🎧 Listen to this episode of the Healthy Wealthy Wise Artist Podcast:
“Turn Your Art Into a Business: Practical Tips for Artists” on:
What do you do when your passion doesn’t pay the bills?
If you’re like many artists—dancers, writers, singers, actors, visual artists—you’ve probably wrestled with this question. You want to stay true to your craft, but you also want to make a living. That doesn’t make you a sellout. It makes you smart.
In this post, we’re getting practical. Let’s talk about real ways to treat your art like a business—without losing the soul of what you create.
Why treating your art like a business matters
Here’s a tough truth: being good at your craft doesn’t automatically lead to being paid for it.
What does? Clarity, consistency, and courage to show your value.
Artists often tell me:
“I didn’t become an artist to think about marketing and money.”
But the thing is—those pieces are part of the picture if you want sustainability.
Making your art a business doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not. It means building a container to support your creativity long-term.
5 Practical Art Business Tips That Actually Work
Let’s skip the fluff and dive into real-world, doable steps.
1. 🎯 Know exactly what you’re offering
Vague doesn’t sell. Clarity does.
What are you actually selling? Is it a class? A service? A product? A commission?
Better:
“1:1 Voice Coaching for Teens + Adults – Online or In-Person.”
Not:
“Offering lessons.”
If someone lands on your profile or website, they should know what they can buy from you within seconds.
2. 💸 Show your prices
This one’s scary for a lot of artists—but it’s essential.
If people don’t see a price, they assume it’s either:
- too expensive
- not for them
- not for sale
Be upfront. Be fair. Factor in your time, training, materials, and profit.
And yes—your time has value, even if you love what you do.
3. ✅ Make it easy to buy
Think like your customer. How many steps does it take for someone to purchase from you?
If they have to DM you, wait for a response, go back-and-forth on pricing, and then figure out payment… you’ve likely lost them.
Use tools like:
- A website with checkout
- Ko-fi or Gumroad
- A pinned Instagram post or story highlight with direct payment links
The simpler it is, the more likely people are to buy.
🛑 Feeling stuck with your creative momentum?
Grab my free guide: Stuck in a Creative RUT?
You’ll get 3 simple steps to reignite your drive and move forward with clarity.
👉 www.larabiancapilcher.com
4. 📬 Build your audience on purpose
No, you don’t need 10,000 followers. You need a loyal 100.
Start an email list. Share behind-the-scenes. Post what you’re learning. Let people know why you create.
Marketing is just storytelling—and who tells stories better than artists?
5. 🔁 Diversify your income streams
Think beyond your main offering.
Could your paintings become prints? Could your dance skills translate to online classes or workshops? Could your writing be a zine or a guide?
Think parallel careers, not scattered side hustles.
You’re not diluting your brand—you’re building multiple doors for people to walk through.
You’re not a sellout—you’re a serious artist
Artists are entrepreneurs, whether we like that label or not.
From Michelangelo to Misty Copeland, the creatives we admire have all figured out how to sustain their art and get paid. Not because they got lucky—but because they learned how to value what they offer.
This isn’t about losing your integrity. It’s about giving your work the respect it deserves.
🎨 Creative Spark: Try this
Pick one business action to take this week:
- Post your prices publicly
- Write a clear description of your service
- Set up a basic payment link
- Send one email to your list (or start one!)
- Offer something simple for sale
You don’t have to figure it all out this week. But you can take one step forward.
🎧 Listen to this episode of the Healthy Wealthy Wise Artist Podcast:
“Turn Your Art Into a Business: Practical Tips for Artists” on:
– Lara Bianca Pilcher
Life & Creativity Coach | Author | Fellow Artist
🎁 Still feeling a bit stuck?
You can always grab the free guide here too:
👉 www.larabiancapilcher.com
Build a life of love, purpose, adventure & boundless creativity!