If I could start my art business over…
3 things I'd tell my younger self.
I've made sooo many mistakes since starting my art business back in 2021… I've wasted time, ran into dead ends, made bad decisions, lost money, been depressed and demotivated and thought about throwing in the towel. I wouldn't trade this profession for anything, but how I wish it was easier sometimes.
If I could go back in time and give myself some advice, here are the three things I would say to 37-year-old Louise, recovering from burnout and embarking on a new career...
1. Stop obsessing over your art style. (Or your "brand")
For the love of crows, you are just starting out. You are still learning the foundations. You don't even know what kind of artist you want to be yet, or what you're truly passionate about. You can't "pick a niche" yet, for understandable reasons: you haven't allowed yourself to explore. This applies not only to artists but to most creatives, and even other types of solopreneurs as well.
Instead of trying so desperately to box yourself in and set yourself apart: do the opposite. Try a little bit of everything. Be shamelessly all over the pace. And see what sticks - for you, and for your audience. They're not there for just one thing anyways, they're there for you. Your voice, your journey, your point of view.
It's only by giving yourself permission to roam free that you'll ever feel comfortable settling down. And that's when your style/brand will truly develop. You will get there. Don't rush it.
2. Don't worry about fancy infrastructure too early.
The website and shop, the logistics, the print-on-demand solutions, the logo and branding assets, et.c. All of that can wait.
Focus on your craft.
Produce a LOT of strong work and build your confidence.
Show your art to people on a consistent basis.
Start an email list to stay in touch with those who want to see more.
Keep showing your art. Keep practicing talking about your art.
Wait for the first few people to ask "Can I buy this?"
Start making sales. THAT'S when you can start thinking about the other stuff.
Don't put the cart before the horse.
3. Double down on what's working.
Running a solo business can feel like an all-you-can-eat buffet of projects and marketing activities. Before you know it, your todo list will be miles long and you'll be drowning in "shoulds" and "musts" and FOMO. Everything is priority number one. Everything is urgent. Burnout is just around the corner. 🙄
Instead of trying to do everything at once, try ONE new thing at a time: one platform or marketing channel, one project, one product or service, one distribution channel, et.c. Give it your ALL for a few months. Evaluate.
Then: Double down on what's working, and let go of the time wasters and the busy work.
This is what I'm putting into practice right now. I've been spreading myself way too thin the past few years, so this year I'm radically simplifying my business. I'm going all in on the top activities that have been proven to work for me. In my case, that's YouTube, Substack/email marketing, and releasing digital products.
I'm letting go of trying to do Instagram, experimenting with reels, reviving my podcast, trying to sell prints, trying to get my art into markets and galleries and stores... *slow, deep breaths*
All of these are things I still want to do. But I can't do them all at once. By choosing just 1-2 areas of focus at a time, I can see much better, quicker results. And I can always shift my focus later on.
If you could start your business over again, what things would you change? 😊
Hi, I'm Louise - a watercolor wildlife artist, YouTuber and creative coach. I paint - mostly birds. I create courses for beginner artists. And I support creative solopreneurs with my digital products and coaching.
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