this module, multi-gallery owner Jason Horejs, author of How to Get Into a Gallery, breaks down his strategy for finding, courting, and signing your dream galleries.

WORKSHOP: Proven Blueprint for Gallery Representation

  • Introduction to gallery representation
  • Being gallery-ready: Making, positioning, and presenting your artwork (includes portfolio template)
  • Researching galleries: Your dream 100 list (includes spreadsheet tracker)
  • Approaching galleries: Email (includes fill-in-the-blanks templates) and in person
  • How to avoid signing a bad deal
  • Formalizing the relationship: build a lasting and profitable partnership

LECTURES: Marketing Yourself and Your Art

  • Know who you are
  • Say who you are
  • Inbound marketing: The opposite of spam
  • Showing your work where there is no competition: The entrepreneurial edge

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of gallery representation coaching with Jason Horejs

Whether you don’t have gallery representation right now or you want to expand into more galleries (maybe outside your area or even your country), you will end this module with a crystal-clear roadmap of how to find and secure new galleries that sell your work. No more excuses. 

Module 11

Goal-Setting and Execution in Your Artist Career

Do you ever feel like you are stretched in 10 directions at once? Not only do you need to make new artworks, you also have to photograph them, upload the photos to social media, ship works to customers, organize shows… and of course personal and family time! How are you supposed to stay sane?

In this module, we reveal the exact loop you have become trapped in. Then we give you the tools to get out of it and plan your roadmap for the next 12 months.

WORKSHOP: Goal- Setting Made Simple (and Realistic)

  • The importance of knowing your direction (even you’re not sure yet about your exact destination)
  • Short-term goals: Daily, weekly, monthly
  • Medium- and long-term goals: Quarterly, yearly, and visions
  • A simple system that works
  • Setting your roadmap for the next 12 months

LECTURES: Selling Your Art

  • Selling is caring
  • Boldness: How to ask to get paid when an opportunity comes up
  • They want your work, but it's not about you
  • How to negotiate when you have to
  • Summary of Mastering the Business of Art

Real-Life Examples:

  • 90-minute video recording of artists consulting about their long-term goals, with Miguel Mayher

As our faculty member Jason Horejs says, “An organized artist is a prolific artist.” You will finish this module with the simplest method for staying sane, becoming prolific, and advancing fast toward your goals as an artist-- without the overwhelm. This module is a grand finale that students say “brings everything together.”

bonuses

and you'll receive some amazing bonuses to accelerate your success.


BONUS 1

get paying students online

($997 Total Value)

Would you like to know how to get paid for your hard-earned art skills every month? And what if you could do it from home or your studio in just a couple of hours per week? Now it is possible -- thanks to online workshops.

  • But what tech should you use? Teachable or Zoom or...
  • How do you structure your offer? For beginners, or coaching, or…
  • And most importantly: How do you get paying students and make them stick?

All this is answered in step-by-step, fill-in-the-blanks detail in our newest course, “Get Paying Students Online”.

Born in response to the call for help from our alumni who suddenly lost their face-to-face workshop income because of COVID-19, this blueprint is the fastest offering we have to take you from zero to your first $3,000 in 30 days.

The results have been so fast and impressive that we now recommend all our high-end private coaching clients to start with this online workshop.

Importantly, we find that artists who try to figure this out on their own most often fail or get underwhelming results, making mistakes like first announcing a class in their newsletter or social media and hearing crickets in response.

Instead, in this bonus program, you receive proven word-for-word templates that sell, in the right order to fill your online workshops.

