I hope you guys enjoy the video and get some tips from it. I hope that this video makes you feel that making a living from art is possible and doesn't just have to be a dream. Work hard and you can have a career in whatever you want to do :) Get your FREE 2 Hour Real-Time Watercolor Tutorial: www.blog.kirstypartridge.com/newsletter
This video came in just in time. I’m tired of people asking me to do art for them for free, and when they tell me they’re going to pay me they never do. I’m learning tho.
Layah Blanco I think people do realize how much time and effort that is required AND skill. But since they don’t have the patience and don’t want to spend any time learning, they just want it now, and they are cheapskates, they ask the artist they know, and by prefacing their request with, “Oh, you’re so talented...” or “it’s a gift...”, then they ask and expect you to do it for free! Don’t work for free, or people will continue to expect you to always create art for them for free, and you deserve better than to be treated that way! 🤗
@Za za Zoom This happens in pretty much all fields I know, not only art, but I guess it might be particularly hard in this field. The point is: Nowadays there is simply no respect for other people's profession, no matter what you do. What's missing is the respect towards each other, nothing else.
Kirsty over the years I have watched you work really hard, you have put a lot of time and effort into your art, sometimes even worked through the night to get your art finished, then going to work to do your day job back in the early days of growing your art channel. You work very very hard my love and I'm so proud of you, your success is well deserved. Keep up the great work that you do 🥰😉👍😘
@@KirstyPartridgeArt Its not easy, it dose take a lot of hard work to get going. I have been at it for going on 3 years. Finally, this Christmas season. My hard work is starting to pay off. I am booked with commissions til mid January 2020. They are starting to slow down though. Thats why I want to learn more about your success Kirsty.
Kirsty, can you start making a section of business related art stuff such as: making a website, a blog, the newsletter. A road map etc. Thank you and love you! Signed, ~an aspiring artist trying to not work in the food industry
I never thought about reading Business books i will make sure read one of those and Your comment have 444 likes i don't wanna ruin this epic number 😂♥️
how about work in another needed sector instead of trying to become art youtuber number 3278. Do you really think you'd bring something to the table that isn't already available on here?
I'm anxious to get back into art. It has been 30 years since I've been serious with it. I was an art major at Georgia State University back in 1988 and I let it go. I've been watching your tutorials and picking it back up. Thank you for the pointers!
I am in the "change of career" and "never too late" categories. I'm currently half way through my Diploma in Arts & Design and am very anxious about becoming a full-time artist, something I have wanted to be since I was young. Being in New Zealand there maybe some differences, but I personally would love to have a series like this to refer to, to help me through this transition. Thank you so much for posting this video xo
Ditto with living in Australia. Getting an audience is probably the easy bit, it's getting products out that's harder as getting merch to sell is very expensive and postage can be a killer, especially if you're a beginner witha very limited amount of funds to start yourself off from. There are ways to get around these problems, but they do take time and research.
@Maxedwardsart if you got Australian links that'd be great, especially if they're ones that allow small print runs under 50 images for a reasonable price ($200 isn't reasonable when that's what you're living off fortnight or as a student who wants to try getting a foot in the door ). Would help others out too as unless you know exactly what you're looking for, you can struggle to find somewhere that doesn't send you broke before you start. For myself personally it's postal that's a killer as Commissions that are A3 can cost up to $50AUD to post international dependent of where it has to go. (they're changing prices again in January so will possibly be more) if there's ways around using them it'd be brilliant, but as I'm not a digital artist, delivery fees can't be something I can entirely wave away by only giving clients a pdf file. Any advice in that area would be huge, as I'm probably not the only one who doesn't want to waste half of any earnings on postage.
@Maxedwardsart huh? No i was saying that it's $50 to post. (i charge more than that, but hey if you can find someone who'll pay $1,000 for a peice then you're laughing all the way to the bank - people don't even want to pay $10 for digital works and even asking for $100+ gets tricky unless you're dealing with business and not private contacts. The only way you'll get ANYONE to pay you that much is if you're someone who can constantly get in art galleries and I've been around a very long time doing this, trust me when I tell you if you're new to doing this for a living you're never going to get jobs for what you're asking for unless you're freelance for a company or an inhouse designer, so good luck asking for that kinda money from the general public. You can probably go about $500 or so before people start to pass over you for someone cheaper. They don't care about how much your materials are or how many hours/days you sink into it - it's a miracle if you can get them to pay you for it as they certainly don't. Only way you'll get that is if you're Graeme Base.
I've been thinking about doing colored pencil portraits on commission. The idea of it feels a little overwhelming but I've had lots of people tell me that I need to do it. I'm afraid of taking on more than I can handle because colored pencils are super time-consuming. Also I would hate to take money for a drawing that I'm not 100% satisfied with, so that perfectionist thing kinda holds me back too.
I can completely relate, I tried commissions but that avenue wasn’t for me, for the same reasons you mentioned. You won’t know whether you love or hate it unless you try. Take on one commission, maybe for a friend or family member (less pressure) and see how you get on. No need to commit to it straight away. Just try it out and see how you get on. If it isn’t for you there are lots of other ways you can go to earn money as an artist 😊💕
You have the skills. You have the talent. do you have the courage to fail or the fear to succeed? Sounds backwards doesn't it? I myself did color pencil portraits and color marker caricatures. Did I have fears and doubts? Yes indeed. But after art school actually before graduation I started to freelance. All it took was 1 paid project. And 1 happy client. Which turned into hundreds of happy clients. I still was not confident that my work was great so, my business rule was this: improve all the time and it's okay if my work is rejected if the client isn't happy. I just don't get paid. Find a genre that you love and you will find a market for it. The money will come
Remember that you can always say, " I am too busy to take that on right now. Would you like me to put you on the waiting list?" Then, they think you are awesome!
We as community really appreciate you for providing us with one of the best quality art content if not the best on RUclips. And also missed your vlogs on the other channels with Darby also. I hope you guys are doing well. Thanks for your educational art resources and the knowledge that you given us within few years.
