Sunday Summary: The Business Startup

In this week’s blog, in addition to the usual updates, I spend a bit of time writing about the commercial side. In particular, I talk about the equipment used, grappling social media and whether I am starting to see any positives. As always, there is the song of the week, and this week I go a bit old school emo.

Summary

Hello Readers!

I hope the past week has treated you and yours well. Been a busy week this side as always. However, the cooler temperatures has meant more productivity. In addition to starting to get some unframed prints available in the online store, I worked on my Notre Dame painting, and produced another pencil drawing.

Another highlight of the week was doing my first TikTok demonstration live on Thursday evening. 230 people joined me from all around the World to watch me draw another picture of Loch An Eilein. I had no idea what to expect; the outcome was far from a polished performance! However, it was encouraging to see some friendly faces and meet some new ones as well as building my confidence in doing further live streams. My first live stream also highlighted that some new equipment was definitely needed. Drawing with one hand ,and holding the phone in the other, was definitely a challenge worth avoiding the future. That said, I am relatively happy with the outcome.

My pencil drawing of Loch an Eilein done on my first TikTok live.

What Does Trying to be a Commercial Artist Involve?

I have been asked a lot recently what is involved with trying to be a commercial artist. Broadly, I think this fits into four areas. There is, product creation, equipment, marketing, and resources. I’ll provide a brief summary about each point and maybe that will give you some insight.

Product Creation

Well, you can’t really be an artist unless you are creating art. Aside from completing finished pieces, time also needs to be given to experimenting, researching, and for someone like myself who focuses on the physical environment, getting out and about and observing the world. By doing all these things, not only does it help develop you as an artist but should also lead to better products that hopefully people will want to purchase. On the whole, I think on average I must dedicate about 18 hours a week to the creative pursuits.

Equipment

Broadly speaking, there are probably two components to the equipment I use. There are the art equipment such as brushes, paints, pencils and paper. Clearly you need art supplies to make art. However, the second part is the equipment needed to run the business. Like many things today, this is mainly technological. A decent computer is needed to help develop a website, engage with potential customers either via email or on social media. A decent camera is also required with adequate lighting sources to evidence the creative story online. A camera can also support taking high quality photos for digital art, but if this is not available, you need to be able to scan your pictures in some way.

In most instances, many of us will have access to this equipment for other needs in our lives and once purchased they will often last you a long time. That is, unless you’re a prolific creator.

Marketing

Publicising your business and engagement on social media is by far the most demanding side for me, and an area of the business I seriously underestimated.

Many of us probably use a couple of forms for social media. Which ones we use will vary depending on your age. However, more and more people will often have several social media platforms, all with their own benefits and challenges. Knowing your customer base is crucial, otherwise you could be spending significant amounts of time on several platforms.

An element of ruthlessness comes with marketing. If something is not working, then you have to change your approach. In today’s instant information world, your social media analytics can quickly provide some useful trends and I would say ignore this at your peril.

The combined marketing, social media outputs, analytics and even writing this blog, if my phone is correct, takes on average 21 hours per week.

Resources

In addition to the technology and art supplies mentioned already, the two biggest other resources you will require, is without question, time. The average time I spend on trying to being a commercial artist in total is 39 hours a week. This is in addition to everything else you have to fit in, such as your full-time job, managing the disability, household chores, as well as being a son, grandson, brother, nephew, uncle, friend, and occasionally, the emotionally unavailable partner.

Aside from time, you are going to need money. Everything has a cost. The equipment, the administration systems you use, the upfront costs for bulk printing, developing prototypes, subscriptions. My model is to use an online approach as it makes the most sense for me. It means even on days when the disability is annoying, I can still get orders out, answer emails, and develop new products. However, this is not the most cost effective option with margins often being very small. Don’t think you’ll be making much money in the first 6 months. In fact, don’t expect to make any money at all in the first 12 months.

Probably the other point that could be mentioned as a resource, you also need to manage your emotional capacity. Creating art can be draining, and life in general will throw you curve balls. Set backs are inevitable and particularly if you have a fragile ego, then setting out to be a commercial artist is possibly something not for you.

Is it Worth it?

Ask me in another 6 months! haha.

It takes a lot of time (5.5 hours a day on average), but as long as you are sensible, strict with yourself, and organised, then I would say there are a lot of benefits.

If you have a well considered business plan and set yourself realistic goals, then when you start to see results and achievement of some of your plan, then you definitely feel exhilarated. A great example of this was on Thursday. If I had tried to do a live broadcast 3 months ago, I would say that the success of that first live session would be more difficult. However, by having a business plan that accounts for growing your social media presence first, working out what people are liking and what they don’t like but analysing views, allows you to plan what is likely to work. The outcome was having 230 people from across the World watch me draw, sending me messages, getting additional followers and even a couple of sales.

Sometimes it is also a case of just giving something a try!

Song of the Week

This week, I have had a frantic week with lots going on, lots to do and lots to sort out. Maintaining energy levels has been really important and I often will put music on to help me keep the pace.

The song I have picked this week is one of my favourite songs from a band that back in the day I perhaps overlooked a bit. Increasingly, this band has become one I listen to more frequently. Whether it’s because I need to bang out a blog, energise myself before a meeting at work, or even while doing chores around the house, they are a reliable dopamine hit.

You are welcome!