Congratulations on your decision to transition to a full-time art career! It is a brave and exciting step to take. I recommend doing some research and making a plan before you jump in. Start by establishing a clear goal and begin to think about the steps it will take to get there. Build a portfolio of your work, reach out to potential contacts, and look into classes and workshops that could help you hone your skills. Additionally, look into different funding sources and grants you may be able to apply for. Above all, don't be afraid to take risks and put yourself out there!
Be Honest With Yourself Being honest with yourself is essential. What are you hoping to achieve? Are you looking for fame, and freedom from the 9-5? Or do you have such a passion that this is all you want to do? We often get caught up in external distractions and pressures, but the only way to truly achieve these goals is to look within and truly understand yourself and your capabilities. Take time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and be honest with yourself about what you need to do to reach your goals. When you're honest about your goals and honest with yourself, you'll be well on your way to achieving passion, fame, and freedom. Take Stock of What You'll Need To help you get started, you'll want to take an inventory of what you'll need to successfully launch your business. It's important to ask yourself do you have the financial stability to take risks? If money is concern, consider transitioning to a part-time job, pick up some freelancing etc. You may also want to research local laws, regulations, and taxes that may apply to your business. Create Multiple Income Streams There are so many great ways to create multiple income streams with your artwork! Licensing your art is an excellent way to create passive income. You could also look into selling your artwork online through an e-commerce store or through a marketplace like Etsy. Teaching workshops is another great way to generate income from your art, as you can reach many people who are interested in learning from you. Participating in art fairs is a great way to get your work seen by a lot of people and make sales. Additionally, you could look into collaborations with companies, selling reproduction prints, and setting up a Patreon account. Cultivate Your Own Voice Developing your own individual voice and creating a recognisable brand can be an exciting and rewarding process. To begin, start by reflecting on what you want your business to represent and how you want to connect with your audience. Once you have a clear vision, you can create a business name, logo, and business cards that reflect this vision. You can also create a website and social media presence to further communicate your brand. To ensure consistency across all platforms, be sure to maintain a clear and consistent message throughout all of your materials. With a little bit of thought and effort, you can create a brand that truly reflects your business and speaks to your customers. Promote Yourself Be passionate about creating content that is meaningful and impactful. Strive to create content that is informative and educational, while also being entertaining and engaging. Create content that can help people learn and grow, while also having fun. For instance, I also have a passion for creating digital platforms that are user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to navigate. My goal is to create content that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their background or experience level. By creating an archive of my projects, I hope to showcase my skills and abilities, as well as provide an easy to access source of my work. Don't do This Alone If you want to achieve success with your business, it can be overwhelming to do it all alone. That's why it's so important to avoid dream stealers; people who put down your ideas, goals, or ambitions. Instead, surround yourself with supporters who can help you reach your goals. Consider hiring a mentor who can provide you with guidance and advice to help you reach your goals. Additionally, networking can help you make connections and get referrals to help you get to where you want to be. Finally, take some time to identify your "what, why, how, and who" - What do you want to achieve? Why do you want to achieve it? How will you get there? Who will help you? Doing this can help you stay focused and make progress towards your dream.