Currently watching this video with tears drying on my cheeks. I'm a young artist who's terrified of turning my art into a business! Thanks for this video, I appreciate it wholeheartedly 💖
I feel Moons Child, don’t listen to people who say this isn’t something to get worked up over because honestly it is, coming from someone who knows how scary it can be to try and open up about art and everyone telling you your dream is probably never gonna happen, it’s made me a nervous wreck convincing myself my art is ok or not good enough. but you got this don’t let anyone stop you to achieve your dream
I have an associates in art and always wanted to be an artist. lately, I've been feeling like living full time off my work would be impossible and my outlook has become very bleak. this video helped remind me to keep trying and give me some more focus. thank you so much!
Beautiful painting and a very interesting topic, I would love to see this as a series. Talking points ideas: How to change friends and family from seeing it as something everybodywants and should get for free to perhaps help advertising. Stop the ‘oh can you give this one to your *input family members*’ and ‘I also have this friend (that you haven’t even met) who likes *whatever you paint* and he/she would love it if you gave them a painting’. I constantly get ‘oh I don’t have anything for this person for Christmas, could you give them a painting? I know they really like your paintings. Which of them? Oh they all of them!’ And you’ve never heard anything from them about your paintings so you have no clue what style they then like. Landscape? Flowers? Colourful? Monochrome? What colour? How does any of their rooms look? How to start (softly) introducing friends and acquaintances to your paintings without smothering them and asking too many questions and at the same time get them to see that it is something you’d like to make a living from. What is healthy advertising and how do shy and insecure artists ruin the marketing of their own products? I feel like I don’t want to over-sell the art, so I undersell it instead. Pricing. Originals, prints, calendars, cards, classes (online and physical)....
Maybe you'd find it unreal but I ain't joking. Meditation really helped me to grow patience. I was so impatient earlier just like you. I was impatient even in cooking but waking up early and meditating just for 15 minutes regularly really made a difference. Skills like this require patience and Growing patience requires time.
Its hard! My mentor is constantly stopping me from throwing my studies away or wiping it clean. He'd rather I figure it out and rework what i have because the mistakes are things I can fix and doesn't need to be scraped. I always just look at him like "your kidding, right?" because I don't see it until I actually do rework it... then I'm like "oh.. well.. hey now. Guess it wasn't a complete flub up". (I still do go back to a clean slate. If I realize what I did and just want to start over. But for the most part its it really is about working light and be patient_
So happy that this route has worked out so well for you!! You truly deserve it! You were the foundation for me art path :) I'd definitely be interested in a series on this topic.
This is so timely, thanks for sharing. I'm trying to build an art career right now and your tips are very helpful. I presently do speed drawing videos but I am in the process of transitioning to tutorials because I know how much value they bring. Could you please share how tax works for freelance artists in the UK?
I enjoyed your expressive watercolor, as well as your discussion on making art a working business. I would be interested in more of your informative business/art videos.
Love this Kirsty! Yes please make more. I would also love to hear a breakdown of how and what you spend your time on each week. Thank you for the encouragement! I need to have a "vision". Thinking on the topics you mentioned.
I'd love to see a series, or at least a few videos about making a living with art! This was really informative and motivating, and I'd be interesting in hearing more from you!
Great options for building an art business. When I first started my biz, I thought the only way to make a living with art was to sell my art. Now I know there are so many other ways - and I have a mix of them. I would love to learn more about Patreon. Thanks so much for the helpful video!!
I just discovered this video, this makes me respect artists so much more (already did, but I think I was still a bit ignorant on some parts). I've always loved an artists passion, but the art-community on youtube is so welcomed and such a fresh breath of air. It's (for as far as I can tell as an outsider) far less toxi than for instance the beauty community!
I used to say that until I made about that from my art and realized it wasn't quite enough. If you're at 0 then it sounds like a lot but it's actually not.
Name I’m really lucky in that I only absolutely need about £9,000k a year net to pay my bills, but I definitely know what you’re saying. Would be better to have around £35K to be living comfortably
I made portraits of my students last year. They're so happy. This year, I made portraits again for my new students. Next year again, I will. And until my retirement. 😄
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, make more videos on this. Thank you for asking, and even making this possible. I have been dabbling in art forever however I am more of a mixed media artists yet would like to build that website first and am not sure what to offer to my clients.
I’m so happy you made this video! While I used to mainly only focus on videos to improve my art skills, I more recently am trying to learn more about business skills/ building an audience as an artist. The building an audience part is rough😂
Defiantly love to hang out for a series on this topic. It's a great idea and fun to hear what's possible. I now make 5k 10k per art piece so it's always inspiring to hear possibilities.
Thank you so much for making this video! You’ve basically been one of my biggest art inspirations for over a year now which has gotten me to start making bigger leaps to have a career in art
I'm going through something similar. For now I'm just trying to focus on it as a side project while continuing my other career as well. But I wonder if I could achieve enough with the divided focus.
I’m an attorney as well transitioning to a full time art career. I’m looking at it as an advantage though because one of my revenue streams will be to provide legal support for Artists. It looks like the art business is expanding so Artists need support for their businesses from people who understand the industry.
Leelz247 I feel the same , as a nurse , I work really hard and sometimes I think what if I just work as fulltime artist , however , it’s not yet that feasible , maybe begin half time working while doing artworks .
This video is so helpful. I will admit I've haven't been consistent with my YT channel because I always use my full-time day job as an excuse for taking up my time. I get frustrated for not having enough time to focus on building a career in art but I do try to take advantage of the rest of the free time I get. I do get discouraged sometimes. Occasional commissions are good but I need more time. Haha. Great video. Love the painting. 😀
Really great and helpful tips! There's a lot more questions I need to ask myself and serious thinking. Also, a series would be such a tremendous help! Thanks so much for the awesome information!
I've had almost the exact opposite process going on for a few decades. I do nothing but spend money on making art... haven't really ever made money doing it... but I am changing directions this year and really giving it a go for that to change. Edit: More videos on the topic would be great. I think there is a decent market out there for some one to become the Tim Schmoyer (Video Creators) for the art world. Someone's gotta do it.
You have an appeal and a perfect mix of talent. Your art is good and you are a very good teacher, providing ref.photo and your own sketch (so we don't have to start from scratch). Plus, you have a nice voice to listen to and explain things clearly (even if you can't think of the exact word you are looking for in your voice overs in tutorials). There are plenty of artist here in the US that I truly love their art, but one or more of the critical components I just mentioned are missing. I will be a patreon for a while for sure :)
She is not making that from her art related activities alone if at all. She says in the video she has other sources for "diversified revenue." This is click bait. If not she would break it down: $X from youtube per year, $X from Patreon, $X from Skillshare. Show us the math.
