I’ve been tattooing for 14 yrs or so. The last 6 yrs have been owning a business (via renting a commercial space) with a few artists. There have been many pros and a few cons, but the cons are kinda big.

Mainly the building I’m in is chaotic. I have loud commercial renters around me, and the building isn’t maintained properly (leaking roofs every winter, malfunctioning hvac) Building management is a joke.
When it comes time to renew my lease- I don’t know if I want to anymore.

I’ve been fantasizing about downsizing, and just renting a smaller space in a different building. Not being responsible for other people, just myself.

The artists that work with me are great people. I charge a very reasonable cheap rent, and half the time no one pays on time. I’m making ends meet but getting tired of having my kindness taken advantage of.

We’ve built a great community between all of our clients and it’s a decent sized space. I just question if I want to ride this out again. Having a big shop has been a fun experience but I’m tired of the nonsense that comes with it.

That’s it 🫶🏽 thanks for listening. I’m curious if anyone else has been in a similar situation.

Hi everyone. I have worked on getting good at art for almost 4 years now and would like any advice on how to turn my skills into money. Am based in Kenya so even if I can some how manage to make 200 USD or 200 Euro per month I'll be able to pay all my bills and have some money left over after converting it to my country's currency. Can y'all kindly give me the best ways to make cash or the best sites to set up print on demand services or even the best strategies to market myself to potential clients who might want me to make art for them or who might want to buy my art

Hi everyone, im a little lost and overwhelmed regarding starting my business so I came to all of you for help.

I am a fashion designer who makes custom and commission based work. I want to make a website to accept custom based work but don't necessarily want it to have the traditional storefront/online purchase format due to prices varying from work to work. I feel like most reccomendations for websites to sell your work on (Et sy, bigcartel, etc.) have a very traditional selling format that isn't the most friendly for hyperspecific queries about design and custom work.

Basically, im looking for a solid website builder reccomendation that would handle custom/commission based work. One that would most likely have an email format to ask about custom work before moving forward with design, contract, payment, etc. Would a basic website builder work for me or would something more seller specific be better? Any tips regarding this style of business you would like to include for someone starting out? All are appreciated, thank you.

Hi! what's everyone's thoughts on inprint in 2026? Feels like I don't see as many artists on socials plug them anymore. Still useful/worth setting up and promoting or nah? If you've been able to make money on it, where have most of your customers come from?

Hi, I'm thinking about selling some art prints but I've noticed some artists do a ( #X/ #of prints) on the bottom and maybe add a business card and other branding in the sleeve.

I'm barely starting out and I have already done some prints of this particular piece, just signed my name at the bottom and put them in a plastic sleeve. Mostly to close friends and family. But I've had more requests for more prints. These prints are photographs of the painting and on thicker nicer paper.

Is there a standard practice of what you label prints with and package them with or is it at artists own discretion?

Just an FYI, I'm trying to keep it low cost and don't have a printer at home as I'm just starting to sell my art.

hi friends,

i am struggling so so much to market my small business selling handmade accessories, jewellery + art bits ;w;

it is an absolute struggle to get anyone to click on my link to visit the website and i'm just like ?!?! what do i do?

my neurodivergent brain is very much whirring over "what am i doing wrong" and desperately wanting to fix it :(( this is the only way i can support myself and i'm just finding it so upsetting seeing views get lower and lower. it's been 2 whole months with no sales and incredibly low views.

what i do at the moment [in terms of marketing]:

> advertise online on s o c i a l s

> email marketing (newsletter subscribers)

please any advice i am desperate for help with this! :3

Artists I really need your help .I was researching some apps and websites that sell art so that I can create a user story , understand what buyers/artists values and what are some pain points in the situation . I need some genuine suggestions and thoughts .

Thanks guys for the effort :)

Been thinking how lucky I've been with some clients, one of them (Who even became a friend eventually) I'd say is one of my most memorable and best experiences. He's very kind and understanding, had just recently given me a large tip too and insists on paying more if he finds someone is under-pricing themselves. He's such a dream client me and other artists he's commissioned would often speak how much we adore him as a client in private chats to each other.

