TOO MANY INCOME STREAMS - NOT ENOUGH INCOME?

If you’re running an art business, you probably know that you need several income streams to make a living - and there’s no shortage of choice. 

You’re creative and can turn your hand to so many things. How many times has an enthusiastic friend or family member suggested a business idea to you? You can create a line of cards, paint pet portraits, make cushion covers, do personalised wedding stationery! 

And what about all the opportunities online? You can sell prints on Etsy, upload artwork to Society 6 and Red Bubble, create fabric repeats for Spoonflower, enter Minted competitions and teach on Skillshare.

Then there are all the companies that constantly need art - the book publishers and magazines, the greeting card companies, the quilting fabric manufacturers, the home decor and clothing retailers. How fabulous to see your work published or in your favourite shops!

You scroll through Instagram, admiring what your fellow artists are doing, faced with a bewildering array of possibilities. It looks like everyone is doing everything...and you should too.

But you can’t.

Because you’re not a machine. 

There are only so many hours in your day and you need to strategically choose how you’ll spend them. It’s smarter to invest your time wholeheartedly in just a few well-chosen avenues rather than spread your efforts thinly across everything that’s available to you.

If you’re going to be successful with Print On Demand, you need to invest a ton of time in it - creating and promoting. If you’re going to submit to companies, you need to be dedicated and consistent and spend time and money on tradeshows. If you’re going to make a living with Skillshare you’ll need more than one mini-course.

This is how you turn a dribble of royalties, commissions and fees into a profitable business - by defining your ‘thing’, narrowly selecting where to concentrate your efforts, and going for it - without a thousand distractions.

Develop a bigger picture. Decide who you are and what you do - and more importantly what you don’t do. I resist the urge to veer off course daily - some things just look so exciting and I know I could do a good job of them! But if something doesn’t fit with my overall plan, I don’t do it.

To illustrate the point - a big part of my ‘thing’ is licensing and selling floral art.

No matter what your ‘thing’ is - if you’re running an art business you need good art. Have you seen the stunning art created by the students on my online courses? Check out the @victoriajohnson-createexplore Instagram feed and be amazed at their talent.

Last chance for Create Christmas 3, starting Jan 27th. I’m closing registration on Wed, Jan 22nd at 9.00 am GMT. Sign up here!

Have you heard about my online course Create Collections?

Create a collection of cohesive, impactful artwork that impresses and engages art directors. Use your unique taste to tell a visual story, solidify your style and increase the sales potential of your portfolio.

Dates to be announced VERY SOON!  Secure your spot by signing up to the waiting list. Sign up here!