I think when she was speaking about a diversified income, she was talking about having different streams of art-related income; for example RUclips, patreon, conventions, etc.
There is another artist on youtube, arleebean, who has made two in depth videos on her sources of income, and they were much more helpful than this. I really recommend you watch it (her art videos are amazing too)!
Love this! Thank you so much for the ideas. I just started my art channel a few weeks ago. I decided to focus on my latest hobby first paint by numbers. But hopefully my art skills will improve and I can show more different art videos. :)
Thank you for sharing I’m 28 years old I want to be full time artist I love painting but I didn’t graduate form art Because painting is my hobby ❤️ It sounds like a dream🌻
some good tips but I dont feel you chose great examples for artists. Both Jazza and Baylee got lucky and became viral. Even getting half a successful as either is unlikely. I felt you should have used some smaller artist that have around 25-50k subs as its much more realistic. But bottom line is it requires work and luck, no one really knows.
You think Jazza got lucky? Have you not seen how long he has been at this? Hes been doing youtube since it came out basically there was some awful stuff back in the day he learned it and mastered it just like his art, he filmed thousands of hours for his channel before paid sponsorships or ads were even a thing on this platform. Green isn't your color, dont hate on someone just because you dont became famous after minimal effort.
@@MrWaffle47 I'm not hating nor am I saying he doesn't work hard because he does work hard. But getting viral and getting to the number of subscribers he has is also down to luck. I know/ people who've done this for a long time and have been practising their craft for a couple decades and they haven't even hit 1M. Part of RUclips is hard work and part of it is luck of having the algorithms pick up your videos.
@@Dan.B.Artist He got to the platform early and was consistent for years. That's not lucky, in fact there is very little luck involved there. I've done this with newer platforms and it still works. You get there early when theres no competition and so you blow up easily. You can literally do this now... There are under-valued platforms with little competition and many many potential patreons to be had.
1. Educational Service: Teaching art effectively and pleasing to the audience in order to draw sponsorship via ads or patronage like services. 2. Physical Products of your art: Original drawings/paintings, prints, other products with your art design prints. 3. Passive income: Subscriptions, endorsements, and publications
I make 6 figures a year on my art and I don’t teach it. Mine is mostly on coloring pages. I have a friend who makes six figures on her art being sold on puzzles. There are SO many ways to make money with art!
Yes a series on this topic would be awesome! I'm currently in the startup myself, and working on building an audience while I work on my own skills. But something I begun running into now, that I don't know how to deal with exactly, is when acquaintances, friends and family express they want an recent art piece you just painted due to loving it so much, but then when they find out you won't give it away for free? It gets really awkward, and in an odd way I almost feel guilty for asking to be compensated for the work I put into an original painting. Something that touches on that subject would be really helpful, for a lot of us beginning artists I think. Another question I've been wondering and thinking about a lot lately is how to approach an art career when you want to create art in various styles? To take myself as an example. I'm painting with watercolor, landscape, nature, animals in a mixture of realism and expressionism. But got plans to do digital artwork as well, fantasy themed illustrations, strong characters and fan art. Then also fantasy cartography and dungeon maps for D&D players for example. I realize these styles are so very different from each other, and it would be very messy and confusing as far as consistency goes for my potential different audiences. I've been thinking about managing 3 different Instagram accounts to keep each style separated, but have them gathered on my future web page (giving them their own tab section) and on my future artist FB page. Is this an sensible idea? Your thoughts on this dilemma I think would be another good subject to cover in a video.
I've already drawn Jazza on my channel as he inspires me (lol I'm Aussie too) I'm also seriously considering drawing you Kirsty as I really admire your channel and beautiful pieces👌😍
Thank you for this video, I'd love to see a series. Maybe start at the beginning and go through each area on more detail. I'd like to know how to get started on RUclips. I'm 53 and just starting my art business, it's never too late.
Thank you for this video. I have subscribed here and for your newsletter. I am would very much like to see more of your videos - keep them coming! I am planning on being a full-time artist myself and this video was very helpful. Wonderful!
Thank you so much for this video. I would like to make art my career and built audience but I can't give tutorials.. I am self-taught and still learning. Unfortunately I can't afford to go study art. Also I am not confident..and seeing these great artists on Instagram make me even more uncertain about my art. I think why would someone buy MY art if there are so many better artists... Mostly I draw with pencils, trying for realistic drawing. I always liked art..but I decided to make career in different field because I have always lucked confidence and everyone told me art is not a career and you won't make living with it...So I gave up on my dreams then..and now I am stuck with job that I don't like. I draw more often now..and I would love to start making some income from art. But where to start...
I was told the same things. At school I was the best student at art and my teacher always insisted I should go study art, but my mother always associated it with a future as a professional toilet cleaner. And as if it couldn't go any worse: a university lecturar who taught drawing at the academy where I used to take some lessons outside of my course of studies because of my passion said: "studying painting isn't easy, I know many of my colleagues having a hard time, because it's so difficult to make a living of it." So yeah, not everybody is lucky, I guess. But here is why there are no better artists than you: 1) art is freedom, there is no rule, so nobody is more artist than anybody else; 2) the beauty of your art is valued by the liking of the observer; there might always be some people loving the art you don't consider being as great as they think and this can apply to your art too. Maybe you are just too strict. How do you know people wouldn't love what you do? It doesn't have to be the entire world. You will always find some disapproval; who cares? But that's totally ok. That's why we are all so different.
@@momonatu4998 thank you so much for a reply. You are totally right. The truth is I am the boss of my life and I have to believe in myself first. I wish I started drawing earlier. I would of been much better by now. But I guess it's never too late to start doing what you love. I'm 27 not 72 lol
Awesome information. I just watched your 10 steps to build your art business video and this video answered a question I had about what to focus on. Inspirational video and I love the water color you did.
I just started my art channel 4months ago, still struggling to grow my channel. Hoping i could improve my content like yours. Thanks for this motivational video.