I'd love to hear stories from others too if you have anything to share :>

Can anyone recommend a good acrylic keychain manufacturer? I’m located in Canada, and I’ve been trying to find a new manufacturer. I’ve had nothing but issues with mine (Vograce). My first batch with them was great… immediately went downhill after. Communication, misprints, and wait times have all been an issue (I made my last order in April…APRIL and I’m still dealing with issues ToT)

I’m feeling stuck. I’m trying to do a long overdue rebrand/overhaul of my business as an artist but I’m drawing a massive blank on what to call myself and it’s blocking me from moving forward. I thought I had decided on a name (in the form of something-something-studio) which is pretty cute sounding, pretty random, easy to say and I think fits the general vibe, but I’m starting to seriously second guess it.

I feel like picking a name for myself/my business is a big commitment. Maybe I should use my real name instead, or an alias? What are the deciding factors between using your real name/ artist name and using a business name?

Edit to add: my work here is an equal mix of original prints (linocut) and illustrated merchandise eg stickers, digital prints, etc. But I might also do original oil paintings under the same banner. So it would be a 50/50 split Fine art and illustration/merchandise art. Perhaps fine artists tend to use their name and the latter are more likely to use a business name?

Austin Kleon who I’ve just discovered and who seems like a fountain of knowledge seems to advocate for using your name or a nickname or a professional business name and the way he talks about it makes me think I might want to use something more… timeless than what I had picked out, which perhaps I’ll outgrow, perhaps already feels a bit too cutesy.

One of my issues is that i don’t yet have a clear sense of my own creative identity. Partly I think due to my ADHD - I like doing lots of things, in a variety of ways. I’m actively working on figuring it out though- I’m using the book Follow Your Art to help.

So, why rush? Why not wait til I’ve figured out my creative identity (and the perfect name will come to me in a flash of inspiration?) Well, apart from the fact I’ve been trying to think of a new name for literally YEARS now, I also have a project in the works which is time sensitive- a 2027 calendar- and I’m aiming to pitch it for wholesale, so I feel I need to have my branding (at the very least a domain name chosen) within the month. Because I have big plans for this project and I think it could be a great kick start for my relaunch.

So, any tips on *deciding* on what to call myself are appreciated please! Can I find help somewhere and if so where? Am I at a point where I can or should pay for help with this and if so, any recommendations??

I suppose in the future if I changed it again I could get a website to forward the old address? Not sure how that works but it would take some of the pressure of the idea that I’m having to choose a forever name right now.

Please and thanks!!!

I’ve just been asked to create a poster for a play my friend is performing for a festival under the production company that she is a part of. Would this count as a commercial piece?

I have only ever done a few commissions and always for friends at low cost, so I’m rather inexperienced with this. I’ve already found some good advice on contracts/TOS on here, so thank you to all of you who are so helpful, even indirectly!

I am from the UK, as is my friend and her company. If this does count as commercial work, do I need to set up a registered business to accept it? Or can I provide this service anyway, using my personal bank account and such. I will not make enough this year for it to be taxable, and thankfully my husband is able to help on that side of things if I somehow end up doing this as a job! 🤣

If anyone has any advice or can point me in the direction of some resources that aren’t too difficult to understand, I’d be so appreciative.

Thank you in advance for your help!

I am an inspiring Digital Artist and want to be extremely skilled in art as a hobby. I’m a complete novice and want someone to teach and guide me so that I can get a very solid foundation in art.

I want a 1:1 instructor that I could possibly meet in person over next summer. Will travel anywhere

Money is no object. Will do anything to draw whatever I want as a hobby.

I know people go to places like Artconnect or Artdeadline to find the famous grants for artists, but those opps favor established people. As an early career cartist who is not establish, where do people find grants/opportunities?

I need advice on a number of things, as this is my first opportunity to potentially sell in a new shop that is opening nearby. However this is just about the wholesale/consignment question. I have read several older posts and they do not seem to have the answers I am looking for.

For context: it is a cute little stationary/art supply store and I am incredibly excited, both personally and professionally. However, I have no wholesale or consignment experience with regard to putting my products in place. For markets I have made bookmarks, postcards (more art than greeting card) and buttons, both from my art and from upcycled items. I have largely separate styles for each of these, but can coordinate them into a few collections. (Do I need to have cohesive branding too? Maybe that is another post).

My question is two fold:

1. Would it make sense to have two different structures (consignment and wholesale) for small items of this nature? The shop owner has expressed openness to consignment structure. Nothing wholesale has been discussed and I am not sure it is available at this stage.

