51 Different Art Newsletter Topic Ideas For Your Artist Email Newsletters You’ll Love
by Thea Fiore-Bloom, Ph.D.
Do you ever have this sneaking suspicion your art newsletter topic ideas are boring?
Or that maybe your readers are not thrilled that they only hear from you when you’re promoting your art?
Well …
You might be right.
Because if you’re like most of my readers, you’re what I call a heart-centered artist.
And that suspicion that you’re bugging people?
It might be the very thing that’s stopping you from sending out more blog posts and newsletters.
You may think to yourself, there has to be a better way to go.
And you’re right, there is.
Yes, marketing emails are necessary.
But they’re at least two great reasons we don’t want to be all-marketing-all-the-time.
Relentless Marketing in Newsletters Can Be Bad for an Artist’s Sales
First, it’s actually bad for sales.
“Ironically, if someone is attracted to your kind of art, it’s not slick selling that will close the deal.
It’s usually your quirky personal stories that make your average, modern collector feel like they know you and trust you enough to want to have a piece of you in their home,” said Emmy-award-winning video marketing expert Gina Rubinstein.
Relentless Marketing In Newsletters Can Be Bad for an Artist’s Soul
Second, marketing all the time de-motivates heart-centered artists.
We know selling is part of the job of being an artist.
But we also know the reason we got up to join the dance of art in the first place was to inspire both ourselves and others via our work.
So, is there a solution for heart-centered folks like us?
Add “Passion Posts” To Your Art Newsletter Topic Idea Mix
Yes.
You could alternate every few art marketing newsletters you send out with what I call a passion post.
(For help writing a post or newsletter itself check out, How Do I Write a Blog Post? Discover the Easiest Post to Write and How to Put One Together in 5 Simple Steps.)
A passion post tells a mini-story about something you’re passionate about. Choose something you’re geekishly fascinated by that has a connection to your art and that also serves your reader in some small way.
Fortune 100 digital marketing consultant Claire Diaz-Ortiz insists 80% of the material you put out online should be adding value to your reader’s life; only 20% should be promotional.
By sandwiching marketing posts between passion posts you gift yourself and your reader in 3 ways:
- First, you’ll add value to your readers’ lives by either telling them a story or inspiring them by letting them in on how creativity works.
- Second, you’ll feel better. I believe if creativity is at the center of every one of your blog post topics, you’ll send out more posts, become a better writer, and a stronger marketer.
- And third, as a result, you may skyrocket your chances of having more comments, sales, and fun than you’ve had in years.
Sound good?
Need some ideas of what kinds of topics might help you do that?
I got 51 of them that came to mind this morning. That’s nearly one idea a week for you, for nearly a year!
Too much coffee? Maybe.
But this is not from my caffeinated head alone.
First 10 Fresh Art Newsletter Topic Ideas for Artists
1. What was the most memorable live performance you ever saw and why did it connect all your dots? (My 12-year-old cranium opened up and stars flew in when I got to see Judith Jamison dance “Cry” in an Alvin Ailey performance.)
2. What’s your favorite urban place? Tell us about that restorative coffee shop, opera house, city park, or bookstore you love.
3. Do you live in a rural area? Is there a seasonal natural happening you could let your readers in on? An annual bird migration? A wildflower bloom? How you love it when the wetlands start to freeze over?
4. What’s the first memory you have that involved being thrilled to make art?
5. Who is your favorite poet lately? Share an excerpt with your readers. Ask readers to leave their favorite poet in the comments.
6. Got a crazy but true story that would make a good blog post topic? Savvy Painter Host, Antrese Wood’s most popular post was a story about a fight she had with a llama.
7. Maybe let readers know about what you do/did for a living in the “real world.” How has it informed your art practice.
8. So many people in your audience suffer from challenging health conditions. Your readers will appreciate, not castigate you for sharing a story related to your own struggles.
