How To Become a Successful Artist and Sell Your Art Full Time - 3 Secrets of Empowered Artists
Today I share 3 Must-haves to become an Empowered Artist so you can make a full-time income selling your art
Plus how my path to success wasn't a straight shot, it actually was a painful journey that got pretty dark at one moment.
I’ll tell you about that today so, you can avoid as much pain as possible and soak up the JOY and FREEDOM that this full-time artist life is all about!
# 1 Get crystal clear on your WHY
I never went to art school. And I didn’t start painting til I was in my 30s.
I was actually well into my corporate career when the universe revealed my true passion.
on a date with my ex Corey one night…
He suggested we stay in and paint.
I sat there at his dining table all night long.
for hours and hours painting this ugly, globby mess
I was trying to copy an acrylic chevron painting from pinterest.
My technique (using air quotes here) was globs and globs of OIL paint over a 3 hour sitting without stopping.
If you are a painter you know how ridiculous technique would turn out.
It was god awful.
Corey finished early and was like jenna are you coming to bed? I couldn't leave the canvas! It was pure joy!
Painting was 100% meditative. For the first time I could remember, I was finally able to block out my migraine symptoms and slip into an almost trance-like state.
That was the moment I fell in LOVE with painting! 💖
Spoiler alert: I did not fall in love with Corey.
We broke up.
But he came into my life for a reason alright!
But i’ll forever be grateful to corey!
He showed me how to begin.
He observing the shit eating grin on my face at the dining table that night.
Just his witnesses my bliss state really was a profound mirror.
After the breakup, I practiced painting on my own. And took some drawing classes.
My life purpose got more clear by the day.
not only was I tired of working for The Man…
Slaving away to climb the corporate ladder…
And spending my evenings and weekends building someone ELSE’S dream instead of my own…
But I was also suffering from crippling chronic migraines.
Since my corporate 9 to 5 offered zero flexibility…
I was never able to put myself first or prioritize my health.
Ultimately, I wanted to be able to:
✨ set my own schedule
✨ be my own boss
✨ AND get paid to do something I was truly passionate about
I know exactly why creating art and a business from it means more to me than anything!
For the sake of brevity,
My WHY boils down to FREEDOM.
It’s important you really get to know your WHY.
What does creating art mean to you? Why deep in your core do you want to make a living as an artist?
Knowing your why is pivotal Because:
1.It will shape everything you do as an artist!
“A lot of people are being driven by what they think they should do, what other people say they should do, what they have carried in their mind for a long time about what they should do. But the most important question you could ever ask yourself is what do I really want?
Once you can establish for yourself what the answer to that is… and have everything you do, every choice you make, move you in the direction of what you say your vision is. And when you do that, the forces of life rise up to meet you.
The reason why most people have chaotic lives is because they’re living in chaos in their head. And once you get clear. It clears up. - Oprah Winfrey
2.It will drive your business to succeed long-term. And it wont fissel out at the first obstacle in your path.
3.Your why will live in your artist statement and be the ultimate reason your art collectors will buy your work. Its the core of your marketing message.
#2 You have to empower YOURSELF to embark upon this journey that will change your life.
There is no ferry coming around to wave a wand “your a real artist now. You may begin”.
You have to anoint yourself as the professional artist that deserves to be paid for your work. Even if you haven't sold your first piece yet.
Believing you are a badass right NOW!
Your passions are worth it if you believe they are.
If you are passionate about what you do, your clients FEEL that energy. If you half-ass it? Then guess what they feel? Not a thing. Your clients can FEEL that energy.
Your daily habits are shaped by the belief that you are an Empowered Artist.
You don't need external validation.
Your worth is tied to external factors or vanity measures like a social media follower count. A gallery show.
Approval from parents, friends, or anyone else in your life.
Your art is valuable if YOU believe it is. If your sales are where you want them to be yet, you can change that. Learning to market your are is a skill that is very learnable and you have to build this skill like a muscle.
What helped me was I believed in the universe and I believed in myself. so i believed that as long as i took action, things were all going to work out.
#3 You must have an unshakeable Artpreneur Mindset.
In the beginning, my art business was not gaining the traction I needed to pay my bills.
I remember sitting on my kitchen floor with a coffee and petting my dogs.
Usually, this is a moment of peace for me to pet Gus and Lola (Boston and frenchie) and sip warm coffee in the morning.
But on the inside, my mind and my heart were in total disarray.
I was looking around me, at this beautiful home I'd purchased. (I LOVED this home. I had painted every wall, bought every piece of furniture, and decorated it like an artist would.)
But I was wondering how I was going to pay for it. And keep the lights on.
I hadn't taken a toe dip into the art business, I had taken the full plunge! My art business was my entire income.
Not to mention I have daily chronic migraines.
Everything in this moment just felt impossible.
My heart was racing and I didn't want to panic because I knew it was going to trigger yet another migraine.
So I had a choice to make: go back to corporate where a paycheck was predictable, but I was miserable.
Or to keep chasing my dream even though it was difficult and the path was hella murky and unclear.
My purpose was already crystal clear. I knew my art business was my CALLING. Now I was faced with a choice of HOW?
How the HECK was I going to navigate these mysterious, murky waters when I was failing?
Let me tell you something, there's nothing like necessity to drive you to succeed!
I NEEDED this to work.
So mentally I became an unstoppable badass.
Mentally I was the queen of my own universe.
I put that crown on every morning.
The difference was:
I made an unwavering commitment to follow my dream
My determination became greater than any fear
I decided that any challenge in front of me was figureoutable
and I was going to tackle everything one step at a time
Because when you own a business you are not doing it for a day or a week. You are doing your life's work!
I needed my mental strength for the ups and downs that were to come.
Honestly when I look back The Artprenuer Mindset is the #1 key to my success.
It's the only thing that helps when my health knocks me off course and I have to practice getting back up.
Yes, I have a successful art business. But I still have business fears. I still face challenges. My mindset helps keep my eye on my mission and purpose.
Now I've become obsessed with helping other artists to develop an unshakable artpreneur mindset.
Having an unshakeable Artpreneur mindset is the #1 key to be able to sell your art full time and live the life you’ve always dreamed of
and is only available through the Artpreneur Challenge.
The challenge is valued at $800. But right now, it is available on my website for free for a limited time only.
To start the challenge today click here!
See you inside!
Love and Positive Vibes,
Jenna
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