I was recently talking with a visual artist, who asked me if it was really possible to make money from her art.
My answer: YES.
One thing I’ve noticed is that not all artists view their art as a business. Some artists do their art for the sake of art (nothing wrong with that – you can still make money and find personal fulfillment), but if you really want the art to support you financially, you have to think of your art as a business. Having art shows is just one of the ways to generate income, and it’s definitely not the only way. Think on an even bigger scale.
During our conversation, this artist and I started looking at all of the business basics, along with some BIG ways that she could make money.
~ Get the business license.
~ Make a marketing plan.
~ Network.
~ Be in sales conversations.
~ Look at which bigger industries or companies might want to purchase your art, especially those that could buy a LOT of art at once.
~ Consider how you could license the rights of your art out to companies who create calendars, notebooks, and other products with images on them.
~ Get hired by an advertising company to create art for the campaigns of some national or international companies.
~ Get a contract with a local city to provide art (like on benches, buildings, and at events).
~ There are many more possibilities, depending on your type of creative work.
By the end of the call, she was giddy. It’s actually possible for her to do what she loves, and get paid for it. Yes, she’s going to need to learn some business skills, which I can train her in, and she’ll need to constantly think outside of the label of what we so often assume being an artist means. Now that she’s begun to think that way, I’m excited to hear from her again soon!
I simply love watching creative people share their talents with the world, and make money when they do. An artist I supported last year started her own radio show, was featured in local media, and was invited to give a TEDx talk about her work. The artist I was speaking with last week has an exciting future ahead of her too!
© 2016 Ava Waits
Ava Waits is an inspirational speaker, business mentor, sales trainer, and author of the forthcoming book, A Woman‘s Treasure: Grow A Business Where Making Money Feels Like Bliss. She believes that making money should feel like bliss, and through her work, she provides innovative sales and marketing guidance to entrepreneurs and companies worldwide.
As a speaker, Ava has been interviewed on television and radio, and has been invited around the country to inspire and train audiences at business events, women’s organizations, and financial companies. She has presented at Rick Steves Europe, United Way, the Women’s Day of Empowerment, Mother Earth News, the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women, and many others.
Find out more about Ava at www.AvaWaits.com.