9. You may choose to share stumbling blocks that come in other forms if it feels right. Shawn Marie Hardy blazes the trail in this post on Artists and ADHD: Myths, Realities, True Stories, and Resources
10. Tell readers about your all-time favorite museum, or museum store.
Ten More Great Art Newsletter Topic Ideas
11. Share the book you loved most as a kid. What in that book still rings true for you today?
12. What are your 5 fave reads on an obsession of yours like say, historic cozy mysteries dollhouse miniatures or Balinesian mythology?
13. Choose your current favorite painting of all time. Tell readers why it enchants you. Did you see it in person? Ask readers to share their favorite painting in the comments.
14. Share the soundtrack you paint or write to with your readers. Learn how to embed the music tracks into your post.
15. Talk about your favorite movie, why does it move you?
16. Do you use tea to companion you as you make art? What’s your favorite? Do you have a little tea & art ritual?
17. If you feature any plants, flowers, or trees in your work, create blog post topics on their history or mythology. Consider illustrating posts with your own simple, fun drawings to accompany planting instructions.
18. What do you love to cook? Why? Give a recipe. Illustrate it. Here’s a nice example of a heart-centered recipe post from my subscriber Linda Shoults.
19. Or tell us about the culinary life of an artist you love. 7 Lush Beach Reads About Artists To Take on Vacation lists several books that focus on the fabulous food life of great artists like Proust and Monet.
20. If you’re a Plein air painter and you just stayed up till 3 a.m. last night reading The Hidden Life of Trees, tell us why you couldn’t put it down.
Still Haven’t Found It? Ten More Art Newsletter Topic Ideas
21. Did you have a favorite childhood tree? Do you have a current favorite tree? Any stories there?
22. What is your favorite formal or informal garden? Tell us about the moss-covered mermaid you saw in Bon Marzo, Italy.
23. Or stay closer to home. Let us in on that patio window box you planted to help butterfly populations.
24. If you need copyright-free illustrations of gardens, museums, or anything else for your passion posts, visit 70+ Image Hacks: A Cheat Sheet for Finding Awesome Images Online For Free.
25. What was the most amazing wild animal you’ve ever seen? (Or the pet you’re most partial to.)
26. What’s an example of a little thing in your life that brings you peace? For me, it’s hummingbirds. So I wrote, How To Have Hummingbirds.
27. Share how you recycle in the studio or how you clean your brushes to go easy on the earth.
28. What’s one of your favorite travel memories? Can you share an image you drew from a travel journal about a special place? Ask your readers to share their travel journal images on your Facebook page.
29. Who is a hero of yours? Write a bit on that singer, scientist, human rights advocate, UFC fighter, or humble neighbor.
30. Are you like me– do you talk to strangers? Tell the story of a stranger you met and how they made you think about art or life in a new way.
Even Ten More Art Newsletter Topic Ideas
31. If you went to art school share something you loved or hated about it.
32. What’s one mistake that taught you something pivotal about making good art?
33. Write about what it feels like to make art on those days when it all clicks together.
34. Do you sell at art fairs? Share your packing list with your readers.
35. Consider interviewing someone. You can do it via email. It’s not as hard as you think and it will add depth to your blog.
36. What is something that used to stress you out in your studio that you’ve now mastered?
37. What was the best idea you ever had?
38. How about the worst one?
39. When did you first (or finally) begin calling yourself a writer or artist? Is there a story behind it?
40. Describe the best reaction someone ever had to your work. Why did it hit home for you? How did it relate to your unique mission as a creative?
41. Tell us the weirdest reaction someone had to your work. Do you have any advice for young artists on how to bounce back after rejection, criticism, or encountering a troll?
Last 10 Art Newsletter Topic Ideas
42. Tell readers the 5 creatives you most look up to. Are they fashion designers, classical musicians, graffiti artists, dancers, magicians, writers, or actors?
43. Do you take long walks often? So did many famous artists and writers. O’Keeffe and van Gogh for starters. What does walking do for you as a creative?
44. Has your art helped you develop a nurturing community online? Art Marketing for Introverts will show you the way.
45. What is your wish for your readers regarding their relationship to their creativity?
46. Has your art helped you heal your life? How exactly?
47. Tell a story about one of your readers (with their permission of course.) Darren Rowse of Problogger tells bloggers to make our readers famous; it’s a heart-centered, win-win strategy that I live by.