Here are the five pillars of our A B C D E formula to get paying students online:

[A] ATTRACT

  • How to start an email list from zero and build it up to 100 email subscribers
  • How to start a social media account from scratch and build it up to 100 contacts
  • The 10 minute tactic that connects you with new interested students daily
  • How to leverage other people's audiences to get featured for free in front of their audience

[B] BUILD

  • How to craft your workshop proposal in a way that others immediately understand it and want it
  • How to refine your pricing so that you are maximizing your earnings in every cohort
  • How to set up the technology back end so that students can easily enroll and pay through just one link
  • Multiple options from free to advanced tech tools to deliver your workshops

[C] CONVERT 

  • The three waves for converting your audience into paying students -- and why it is critical not to skip steps
  • Proven scripts that magically transform interest into cash
  • The psychology behind effective sales copywriting that makes people feel special while at the same time converting them into clients
  • A “low-hanging fruit” strategy you can use every month once you have an audience and an ongoing paid workshop program

[D] DELIVER

  • Best practices to prepare before the workshop
  • Best practices to successfully facilitate your live workshop
  • Best practices to improve upon every completed workshop

[E] EXTEND

  • How to get students to stick with you, even before they finish your first workshop
  • How to turn your happiest students into your free sales force

You also get 8 coaching call video recordings from a private mastermind, where you can learn from other students progressing through the milestones as they get results by implementing our blueprint.

Get Paying Students Online is likely to become a separate program altogether, but we are offering it as a bonus for M.B.A. Platinum students who enroll today.

See what some of our students are saying about their results:

Melissa filled 2 online student cohorts in just 6 weeks for ~$3,000

Carol filled her first online workshop by facilitating Drawing+Meditation

Sally made $3,000 from her first-ever online workshops offer

Beth turned her creative journaling practice into a paid online workshop

BONUS 2

Money Mastery For Visual Artists

($599 Total Value)

Discover how to take control of your artist finances today.

In these six masterclasses, you will learn how to make more art sales, keep more money from those sales, barter your artwork for products and services, and protect yourself when signing agreements.

MASTERCLASS #1

SELLING DIRECTLY TO COLLECTORS - JASON HOREJS

No matter where you live, there are some people who have both the disposable income and the interest to buy works of art. But how can you find them? And once you do, how can you start relationships? And finally -- how do they turn into clients and collectors?

All these questions have answers, and this masterclass will explain them in detail.

Your instructor: Jason Horejs, owner of Xanadu Gallery & author of How To Sell Art

MASTERCLASS #2

CREATIVE FINANCING FOR ARTISTS - PAUL DORRELL 

If you would like an engaging lesson on how to use your creativity to increase your finances, do not miss this masterclass. 

Here is what we cover:

  • Patrons: How to get paid 12 months in advance in bulk before you make your art (includes an agreement template for enrolling new patron)
  • Bartering: How to get free products and services in exchange for your art
  • Charity Art Auctions: How to do good AND get well paid at the same time
  • Tax Write-Offs as an artist
  • On Financial Success & Failure: Words of wisdom from a life in the arts

Your instructor: Paul Dorrell, gallery owner & author of Living The Artist's Life

MASTERCLASS #3

THE FIVE-STEP BUDGETING PROCESS FOR ARTISTS - ELAINE G. LUTTRULL

In this masterclass, you will learn the five steps to build an artist budget (even if you would rather not).

Whether you need to:

  • Plan the costs of your art studio for the next 6 months
  • Find a way to lower your costs without harming the quality of your work
  • Raise funds for a specific creative project

...you need to know how much it will cost and how to stay on track.

In this step-by-step masterclass, Elaine will explain:

  • What a budget actually is and is not
  • Why it matters (saves you time later, and money at every step)
  • How to create one (hint: words matter as much as numbers!)
  • How to use it to get clarity and avoid financial trouble.

Elaine has the unique ability to make budgeting for artists both easy and fun.

MASTERCLASS #4

GETTING PAID FIRST THROUGH CROWDFUNDING - DANIEL SHARP

Imagine you could share your creative ideas with the world and have not only your friends but also strangers pay you in advance to make them happen. 

Sounds too good to be true? Enter crowdfunding.

In this masterclass, Daniel Sharp, former creative lead at Kickstarter (the world's biggest crowdfunding platform for creatives) will share how to get your first campaign done successfully step by step -- whether you want to sell prints of your work or build a monument.