I’d be happy with $90K a year in income creating Art as my income source. $250K seems like a crazy dream, I wouldn’t know what to do with that kind of money
I am so happy for you! I have some young adult artist children. I would love to see you do a series of vids breaking down the path to your current income, beginning with getting started. Starting is the hardest part. Believing you can is prob. second. Staying consistent, staying motivating, building a plan, managimg your time are also tooics I'd like to hear about. Thank you;. even for me, your story is so inspirational!! :)
also what watercolor do you use cause i struggle a lot with geting a very pigmented color and i was wondering if you could let me know how or make a video on how too. thank you
I had my page on facebook for over a year now and I do mainly crocheting at the moment. I've had a few sales but what really helps is doing craft shows. I've done 3 and it's pretty overwhelming to see others. But I think it is nice to see what other people do, how people think, just seeing what people like. I do say that it hasn't been easy which is why I'm trying different forms of art and just focusing on what I want to do rather than trying to rush my projects. I hope someday I can be big but I do not want to give up :)
6:00 I thought you were painting a Bee with the face of a Fox.. And not knocking your skills. I just mean it really looks like a Fox head at that point to me. Thought to myself that'd be an interesting chimera too
Wow this is exactly the video I needed to stumble upon, been struggling on deciding if I want to commit full time to my art or not... thank you so much for sharing and posting this!
The odd part comes when everyone say your art is amazing and they follow you, but when you offer your services they all just give you that ' Good luck' phrase and walk away..... Or is it happening just to me?😅
I am trying to get started but I’m not the best with tec things,, how to get a web site how to sell my art as print art eeekkk so hard for someone that doesn’t know what to do..
lucidlylucy It is actually hard to present yourself professionally from the onset when you are starting as an amateur anyway.. it’s just a difficult conundrum.. i’m trying to be a good artist and now it seems I have to be a savvy business person to make it work.. I was in an art shop today and explaining all of these thousands of questions we will come up against what should I price my art, blah blah there should be ART managers someone that will do all of this for you I just want to be the artist lol
This is what I've been thinking about at my current age and then I see this video🤩 very helpful Kirsty ! Also what about commissions?? Can you talk about that... I always get asked to do them (I'm also trying to build an audience on RUclips as a start lol)
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I hope you guys enjoy the video and get some tips from it. I hope that this video makes you feel that making a living from art is possible and doesn't just have to be a dream. Work hard and you can have a career in whatever you want to do :)
Get your FREE 2 Hour Real-Time Watercolor Tutorial: www.blog.kirstypartridge.com/newsletter
Which watercolor you mostly you use..thanks
Thanks dear
I love you work it is so awesome thank you for sharing... what weight paper do you use for your watercolors?
very interested in the aspects of how you run this type of business, please do more videos
what camera you use for record drawing?
This video came in just in time. I’m tired of people asking me to do art for them for free, and when they tell me they’re going to pay me they never do. I’m learning tho.
@Kabir Hirani It's sad because people don't realize how much time and effort you put in it. Especially plus the cost of materials that you use.
@Daniela Gonzalez Yes that a great idea, I will take your advice. Thanks!
Layah Blanco I think people do realize how much time and effort that is required AND skill. But since they don’t have the patience and don’t want to spend any time learning, they just want it now, and they are cheapskates, they ask the artist they know, and by prefacing their request with, “Oh, you’re so talented...” or “it’s a gift...”, then they ask and expect you to do it for free! Don’t work for free, or people will continue to expect you to always create art for them for free, and you deserve better than to be treated that way! 🤗
@Daniela Gonzalez You are exactly right. Everybody wants something for nothing. Don't sell yourself short and put value in your artwork.
@Za za Zoom This happens in pretty much all fields I know, not only art, but I guess it might be particularly hard in this field. The point is: Nowadays there is simply no respect for other people's profession, no matter what you do. What's missing is the respect towards each other, nothing else.
You make how much a year? You give me hope.😭
$250k
I am so glad I have given you hope! Work hard and you can make a living doing whatever you love
@Tara And all the advice she gives seems feasible, even for beginners.
@Adashelby #goals
Edit: what I said was wrong so I deleted to not spread false info
"so the point of this is to BEE consistent"
Lol nice one 😂👌🏾
😁
Vanessa's love for RM's dimples 바네사 love your username 💜
@@bangtwitterandtwicetagram830 haha thanks 😂 Army 4 life 💜
Can you see my artwork once time...👍
B bb 👇👇👇
Please support us.A..#Artwithdev
I'd bee very interested in seeing more videos abt making art for a living etc
Great 👍🏻
BEE
@@KirstyPartridgeArt business of art
I'd butterfly
Nightmare Collector was the pun intended?
please do a full series for this! i’d watch the heck out of it
I have already planned 15 possible videos for this series 😂
Kirsty Partridge Art dewit
Kirsty Partridge Art please do 🙏🏻 I’ve been thinking about starting an art channel on RUclips for ages
Me too
Kirsty over the years I have watched you work really hard, you have put a lot of time and effort into your art, sometimes even worked through the night to get your art finished, then going to work to do your day job back in the early days of growing your art channel. You work very very hard my love and I'm so proud of you, your success is well deserved. Keep up the great work that you do 🥰😉👍😘
Thank you mum
@@KirstyPartridgeArt Its not easy, it dose take a lot of hard work to get going. I have been at it for going on 3 years. Finally, this Christmas season. My hard work is starting to pay off. I am booked with commissions til mid January 2020. They are starting to slow down though. Thats why I want to learn more about your success Kirsty.
Kirsty, can you start making a section of business related art stuff such as: making a website, a blog, the newsletter. A road map etc. Thank you and love you!
Signed,
~an aspiring artist trying to not work in the food industry
I never thought about reading Business books i will make sure read one of those and Your comment have 444 likes i don't wanna ruin this epic number 😂♥️
how about work in another needed sector instead of trying to become art youtuber number 3278.
Do you really think you'd bring something to the table that isn't already available on here?
Pablo were not all as miserable and lazy as you lol
So many people want art commissions.
@@XpVersusVista It is pointless trying to be a art youtuber. Too many of them. 3278 is being optimistic, lol. More like number 9999...
I'm anxious to get back into art. It has been 30 years since I've been serious with it. I was an art major at Georgia State University back in 1988 and I let it go. I've been watching your tutorials and picking it back up. Thank you for the pointers!
