The Art Biz17 Apr 2025

The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (223)

host: Alyson Stanfield

It's easy to think that being a full-time artist means struggling financially. But painter Mary Erickson is proof that with discipline, long-term thinking, and a deep love of both art and business, it's possible to build a creative life that's both fulfilling and financially secure.

In this conversation, recorded several years ago and lightly edited for re-release, Mary shares how she transitioned from painting before and after work at a frame shop to selling 500 watercolors, managing 8 gallery relationships, and investing in real estate—all while keeping her commitment to living simply and giving back.

In this episode, Mary and I discuss:

Why she says she paints to buy real estate so she can collect art
How she used her job at a frame shop as a launchpad for her career
What it took to sell her first 500 watercolors
Her entry into the print market (and her rules for doing it smartly)
Why she sees her galleries as partners, not just sales channels
How she built a bird sanctuary and artist retreat through her art income
The financial discipline and mindset that has served her all along the way

This episode is a must-listen if you're an artist who wants to make smart business moves without sacrificing your creative soul.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Check out these episodes that also focus on galleries or working with galleries:

Leaving Gallery Representation to Reach More Art Buyers with Adele Sypesteyn (ep. 163)

Qualities Galleries Are Looking For in Their Artists with Jeremy Tessmer (ep. 123)

The Art Biz Unfiltered: Dealer Michael Findlay on Collectors, Curiosity, and Changes (ep. 209)

Why I Want Partnerships with Art Galleries with Evita Tezeno (ep. 175)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/investing-artist-podcast/

⭐️ Connect with Mary and see more of her art: https://maryericksonart.com

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶 full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here's how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

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