MASTERCLASS #5

DEMYSTIFYING LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR ARTISTS -  ANIBAL LUQUE

  • Consignment agreements
  • Gallery representation agreements
  • Contracts
  • Commissions

...all scary and complicated stuff.

Imagine a friendly lawyer, who specializes in working with artists, offers to chat with you and explain all you need to know -- and not more.

This is what you will get in this masterclass with artist lawyer Anibal Luque. 

No matter where you live, you will be well served by avoiding the pitfalls of skipping these crucial write-ups.

MASTERCLASS #6

PRICING THAT SELLS (BOTH HIGH AND LOW) - MIGUEL MAYHER

Have you ever sold a work of art and then wondered -- did I actually make a profit?

After your hours of work, your materials, shipping, frames...

… did I actually make or lose money?

Learn how to never undersell your work again - and why the question about pricing your artwork is a false start. Instead you should be thinking: How can I make my art both accessible to cash-strapped friendly fans and attractive to wealthy collectors?

Here is what we cover:

  • Know your sales goals
  • Know your costs
  • Increase your profit
  • The Value Ladder (or why Damien Hirst sells his work for hundreds as well as for millions)
  • Applying the Value Ladder to your artwork

BONUS 3

Unlimited 1 on 1 Email Consulting for 90 days

(Priceless)

Imagine you start implementing some of the strategies in this program, and you get stuck. 

How exactly do you apply the advice from the course to your specific situation? As an M.B.A. Platinum student,  you get direct consulting access to a certified Art Business Coach, with replies to your questions in just 24 hours Monday to Friday.

If you have any questions about the course, about implementing the blueprints, or your art business in general, simply send an email and you’ll get an accurate reply -- often as a video recording for better clarity. Fair use applies.

BONUS 4

1x Additional License for M.B.A. Complete - Share with a Friend!

($997 Value)

That's right; we're giving you 1x additional license for access into the Mastering the Business of Art (M.B.A. Complete level) when you join M.B.A. Platinum. 

With this additional M.B.A. Complete license, you will be able to learn and implement all the strategies we teach in the course with an artist friend or family member.

We've never offered something like this before. 

For as long as it's still on this page, you'll get this bonus when you join M.B.A. Platinum.

BONUS 5

1x1 45-Minute Clarity Call

(Priceless)

Right now, there’s no way to just hire us for 1x1 consultantions.

And our high-end private coaching program is by invitation only.

(The process starts by applying for a Clarity Call. But due to the volume of applications, most are politely declined.)

When you join M.B.A. Platinum, though, you get a free 45-minute Clarity Call, no application required.

We'll audit your current situation, point out the blind spots in your goals, and lay out a plan of action for your next 12 months (after your first 90 days of 1x1 email consulting that you would have already got).

And if it sounds like we are a good match, we can talk about what it would look like for us to work together in the private coaching program.

In any case, you’ll leave the call with crystal clarity about your next goals in your artist career, your art business, and the renewed enthusiasm that comes with that. 

Here is what a recent artist said about their call:

BONUS 6

Certification By The Professional Artist Institute

(Priceless)

This program is extremely results oriented. 

However, it doesn’t hurt to add a shiny new line to your resume, does it?

This is why, by popular demand, we will send you a Certificate of Completion by The Professional Artist Institute when you finish the course.

It comes with a unique serial number, and you can print as many copies as you need.

graduate testimonials

here's what "mastering the business of art" graduates are saying...


Sold ~$3,000 in 5 weeks teaching online + landed $5,000 in commissions

Anastasiya

Found gallery representation when all seemed lost

Steve Munro

Featured in art magazine and secured an artist residency

Helene Planquelle

Got her artwork featured on TV (and sold!)

Amy Shamansky

Sold $12,000 of artworks in her first 4 weeks

Maryanne Pollock

Exhibited her first four shows in Italy, London, and Switzerland

Bhavya Dixit

about

Meet the Faculty


Learn from some of the best artist career instructors in the world: best-selling authors, social media influencers, gallery owners, art curators, online entrepreneurs... You will be in caring and experienced hands at every step of the way.