I used to love art before then depression got me for years and now I'm coping with it, I'll start again.
Saaaaaaame
Same 😩
iAdamus hi, i ily it will get better. i understand i truly do. take care
@@Riya-fu1qz Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
iAdamus let that be your inspiration. That’s what I do
I am in the "change of career" and "never too late" categories. I'm currently half way through my Diploma in Arts & Design and am very anxious about becoming a full-time artist, something I have wanted to be since I was young. Being in New Zealand there maybe some differences, but I personally would love to have a series like this to refer to, to help me through this transition. Thank you so much for posting this video xo
Im in NZ too! It is a bit more difficult to start up here but you just have to take the first step.
Jessie Baatjies im in Northland & there are lots of artists here with amazing animals,birds & scenery theres always plenty to draw or paint
Ditto with living in Australia. Getting an audience is probably the easy bit, it's getting products out that's harder as getting merch to sell is very expensive and postage can be a killer, especially if you're a beginner witha very limited amount of funds to start yourself off from. There are ways to get around these problems, but they do take time and research.
@Maxedwardsart if you got Australian links that'd be great, especially if they're ones that allow small print runs under 50 images for a reasonable price ($200 isn't reasonable when that's what you're living off fortnight or as a student who wants to try getting a foot in the door ). Would help others out too as unless you know exactly what you're looking for, you can struggle to find somewhere that doesn't send you broke before you start.
For myself personally it's postal that's a killer as Commissions that are A3 can cost up to $50AUD to post international dependent of where it has to go. (they're changing prices again in January so will possibly be more) if there's ways around using them it'd be brilliant, but as I'm not a digital artist, delivery fees can't be something I can entirely wave away by only giving clients a pdf file. Any advice in that area would be huge, as I'm probably not the only one who doesn't want to waste half of any earnings on postage.
@Maxedwardsart huh? No i was saying that it's $50 to post. (i charge more than that, but hey if you can find someone who'll pay $1,000 for a peice then you're laughing all the way to the bank - people don't even want to pay $10 for digital works and even asking for $100+ gets tricky unless you're dealing with business and not private contacts. The only way you'll get ANYONE to pay you that much is if you're someone who can constantly get in art galleries and I've been around a very long time doing this, trust me when I tell you if you're new to doing this for a living you're never going to get jobs for what you're asking for unless you're freelance for a company or an inhouse designer, so good luck asking for that kinda money from the general public. You can probably go about $500 or so before people start to pass over you for someone cheaper. They don't care about how much your materials are or how many hours/days you sink into it - it's a miracle if you can get them to pay you for it as they certainly don't. Only way you'll get that is if you're Graeme Base.
I've been thinking about doing colored pencil portraits on commission. The idea of it feels a little overwhelming but I've had lots of people tell me that I need to do it. I'm afraid of taking on more than I can handle because colored pencils are super time-consuming. Also I would hate to take money for a drawing that I'm not 100% satisfied with, so that perfectionist thing kinda holds me back too.
I can completely relate, I tried commissions but that avenue wasn’t for me, for the same reasons you mentioned. You won’t know whether you love or hate it unless you try. Take on one commission, maybe for a friend or family member (less pressure) and see how you get on. No need to commit to it straight away. Just try it out and see how you get on. If it isn’t for you there are lots of other ways you can go to earn money as an artist 😊💕
Same here
That feeling when you just want to return their money after seeing some slight disappointment in their face lol it hurts
You have the skills. You have the talent. do you have the courage to fail or the fear to succeed? Sounds backwards doesn't it? I myself did color pencil portraits and color marker caricatures. Did I have fears and doubts? Yes indeed. But after art school actually before graduation I started to freelance. All it took was 1 paid project. And 1 happy client. Which turned into hundreds of happy clients. I still was not confident that my work was great so, my business rule was this: improve all the time and it's okay if my work is rejected if the client isn't happy. I just don't get paid. Find a genre that you love and you will find a market for it. The money will come
Remember that you can always say, " I am too busy to take that on right now. Would you like me to put you on the waiting list?" Then, they think you are awesome!
We as community really appreciate you for providing us with one of the best quality art content if not the best on RUclips. And also missed your vlogs on the other channels with Darby also. I hope you guys are doing well. Thanks for your educational art resources and the knowledge that you given us within few years.
Kristy, you make that much money because you are a drawing queen !
Currently watching this video with tears drying on my cheeks. I'm a young artist who's terrified of turning my art into a business! Thanks for this video, I appreciate it wholeheartedly 💖
Seriously? Art is not worth getting so worked up over.
@@paulwoodford6229 don't underestimate passion
I feel Moons Child, don’t listen to people who say this isn’t something to get worked up over because honestly it is, coming from someone who knows how scary it can be to try and open up about art and everyone telling you your dream is probably never gonna happen, it’s made me a nervous wreck convincing myself my art is ok or not good enough. but you got this don’t let anyone stop you to achieve your dream
I have an associates in art and always wanted to be an artist. lately, I've been feeling like living full time off my work would be impossible and my outlook has become very bleak. this video helped remind me to keep trying and give me some more focus. thank you so much!
Beautiful painting and a very interesting topic, I would love to see this as a series. Talking points ideas:
How to change friends and family from seeing it as something everybodywants and should get for free to perhaps help advertising. Stop the ‘oh can you give this one to your *input family members*’ and ‘I also have this friend (that you haven’t even met) who likes *whatever you paint* and he/she would love it if you gave them a painting’. I constantly get ‘oh I don’t have anything for this person for Christmas, could you give them a painting? I know they really like your paintings. Which of them? Oh they all of them!’ And you’ve never heard anything from them about your paintings so you have no clue what style they then like. Landscape? Flowers? Colourful? Monochrome? What colour? How does any of their rooms look?
How to start (softly) introducing friends and acquaintances to your paintings without smothering them and asking too many questions and at the same time get them to see that it is something you’d like to make a living from.
What is healthy advertising and how do shy and insecure artists ruin the marketing of their own products? I feel like I don’t want to over-sell the art, so I undersell it instead.
Pricing. Originals, prints, calendars, cards, classes (online and physical)....
