In this video I share what I am doing to start my business, how the plan is going, and hopefully by watching this you can get inspired to do something similar with your art practice. I’ve been an artist for many years but in May I decided to come out of hiding and take my work seriously again. I am about 4 months out (October 2023) from quitting my old retail job to focus on art full time and I love it. I’m teaching art again with full autonomy to build the courses I dream about. And I’m getting regularly excited about all of the different things that I can offer and build.
I’ll start with a general update for you and bit about my first market and then go into what I’m doing to get ready for Makers/Craft/Artisan Markets in the Bay Area this spring. Next up, I'll share where and how I am teaching and tutoring, and the ways I’m approaching commissions and selling my paintings. I’ll go into detail on how I’m using Substack to combine a space for patrons to support me, and keep up a writing habit, plus a few more things!
If you are trying to come up with the roadmap for your own business as an artist, you should seriously check out the Artist Business Plan Notion Template from ‪@KelseyRodriguez‬ I purchased last June. I am super inspired by the things she shares on her channel, and that template allowed me to take the concepts she shares and make them tangible. I spent a few months working to estimate and track realistic income streams and create goals that really allowed me to make the jump away from being a W2 employee into the world of freelance and full-time artist life. It’s only $7 and you can buy it here!
www.kelseyrodriguez.com/shop/...
Chapters, for your convenience!
0:00 Intro
1:33 First Market!
2:16 1 - Makers Markets
7:21 2 - Teaching + Tutoring
13:45 3 - Commissions
16:20 4 - Selling Original Paintings
18:45 5 - Substack
19:55 6 - Freelance Content Creation
20:35 7 - INPRNT Store
21:51 8 - Saving Smarter
23:29 9 - KZread and the dream of Monetization
26:05 Outro
Book a private learning course with me!
melmitchelljackson.com/book-a...
Request a Commission
melmitchelljackson.com/contac...
Real Estate Pitch -- if you want to check it out!
melmitchelljackson.com/home-p...
📧sign up for my newsletter💌
melmitchelljackson.substack.com/
🛍️ Check out my Shop 🏪
melmitchelljackson.com/store
Link to my INPRNT Store
www.inprnt.com/gallery/jackmi...
Sign up for a Course in Gouache or Acrylic Painting
www.eventbrite.com/o/mel-mitc...
Explore my portfolio of Reels and TikTok videos here
/ melmitchjackart
And here
/ melmitchjackart
The book I recommended!
Finance for the People by Paco de Leon
bookshop.org/p/books/finance-...
If you do purchase through that link, I am a new affiliate with Bookshop.org so I will get a small commission on the sale. I am really excited to work with them as they are my favorite alternative to Amazon and support local booksellers. Link your purchase to your favorite local bookstore so they get a cut!
🎹 Like the music in the background? It’s by my amazing partner Wesley Jackson. I used clips of his instrumental work in this video.
Wes is working on finalizing a new record right now but check out his archive of great stuff. 🎶
Check out his music on Apple Music
/ lentil-famine
And on Spotify
open.spotify.com/artist/3gLfW...