From signing partnerships with national museums for Google Arts & Culture, to running artist entrepreneurship workshops for The International Arts & Culture Group. From postgraduate studies in oil painting at University of the Arts London, to an MBA (Master of Business Administration) at INSEAD. Miguel will teach you the mindset and strategies that creative entrepreneurs follow to get results in a journey full of uncertainty.

Miguel Mayher

FOUNDER & CHIEF INSTRUCTOR | professionalartist.COM & THE FINE ARTIST SUMMIT

Vicki is an artist, writer, and arts advocate. Her book Art-Write: The Writing Guide for Visual Artists is used widely by artists and art schools. Her writing has appeared in Professional Artist magazine and exhibition catalogues. Vicki works with several organizations in the service of artists. She will teach you how to start and finish all your art-related writings so that you love them, and they work.

Vicki Krohn Amorose

AUTHOR & ART WRITING EXPERT | "ART-WRITE"

Jason Horejs owns Xanadu Gallery and has written multiple best-selling books, including Starving to Successful and How to Sell Art. Jason has helped thousands of artists prepare themselves to more effectively market their work, build relationships with galleries and collectors, and turn their artistic passion into a viable business.

Jason Horejs

GALLERY OWNER & AUTHOR | HOW TO SELL ART

Dina Brodsky is a contemporary realist miniaturist, painter, and curator. She is also a social media influencer with more than 350,000 followers on Instagram. So when Dina talks about how to use Instagram, artists listen. She will teach you how to double your weekly followers, multiply engagement from your new followers, and convert Instagram into new opportunities for your artist career.

Dina Brodsky

ARTIST | SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER

Elaine is a Chartered Public Accountant who specializes in working with the creative class. Through her company Minerva Financial Arts, her goal is to make all creative individuals both financially empowered and creatively free. She has instructed at institutions ranging from the Rhode Island School of Design to Ohio State University. She will help you redesign your artist career into a flexible and sustainable journey.

Elaine Luttrull

AUTHOR AND ARTIST FINANCIAL ADVISOR | "ARTS & NUMBERS"

Rosalind Davis is an artist-curator and a graduate of The Royal College of Art and Chelsea College of Art. She is also the author of What They Didn't Teach You in Art School, a comprehensive introduction to how to survive and succeed as an artist. Rosalind will teach you how to show your work in group shows with artists you admire, multiplying your professional contacts on the way.

Rosalind Davis

ARTIST-CURATOR & AUTHOR |"WHAT THEY DIDN'T TEACH YOU IN ART SCHOOL"

Guest Faculty


Anibal A. Luque provides high-quality legal advice and practical counsel to artists and entrepreneurs across the globe. As a young enthusiastic entrepreneur himself, Anibal strives to help like-minded people become successful with the right legal planning. In his masterclass, he will demystify the different legal documents necessary for a visual artist.

Anibal A. Luque

LAWYER FOR CREATIVES | PARTNER AT HOFFMAN LUQUE LLP

Daniel Sharp is an arts administrator and public art strategist. With a background in exhibition, event, and editorial management, he works to build resources and create relationships for artists, neighborhoods, and institutions. In his masterclass, Daniel will teach you what you need to know to get money for your next art project through crowdfunding -- whether it is your first series of prints or a monument.

Daniel Sharp

FORMER ARTS OUTREACH LEAD | KICKSTARTER

Paul founded Leopold Gallery + Art Consulting in 1991. As an art consultant, his clients
include Marvel Studios, H&R Block, the US Capitol Building, the Mayo Clinic, the Kansas City Chiefs, and thousands of private collectors.

He's also the author of the acclaimed guidebook for artists Living the Artist's Life. In his masterclass, Paul will share “street smart” ways to barter with your art, get patrons that pay you 12 months in advance, take advantage of tax write-offs, and help charity fundraisers without hurting your fair share of sales proceeds.

