5 answers
Abigail
Student
Grafton, West Virginia
1
Question
Asked
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If you have started a business with making and selling art, how should I start one?
I am 16 years old, so I graduate high school next year and I would like to start a business of making and selling art. Could you give me some advice on this? Also I have another question. Do you know of any college art schools in West Virginia? Or somewhere close to West Virginia? Because I think I want to go to college, but I do not know what colleges have art classes.
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5 answers
Ellen Rosenthal
Retired Art Teacher
239
Answers
Woodbridge, Virginia
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
Hi Abigail
Good question about starting an art business. And it is a business, and like all businesses, it takes hard work and effort to make it successful. You have a double role, in that you are the artist creating the art, plus you are also the business manager running the business. I am a retired art teacher, who started my art business to sell my artwork online and at art and craft fairs. It was more work than I had anticipated, but also very satisfying to be able to sell my own artwork. Here is what I suggest.
1. You need to go to your state government website and find out about licensing your business, registering your business's name, and paying sales taxes. You will get a tax reporting number, which most craft fairs require in order for you to sell with them. Most states have a section on their state websites for small businesses and will help you understand what you need to do for your state. If you start making sales, you will also have to report your profit to the IRS and your state as income. You have to do this, it is not very fun nor glamorous, but necessary.
2. Keep in mind that running a business, even selling your art, is about the numbers. You want to make a profit, so you need to keep track of your expenses for art materials, art related supplies, booth or table fees for art or craft venues, commissions that galleries take (20-50 percent of the sale price), as well as the time that it takes you to create your artwork. Keep a record of all your art and art related expenses ( save the receipts and online orders records) and a record of your studio and art related time. You balance your expenses against your pricing, and hopefully there will be a profit there. There are lots of tutorials out there to help you. Etsy, the online marketplace site (where I sell some of my work), has an excellent section on pricing and other tutorials for beginning sellers.
3. Visit galleries and craft fairs in your area and see what other artists and crafts people are selling, and to get a sense of the prices. You might talk to some of the vendors about selling; tell them you are thinking of selling your artwork; most vendors would be happy to give you some info and tips. See if there is some sort of art or craft guild or organization you could join in your area; such organizations often sponsor craft fairs and have experienced crafts people and artists who are usually very helpful to newcomers.
4. After you've looked around at venues, look at your own artwork and decide what you want to sell. Then think about how you want to present your artwork. Your artwork will need to be matted or framed, and you'll need to make price tags or labels for them. If you are matting your artwork, you'll need those clear cello bags to protect them and keep them fresh from people handling them. For booth set up, at the very least you'll need a table and some table easels, but also possibly some metal grids from which to hang your artwork. Tablecloths to cover the table are often required by craft fair organizers. If you want to sell outside, you'll need your own collapsable tent and weights, and again the craft fair will usually have requirements. Most of them require those square white topped tents. You can get most if not all of the above from Amazon. The mats, frames, cellobags, price tag labels, tents, tables, and metal grids will all be additional expenses that you need to factor into your profit margin. But they can all be deducted from your income taxes as business expenses.
So, as you can see, selling your artwork can be very involved in terms of expenses and time. But don't be discouraged if this is something you really want to do, go for it. Be patient, as with most beginning businesses, turning a profit takes time. To start, I suggest you look around for local holiday craft fairs; many churches and schools sponsor them from September- December (but be aware applications are often due in the Spring). These smaller venues are often have less expense booth/table fees, and are a great way to get started.
As for art programs in your area, I don't know about art schools in West Virginia, but I do know that Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA has an excellent art program. I suggest you talk to your school's guidance counselor about more local colleges or universities with art programs.
Best wishes!
Good question about starting an art business. And it is a business, and like all businesses, it takes hard work and effort to make it successful. You have a double role, in that you are the artist creating the art, plus you are also the business manager running the business. I am a retired art teacher, who started my art business to sell my artwork online and at art and craft fairs. It was more work than I had anticipated, but also very satisfying to be able to sell my own artwork. Here is what I suggest.
