How I Built A Successful Art Studio (And You Can Too!)

I became a visual artist at the age of fourteen.  I went to art school and then got my MFA at grad school. I built my portfolio, worked on my resume, got some exhibits, grants, and teaching jobs.  And that whole time I waited tables because my full-time job as an artist did not fully support me.  This is a story I see happen over, and over, and over again.  A talented, dedicated artist makes amazing work, and struggles desperately financially.  That artist yearns for a gallery to swoop in and save the day, but that gallery never appears. That artist begins to suffer crippling doubt and economic stress.  Being financially insecure is not a recipe for creative freedom, and ultimately, your work will suffer as well. 

But is there a better system?

I say YES! So today, I’m sharing the backstory of how I built a million-dollar art studio and changed that narrative.

There is a crippling societal myth that artists are poor, and being an artist is not practical or sustainable.  Though I agree that most artists have a different risk tolerance than most people, I do not agree that artists must toil in poverty. 

Thirty years ago, the picture was different for artists.  Their were very few ways to make a living as an artist.  You could become a designer or illustrator working for a company, get represented by a powerful art gallery who could consistently sell your work, or become an art teacher or professor. At least you’d be paid to work in your chosen passion. 

But now, there’s this little thing called the internet.  About seven years ago, I had all but quit being an artist. I knew I was creative. I enjoyed making art, but the slog of the “real-world” art career climbing, grants, galleries, and teaching had stopped being appealing.  It wasn’t working for me, and I didn’t seen it working for most artists. Some people did, and do, succeed in this arena, and I’m so delighted it worked for them!  But the odds were iffy, and I was tired.

The process that worked for me

In my heart, I gave up the idea of “being a financially successful artist,” and instead started making art process videos for fun on the internet to my 247 Instagram followers.  This was strictly a hobby, a lark, or fanciful experiment.  But the videos started to go viral, and I started getting more serious.  It took a while, like three years, to figure out how to monetize my social media growth into a successful art studio.

The internet has eliminated a tremendous amount of barriers. Now, artists can connect directly with fans and collectors.  Amazon normalized buying stuff online.  Etsy normalized buying stuff from individual creators. Shipping services are incredible reliable and efficient.  I just sent some art to Japan from Minnesota, and it arrived in only four days! Payment services are safe and reliable to transfer money from buyer to seller in seconds.  Building a personal commerce website is pretty much plug and play.  Social media literally connects artists to pretty much every human on the planet.

There’s no need for a third party like an art gallery.  There might be a need for side jobs, but we’re in the age of a gig culture!  There’s no shame in waiting tables. I did it for fifteen years. Usually, a full time art studio that makes sustainable revenue does not happen in one year.  It’s a process of building and growing over time, just like any business.

How you can take advantage of this

The problem I see with a lot of artists is that they are still stuck in the 90s, thinking that galleries are the only way to create the income they desire.  I actually love galleries, and I do show in them, but they are only one piece of my diversified income streams. 

Many artists still deeply believe the myth that “artists can’t make money,” and the thought of applying a few small business principles to their art practice is very alien.  But the fact is, the very basics of running a small business, knowing your way around sales and marketing, can change everything.  I know a lot of artists that can be purists and the word “marketing” literally turns their stomach… but consider it this way.  Marketing your art is simply a way for you to allow more people to see it, and some people might want to buy it!  YAY!  Every time you participate in a public exhibit or show in a gallery, you are “marketing” your work.  So let’s be deliberate about how we do our marketing, use all the channels available to us, and do it in a way that is authentic to our story and our work!

Though my productive art studio is still a full time job, and I have a team now of several employees that help me make it happen, I also love artists!  I want to help artists and creatives push past these limiting beliefs and make money!  That’s why I publish a vlog on various business topics, and have a private membership called Art Revenue Coaching, where I help hundreds of artists with training, community, and live coaching calls to learn how to monetize their work!  The doors are currently closed, but they are opening again soon! I invite you to check it out HERE to see what it’s all about, and put your name on the list.

I think artists should get paid.  It’s the artists that are the conduits of expressing deep, essential truths.  It’s the makers, musicians, and writers that bring dimension to all of our lives.  I’d like those people to be financially secure, so the beautiful work that they are called to bring into the world can be birthed.  To that end, I wrote The Ultimate Guide to Selling your Art Online, a free worksheet that breaks down the basic steps to building a creative business and selling your art!  You can get it HERE, or by clicking the button below!