Paul Dorrell

ART CONSULTANT | FOUNDER OF LEOPOLD GALLERY + ART CONSULTING

WHAT SETS IT APART

what sets the Art mBA (mastering the business of art) apart from any other program?


Learn from and interact with some of the best artist career instructors in the world: best-selling authors, social media influencers, gallery owners, art curators, online entrepreneurs... You will be in caring and experienced hands at every step of the way.

World-Class Faculty

No one person knows everything. You’ll learn from artists and other art professionals who are experts in every aspect of succeeding in this business. Learn from the best and stop doubting yourself.

Results Oriented

Our training covers mindset, strategy, and step-by-step blueprints. This is not a course on theory or feel-good positive thinking. Mastering the Business of Art is all about getting practical results in the business side of your art career -- so you can get compensated for all your hard work in the studio.

REAL-LIFE Education

In every module you will get extensive Q&A video recordings where you can learn from the faculty answering REAL-LIFE examples from professional artists who are implementing the advice.

A to Z, Everything You Need to Know

There is simply no other course that covers everything you need to know about the business side of your art. If you are serious about your professional artist career, this investment will pay for itself many times over.

Proven Methods

If you want to avoid spending another decade of trial and error while you see other artists moving forward, then use our proven methods: from email templates to spreadsheets, Mastering the Business of Art contains all you need to get results. Plus you’ll learn all the “online art marketing” they just don’t teach in art schools.

High-End Quality

Tens of thousands of dollars have been invested into making Mastering the Business of Art the world's best professional development training for serious visual artists. Why settle for less?

KICKING OFF

we're going to be kicking off The Art MBA - mastering the business of art, in a very short time...


Which means that your window of opportunity to join us will be open for ONLY a very short while -- until the countdown timer on this page hits zero.

So if you’re ready to get serious about growing as an artist, you’ll need to act quickly.

It's wild to think how much your art career can transform by just following even one proven approach from this mastery program.

Quick question: Where did you imagine you’d be in your art career by now?

What are longing to experience as an artist?

Now think about how amazing you’ll feel when just one of those things actually happens for the first time.

Because you’re this close to getting access to the tools, strategy, and mindset you need to turn daydreams into results.

Imagine…

  • Having the confidence to “put yourself out there” and share your work widely...
  • Bringing in enough art-based income to finally quit your day job....
  • Exhibiting in galleries and museums alongside other artists you admire…
  • Meeting collectors who love your art and look forward to buying your latest work...
  • Knowing that your work is priced appropriately (and watching it sell!)
  • Becoming location independent and teaching art from anywhere in the world…
  • Building a 4-, 5-, or even 6-figure art business…
  • Connecting with the biggest influencers in your field, who promote you to their audience for FREE…
  • Building an email list of hundreds, even thousands, of highly engaged subscribers who want to hear from you…
  • Making a much bigger impact in the art world…
  • ACHIEVING TRUE FREEDOM IN YOUR ART BUSINESS AND ARTIST JOURNEY!

On behalf of our team and the entire Mastering the Business of Art community, we really hope to have the honor and privilege of working with you.

“What am I proud of accomplishing? My artwork gets to show in “My Notre Dame de Paris”. This is HUGE and frightening in all the best sort of ways.”

- Stephen Carpenter, Visual Music Artist

“The sessions in the course are definitely keeping me sane, pushing me to keep moving forward. Could not have come at a better time.”

- Marily A. Walter, Multi-disciplinary Artist

“Invaluable resources... my artist journey has been forever changed in a much more proactive and positive direction. Life changing stuff… thank you!.”

- Amy Shamansky, Fine Artist

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you still have some questions, read on:


How much time will I need to go through the program? Busy months ahead...

You can complete the program in as little as 3 months if you are focused.

To achieve a new specific result every week, expect to dedicate 2 hours per week.

To give you flexibility, however, we offer all students 2 full years of access to the training (note that this option may not be offered in future cohorts).

This means you could take just 30 minutes per week and still make fantastic progress.