1. You need to go to your state government website and find out about licensing your business, registering your business's name, and paying sales taxes. You will get a tax reporting number, which most craft fairs require in order for you to sell with them. Most states have a section on their state websites for small businesses and will help you understand what you need to do for your state. If you start making sales, you will also have to report your profit to the IRS and your state as income. You have to do this, it is not very fun nor glamorous, but necessary.
2. Keep in mind that running a business, even selling your art, is about the numbers. You want to make a profit, so you need to keep track of your expenses for art materials, art related supplies, booth or table fees for art or craft venues, commissions that galleries take (20-50 percent of the sale price), as well as the time that it takes you to create your artwork. Keep a record of all your art and art related expenses ( save the receipts and online orders records) and a record of your studio and art related time. You balance your expenses against your pricing, and hopefully there will be a profit there. There are lots of tutorials out there to help you. Etsy, the online marketplace site (where I sell some of my work), has an excellent section on pricing and other tutorials for beginning sellers.
3. Visit galleries and craft fairs in your area and see what other artists and crafts people are selling, and to get a sense of the prices. You might talk to some of the vendors about selling; tell them you are thinking of selling your artwork; most vendors would be happy to give you some info and tips. See if there is some sort of art or craft guild or organization you could join in your area; such organizations often sponsor craft fairs and have experienced crafts people and artists who are usually very helpful to newcomers.
4. After you've looked around at venues, look at your own artwork and decide what you want to sell. Then think about how you want to present your artwork. Your artwork will need to be matted or framed, and you'll need to make price tags or labels for them. If you are matting your artwork, you'll need those clear cello bags to protect them and keep them fresh from people handling them. For booth set up, at the very least you'll need a table and some table easels, but also possibly some metal grids from which to hang your artwork. Tablecloths to cover the table are often required by craft fair organizers. If you want to sell outside, you'll need your own collapsable tent and weights, and again the craft fair will usually have requirements. Most of them require those square white topped tents. You can get most if not all of the above from Amazon. The mats, frames, cellobags, price tag labels, tents, tables, and metal grids will all be additional expenses that you need to factor into your profit margin. But they can all be deducted from your income taxes as business expenses.
So, as you can see, selling your artwork can be very involved in terms of expenses and time. But don't be discouraged if this is something you really want to do, go for it. Be patient, as with most beginning businesses, turning a profit takes time. To start, I suggest you look around for local holiday craft fairs; many churches and schools sponsor them from September- December (but be aware applications are often due in the Spring). These smaller venues are often have less expense booth/table fees, and are a great way to get started.
As for art programs in your area, I don't know about art schools in West Virginia, but I do know that Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA has an excellent art program. I suggest you talk to your school's guidance counselor about more local colleges or universities with art programs.
Best wishes!
Katherine Avery
Run a music studio and teach private music lessons; teach college-level religion classes
222
Answers
Spanish Fork, Utah
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Just on the business side, this workbook might give you ideas for starting from "zero" and taking some next steps that you feel satisfied with (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/ldsorg/topics/self-reliance/2017/14678_sgmb_book_eng.pdf?lang=eng).
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
472
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
First, there are many art schools to consider, one of which is here: http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/collegeofcreativearts/art/
Second, on starting a business, this is complex, depending on your business model. There are tax issues, legal issues where you need professional advice. If you plan to sell directly, such as at flea markets and fairs and the like, then you just need to keep good records. Having a business account at a bank is helpful, as you will want to keep business income separate from your personal account. However, if you plan to sell over the internet, then you have the costs of shipping (and returns), and paying taxes in multiple states, which can be overwhelming. My suggestion: start slowly and get some tax advice before starting. I wish you well.
