How You Want to Be Perceived as an Artist with Alexandra Squire (#133)

Not too long ago, artists didn’t have to worry about things like
their brands. But in an increasingly competitive market, and the
noisy online space, we will do better when we know where we fit.
Your art is created in the studio, while your brand is created in
the minds of viewers, buyers, collectors, gallerists, and
curators.


When you know your brand, you know how you want to be perceived
in the eyes of others. Your brand helps you make decisions. If
opportunities aren’t aligned with your brand, you say no. My
guest for this episode of The Art Biz is Alexandra Squire. She
has a clear, intentional artist brand, and knew from the get-go
what she wanted her business and career to look like. She hired
professionals to help her pull together a branded identity to
present her work to the world, and it has paid off. Alexandra and
I talk about her decisions, marketing, and how she finds time for
her painting and business while raising three young girls.


Highlights




Alexandra’s long and winding road to becoming an artist.
(3:25)




“I looked at myself as a brand.” (7:09)




Marketing yourself effectively. (11:26)




Hiring professional help for your photography. (14:03)




Your brand exists in the eye of the viewer. (18:42)




Making the trade offs that pay off. (22:16)




The moment when you identify your artist brand. (26:20)




How Alexandra shows and sells her work. (28:15)




Keeping an artist’s schedule while raising a family. (33:38)




This Week’s Assignment


Consider your artist brand. In particular, think about and even
write in your journal about this one question: How do you want to
be perceived in the minds of others? If you want to take it to
the next step, consider whether your social media, newsletter,
website, marketing material, and exhibition venues are aligned
with how you want to be perceived.


Mentioned




ArtBizAccelerator.com




https://www.alexandrasquireart.com/




https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasquireart/




Resources




Show notes, images, and listener comments




How to Price Your Art free report




Art Biz Connection artist membership




Quotes




“I decided from the beginning I wanted to be a certain type
of artist.” — Alexandra Squire




“You have to present yourself in a certain way, and that’s
how people will view you.” — Alexandra Squire




“I turned down a bunch of opportunities that I felt didn’t
best reflect my brand.” — Alexandra Squire




About My Guest


Alexandra Squire is an abstract painter defined by the pairing of
vibrant colors and muted tones to create simple yet deceivingly
complex works. She focuses on blending and layering to make
pieces that are rich in color and depth with unexpected palettes.
Her paintings serve as a metaphor for life in that they depict
the multitude of ways in which our experiences meld together.
Alexandra’s work has been exhibited nationally, and her paintings
are a part of private and corporate collections throughout the
United States.