That has always just been a dream of mine to do art as more than just a hobby thank you for encouraging me
A lot of people think of art as just a dream job, but I hope I can show that it can be a reality as well 🥰
I can't get past my art in the ugly stage. Like I would have thrown this painting away at 2:00
kaylaglazz this made me giggle hard asf. #relatable
Over thinking and judging it love. Give yourself and your expression permission to just be..shit flows alot easier.
Maybe you'd find it unreal but I ain't joking. Meditation really helped me to grow patience. I was so impatient earlier just like you. I was impatient even in cooking but waking up early and meditating just for 15 minutes regularly really made a difference. Skills like this require patience and Growing patience requires time.
Its hard! My mentor is constantly stopping me from throwing my studies away or wiping it clean. He'd rather I figure it out and rework what i have because the mistakes are things I can fix and doesn't need to be scraped. I always just look at him like "your kidding, right?" because I don't see it until I actually do rework it... then I'm like "oh.. well.. hey now. Guess it wasn't a complete flub up". (I still do go back to a clean slate. If I realize what I did and just want to start over. But for the most part its it really is about working light and be patient_
hahahaha i feel you so much 😂😂😂
So happy that this route has worked out so well for you!! You truly deserve it! You were the foundation for me art path :) I'd definitely be interested in a series on this topic.
This is so timely, thanks for sharing. I'm trying to build an art career right now and your tips are very helpful. I presently do speed drawing videos but I am in the process of transitioning to tutorials because I know how much value they bring. Could you please share how tax works for freelance artists in the UK?
I enjoyed your expressive watercolor, as well as your discussion on making art a working business. I would be interested in more of your informative business/art videos.
This was an incredible video and I know it’ll help me and everyone else here with their art careers, thank you!
Love this Kirsty! Yes please make more. I would also love to hear a breakdown of how and what you spend your time on each week. Thank you for the encouragement! I need to have a "vision". Thinking on the topics you mentioned.
This video gives me so much hope! Thank you so much for making it 😊❤️
I just started my RUclips to hopefully help share my art to new people ✨
With 1.26M subscribers you can't be wrong. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in multiple areas re art.
I would love to do this one day I’m thinking of going to school for fine arts
Please do more videos on this so me and other artists can flourish, you are amazing! Thanks
Thank you! I've implemented the "1 drawing a week" rule, that will definitely help. Thanks a lot :)
This was very helpful, I hope you make this a series.
I’m still baffled at how you can make that much money mostly teaching art.
Im really glad to see an artist be successful! Awesome work!
I'd love to see a series, or at least a few videos about making a living with art! This was really informative and motivating, and I'd be interesting in hearing more from you!
Gorgeous painting, magnificent choice and use of colors. Nice detail. You are exquisite!
Great options for building an art business. When I first started my biz, I thought the only way to make a living with art was to sell my art. Now I know there are so many other ways - and I have a mix of them. I would love to learn more about Patreon. Thanks so much for the helpful video!!
I just discovered this video, this makes me respect artists so much more (already did, but I think I was still a bit ignorant on some parts). I've always loved an artists passion, but the art-community on youtube is so welcomed and such a fresh breath of air. It's (for as far as I can tell as an outsider) far less toxi than for instance the beauty community!
I would be happy to make £20,000 a year from my art...! Definitely do like to hear your insights Kirsty
I used to say that until I made about that from my art and realized it wasn't quite enough. If you're at 0 then it sounds like a lot but it's actually not.
Name I’m really lucky in that I only absolutely need about £9,000k a year net to pay my bills, but I definitely know what you’re saying. Would be better to have around £35K to be living comfortably
I agree. I would love to discover new ways to sell art.
@@Bournelux how is europe?
YES please!!! A series would be great!!
I made portraits of my students last year. They're so happy. This year, I made portraits again for my new students. Next year again, I will. And until my retirement. 😄
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, make more videos on this. Thank you for asking, and even making this possible.
I have been dabbling in art forever however I am more of a mixed media artists yet would like to build that website first and am not sure what to offer to my clients.
So no need to be an amazing artist, as long as you can handle social media
No your getting it wrong, in social media you can promote yourself
Plus RUclips is actually a business
Thank you for posting this, many people are uncomfortable talking about this, but lots of people need this info.
I’m so happy you made this video! While I used to mainly only focus on videos to improve my art skills, I more recently am trying to learn more about business skills/ building an audience as an artist. The building an audience part is rough😂
This video dropped at the Perfect time!.My job just told us we’re closing for the entire holiday season (two weeks) and have to find other means.
Defiantly love to hang out for a series on this topic. It's a great idea and fun to hear what's possible. I now make 5k 10k per art piece so it's always inspiring to hear possibilities.
Why are you so defiant about it?
@@englishatheart Lol. Just spell check again messing with my text. iphones have issues with spelling adjustments after you type.
I've been watching your art channel for months not knowing that I haven't subscribe yet. Thank you so much for this. :)
Ya sure make a series
Thank you so much for making this video!
You’ve basically been one of my biggest art inspirations for over a year now which has gotten me to start making bigger leaps to have a career in art
That is amazing, so happy I have helped you 🥰
I don't feel like I can give up the security of my career as a lawyer to focus entirely on my artistic pursuits, but I know some people do manage it.
I'm going through something similar. For now I'm just trying to focus on it as a side project while continuing my other career as well. But I wonder if I could achieve enough with the divided focus.
DON'T DO IT.do it as a hobby
You have to be PASSIONATE
I’m an attorney as well transitioning to a full time art career. I’m looking at it as an advantage though because one of my revenue streams will be to provide legal support for Artists. It looks like the art business is expanding so Artists need support for their businesses from people who understand the industry.
Leelz247 I feel the same , as a nurse , I work really hard and sometimes I think what if I just work as fulltime artist , however , it’s not yet that feasible , maybe begin half time working while doing artworks .
That bee is amazing! Those details at the end made a huuuuuuge difference...
The best english accent here for the english accent lovers! 🤗😍
I found this video really uplifting and inspirational, especially since I just started college, an art degree. Thank you!
This video is so helpful. I will admit I've haven't been consistent with my YT channel because I always use my full-time day job as an excuse for taking up my time. I get frustrated for not having enough time to focus on building a career in art but I do try to take advantage of the rest of the free time I get. I do get discouraged sometimes. Occasional commissions are good but I need more time. Haha. Great video. Love the painting. 😀
Really great and helpful tips!
