Making Art Your Career: Proven Strategies for Aspiring Artists
Have you ever dreamed of transforming your passion for art into a full-time career? My journey from being a Systems Engineer to a full-time artist has been filled with challenges, learning, and incredible rewards. In this blog post, I'll share:
4 Essential Tips to build a Successful Art Career
Monetization Strategies for Artists
and the proven strategies that helped me make this transition and succeed as an artist. Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your current art business, these tips will provide you with the guidance and inspiration you need to succeed.
The Journey from Engineering to Art
My professional journey began in a completely different field. I graduated with a B.S. in Aeronautics in 2012 and a M.S. in Systems Engineering in 2018 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Afterward, I worked as a Systems Test Engineer at Thales in Melbourne, Florida, where I dealt with WiFi and connectivity for airplanes. Despite enjoying the technical challenges, the corporate environment and immigration system limitations in the US made me extremely curios and eager for more creative freedom.
- President’s Art Exhibition in Grad School at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Art had always been my passion. Throughout my time in university, I continued creating art as a hobby, experimenting with different mediums and participating in local exhibitions and craft fairs in Florida. This passion eventually led me to take the bold step of pursuing art full-time after I moved back to Dubai. It wasn't an easy decision and to be honest, I still face challenges, but it was a decision I needed to make and so here I am, sharing what I’ve learned so far.
Discovering My True Calling
Art has always been a part of my life. I started taking it seriously in high school in Dubai. At a young age I was exposed to different mediums and I learned a lot. I learned how to draw and paint still life objects and take inspiration from photography and images in magazines. We were taught some art history and had to practice famous artist styles and reference them in our work. I also were encouraged to experiment with different materials and then create a combination of all the elements. The artist reference, the still life and using the experimented materials. This feels like a lifetime ago, and even though it was just a high school level of art education, it definitely planted the seed and the process of how you can start from an idea and build with inspiration and a story. We also had to write about our work in detail, describing visually what the art was about and also conceptualizing the work too.
My First Group Exhibition in High-School, Dubai, U.A.E
Looking back, this provided me with a foundation that I could keep building on. I continued to build my skills over the years. Fluid art, particularly resin and alcohol inks, became my primary focus. I discovered acrylic pours while I was in grad school in the dorms and it was a new therapeutic way for me to create. I was hooked! I felt a new level of freedom with my creative outlet and this only led me to keep exploring other forms of fluid art where I then discovered resin and alcohol inks. The reason I’m sharing this is because building your foundation might look very different for you and that’s ok, but it’s the most important step in the journey to becoming a successful artist and hence its the #1 item on the list below.
4 Essential Tips to build a Successful Art Career
1. Find Your Unique Voice:
Create art that is authentically you! To succeed as a full-time artist, it's crucial to continuously develop your skills and find your unique style. Take classes, watch tutorials, and practice regularly. Your style is what sets you apart from other artists, so embrace what makes your work unique.
My journey started at a young age and I didn’t stop learning, experimenting and practicing. If you skip this step of finding what kind of art lights you up and gets you excited to create, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice. I know that this might seem daunting, but if you spend time exploring different mediums and styles, you’ll eventually start to gravitate to a process or find that you have a favorite medium or a combination that you feel comfortable and excited to create with. Once you find your unique voice and feel your inner validation is screaming hell yes, then you’re ready!
My journey started at a young age and I didn’t stop learning, experimenting and practicing. If you skip this step of finding what kind of art lights you up and gets you excited to create, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice. I know that this might seem daunting, but if you spend time exploring different mediums and styles, you’ll eventually start to gravitate to a process or find that you have a favorite medium or a combination that you feel comfortable and excited to create with. Once you find your unique voice and feel your inner validation is screaming hell yes, then you’re ready!
Also, allow yourself the freedom to change your style as you grow. We’re all evolving as humans through our life experiences and inspiration, so naturally your art style will also evolve with you, and that is totally normal. In fact, it’s highly encouraged because that just means you’re refining your craft and you’re on the right path.
