Learn, create, grow: Things I learned while running my small art business
Becoming a full-time artist and running a small art business was always one of my biggest dreams. To be cool, fun and free from the stereotypes of a professional life. Wake up every day with fresh creative ideas on my mind and with a speckled apron around my waist, throw myself into another exciting project.
It’s easy to get carried away by the idea of a bohemian life of an artist. However, there’s so much more about chasing an artistic career. From tireless work to occasional self-doubt and creative blocks, these are some of the most common factors challenging artists, makers and small business owners on a daily basis.
It's been nearly four years since I started Little Sky Arts, and looking back now, it’s been such a rollercoaster with more downs than I could ever imagine. But what’s more important, I enjoyed every moment of my creative journey and couldn’t be more grateful for what I’ve gained along the way.
In today’s – and my first - blog, I’d like to share some of the lessons I’ve learned while running my small art business and show you that turning your creative ideas into reality doesn’t have to be just a dream, but an achievable goal.
One step at a time
We live in a world that’s getting faster every single day, and many things can be done with an eye-blink (quite literally). From online shopping and booking a holiday to applying for a job and transferring money, we need to get things done instantly and almost forget what it means to wait.
However, when trying to build and sustain an art business, patience is one of the most important qualities you should have. As artists, we love to explore and experiment, and it might take years to refine our unique style. Therefore, try not to rush the process and instead of focusing on the final results, enjoy the slow development and find positive sides in every phase.
And why is patience so important?
To develop skills
The creative world is an ever-changing and highly competitive industry, and it’s important to keep improving your skills and produce work that will make you stand out from the crowd. By giving yourself enough time, you can make sure the products you bring to the market are unique, high-quality and sustainable.
To explore the market
Before launching your own brand, make sure you research the market properly, learning about your audience, potential customers and competitors. In simple terms, go out there to see what are other independent sellers working on, what strategies they use to promote their work and how they engage with their audience.
Whether you’re an illustrator, a ceramicist or a jewellery maker, keeping an eye on what’s happening in your area should be part of your daily routine, helping you kick-start your career and sustain your brand.
Thanks to social media, market exploration can be a really quick, straightforward process that can be done from wherever you are. However, remember that not everything can be found online, so make sure to pay regular visits to your local art spots. From visiting independent stores to wandering around art fairs and pop-ups, seeing the places in person is a perfect way to connect with the community, make friendships and get inspired.
And who knows? You might make connections that could potentially lead to:
Collaborations on unique projects
Organising meet-ups and events
Hosting an online giveaway or competition
To build a brand
And finally, while you might be doing your best to get the world to see your work, it simply takes time to get recognised. While giving your brand time and space to grow and evolve, make sure you keep shouting about the amazing things you’re doing, share your small achievements with your audience and most importantly, don’t lose motivation!
2. Create a unique signature
Social media can be a great source of inspiration, helping you discover different designs and techniques to kick-start your project. But how many times did you find yourself feeling low and depressed, thinking your work is nothing compared to what you see on the screen?
Now, let’s put this right. First of all, the content we consume on social media is frequently produced by professionals or people who have been working on their skills for years, using the best technology and equipment to achieve professional-looking results. And secondly, social media is an online space, not a real world, with people only presenting the best versions of themselves and their work, including the artists.
So never ever compare yourself to other people. Instead, use their content to get fresh perspectives and inspiration and focus on your own growth and authenticity.
3. Sale is not the only goal
Attending the first market or pop-up event is a huge milestone in every artist's career. It feels like a well-deserved reward for all the long hours spent working and a recognition of your effort and talent.
In fact, you might find yourself hardly getting any sleep the night before the market, with the excitement bringing lots of different questions to your mind:
Am I good enough to present my work?
Will people notice my stall?
Will I make any sales?
It’s safe to say these are all valid questions to ask yourself, especially when getting ready for your first event. However, instead of seeing markets only as a way to sell your art and earn money, try to think of them as a fantastic opportunity to:
Make your presence known to the local area
Share your story with other sellers and customers
Showcase your work
Receive lovely compliments
Build a network
So, whether you’re out of stock by the end of the day, or sold just a few items, there are so many aspects to consider when evaluating your experience. In other words, don’t let the low earnings put you down after the first experience and give yourself more time to learn and progress. After all, markets can be really unpredictable, and depending on the season, location or programme, your success might vary with every single event.
“Never ever compare yourself to other people. Instead, use their content to get fresh perspectives and inspiration and focus on your own growth and authenticity.”
4. Never stop learning
And finally, there’s so much more to running a small art business than just a creative process. One day, you realise you’ve become a photographer, a web designer, a marketing expert and a finance manager in one person, gaining valuable experience in areas you might have never met before.
To make sure you stay ahead of the curve and do your best to be seen and heard, it’s essential to be inquisitive and never stop learning. Whether it means attending an online course, listening to a podcast or connecting with field professionals, you should always keep your eyes open and be ready to make a change. While things like SEO can be scary at the beginning, knowing just the basics can do real magic to your website or ecommerce platform.
Overall, every huge success is an outcome of small failures, and it simply takes time and effort to build your dream brand. However, while making steps towards your goals, don’t forget about your initial motivations and the joy art brings you. While it might take six months, one year or two years to turn your efforts into success, there's one certain thing - it's so much worth it!