There's a lot more questions I need to ask myself and serious thinking.
Also, a series would be such a tremendous help!
Thanks so much for the awesome information!
I've had almost the exact opposite process going on for a few decades. I do nothing but spend money on making art... haven't really ever made money doing it... but I am changing directions this year and really giving it a go for that to change.
Edit: More videos on the topic would be great. I think there is a decent market out there for some one to become the Tim Schmoyer (Video Creators) for the art world. Someone's gotta do it.
You have an appeal and a perfect mix of talent. Your art is good and you are a very good teacher, providing ref.photo and your own sketch (so we don't have to start from scratch). Plus, you have a nice voice to listen to and explain things clearly (even if you can't think of the exact word you are looking for in your voice overs in tutorials). There are plenty of artist here in the US that I truly love their art, but one or more of the critical components I just mentioned are missing. I will be a patreon for a while for sure :)
She is not making that from her art related activities alone if at all. She says in the video she has other sources for "diversified revenue." This is click bait. If not she would break it down: $X from youtube per year, $X from Patreon, $X from Skillshare. Show us the math.
No one makes all their money from one income if they are making alot.. duh..
@@lafleurstudios I didn't say anything about one income. Duh.
I think when she was speaking about a diversified income, she was talking about having different streams of art-related income; for example RUclips, patreon, conventions, etc.
There is another artist on youtube, arleebean, who has made two in depth videos on her sources of income, and they were much more helpful than this. I really recommend you watch it (her art videos are amazing too)!
@@huh8402 Thank you - just checked it out. Yes she is straight up with lots of details. Great recommend - much appreciated!
Love this! Thank you so much for the ideas. I just started my art channel a few weeks ago. I decided to focus on my latest hobby first paint by numbers. But hopefully my art skills will improve and I can show more different art videos. :)
Thank you for sharing
I’m 28 years old
I want to be full time artist
I love painting but I didn’t graduate form art
Because painting is my hobby ❤️
It sounds like a dream🌻
Make it your career
@@cliffdariff74 Thank you ❤️
Finally....a video after sooo many months..been waiting for a new upload
Hello thank you for making this video i was wondering when i go to collage how i was going to make a living off this. and i just wanted thank you.
No problem, I am so happy this video is useful for you :D
Yes. Series, please!
some good tips but I dont feel you chose great examples for artists. Both Jazza and Baylee got lucky and became viral. Even getting half a successful as either is unlikely. I felt you should have used some smaller artist that have around 25-50k subs as its much more realistic. But bottom line is it requires work and luck, no one really knows.
You think Jazza got lucky? Have you not seen how long he has been at this? Hes been doing youtube since it came out basically there was some awful stuff back in the day he learned it and mastered it just like his art, he filmed thousands of hours for his channel before paid sponsorships or ads were even a thing on this platform. Green isn't your color, dont hate on someone just because you dont became famous after minimal effort.
Jonathan Waffle so did a lot of people who aren’t as big as him.
@@MrWaffle47 I'm not hating nor am I saying he doesn't work hard because he does work hard. But getting viral and getting to the number of subscribers he has is also down to luck. I know/ people who've done this for a long time and have been practising their craft for a couple decades and they haven't even hit 1M. Part of RUclips is hard work and part of it is luck of having the algorithms pick up your videos.
@@Dan.B.Artist He got to the platform early and was consistent for years. That's not lucky, in fact there is very little luck involved there. I've done this with newer platforms and it still works. You get there early when theres no competition and so you blow up easily. You can literally do this now... There are under-valued platforms with little competition and many many potential patreons to be had.
@@hannahlynnart I know this is months late but you truly are inspirational! ~
I love that you do a painting while providing valuable info! You are so talented!
So, mostly "how to make money TEACHING art"....
1. Educational Service: Teaching art effectively and pleasing to the audience in order to draw sponsorship via ads or patronage like services.
2. Physical Products of your art: Original drawings/paintings, prints, other products with your art design prints.
3. Passive income: Subscriptions, endorsements, and publications
I make 6 figures a year on my art and I don’t teach it. Mine is mostly on coloring pages. I have a friend who makes six figures on her art being sold on puzzles. There are SO many ways to make money with art!
People pay for art classes, almost never for actual art tho
@@MrKongatthegates not true
Joshua Lee tell that to Christie’s and Sotheby’s
Yes a series on this topic would be awesome! I'm currently in the startup myself, and working on building an audience while I work on my own skills. But something I begun running into now, that I don't know how to deal with exactly, is when acquaintances, friends and family express they want an recent art piece you just painted due to loving it so much, but then when they find out you won't give it away for free? It gets really awkward, and in an odd way I almost feel guilty for asking to be compensated for the work I put into an original painting. Something that touches on that subject would be really helpful, for a lot of us beginning artists I think.
Another question I've been wondering and thinking about a lot lately is how to approach an art career when you want to create art in various styles? To take myself as an example. I'm painting with watercolor, landscape, nature, animals in a mixture of realism and expressionism. But got plans to do digital artwork as well, fantasy themed illustrations, strong characters and fan art. Then also fantasy cartography and dungeon maps for D&D players for example. I realize these styles are so very different from each other, and it would be very messy and confusing as far as consistency goes for my potential different audiences. I've been thinking about managing 3 different Instagram accounts to keep each style separated, but have them gathered on my future web page (giving them their own tab section) and on my future artist FB page. Is this an sensible idea? Your thoughts on this dilemma I think would be another good subject to cover in a video.
I've already drawn Jazza on my channel as he inspires me (lol I'm Aussie too)
I'm also seriously considering drawing you Kirsty as I really admire your channel and beautiful pieces👌😍
Woow your art is amazing!!!
I just checked out your channel!!
Victoria A thanks so much your support means a lot🙌😄
Omg your jazza drawing is so good!
Cat Lover thanks so much🙏☺️
Love the bee painting! Definitely would like more information on starting an art career
Thank you for this video, I'd love to see a series. Maybe start at the beginning and go through each area on more detail. I'd like to know how to get started on RUclips. I'm 53 and just starting my art business, it's never too late.
Yesss a series would be wonderful!
Please make video on how to grow on social media,and packaging and selling art prints
Thank you for this video. I have subscribed here and for your newsletter. I am would very much like to see more of your videos - keep them coming! I am planning on being a full-time artist myself and this video was very helpful. Wonderful!
