Start Your Own Art Business in 2020

Opening up your own art business is daunting. But with all the resources available to you today, it’s probably not be as hard as you think. 

There are a lot of things to consider; how to market yourself, where to find studio space, and how to stand apart from the rest. 

We’ll cover all that in a second. Just remember that starting a business is really a series of steps. Tackle one at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way!

Essential First Steps

Budget

As with any business, hashing out a budget is a must. You won’t succeed without one. Do this first, that way you’ll know pretty quickly if you’re ready to move forward or if you still need time to prepare. 

Find out what you need to spend each month, and how much revenue will be coming in. This is a simple way to see how much you’ll have left, and if you need to make some cuts. 

Website

In 2020, having a website for your business can make or break you. Now that everything is done online these days, potential buyers will want to check out your portfolio. The easier you make it for them, the more business and inquiries you’ll get. 

Even though you’re an artist, making a website might not be in your creative arsenal. Luckily for you, there’s an excellent list of best Squarespace web designers who are happy to create a portfolio website you’ll love. 

Find Studio Space

Having a space that’s separate from the rest of your life is usually crucial for most creatives. Finding a room to be entirely yours – away from the kids or a partner – can help you focus on your work. 

This could be a spare bedroom, a garage, or even a rented office space close to home. If you want art to be your main source of income, then you need a place where you can work on it easily. 

Broaden Your Audience

Find Out Who Your Audience Is

There’s a lot of marketing that goes into selling art, and like any good marketer, you need to identify your target audience. What kind of people does your art attract? 

The sooner you figure this out, the better you can sell your art. If young mothers love your watercolor animals for example, then consider reaching out to children’s decor companies. 

Know who is most likely to buy your work.

Start an Email Outreach Campaign

This goes hand in hand with the website section. Once you have your portfolio up and running digitally, consider starting a blog. 

This is a great way to gain followers and feedback. You can also let your followers know when you’re in an art show or want to gain attention for an upcoming project with a simple newsletter. 

Get on Social Media

Specifically Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook. This is an easy and highly effective method of getting followers and attention for your projects and shows. The more eyes on your art the better. 

Instagram is great for artists since it’s photo oriented. Not only can you show off your work, but you can also connect with other artists who can help you grow your business or offer some constructive feedback. 

YouTube is a great tool for showing how you create your art. You can do a time-lapse of a painting, or even review the materials you use. 

Consider Being an Eco-Friendly Artist

With the way things are trending, being environmentally-friendly is in. Most artists don’t realize how harmful their waste can be when it comes to paper and leftover paint. 

Being an eco-friendly artist is sure to boost your traffic. It also allows you access into the “going green” niche that everyone is striving for these days. This is a great way to set yourself apart from other artists who don’t follow eco-friendly practices. 

In Conclusion…

There are a lot of right and wrong ways to start an art business, but the things I went over today can only help. 

If you’re looking for more information on how to start, check out this in-depth guide on starting an art business. It dives deeper into some of the topics mentioned above, along with a whole lot of other things you haven’t thought of yet.

Let me know what you thought, and if this was helpful to you! Have you used any of these things to start your own art business? Tell me all about it!