I Had 1 Year to Build a Full-Time Art Career

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One year ago, I became a full-time artist.

If you’re new here: Initially, I wanted to challenge myself to take my art from just a hobby to a real, financially sustainable business in one year. So that (hopefully) by the end of 2025, I could leave my job and become a full-time artist.

But before I even started, I hit my breaking point at that job and ended up quitting.

I was starting to wonder if I was cut-out for a traditional career or if a traditional career could ever offer me the stability and certainty that I’d always thought it would. I’d been laid off from every job prior to that one and felt like I’d watched my industry crumbling bit by bit.

At every other crossroads where I had to choose between art vs. a traditional career, I’d always picked a career because it seemed like the practical, stable option. But because I’d already planned for this 2025 challenge, I had a business plan, marketing plan, and a pile of art I was ready to sell. Suddenly, art seemed like a more practical option than entering back into the job hunt during a time of mass lay-offs and economic uncertainty.

So I decided to still do my 2025 challenge, but with one major change. Suddenly, instead of having a year to build up to becoming a full-time artist, art had become my sole source of income overnight. I needed to make it work IMMEDIATELY or I would need to leave this dream behind and find another way to make money.

This year has been a rollercoaster but has taught me so much about what I’m capable of and what I want out of life. I’m proud of what I accomplished and grateful for the lessons I learned from my failures.

If you’ve followed this whole journey, thank you so much for being here.

Fine Art Prints 🖋️
https://www.greenvelvetcreative.studio/prints

Apparel 🧥
https://www.greenvelvetcreative.studio/goods

Decor 🏷️
https://www.greenvelvetcreative.studio/gifts

Etsy (Mostly Pet Portraits) 🛒
https://greenvelvetgoods.etsy.com

00:00 Intro
04:28 Prints & Products
08:18 Promotions & Posts
10:49 Performance Metrics
17:47 Sales Data
20:20 Revenue & Expenses
22:12 Goals & Benchmarks
27:15 What Went Well
35:41 Future Plans

#finelineart #vintage #antiqueinspired #victorianera #penandink #engravingstyle #localartist #smallbusiness #illustration #fables #folklore #studioart #smallbusinessideas #creativebusiness #sidehustle

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