If you have not taken action within two years... you probably won't later.

We don't want the materials to be collecting dust for "one day when".

We want you to be successful, and the whole program is oriented toward taking step-by-step action that works.

Is the content geared more toward US artists, or is it applicable worldwide?

The program has been designed for a global audience.

We have instructors in Asia and from Europe.

Past students have come from Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, and many other countries.

Humans are humans. Artists are artists.

We give you frameworks that get results no matter where you live.

If you can adjust them to your local culture, you will have an edge, but 95%+ work anywhere in the world.

English is not my first language. Can I still benefit from this program?

We designed M.B.A. for a global audience, so we made it accessible in the following ways:

  • Videos in our program can be played at a slower speed to make them easier to follow for non-native English speakers
  • Action workshops use slides with text, and the slides are provided for you to read at your own pace
  • These modules are not interviews but rather step-by-step action workshops and short 5 minute lectures with written questions

If you join the Platinum version, you get 1x1 unlimited email coaching with Miguel in English, Spanish, or French.

If language is the main doubt you have about joining, we recommend you try it out for 14days.

By then you will know for sure if English is a barrier, or if you can actually understand enough of the program to get the value you wanted.

If not, just send an email to [email protected] titled "refund" -- and that's it :)

Will Mastering the Business of Art work for me?

It has worked for artists in their 20s, and it has worked for artists in their 70s.

It has worked for painters, sculptors, and fine art photographers.

It will work for you too, if you follow the blueprints we give you.

Do I need to be tech-savvy?

No, you don’t.

We have had students who felt uncomfortable with technology but successfully followed our step-by-step workshops, lectures, and templates.

Whenever we talk about tech (such as your artist website or Instagram account), we explain it in easy terms and simplify the focus to the few critical things that matter.

That way, you can focus on just what you need to get results, and you don’t have to spend hours “figuring out” the tech.

I’m not sure if I’ve created enough artwork yet! Should I still join this program?

Chances are, you have been too busy with life and other work. M.B.A. can help you fix that.

We will teach you how to structure your week and your days in a way that protects your art-making time, turning it into a consistent habit with a sustainable rhythm.

In M.B.A., you’ll learn how many artworks you need and how they must relate to each other before you “put yourself out there”, whether you’re seeking gallery representation or creating your portfolio on your website.

This way, instead of coming up with excuses for why you are “not ready yet”, you will be able to create a realistic timeline for completing your body of work.

When you join the program, you’ll have access to all of the material for 2 years. This will allow you to structure your next 24 months for maximum productivity.

I don’t know anyone in the art world, and the word “networking” makes me cringe. Can I still do this?

Many artists consider themselves shy or introverted by nature.

They hear about “networking” and think they need to become outgoing extroverts in order to develop connections.

This is not so.

We teach you how to build relationships from the comfort of your home, with word-by-word templates (adjustable to your own voice) that get answers from complete strangers.

You’ll learn the exact strategy to go from a complete unknown to a well-connected artist both online and offline.

And if you already have a network and feel overwhelmed or obligated to stay in touch, we will show you the easiest way to stay in touch at a scale that takes minimal time (without the time suck that social media can be!).

This program sounds intense. Is it really hard to do?

If you shy away from a challenge, being an artist is a dangerous path for you.

You will need to bring in your commitment and dedication.

We will bring you the simplest instructions to get results.

If you are willing to face the challenge and this is the right path for you, you will get tremendous meaning from walking the artist’s journey.

If you are looking for a quick fix, though, this program is not for you.

Why is Mastering the Business of Art so expensive?

An MBA degree (Master of Business Administration) from a top accredited institution not only would cost you $100,000 -- it would also bore you to death :)

This program starts at less than 1% of that.

If you are wearing your “consumer” hat, the price tag may seem high.

If you are wearing your “investor” hat, it’s a bargain.

Applying the information that you’ll learn in this course has made other artists tens of thousands of dollars within their first year.

Importantly, now they have proven systems they can use again and again to generate more income.

