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Four phases every working artist must go through – in order
You’re done being a hobby artist. If you decided today to officially put your ALL into your career as an artist, what would that look like? There are four phases every working artist masters. You’ll focus on these four things (in order): NOT THE ONLY, BUT THE BEST WAY Before we get into details about the phases, I want to mention that I used to have a different take on the process of becoming an artist. In this article, First four steps to take to become an artist, I talk about how the first things you should do are make it known, make a sale, sell at an art show,…
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Should you DIY, outsource, or invest in education?
Artists are creative entrepreneurs. In the beginning that can mean juggling all parts of your business solo. And there are A LOT of moving parts. Handling all them all with grace is ideal. There are different ways to handle each piece of your art business. Sometimes it’s best to learn how to do a task all by yourself. That’s DIY. And sometimes it’s best to pay someone else to do it for you, also known as outsourcing. Other situations call for a mix of the two: paying someone to teach you how to do it faster. Learning art business is split into these three paths. Let’s talk about it. Best…
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Start selling art online without feeling gross
Often I hear from artists that they don’t want to be pushy, they don’t want to bother people and they don’t want to sell. Even though they seriously would love to make a living from selling art. So let’s talk about how to start selling art without feeling bad about it. REMEMBER THE VALUE YOU PROVIDE It’s a fair trade. When you focus only on what they’re giving up (money) and not on what you’re giving up (valuable art) then it’ll feel bad. Remember it’s an even exchange. If the other person didn’t think it was an even exchange, they wouldn’t buy it. That’s why it’s so important to take…
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Fears you have of being a full-time artist (that aren’t true)
Since becoming a full-time artist in 2021, I hear a lot of other artists project their fears about it onto me. Many of these creatives also want to go full-time, but they’re simply afraid that something bad might happen if they do. Today I’m going to dispel a few of these fears so you can move forward with your art journey and know that it’s possible for you, too. “I won’t be able to keep up with demand” This fear is the equivalent to a physical trainer hearing someone say, “I just don’t want to get too bulky in my shoulders.” It assumes that it will be so quick and…
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Big 5 lessons from traveling full-time as a solopreneur
Running an art business while traveling full time is an absolute trip – figuratively and actually. I was on the road for over two years while operating A Cup of Cloudy as a solo entrepreneur, and I learned a few lessons with my traveling business that will be helpful for all artists. When I quit my day job, I focused on increasing revenue AND cutting expenses drastically. For us that meant selling all our belongings, leaving our rental house, and moving into a tiny home. My husband and our two dogs lived in a travel trailer and then transitioned into hotel-hopping in the second year. We saw so much of…
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What is jacquard?
Recently I began my journey with jacquard tapestries. I do a lot of surface design, meaning my artwork is put onto different items (plain products are boring!). And jacquard tapestry products are the latest iteration of the surface design selection at A Cup of Cloudy. But jacquard is a little different. Designs aren’t printed ON, they’re woven IN. These art products are so unique that I thought the topic deserved its own explanation article. So let’s talk about what jacquard fabric is, where it came from, and how I got involved in it. WHAT IS JACQUARD? Jacquard is a type of fabric. There are many items labeled wrongly as jacquard…
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Secrets for gaining a repeat collector
The repeat collector is someone who buys more than one piece of art from you. They love your artwork enough to start and grow a collection of it. Repeat collectors aren’t made overnight, however — there are a few key secrets to making someone who has bought your work before become interested in buying it again. Let’s go over the best ways to motivate that second, third, or fourth sale. ART STYLE At the most basic level, people buy art to look at it. They buy it to decorate their home, so that their home looks a certain way. Having a consistent art style means when they collect more than…
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Financial basics for your creative side hustle
Many artists begin making art as a hobby, which transitions into a creative side hustle after they hear, “could I buy that off you?” enough times. Once artists get comfortable with selling, the call of becoming a full time artist gets louder. This article is for artists anywhere on this spectrum – all of us must learn how to track the money we spend, make, and hold. Let’s get into financial basics. Revenue Revenue is the money that you receive from selling your art. It’s any income generated by your art business. This can include commissions, accessories, shipping fees, tax you collect from customers, etc. Any money that comes IN…
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Gift guide for your artsy friends
Every year there are birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries: so what to buy an artist? We all know our artsy friends can be particular and eclectic – we don’t always know exactly what they’ve been eyeing or what tools they use. Let’s go over the best artsy gifts for any occasion in this artist gift guide. VISUAL EXPERIENCES Take them on a date! Don’t worry – platonic dates, double dates, a group hangout sesh or some one-on-one time is all welcome. Experiences are the best gifts because you create memories and make the time for an attraction or event they might not have gone to see otherwise. Here are some prime…
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Avoid these 6 mistakes in your online art shop
SELL MORE, SERVE MORE. Sell art online this year by avoiding a few simple errors – errors that are often overlooked. Artists have a lot to manage in their creative businesses and an online art shop is just one part of it. But to sell art online is to give your creative business a way to scale! So let’s tackle a few common mistakes you might be making so you can get to scaling instead. I recommend selling your artwork at in-person shows first before creating your website. Read this article here to learn why art shows move your art journey along faster. Paying too many fees Making a good…
