This post is the first in a series on the business of being an artist. How do I make this business work? When I started my studio practice in 2015, I had no formal training as an artist or in business. But I did have the experience of having started another small business (as a photographer) in 2010. I devoured online business seminars on how to run a creative small business through CreativeLive. I signed up for everyone's marketing newsletter. I gobbled up all of the tips. Some of them are principles I still use in my business today. I find that when I meet up with many young artists who desire mentorship or have questions, one of the big ones is how do I make money? And not just enough to cover your supplies and expenses - meaningful money that can actually contribute to supporting you and those you love. Principle #1: Consider working a part-time job alongside your creative work There is an ugly myth in the artist community--that you don't earn the label of artist unless it is the only thing you rely on for income. How ridiculous! Even Mozart had students, as did many monumental composers of classical music. Philip Glass, a very famous living composer, worked a day job as a plumber for a long time even after he gained recognition in his career. I do encourage young and beginning artists to have some kind of a part time 'day job.' This will give you some cushion for leaner months and as you scale your business and invest in it long term. When I started my studio, I was teaching voice lessons and working as a headshot & portrait photographer. A year into my studio, when I began to experience some of the fruits of my labor from my first year of hustling as an artist, I switched to an adjunct teaching position and closed my photography business so all of my entrepreneurial energy could go into my art practice. Of course, your pursuit of other work alongside your practice is also dependent upon your life circumstances. If you have young children, you may only be able to manage one part-time gig, and be ready to make art that gig. If your partner is able to support your family financially to allow you to develop your practice, that's amazing too. If you have limited energy, you may need to devote full attention to your practice or you may not have space for your art at all. I had no kids when I started out, but I also have had chronic health conditions that greatly impact my daily life. Yet, in 2016 & 2017, I created six bodies of work and had my first four solo exhibits. I painted my first two collections of hand-painted ornaments, and made hand-painted prayer card sets. I also taught around sixteen voice students per week during the school year and began lecturing in music at a local community college. Yes, I worked a lot of weekends and nights. But I wouldn't change a thing. Today, my artwork practice is a vital (and the largest) chunk of my income, but I still work part time as a curator & arts ministry leader and teach a handful of students one afternoon per week. This other income lowers my stress levels during leaner months and allows me to broaden my audience. While there are definitely days I feel overwhelmed to have so much to do, many days I feel grateful for the diverse and meaningful work I get to spend my time doing. Principle #2: Diversify your income Making a career in art sustainable is not always a simple task, and it often looks different for each artist. But one thing that is very important is considering ways to create multiple streams of income for your business so you can sustain it over the long haul, especially if something happens that is out of your control that compromises one of your income streams. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I lost three solo exhibition opportunities where I had fully expected to connect with collectors and sell thousands of dollars of artwork. I watched all of the exhibits get postponed indefinitely, and that income stream vanished almost overnight. If I hadn't had other opportunities in place, like commissions and a regular rhythm of online flash sales, teaching opportunities, and Patreon support, I would have struggled even more financially during the pandemic. Principle #3: Find a mix of active & passive income streams There are two basic kinds of income:
If you're pursuing a career making things with your hands, then your income streams will be mostly active. Even the passive streams rely on a portion of active time, but it is good to invest that time into creating some sources of passive income, so you can bring in extra income with little effort after you've invested the initial time or money. Though passive income may sound way more attractive than active income (who doesn't want more for less effort?), as an artist, it is generally through the act of creating that you will grow most. While you'll regularly be working on various individual projects, like commissions, exhibitions, and collections, those will just be a part of the overall body of work you'll build over time. Most visual artists dream of having a sold out gallery opening. This just simply isn't realistic for most of us. While you should pursue and aspire to sell work at exhibit openings and releases, it isn't the end of the world if you still have work that remains unsold at the conclusion of that exhibition you've been dreaming of. Remember that all the time and energy you spent making it is an investment in your future: it is making you a better artist, and it is creating an artifact that can be sold in other spaces. At the time I'm writing this, I have created thirteen bodies of work for exhibition and numerous small collections of artwork and products over the past ten years. I've made several bodies of work that I considered excellent, and yet it took several years for me to sell even half of the paintings in some cases. Most of my work from previous exhibits and collections is listed in some kind of online shop, and sometimes I make a big sale of one of these works and it is totally surprising. When I sell a painting I made in 2017 for $1200, it feels like passive income and a huge blessing. Keep your head up and keep working hard, dreaming big, and don't forget to pray. It will eventually pay off! Coming next: six ways to make income in a creative businessIf you found this post helpful, or if you have any questions or comments, I would love it if you left me a note below! Thanks for taking the time to read and engage with my work today!
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About KellyI'm an artist, curator, and writer living in KCMO. I like to spend time thinking about the intersections of art & faith, to make things with my hands, and to watch things grow. ArchivesCategories |