Thank you so much for this video. I would like to make art my career and built audience but I can't give tutorials.. I am self-taught and still learning. Unfortunately I can't afford to go study art. Also I am not confident..and seeing these great artists on Instagram make me even more uncertain about my art. I think why would someone buy MY art if there are so many better artists...
Mostly I draw with pencils, trying for realistic drawing.
I always liked art..but I decided to make career in different field because I have always lucked confidence and everyone told me art is not a career and you won't make living with it...So I gave up on my dreams then..and now I am stuck with job that I don't like. I draw more often now..and I would love to start making some income from art. But where to start...
I was told the same things. At school I was the best student at art and my teacher always insisted I should go study art, but my mother always associated it with a future as a professional toilet cleaner. And as if it couldn't go any worse: a university lecturar who taught drawing at the academy where I used to take some lessons outside of my course of studies because of my passion said: "studying painting isn't easy, I know many of my colleagues having a hard time, because it's so difficult to make a living of it." So yeah, not everybody is lucky, I guess. But here is why there are no better artists than you: 1) art is freedom, there is no rule, so nobody is more artist than anybody else; 2) the beauty of your art is valued by the liking of the observer; there might always be some people loving the art you don't consider being as great as they think and this can apply to your art too. Maybe you are just too strict. How do you know people wouldn't love what you do? It doesn't have to be the entire world. You will always find some disapproval; who cares? But that's totally ok. That's why we are all so different.
@@momonatu4998 thank you so much for a reply. You are totally right. The truth is I am the boss of my life and I have to believe in myself first.
I wish I started drawing earlier. I would of been much better by now. But I guess it's never too late to start doing what you love. I'm 27 not 72 lol
Awesome information. I just watched your 10 steps to build your art business video and this video answered a question I had about what to focus on. Inspirational video and I love the water color you did.
I have never clicked so fast!😆 I love Kirsty's videos.
Me too!
That's so great to hear xD Thank you very much !
I would LOVE to see more videos like this. You explained things beautifully!
I just started my art channel 4months ago, still struggling to grow my channel. Hoping i could improve my content like yours. Thanks for this motivational video.
Kialmi Channel keep going bc your work looks great!
One tip is upgrade your camera, or find the best brightest lighting for vids/pics!
@@oliviaj9037 can't believe i am noticed. Thanks a lot😍!
You are good, keep it up!
@@belledearest wow! So much thanks! 😱
Loved this video! Basically it comes down to sheer grind and using your skills as an educator. Kudos! You’re awesome!
I love that bee painting. Will it be (or bee 😂) available as a print somewhere?
Yes please make this into a series, would love more.
I’d be happy with $90K a year in income creating Art as my income source. $250K seems like a crazy dream, I wouldn’t know what to do with that kind of money
With 90k$ in my country you are rich.
I am so happy for you! I have some young adult artist children. I would love to see you do a series of vids breaking down the path to your current income, beginning with getting started. Starting is the hardest part. Believing you can is prob. second. Staying consistent, staying motivating, building a plan, managimg your time are also tooics I'd like to hear about. Thank you;. even for me, your story is so inspirational!! :)
Could u plz do a video detailing making ur art into prints and selling products💕💕💕💕💕
Yess I second this!
I third that 👍👍👍
Thank you!!! 😄 It’s so nice to have this broken down and explained in an easy to understand way.
A series of videos on this topic would be great.
Yess very interested in this topic! Series would be awesome. Thank you!
also what watercolor do you use cause i struggle a lot with geting a very pigmented color and i was wondering if you could let me know how or make a video on how too. thank you
I used Cotman watercolors for this painting :)
I had my page on facebook for over a year now and I do mainly crocheting at the moment. I've had a few sales but what really helps is doing craft shows. I've done 3 and it's pretty overwhelming to see others. But I think it is nice to see what other people do, how people think, just seeing what people like. I do say that it hasn't been easy which is why I'm trying different forms of art and just focusing on what I want to do rather than trying to rush my projects. I hope someday I can be big but I do not want to give up :)
6:00 I thought you were painting a Bee with the face of a Fox..
And not knocking your skills. I just mean it really looks like a Fox head at that point to me.
Thought to myself that'd be an interesting chimera too
Wow this is exactly the video I needed to stumble upon, been struggling on deciding if I want to commit full time to my art or not... thank you so much for sharing and posting this!
The odd part comes when everyone say your art is amazing and they follow you, but when you offer your services they all just give you that ' Good luck' phrase and walk away..... Or is it happening just to me?😅
Thank you so much for sharing this information with us fellow artists. It's really helpful to hear there are ways to make a living being an artist :-)
I am trying to get started but I’m not the best with tec things,, how to get a web site how to sell my art as print art eeekkk so hard for someone that doesn’t know what to do..
3karlena ditto 😩😩
lucidlylucy It is actually hard to present yourself professionally from the onset when you are starting as an amateur anyway.. it’s just a difficult conundrum.. i’m trying to be a good artist and now it seems I have to be a savvy business person to make it work.. I was in an art shop today and explaining all of these thousands of questions we will come up against what should I price my art, blah blah there should be ART managers someone that will do all of this for you I just want to be the artist lol
3karlena I know right I have already asked my mum to be my manager but I don’t think she thinks I’m being serious 😂😩
This video came in when I have thought to make art as business and new hobby since I’m not good enough to draw yet.
This is great!.
I wish I could make a career out of art. I guess I need to get good first 😅
Trying is half the battle.
True fact: There is a lot of hidden talent out there, People don't know they can draw until they actually try.
Finally a video to motivate me to fo art more often...thank you and I'd like to see a full series
This is what I've been thinking about at my current age and then I see this video🤩 very helpful Kirsty ! Also what about commissions?? Can you talk about that... I always get asked to do them (I'm also trying to build an audience on RUclips as a start lol)
Talking about commissions would be a great idea for a video 😊
Thanks for replying 😇 I love your art!!!! Been watching for agesss🙌
Your channel and patreon Are so helpful! I using both to learn skills and start my art business and I'm from Brazil! Your content is really great!
The funny part is.. that the first step is the hardest :")
I subscribed because of this video! Thanks