Going into a business is always based on some sort of talent. Usually, an entrepreneur focuses on what he or she is interested in or highly skilled at and makes a living by capitalizing on that. This is most often seen in artists, who create masterpieces and sell either the pieces or the expertise and technique behind them.

Today there’s a wide range of art business available, from the immortal crafts of sketching, painting, and sculpting to the currently popular calligraphy, digital art, and do-it-yourself (DIY) crafting. If you are someone who is interested in art and looking to start a business, here are some tips you should consider:

1. Practice
There’s no shortcut to being great. Even if you’re born with an extraordinary talent, this is only a stepping stone. It’s only by doing the same thing over and over again that you get to improve on it, so don’t put this off. You’ll never realize how important practice really is until you see your improved results.

2. Prioritize exposure
Exposure can be a tricky thing for artists, especially if they aren’t backed by big names or don’t have the wealth or connections to display their work in museum exhibits. So, find other spaces where you can showcase your art or even host “exhibits” at your home. Better yet, use word-of-mouth to your advantage by having your family and friends share a word or two about your art. Most importantly, if you get a chance for exposure, no matter how small it is, don’t waste it.

3. Get online
With technology at our disposal, it’s so much easier now for artists to be exposed to the general public. The great thing about it is that you don’t even have to limit yourself to the local market.

With most social media platforms, the key is regular posting and consistency. It’s all about creating content, which doesn’t necessarily mean posting a masterpiece every couple of days. How about sharing the process of making your pieces, and giving people tips through social media? Not only will they appreciate you more as an artist, you’ll also be presenting yourself as a source of expertise on the craft.

4. Know the risks
Before you post everything you’ve got on the internet, remember there is a good amount of risk involved in doing so. One of the biggest troubles of artists these days is plagiarism or art theft. At most, what can be done is to report stolen artwork and spread the news about it. But at the very least, what you can and should do is focus on creating great and unique art, such that it’ll be recognized immediately and attributed to you alone.

5. Find the right market
In the world of art, there will always be criticism. So if you feel that people don’t like your work, maybe it’s just a matter of finding the right audience. Look for pieces that are similar in tone, style or medium to yours, and find out who and where the market for those pieces is. Your answer to “who” is probably the kind of market you should be after, and your answer to “where” is the platform you should be on.

6. Be original
You don’t have to change your style to match that of others. You’re only going to end up disappointed that your work doesn’t look enough like theirs. There are two benefits of being original: you’ll be creating a “brand” for your audience to recognize, and you’ll be putting something new into the market that people haven’t seen before.

7. Embrace change
Everybody grows, so don’t be afraid to change and experiment with styles, colors, and media. This is a great way to reach out to new markets, and a way to improve even further. Of course, you can stick to the one thing that makes you unique, but you can also add a personal touch to something new. That way, you’ll have more to offer. In a business, variety is crucial.

8. Share
One of the best things about art is that it creates a community. So if you’ve mastered a certain craft, that doesn’t mean you should keep it to yourself. Create tutorials, show your process, or even hold workshops to showcase how you made your art. You won’t be giving away your secrets; rather, you’ll be inspiring others to add their own spin to the crafts you’ll be teaching.

9. Keep going
Even if you don’t start off great, there’s always a way to improve yourself. Anyone can start an art business as long as they have the willingness to work hard and put themselves out there.

Having an art business can be taxing, both physically and emotionally. But don’t give up. Remember, in the end, it all comes down to creating something beautiful and sharing it with the world.

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