a discussion on effective email marketing strategies for artists.

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Email Writing Workshop Example Email Examples

Day in the Life Email

The other day, I headed up to Hurricane Ridge here in Washington, even though the forecast called for potentially bad conditions due to wildfire smoke. The mountains seemed like a gamble, but I went anyway—maybe out of stubbornness, or maybe just a desire for open air. I WIF and it makes the world seem so small. 

To my surprise, the conditions were stunning. The mountains were shrouded in smoke, but instead of obscuring the view, it created layers upon layers of soft, hazy depth, almost like a painting unfolding in front of me. It wasn’t the dramatic, peak-peeping experience of my last visit; it was beautiful in a completely different way.

As if that wasn’t enough, later that night, I stumbled upon an astrology meetup at the summit. I ended up hanging out with a group of stargazers and learned more about constellations than I expected. So, not only did I get a different view of the mountains—I ended up looking at the stars too. A total “side quest.”

It reminded me of two important things I try to keep in mind as an artist:

• We need to take the moments as they come, not as we wish them to be. There’s beauty in the unexpected.

• Sometimes, the adventures you chase lead you to something entirely different. And those side quests are often the most memorable parts of the journey.

I’ll be keeping that lesson close in my studio this week. Let me know if you’ve had any unexpected “side quests” recently—whether in art or life. I’d love to hear about them.

Till next time,

Template:

Hey [Name],

Today I [briefly describe an activity or experience]. It wasn’t exactly what I expected at first, but it ended up surprising me in the best way.

[Describe the experience in a few sentences. Focus on how it felt, what you observed, or any unexpected twists that made the moment special.]

This experience reminded me of a couple of key lessons:

•[Lesson 1: Focus on a broad insight—something that others can easily relate to, like appreciating the moment, finding beauty in the unexpected, or being open to new experiences.]

•[Lesson 2: Another related lesson, such as the importance of flexibility, embracing the unknown, or being open to new opportunities.]

These lessons are shaping how I approach [your creative practice or life] this week. It’s funny how the little moments often teach us the most, isn’t it?
What about you—have you had any unexpected moments or lessons pop up lately? I’d love to hear about them!

Storytelling Email

Subject: A Birthday Spent in a Truck (and the Magic That Followed)

I spent my birthday sleeping in a truck. Ice had coated both sides of my windshield because I’d left the windows down. My sleeping bag was made for 0°, and honestly, I thought I was just going to nap for an hour or so.

Have you ever had to scrape both sides of your windshield? It’s a pain

Oversleeping (ten years ago I could thrive on just a few hours of sleep) plus the ice made me late to the groves in Boardman.

I had only a few minutes to pick a section of forest and commit to photographing it. As soon as I parked, I immediately took off running into the woods. There were just moments before that brief window of magic light would begin—and even fewer before it was gone

CTA: If you’d like to bring this moment of fleeting magic into your home, you can see the photograph I captured that day [here].

Storytelling email template

Template:

- Intro: Start with where you were and what was happening.

- Challenge: Describe a simple, relatable obstacle you had to overcome.

- Resolution: Share the rewarding moment or how it inspired the artwork.

- CTA: Direct readers to view the art.

Subject Line:* [A hint of the story or experience, e.g., "That Time I Almost Missed the Perfect Shot"]

I was [describe where you were or what you were doing] when [something unexpected or challenging happened].

Have you ever had [relatable challenge or experience, e.g., one of those moments where everything seems to work against you]? That’s exactly how it felt.

[Brief description of how you pushed through the challenge]

When the moment finally came, [describe what you experienced or saw]

That experience stayed with me, and it’s what inspired [name of artwork or collection]. It reminds me that beauty often comes when you least expect it.

[CTA Placeholder]: You can see more of that moment in this piece [link to artwork or collection].*

Success Story Email

Subject:  Gaven & Karen’s Journey with ‘Her’

GM!

I want to share a story and give a shout-out to two of my amazing collectors, Gavin and Karen.

At a summer art show in Redmond, Gavin and Karen spent the day circling the event, continually returning to my booth. One piece, “Her,” really resonated with them—particularly the movement and the striking combination of gold and red in the art, paired with the Designer frame.

When I shared the story behind Personifications of Nature, they were captivated. In this exclusive collection, Nature appears as a visible, material character within my photographs. In “Her,” she manifests three times.

The piece completely transformed their mantle in their living room (side note: how stunning is their living room?!). But the highlight of delivering this piece personally was sitting down with Gavin, sipping some select whiskey, and diving into a deep discussion about the mythology of Enki and Enlil.

I also shared an unboxing video of their second piece, Edge of Solace, [here]. Karen’s reaction to seeing her dream piece is priceless—be sure to check it out!

Stories like Gavin and Karen’s remind me why I create. If you’re looking for a piece that speaks to your own story, take a look at my current collection [link to your website or artwork].