They worked hard and applied what they learned -- but there is no guarantee you will get the exact same results.

There is another guarantee, however. If you keep doing the same things you have been doing for the last 12 months, you are guaranteed to get the same kind of results you have already been getting.

If you are ready instead to invest in your art business and career to be shown the way up, then -- as it has been for many other students -- this will be the best investment you have ever made.

Are there any hidden costs?

None.

After 2 years of unlimited access to any course updates and bonus material, you will have an option to renew your access to the program at a deeply discounted alumni price.

This will not be an automatic charge, in any case -- only upon your request.

What makes M.B.A. different from other programs for professional artists?

There are some programs out there where one person claims to teach you the A through Z of the business and career side of art.

Frankly, we’re not quite sure how it’s possible to get that level of knowledge as a one-person band.

A self-proclaimed guru may be able to help you with one specific aspect of your journey.

But no other program in the world has a faculty of art business experts teaching you their best material.

If you want to learn from the best in each area, and you want to “know it all”, this is the one-stop shop to finally demystify the artist career path.

I’ve done some art marketing courses in the past, and either they don’t get completed or I don’t get any results with them….

You’re not alone. Students from other courses who’ve joined M.B.A. say they finally feel they got what they were looking for.

Of course, M.B.A. is much more than just a marketing course -- because selling your work is only part of a much bigger picture.

No matter how much time you spend searching, you simply will not find another program remotely near the quality of M.B.A.: with an experienced faculty instead of a single guru, with focus on revenue AND reputation instead of one at the cost of the other, and addressing the trifecta of mindset, strategy, and tactics.

There is an ancient saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

We say: “When the student is ready, the faculty will appear.” :)

Am I too old for the M.B.A. program? Or, am I too young?

We have had graduates in their late 20s and early 70s.

Many have held long careers in other fields before using this course to finally transition into life as a full-time professional artist.

We do not recommend this training for anyone under 16, however. That is a time better focused exclusively on your artmaking.

Otherwise, there are no age barriers to joining this mastery program.

What our most successful graduates have in common is a commitment to applying the mindset, strategies, and tactics of M.B.A. in their daily lives as art professionals.

As long as you are willing to try new approaches that work, then you are in the right place.

You’ll never be any younger than you are today. Time will continue to pass, whether you take action on your art career or not.

So why wait any longer?

I already have a moderately successful art business/artist career. Will M.B.A. help me grow further?

Certainly.

Here are just a few examples:

  • You have one gallery representation but want to get into galleries outside your city
  • You have successful shows, but half the artwork is left unsold
  • You have success in offline recognition but have yet to crack Instagram growth

If you think to yourself “I have arrived,” you would probably not be reading this page.

You know there is room for more, and here you will find both the “big thinking” mindset to reignite your ambition, as logical frameworks to turn your new dreams into reality.

What results can I expect when I start applying this program?

We cannot promise you any specific results -- it would be dishonest to do so!

Your results will stem directly from many variables such as your commitment to apply the strategies taught, your speed of implementation, your dedication to follow through, your willingness to test new things, etc.

Overall there are two results we teach: raising your revenue, and raising your reputation.

To see some real-life examples of results from past students, simply scroll up or down to watch their video testimonials.

Where is the M.B.A. program held?

Mastering the Business of Art™ takes place 100% online.

No need to pay for travel, extra accommodation, etc.

All you need is an internet connection and a device (smartphone or computer) to watch and apply the video-based trainings.

Will there be additional costs later on in the course?

No. We do not charge any additional fees to go through the course.

Most modules in the program also cost nothing extra for you to implement. In a few modules, such as creating your artist website or growing your Instagram following, we share strategies that are free or almost free. For those who have the budget, we also recommend some premium providers.

What if I’m not ready now? Can you hold my spot for a few months?

No. When the countdown timer at the bottom of this page hits zero, Mastering the Business of Art will be closed for registration until later next year...

There will be no exceptions.