Second, on starting a business, this is complex, depending on your business model. There are tax issues, legal issues where you need professional advice. If you plan to sell directly, such as at flea markets and fairs and the like, then you just need to keep good records. Having a business account at a bank is helpful, as you will want to keep business income separate from your personal account. However, if you plan to sell over the internet, then you have the costs of shipping (and returns), and paying taxes in multiple states, which can be overwhelming. My suggestion: start slowly and get some tax advice before starting. I wish you well.
Laura Mills
Graphic Designer
37
Answers
Lenhartsville, PA
Updated
Laura’s Answer
Hello Abigail,
Congratulations on almost graduating high school, it's an exciting point in time where you get to move on to the next chapter of your life and focus on what you want to do for a career, which is amazing you already have an idea of where you want to start. While I'm sorry I don't have any information on colleges/universities that would be best suited for focusing on art in West Virginia; however, I can help you with wanting to start a small art business on the side to help you get started.
My best advice for starting one is to use a diverse amount of platforms to get your work out there. What I mean by that is to use various social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, etc. By using social media, you can not only advertise your work, but you can post behind-the-scenes of the process of making your work along with the actual finished piece. You can get creative by posting short videos of the process on Instagram and TikTok or longer ones on YouTube. Another option is to post the entire real-time process video from start to finish or do a tutorial of it as a live video of it, so people can watch you in real time and get to know you, ask you questions, etc. Also, on social media, you can post that you are open to doing commission work for other people and then ask them to post it on their social media pages and to make sure they tag you as well as this will help you get more work and acknowledgment. The last part when posting images of your work (and something I didn't think to do either) is watermarking your images to make sure no one else can take your photos and claim that it's their work.
My other piece of advice is along with using various social media platforms, try using a wide range of platforms for selling your work like Etsy, Redbubble, TeePublic Store, Creative Market, etc. You can look into others as well because there are TONS of them available. The amazing part about Redbubble and TeePublic Store is your artwork can be printed on clothing and accessories for customers to purchase, and these companies take care of all the printing and shipping parts of it, all you have to do is upload your work, and customize the details of the listing. I will let you know for Etsy (as I wasn't aware of this when I opened my Etsy shop) you do have to pay a $0.20 listing fee per listing, just something to keep in mind if you want to use Etsy.
I know this was a lot of information to give you at once, but I hope it helps you to get started and start building a following for your artwork. I wish you the very best, and I hope you get into whatever school you hope to get into to study art!
-Laura M.
Congratulations on almost graduating high school, it's an exciting point in time where you get to move on to the next chapter of your life and focus on what you want to do for a career, which is amazing you already have an idea of where you want to start. While I'm sorry I don't have any information on colleges/universities that would be best suited for focusing on art in West Virginia; however, I can help you with wanting to start a small art business on the side to help you get started.
My best advice for starting one is to use a diverse amount of platforms to get your work out there. What I mean by that is to use various social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, etc. By using social media, you can not only advertise your work, but you can post behind-the-scenes of the process of making your work along with the actual finished piece. You can get creative by posting short videos of the process on Instagram and TikTok or longer ones on YouTube. Another option is to post the entire real-time process video from start to finish or do a tutorial of it as a live video of it, so people can watch you in real time and get to know you, ask you questions, etc. Also, on social media, you can post that you are open to doing commission work for other people and then ask them to post it on their social media pages and to make sure they tag you as well as this will help you get more work and acknowledgment. The last part when posting images of your work (and something I didn't think to do either) is watermarking your images to make sure no one else can take your photos and claim that it's their work.
My other piece of advice is along with using various social media platforms, try using a wide range of platforms for selling your work like Etsy, Redbubble, TeePublic Store, Creative Market, etc. You can look into others as well because there are TONS of them available. The amazing part about Redbubble and TeePublic Store is your artwork can be printed on clothing and accessories for customers to purchase, and these companies take care of all the printing and shipping parts of it, all you have to do is upload your work, and customize the details of the listing. I will let you know for Etsy (as I wasn't aware of this when I opened my Etsy shop) you do have to pay a $0.20 listing fee per listing, just something to keep in mind if you want to use Etsy.