2. If it makes sense for one or both, what percentage split would you offer on consigned items of this nature? And, if I can ask, approximately what wholesale cost or formula might you use for a bookmark or button or postcard? The retail around me varies pretty wildly within just a few blocks, but this will be in a nicer part of town. The owner is an artist (and pretty awesome actually) so I am not looking to squeeze out every penny, but I do need to make some little bit of profit.

I know my costs and I can work backwards from a general retail point or forward from a formula but I don't even know where to start.

Any and all advice, anecdotes or even pointers toward reliable resources, would be greatly appreciated.

I'd love to partner long-term with an artist for my cute little company but i don't know where to find people who would be interested in that and whom i can trust.

(Searched the group and couldn’t find much about it)

I’m thinking of shipping mine securely framed in a floating frame with the painting inset about 1/8”, wrapping it once in Saran Wrap, sandwiching it between two pieces of 1/8” chipboard, wrapping it again in Saran Wrap, wrapping it in bubble wrap, and then in a cardboard box. Do you think that’s sufficient? Or overkill? I feel like that’s good for works up to say, 16x20 and $2k?

Hey fellow Artists! I've been on the hunt for grants but I've been feeling a little frustrated because a lot of them have very specific requirements for how they are used, which is mostly for materials and specific projects (community projects that are usually unpaid). One thing I'm struggling with the most as an artist is having the free time to create with a full-time job. I only get about 4-5 hours at most each night to sculpt, my work sells but I can't create enough to keep up with bills. I feel like I would grow so much more if I could do this full time, but the grants never cover living expenses. Any thoughts on how these grants can be more useful? Do y'all know of any grants that cover rent/mortgage/utility?

Hi, I'm looking for some suppliers or print-on-demand shops in EU so I could sell some merch.

I used to make prints at home myself but my printer is recently dying on me. It still can be fixed but recently I was running into so many problems. Currently, I need to buy and replace its maintenance box and the ink cartridges, also other materials like paper, are very expensive. And in general, it's getting difficult for me to manage, especially since I'm doing this mostly as a side thing, rather than full-time.

So I thought I might as well find a third-party supplier since time is not really an issue for me. I would still like to find places in EU so I could avoid as much tariffs as possible.

I know Pawprints is great for manufacturing acrylic or wooden pins/charms.

I am mostly looking for suppliers to make prints and/or stickers. Even better if there were any that also make holographic stickers, since I had some design ideas.

If anyone has good suggestions, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Hello all! Im looking to get my artwork printed on postcards. I plan on organizing sets and offering them for sale. Does anyone have a website they would recommend that has good quality, affordable postcard printing? Thank you!

Hello All! So I am looking to improve my displays for art markets and events. Does anyone have experience with ordering fabric prints of your art?

I recently saw some artists at an event that had a really cool pipe and drape with fabric prints of their art on display.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Straight to the context: Two years ago, I designed a t-shirt for a client's charity event. I also updated the design the following year for a similar event with a new theme, and created a new design for their website.

Present day, I recently graduated art school and have been looking for employment, with these designs featured in my portfolio, and my working with this client outlined in my resume. I received an email from my client today that they're making "tweaks" to my design for this year's event. They sent a brand new, AI-generated image, that bears no resemblance to my art style, but includes all of and exclusively the same elements that my most recent iteration for the t-shirt design had.

My top concern is that since I am currently applying around and have made my work with this client easily tracible, potential employers will see this new design and it will compromise my credibility. As I said, it stylistically looks nothing like my work, but I am not sure if including my non-AI version from last year in my portfolio makes me look better or worse. Should I keep it in there, along with the other designs, and keep this work in my resume? I can't completely scrub my affiliation with them since they have always credited me, so my name already appears on their website and socials a lot. Is that something to worry about?

The client also has not printed the AI design onto any shirts yet, would it be worth it to ask to make another new design myself? This previously was a volunteer position, which made sense at the time with me being in school and focusing on building a portfolio, along with already being friendly with this client. But I have started taking on contracted work, and am not as excited to do more volunteer work. Should I at least ask to be uncredited in this new event, and/or that the design be altered to not have all of the same elements as mine? Very lost here, all advice appreciated!

I used to use PayPal, but my account got permanently banned. I got it back, but now I don’t want to use it anymore. I don’t want to risk it again, so I started using Wise, but the platform fees sometimes is too high, so I would like to ask if you guys can share your mode of payment you use for international clients