48. Tell us a story of when your art helped someone else and what that meant to you.
49. If you love the art or art history of another culture share a tiny slice of it. I love this art newsletter topic dreamt up by artist Mickey Baxter Spade on the Japanese concept of Aichaku.
50. What first steps would you recommend readers do to begin writing or making art themselves?
51. For our final art newsletter topic think about a personal object you have in your studio or on your desk. What memories or meaning does it hold? Share a photo of it with readers.
Be Revolutionary When Choosing Your Art Newsletter Topic Idea
Some of these art newsletter topic ideas may feel too revealing.
I get that.
Remember, only share up to your own limit.
But keep in mind, a lesson I’ve learned from writing The Charmed Studio blog.
Your most popular posts aren’t the ones that make you sound smart or respectable.
Your most popular art newsletter topics or posts share your heart.
You may fear your personal stories about your passions aren’t snazzy enough.
I say they are plenty snazzy.
Because in our business, writing about what you love as opposed to what you sell — is revolutionary.
So, Viva La Revolucion!
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This post is dedicated to Veronese artist and subscriber Cristina Dalla Valentina who wrote in and suggested the idea of blog post topics. Grazia Cristina!
_______________________
What are your thoughts?
Which one of these ideas sounds exciting to you?
I’d love to know if this helped you at all in the comments below.
____________________________________________________
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Thank you, Thea. I do care about my customers and newsletter readers, so thank you for these reminders. I also agree with your thoughts on taking the time to respond to people’s comments on your blog. I feel it is invaluable. It’s such a great opportunity to connect with another person, as well as honor them for giving their precious time and energy to connect with out work. PS. I love the audio version of your posts. It’s great to hear your voice!
Misty what a wonderful website you have created. Thanks so much for your kind words about this post and the idea of honoring commenters. I don’t think all bloggers realize how unusual it is for someone who does not know you to have the guts to leave a comment. It is a big ask.
And thanks for liking the audio. They are so fun to do and I am trying to find a better way to include audio so I can have it on each post but if the post is longer than 1000 words the file size gets too large all hell breaks loose. Anyway, I wish you continued success on your new life journey.
Keep helping others with your art and kind heart.
When you told me you’d make a post with a series of ideas for topics to share about a newsletter, well, I didn’t imagine you would have come up with 51 ideas!
And one more beautiful than the other!
Congratulations Thea, a wonderful and very useful post!
Especially when you say that sharing what we love is the real revolution… oh yes, I feel this so deeply!
Thanks for the advice and also for the dedication, which I carry in my heart…
A big hug,
Cristina
I told you you had a good idea there girl!!! Perhaps I got carried away after I received your email suggestion, 🙂 But the ideas just kept popping up and out. I was scribbling them out on post-it notes and sticking them to the cabinet above the sink as I washed the dishes and they didnt stop until the whole kitchen was clean. I think when something is meant to serve others it just flows. I am so happy if even one of those ideas triggers, supports or affirms you to put more of you out into the world- more of your beautiful art, thoughts, energy, essence, and ideas. The world needs your take on things, especially in these challenging times.
This is a wonderful blog post. What a wonderful resource you are. Great ideas! And I love how you showcase your subscribers. That’s generous of you and the pieces are beautiful.
Thanks for your support Denise, I thought of you while writing this post. Especially the first topic which asks: which live performance did you see that blew you away? I wanted to ask you that. Was it an actor in a play? And thanks for mentioning the showcasing of the art of subscribers.
I realize I love letting my readers into the studios of my other readers by including their art on the site, I guess I am making a kind of big open studio day. 🙂 Hey let’s post a pic of you out with your Thera-Trumpy booth on the blog.
Wow that’s a tough one. I’ve seen some pretty amazing performances. I’ll think of what live performance that blew me away but I did see a performance on film recently that blew me away. As disturbing as Joker was Joaquin Phoenix was absolutely brilliant. I think one of my favorite performances was Liv Ullman in A Doll’s House. I would be honored to have my picture on your blog. Should I send you one?
Oh I will have to check those out. Yes send me a few photos okay and I can pick.
