How to Be a Successful Artist
At one point or another every artist has asked themselves “How do I become a successful artist?”
Below are 5 important things all successful artists do BUT before you dive in you need to define what success means for you! Are you an artist who wants to quit their day job and be a full time artist, are you an artist who just wants to get past a creative block to create more work or does success as an artist look like something else for you? Make sure you define what success means to you so you can focus on what matters to you!
#1 Make Art
It’s a bit of a no brainer but to be an artist and to be a successful artist, you need to make art! The fastest way to make great art, find your voice and your audience is to make a lot of work. At first this means making terrible work but it’s the only way to get to the good stuff!
Tips for creating your best work:
Don’t wait till inspiration strikes, just show up in the studio again and again. Whenever creative blocks hit (and they do) the only way out is through.
Schedule art making time into your calendar and make it non-negotiable. Even if you only have 15 minutes a day if you show up consistently it will add up.
Need a kick start to your creativity? Try a 100 Day Project!
Practice, practice, practice and practice some more. Whether you have been an artist for 10 years or 10 days you always have room to improve your skills, concepts and vision.
Being an artist is a calling and you are creating your legacy through your work. The artists that continue to create consistently are the ones that have the biggest growth and impact.
#2 Know Your Numbers
If you want to make money as an artist or become a full time artist you need to understand that you are running a business and that means knowing your numbers.
To be a successful artist, you need to step into your confidence as you take charge of your finances and make sales in a way that feels authentic to you.
Ways to stay on top of your money:
Separate your art business from your personal finances. It’s so much easier to keep track of your money when you have separate accounts and credit cards.
Track what you are spending (expenses) as well as what you are making (revenue)! “Profits” are calculated as total monthly revenue less all expenses.
The fastest way to make a profit? Keep expenses to a minimum and cut your costs. This means getting rid of any subscriptions you don’t use and not going wild at the art supply store from now on.
Set your financial goals, for example do you want to cover your costs or do you want to be able to make a full time living? How much money do you need to make per month to reach this goal?
By consistently keeping track of your numbers you’ll have a clear picture to set goals and be able to make empowered financial decisions in your business.
Money is just numbers, not your feelings but sometimes it feels that way!
#3 Sell…in a way that is authentic to you and your work!
Once you understand your numbers and financial goals, you can begin to focus on your sales strategy! Many of us growing up have received the message that sales are sleazy and evil but this couldn’t be further than the truth.
Some things to think about when selling your work:
Selling is a win- win situation! You’ve found a home for your artwork and made some more revenue to support creating more work. The person who bought the work is also a big winner as they now own a fabulous new piece of art to enrich their lives with.
Do you sell your own work? Do a quit audit of the process your collectors need to follow to purchase work from you. Is it obvious you have work for sale? How would they make a purchase are the steps clear and simple?
If you have blocks about selling art and the value of art in the world, it is also a great idea to buy art from an artist you admire and see how the process of buying art feels. How do you feel when this piece of art is proudly hung in your home. Also make note of easy or not easy it was to buy this art from start to finish, how can you make your sales process as friendly and easy as possible.
Is your goal to have a gallery sell your work? Research their clientele, the type of artists they represent and the process for getting into their gallery. Once you’ve learned all you can and discover that they’ll be a good fit for you and they’ll be a good fit for you it’s time to make yourself irresistible to them. In other words it is time to sell yourself to your potential gallery!
#4 Networking…it’s what you know and who you know.
Like sales, networking tends to get a bad rep, rendering images of stuffy corporate events and business card thrusting mayhem. Instead, think of networking as relationship building. Rather than spreading yourself wide and thin, think about the types of connections you want to make and the relationships you want to have.
Networking ideas for artists:
Want to connect with Interior Designers? Go to trade shows, parties or events where you live.
Have an interest in gallerists? Go to their openings, events
Invite people to come for studio visits! You don’t need to have a fancy studio before inviting people to come check out your work and have an interesting visit.
Instagram is a great way to make connections. Leave meaningful thoughtful comments or send messages to people you’d like to get to know better.
When it comes to networking these are some key things to follow:
Get out there! Select an event, put it in your calendar and go. It can feel scary but chances are other people feels as awkward as you do so don’t let it hold you back.
Don’t feel the need to solely reach out to industry leaders and power players to make your time worthwhile. Embrace peer-to-peer networking; that is, connecting with other artists that are at similar points in their careers as you. You’ll likely grow together and as your careers develop, you’ll find that the relationship may even be more helpful further down the line.
Don’t fall into the mindset of take, take, take. Instead of thinking ‘what can I get out of this person or these people?’ you have to think about ‘what am I willing to give back’. Always offer support and insight to others and most importantly don’t keep count!
#5 Connect with other artists
There is no shortcut to becoming a successful artist. In fact, there is no shortcut to anything worthwhile. Rather than feeling defeated, take comfort in that fact. You are in it for the long haul so extend your timeline and take some pressure off yourself.
Again, being an artist can be lonely, so make it a priority to connect with other working artists. These are the people who understand all the ups and downs you are going through because they are going through them too! You and your artistic peers can help hold each other accountable, identify each other’s blindspots, and provide encouragement to keep making work.
You can create your own group of like-minded peers by networking or you can also join an existing group, like the Thrive Together Network our online community for female visual artists!
On the TTN Network, you will experience community, content, and conversations you can’t find anywhere else. You will meet other like-minded working female artists to share your experiences with and gain insights to make better, more well-informed decisions about your art practice and business. It is also a space to find a little inspiration, thought-provoking conversations, and different perspectives every day.
You Will Have Access To
✔ A resource library including a checklist of highly recommended things to work on to help build your art business and art practice.
✔ Opportunities to connect with over 400 like-minded working artist professionals.
✔ Tips, resources and information to take your art practice to the next level.
✔ Opportunities to share residencies, submissions, art shows and more.
✔ Questions, tips and resources on marketing, finances, and all things related to your art business.