2. Build a Strong Online Presence:
Use social media to showcase your work and connect with potential buyers. In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential. Create a professional website to showcase your portfolio, and be active on visual social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Share your process, stories, and the inspiration behind your work to connect with your audience on a deeper level. I find that after talking to other artists and also from my own personal experience, this can be the thing that provides the most resistance.
What I’ve learned is that where there is the most resistance, you have to tackle that head on and spend the most time building and growing. Soon, the thing that felt like the biggest roadblock will become something that is second nature and almost enjoyable. Look at it as something that has the power to change your career and as an incredibly powerful tool. Things will change with algorithms and such, but you have to be ready to pivot and keep moving.
Having a positive attitude towards sharing your art will keep you going. The world needs to see your art, so please keep sharing it regardless of what the vanity metrics might tell you.
It doesn’t stop there though. Treat social media as ONE of your online touch points. Collectors can discover you through your socials, but then need to be guided into your website to learn more about you, build trust and be able to shop with ease. If you’re still trying to figure this part out, I got you! I’m also a web designer and I taught myself how to design and build a website for my art business. I am extremely lucky to be able to bring together two things I love the most and that is creativity with my tech background. My web design studio can help you create a website for artists by an artist.
3. Network:
Attend art shows, join art communities, and collaborate with other artists. Building a network of fellow artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts can open up new opportunities. Networking can lead to collaborations, exhibitions, and valuable insights from experienced artists.
This is the secret sauce!
I’ve landed some big collaborations by just talking to people and sharing my art and story with them. It can be difficult considering you might be more of an introvert, but trust me, if you can find the courage to just say hi, tell them your name and that you’re an artist, you never know where these connections could take you.
One thing I will say is, make meaningful connections and have meaningful conversations. Don’t make it all about you, ask them questions and show an interest in what they are doing. Building genuine connections will eventually open doors and it’s super exciting!
4. Stay Persistent:
It takes years to become an overnight success!
Anyone that has achieved any form of ‘success’ will tell you this. It’s something you’ve heard time and time again, because it’s so true! Being consistent, staying persistent and showing up for yourself and your art will be the one thing that will transform your journey.
However, here’s the harsh truth that I learned. You can stay consistent, but you also have to be really self aware. You will have to learn how to pivot while being consistent as well. If you check a box saying that you’re being consistent without actually assessing the strategy of what you’re doing, you will lead yourself to insanity and burnout. Schedule monthly check ins or quarterly ‘life audits’ as I like to call it and see what’s working and what’s not working and pivot accordingly.
Use what you’ve done as data and don’t attach any shame or guilt with your analytics and sales. Just acknowledge the data, make the changes you need and keep moving.
The other simple concept is that, if you didn’t buy the lottery ticket, you’re never going to win. Same thing, if you give up and quit, your dreams of pursuing an artistic career are sadly not going to come true.
So stay in the game, hold onto that hypothetical lottery ticket and keep creating and sharing your art. This is how you’ll find success ✨
in collaboration with Corona and African Eastern
Monetization Strategies:
There are many ways to make money from your art. Here I’ve listed some common ones, but this by no means is a comprehensive list.
There are so many ways to monetize your art and I would suggest to start with one and slowly build your way to create additional streams of income. I wanted to do it all and this was the quickest way to burnout. So be patient and take your time to explore the different strategies and find ones that excite you.
Selling original paintings
Prints
Hosting workshops
Creating Merch
Affiliate marketing
Online courses
Art licensing
Commissioned work
Web Design Services for Artists by an Artist
As an artist, I understand the unique needs of creatives when it comes to web design. Having a professional website is crucial for showcasing your work and attracting clients. If you're looking for a professionally designed website tailored to your needs, check out my Web Design Services for Artists by an Artist. Let me help you create a stunning online presence that truly represents your work.
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I'm excited to share my journey with you and hope to inspire you in your own creative pursuits. Whether you're an artist looking to grow or a collector seeking unique pieces, there's something for everyone here. Stay tuned for more blog posts, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes looks at my creative process.
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