Startup Studio
Community
Connection
Empowerment
Where Studio Talk Gets Real (and Really Good).
Through exclusive talks, professional presentations, and other real world opportunities, Startup Studio supports both process and practice through weekly salon style meetings and monthly presentations by art industry leaders. We also offer drop-in access for non-members for monthly industry presentations.
Tuesday Morning Salons
Our Tuesday Zooms are community building conversations where we delve into art practice quandaries. From prepping for exhibitions to shipping artwork, or fitting the business of art into your creative practice, this is a place to ask for and offer support in a 'rising tides float all boats' mindset.
Monthly Art Conversations
Engage in candid conversations with experts from all corners of the art ecosystem. From dealers and curators to art consultants and public art specialists, our talks shed light on every aspect of artistic practice. Each session concludes with a live Q&A, allowing you to get your burning questions answered directly by industry insiders.
Video Library
Access our growing library of videos at your convenience. Refresh your understanding of key concepts or focus on specific topics that resonate with your current needs. This resource allows you to revisit expert advice and insights, ensuring you can always find guidance relevant to your artistic journey.
Artist Network
Startup Studio maintains a vibrant database of artists. From this network, we organize real-world gatherings, curated exhibitions, pop-ups, and collaborative events, turning our virtual community into a launchpad for visibility and connection in the physical art world.
Not Your Average Artist Support Group.
What’s Included:
-
Live monthly talks with Q&A
Unlimited access to video content
Weekly community Zoom calls
Private online community
Free one hour coaching session for annual subscribers
-
Access our growing library of videos at your convenience. This resource allows you to revisit past salons and expert talks, ensuring you can always find guidance relevant to your artistic journey.
-
Connect with fellow artists and art professionals anytime through our private online community. Suggest new topics, share experiences, offer encouragement, and provide resources that have enriched your practice. This platform fosters a supportive network for ongoing discussions and collaborations.
Upcoming Art Talks
-
The Business of Being an Artist: Pricing, Positioning, and Building Momentum
POSTPONED!
Pricing artwork is one of the most challenging and most important decisions artists make. In this conversation, artist and mentor Alexis Fedor shares tools and strategies she’s developed through her work with hundreds of artists inside Artists In Business.
Together we’ll explore how pricing connects to confidence, audience, and sustainability, and how artists can begin shaping practices that generate both opportunity and income over time.
-
The Invisible Art Market: How Consultants and Advisors Find Artists
Tuesday May 12, 5pm PST
Please join us for a conversation with Kara de Lambert, an art consultant, curator, and founder of Lynae Arts. In this talk, The Invisible Art Market: How Curators, Consultants, and Advisors Find Artists, Kara will share insights into the behind-the-scenes networks that connect artists with collectors, corporations, hospitality projects, and private clients. Drawing on over 15 years of experience in the art world—including commissioning more than 300 artists for Imagery Estate Winery’s Artistry Label program—she will discuss how professionals discover artists, what they look for when selecting work for collections, and how artists can position themselves for these opportunities beyond traditional gallery pathways.
-
The Art of Visibility with Nicole Slater
Tuesday June 9, 5pm PST
Join us for an informative talk by creative consultant and speaker Nicole Slater.
In this conversation, creative consultant and speaker Nicole Slater will share clear, manageable strategies to help artists increase their visibility without feeling overwhelmed. Drawing on her background in digital marketing and creative coaching, Nicole will outline simple steps for presenting your work more confidently, reaching the right audiences, and building lasting recognition over time. Her approach supports artists in moving past self-doubt and developing sustainable habits around promotion and communication. Participants will leave with a focused action plan and fresh tools to strengthen their public presence and better position their work in today’s competitive art landscape.
-
Working with Interior Designers: How Artists Get Chosen
Tuesday July 14, 2026, 5pm PST
Join us for an informative talk with private art curator Delia LaJeunesse as she shares how interior designers source artwork for residential projects—and how artists can position themselves to be part of that process. Drawing on her experience collaborating closely with designers and clients, Delia will explain how artwork is selected to reflect personal narrative, cultural context, and the emotional tone of a home. She’ll discuss what makes artists stand out in design-driven environments, how curators build relationships with emerging and mid-career artists, and how opportunities develop outside traditional gallery channels. This session offers practical insight into a growing pathway for artists seeking meaningful placements, new collectors, and long-term professional connections in the residential design world.
You have questions? We have answers.
-
Startup Studio is designed for visual artists at all stages of their careers who are looking to deepen their knowledge of the art world, strengthen their professional practices, and connect with a supportive creative community. Whether you're emerging, mid-career, or established, if you’re serious about your art practice, you’re welcome here.
-
They’re casual, candid, and highly supportive Zoom conversations focused on real-world challenges artists face. Think of it as a virtual studio visit meets professional support group. Topics range from prepping for a solo show, navigating grants, and pricing work, to handling burnout or business questions—all with input from a smart, experienced community of peers.
-
Our guest speakers are working professionals from across the art ecosystem—gallerists, curators, consultants, collectors, art fair producers, public art managers, and more. They bring behind-the-scenes insight into how the art world works, what they look for in artists, and how you can better position yourself for opportunities.
-
Yes. members have full access to our video library, which includes recordings of all the past talks and Tuesday Salons. It's a great way to catch up on expert advice on your own time and revisit key takeaways when you need them.
-
Non-members are welcome to drop in for our monthly art industry presentations. However, membership gives you access to weekly Tuesday Morning Salons, the full video library, and deeper community engagement.
What Artists Are Saying About Startup Studio
What Artists Are Saying About Startup Studio
“As an artist and writer whose work is mostly solitary, I look forward to Tuesday mornings and joining the community that Ray hosts on zoom. It’s a supportive and welcoming group of artists who share practical concerns and provocative questions about their professional challenges and successes. For an added benefit, I enjoy attending events where I meet people I’ve only seen in the zoom room. I hop on the next Tuesday with a greater sense of camaraderie.
Christine Walker
“Ray Beldner‘s Tuesday Morning Salon has been a game changer for my art career. It is addressed more issues than I know I needed to ask. Ray and the participants are first and foremost dedicated to helping each other understand what is most important to focus on for success. For the first time in many years, I do not feel lost as a professional artist. Now I have a clear sense of direction for my success. I do not hesitate to recommend this group for any artist.”
Chris DiRaddo
“Ray Beldner has really created something special here. Every week when I feel like I’m too busy to join the salon, I go on anyway and without fail hear something totally unexpected that fuels my studio practice, that cracks open my idea of what I thought were limitations. It is an exponential bloom of support and solutions to problems all artists face. Thank you Ray and the community!!!”
Amy Thornberry