Hello Reader,

Welcome to The Artist Sketchbook.

I'm glad you're here.

If we haven’t connected in a while, or if you’re new to my work, I’m Doug Mattice. I’m a photographer, digital artist, educator, and art business mentor.

After almost 40 years as a professional photographer, educator, and business owner, I’m making an important shift in my work.

For many years, I’ve supported portrait, branding, headshot, and family photographers as they built stronger businesses. I’ve loved that work. I’ve learned from it, grown through it, and had the privilege of helping many photographers think differently about pricing, marketing, confidence, and sustainability.

But I’ve also reached a point in my own creative journey where I know it’s time for something new.

This next chapter is about creating original art, exploring Photoshop and digital artistry more deeply, and helping other photographers and digital artists turn their creative work into art people can understand, value, and buy.

That is why I created The Artist Sketchbook.

Maybe you have years of travel photographs, landscape images, personal projects, or digital art experiments sitting in your archive.

Maybe people have told you, “You should sell this.”

And maybe your honest answer is, “I’d like to, but I don’t know where to start.”

That is the space we’ll explore here each week.

The Artist Sketchbook is for photographers and digital artists who want to create a focused body of original art, price it clearly, talk about it with confidence, and build a practical path to buyers.

Each week, I’ll share ideas, examples, and simple exercises around creative direction, collection building, pricing, marketing, selling, and the business side of becoming an artist.

This will not be a newsletter about chasing trends or posting more just to stay visible.

It will be about creating original work with intention, presenting it clearly, and building a simple path for people to understand, value, and buy it.

Today's Sketchbook Note...

What do you say when someone asks what you’re working on?

This sounds simple, but it stops a lot of artists.

Someone asks, “What are you working on?”

And we answer with something vague:

“I’m working on some travel images.”

“I’m playing around with Photoshop.”

“I’m trying to build a collection.”

“I’m not really sure yet.”

There’s nothing wrong with being in process. Every artist is. But when we don’t know how to talk about our work, it becomes harder to market it, write a bio, introduce ourselves, apply for opportunities, follow up with interested people, or invite someone to look more closely.

A clear introduction gives people a way into your work.

It does not need to be perfect. It just needs to give shape to what you’re creating.

Here’s a simple starting point:

I’m creating a collection of [type of work] about [subject, place, theme, or feeling] for people who [connect with this kind of work or story].

For example:

I’m creating a collection of photographic art based on quiet coastal towns, for people who are drawn to peaceful places, weathered textures, and images that feel reflective rather than busy.

Or:

I’m creating a collection of travel-based digital art inspired by old European streets, for people who love history, atmosphere, and artwork that feels connected to place.

Or:

I’m creating a collection of nature photographs focused on light, pattern, and stillness, for people who want artwork that brings a calm feeling into their home.

Notice what this does.

It tells people what you’re making.

It gives the work a subject or direction.

It gives the listener a reason to care.

It also helps you. When you can say what you’re working on, you begin to see what belongs in the collection and what does not.

That is one of the first steps in moving from scattered images to a body of work people can understand.

Try this before next week

Write one sentence using this prompt:

I’m creating a collection of __________ about __________ for people who __________.

Don’t worry about making it sound polished yet. Just get the idea out of your head and onto the page.

Clarity usually comes from writing it down, saying it out loud, and refining it over time.

Coming soon

I’m also creating a free resource called:

Is Your Photography Ready to Sell As Art?

It’s a 5-part scorecard to help you turn one collection of photographs into a clear art offer buyers can understand.

It will help you look at your work through five important questions:

• Is there a clear collection?
• Is the work presented as something people can buy?
• Is the pricing clear?
• Does the buyer understand the story and value?
• Is there a simple next step?

I’ll share it with you soon.

For now, start with the sentence above. It may feel small, but it’s the beginning of something important.

You’re not just making images.

You’re learning how to talk about the work, shape it into a collection, and build a path for it to reach the right people.

That’s what we’ll keep working on together inside The Artist Sketchbook.

Have a creative day!

Doug Mattice

Photographer • Digital Artist• Art Business Mentor

Create the Art. Build a Business.

​https://www.dougmattice.com​