I know this was a lot of information to give you at once, but I hope it helps you to get started and start building a following for your artwork. I wish you the very best, and I hope you get into whatever school you hope to get into to study art!
-Laura M.
alexandra folkers
Marketing & Program Manager (Business Development)
1
Answer
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Updated
alexandra’s Answer
hi there, here is "the maybe too honest feedback of an 55 yrs old artist" who somehow always lived this passion although it was not always easy - my husband !
"I will try to answer your question as an artist who asked himself the very same question at a very young age and found an unpleasant but honest answer. I give you my thoughts on a tough decision in your path to art or market. Anything you do is legitimate - do it - just be clear with yourself about which of the two you want achieve.
Your question is a good consideration but with the twist of an internal contradiction. You will have to resolve this riddle yourself but take Banksy as a modern example. A seemingly perfectly functioning concept, which delivers everything that arouses interest fitting in with the times. It sounds like a perfect product - often with a political or moral message and breaking the rules. Add to this the mystery surrounding his true identity and the surprise in the presentation - everyone waits to see where and on what theme the next Banksy will appear. Just think of the work that shredded itself after the auction! The ultimate criticism as a commodity - but then multipliing its value for that very reason. Considered as "art", it would then either not be reproducible or no longer art but copy paste. There's no getting round the problem...
Alternatively, you can also think of Dadaism. Their aim was to create anti-art in order to expose the market and discredit the apolitical irrelevance of the "empty temples called museums" (the Dadaist newspaper "März" around 1920 with Kurt Schwitters and Hugo Ball). Today, their works hang where they opposed them, in museums. They have also risen in value beyond comprehension, even though they positioned themselves against commercialism in art.
You have to think about what you ultimately want and what your personal goal is. Follow your will to *make art* and probably live with it not to conquer a market (become an artist) or design a product in advance and aligned to the conditions and requirements of your target group, the market itself and the optimal distribution strategies. Develop a product with this setup in mind and adapt it to your business plan - optimise! Then you will certainly be successful, but probably no longer make art in the first place. Only chance can combine the two and that is the somewhat sad reality of art vs. business.
Boris"
"I will try to answer your question as an artist who asked himself the very same question at a very young age and found an unpleasant but honest answer. I give you my thoughts on a tough decision in your path to art or market. Anything you do is legitimate - do it - just be clear with yourself about which of the two you want achieve.
Your question is a good consideration but with the twist of an internal contradiction. You will have to resolve this riddle yourself but take Banksy as a modern example. A seemingly perfectly functioning concept, which delivers everything that arouses interest fitting in with the times. It sounds like a perfect product - often with a political or moral message and breaking the rules. Add to this the mystery surrounding his true identity and the surprise in the presentation - everyone waits to see where and on what theme the next Banksy will appear. Just think of the work that shredded itself after the auction! The ultimate criticism as a commodity - but then multipliing its value for that very reason. Considered as "art", it would then either not be reproducible or no longer art but copy paste. There's no getting round the problem...
Alternatively, you can also think of Dadaism. Their aim was to create anti-art in order to expose the market and discredit the apolitical irrelevance of the "empty temples called museums" (the Dadaist newspaper "März" around 1920 with Kurt Schwitters and Hugo Ball). Today, their works hang where they opposed them, in museums. They have also risen in value beyond comprehension, even though they positioned themselves against commercialism in art.
You have to think about what you ultimately want and what your personal goal is. Follow your will to *make art* and probably live with it not to conquer a market (become an artist) or design a product in advance and aligned to the conditions and requirements of your target group, the market itself and the optimal distribution strategies. Develop a product with this setup in mind and adapt it to your business plan - optimise! Then you will certainly be successful, but probably no longer make art in the first place. Only chance can combine the two and that is the somewhat sad reality of art vs. business.
Boris"