What a great article! I think you read my mind. I dread dealing with the marketing aspect of art. I’d rather be painting or planning another art project. But, what I discovered recently while participating in a library book festival is that I really enjoyed visiting and meeting with the people who were looking at the children’s books I illustrate. They were fascinated with the background stories of the characters and how the illustrations were created. Your article gives me more ideas to pursue with the idea of stories about paintings and collage pieces. Thanks for including my artwork in your blog and making it part of the story!
OOOOOH that sounds like a delightful rich vein of gold to pursue! Yes, come to think of it I too would love to know how children’s book authors and illustrators develop a character or settings, or destinations….cool Sheryl. I get especially curious with books I read to children at the library, because I read those more than once, allows me to really appreciate the art more, and get curious as to it’s origin process.Also your comment reminds me of the importance of literally getting to know one’s audience. Makes all the difference in the world. You get to see exactly what lights them up— no guessing. You get to see what is working well so you can do more of that if you choose to.
Thanks so much for the blogging ideas! I always struggle finding topics to post about.
You are very, very welcome. I’m curious what topics looked like they would be a good jumping-off point for you? Nature, music?
What a great read and so many ideas. I really struggle with the whole concept of marketing and I keep reading it needs to be more about the artist than the art (which doesn’t make it any easier!) so it was really useful to read tangible ideas. And thank you so much for including my artwork! Was such a special treat opening the email and seeing it there. 😊
Yipee! Glad it could give you concrete examples. Carol Tice, a writing mentor of mine who runs The Writers Den, teaches her students this: Every time you make a major point– include an example of what you are talking about. I don’t always remember to do it. But it really helps click things together for readers. It allows the reader to visually picture what you are saying instead of just struggling to intellectually try to get the point through words alone.
Your artwork shines. So happy to have it as part of the blog. (And your blog already includes lots of juicy non-marketing creative writing.)
Thank you for writing this. Love that you’ve chosen topics that are about sharing the artist self and being authentic. Definitely going to use several of these!
You are so welcome. 🙂 I have learned so much about keeping the balance between the business of art and the pursuit of authenticity from you since we met.
Ooh I love these ideas ! Thanks for this post – much needed and timely too.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Melissa. I always enjoy reading your posts because you have the courage to talk about what is important to you at the moment. Inspiring.
Love this article Thea. It sparked so many ideas for my online journal.
I noticed that most of the ideas I added were about stuff I make that is NOT art. I bet that all the artists and writers reading this article are creative in all aspects of life too. A rich pool of ideas!
I rushed outside after reading this to photo document all my current projects. Gathering walnuts for making ink and dye, picking herbs for my own tea blend, plants needed for making rescue oil, chopping up Japanese Knotweed for a tincture, and that’s just some of the garden stuff.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Cheers,
Laura
OMG!!! Genious. I can’t wait to read every one of those posts you are going to do! Seriously. So many people who love art, also love gardening, herbs, homesteading, healing, nature-oriented types of things. I know I do. I write for herbal magazines when I am not blogging about art. Writing about those things in The Enchanted Journal will let people in to your magical farm world.It will calm them and excite them at the same time. Go girl go.
I love this post! There’s so much advice about how to market products and oneself and, frankly, it’s repetitious and boring to me so I can imagine that potential buyers feel somewhat as I do. There’s also lots of advice about staying in your lane. In other words, write FOR artists or FOR buyers, but not both. The imposed limitations stifle creative thinking. So, thank you for writing and sharing this one.
Thank you so much for writing in and telling me, that makes me smile. I love your expression, “stay in your lane.” So apt. In my post on How To Write An Art Blog I talk about the idea of letting oneself write for both collectors and artists. Maybe you already read that one Sharon. Anyway, yes, Happy bloggers jump lanes!! I think you are already doing this in your lovely blog. You write about things that resonate with readers, it’s not just about your paintings. I think most artists would benefit from getting to know more people on their list and see what their interests are. It makes a writer feel much more confident and open to know who they are talking to. It lets an art blogger know how best to give folks on their list something that will enrich their life when they open each email.