Here’s the secret: “not being ready” has kept countless talented artists like you from sharing their gifts with the world.

How long have you spent waiting for the perfect time to take your next step as a creative art professional?

And, where will you be a year from now if you don’t take that next step?

You can keep telling yourself you’re going to stop procrastinating. (You’ll start tomorrow….)

You can stay stuck in self-doubt.

You can continue the cycle of trying to figure it all out on your own, giving up because it’s too overwhelming, and trying again… or giving up permanently.

Or... you can join M.B.A. and learn step-by-step from the experts about how to succeed in the business of being an artist.

There is no perfect time. If you want a thriving art career, the time to get serious is now.

If you want a thriving art career, the time to get serious is now..

Again, hope is not a strategy. If you’re sick and tired of struggling with the business side of being a creative professional, it’s time to take some real action.

Stop procrastinating. Stop putting off your dream. Join M.B.A. and let us help you get some real results.

I only need help with ____ …can I buy just part of the program?

No. This program is called Mastering the Business of Art™ for a reason.

Mastery is not about learning a couple of quick tactics to gain more followers.

Mastery is about understanding the big picture, its components, and its details.

That is what you get when you go through the M.B.A. program.

You will come out the other end with a renewed sense of confidence that comes from understanding (“standing under”).

For your own long-term success, we have designed this program to cover all the mindset, strategies and tactics you need for the business side of your artist career.

You don’t yet have the results you want because you are missing multiple things -- it’s never just one thing -- but you don’t know what they are yet!

If you want to buy a different course that teaches one specific aspect of what M.B.A. covers, go ahead. (Just don’t be surprised when you find yourself in the same spot a year later….)

But our strong recommendation is that you stop trying to patch each individual pothole you encounter on your path. Instead, commit to paving the road -- decide now to master this area of your artist journey once and for all.

Why do I need a program? Can’t I do all this on my own?

Can you combine decades of experience in being a gallery owner, a website developer, a social media influencer, a museum deal maker, an artist lawyer, a certified public accountant, a professional writer, a curator… all within your lifetime?

...oh, and still have time and energy to make art?

Maybe it is possible. And if you think so, please go for it!

But if you look at successful artists, those at the top -- they have a team around them.

This program brings to your doorstep all that expertise so you can minimize the risk of failing alone….

And maximize the chances of succeeding by standing on the shoulders of others.

OK, I’m in. Once I sign up, what happens next?

We’ll immediately confirm your purchase and send you a receipt by email.

Right after that, you’ll receive a welcome email with your access details so you can get started as soon as you want!

“I can say it is really one of the best courses I have ever taken.”

- Melanie-Jane Frey, Fine Art Photographer

“This course has been one of the most valuable facets of building my Artist’s Journey. Thank you for all the practical steps to assist in reaching my career goals.”

- Erica A. Marshall, Fine Artist

“I came to this course with what I felt was a mountain to climb, but you have given me such clarity, shown a clear path ahead. Thanks for the clarity, wisdom and good-natured presentation.”

- Christine Connelly, Figurative Painter

DEmystify the art world


Is the Art MBA - mastering the business art, the right fit for you?

M.B.A. Summary of Contents
  • Bonus: “Get Paying Students Online,” our proven method for creating and filling paid online workshops
  • The Complete Mastering the Business of Art (M.B.A.) Training
  • All Core Program Lectures
  • All Core Program Workshops
  • Fill-in-the-Blank email templates for gallery representation
  • Done-for-You portfolio templates
  • Done-for-You legal documents
  • Q&A Video Recordings with our faculty experts for all core program modules
  • Money Mastery Module for Visual Artists
  • Selling directly to collectors
  • Pricing that sells (both high and low)
  • Creative financing for artists (patrons, bartering, charities, tax write-offs)
  • Budgeting for artists
  • Crowdfunding to get paid before you make the artwork
  • Legal documents
  • Certification of Completion by The Professional Artist Institute

I can't wait to take you step by step through the M.B.A. program to transform your art business & career!

-Miguel Mayher