An artist-entrepreneur is one who understands how to turn creativity to profit. Someone who practices art with a business-oriented mindset. The tips that will be shared in this article will definitely guarantee your success as an artist. On the condition that you stick to them consistently, and be disciplined in adhering to the steps.
Tips
Sell yourself as a business from the beginning:
The world calls and believes who you tell them you are. Telling the world and yes- showing them you are a business person and a prolific artist; no one will take you seriously. Exactly why you should get an official business card in an attempt to show the world who you are.
What is the first thing people would need to buy artwork from you? Correct: your business card and that’s why it’s still very much important even in this digitized age. Having an official business card 
with your brand details, contact information, and social media handles make it easy for people to find and contact you; physically beyond all the digital exaggeration.
Develop your contact list:
As a professional artist, you should have a business card and a reasonable digital presence where people can contact you online. The about me page or bio provided by websites and social media handles helps people know you better. Close your eyes and open it, your contact list starts to add up.
Never leave home without your business cards and ensure that your digital platforms are updated. Start building networks, relationships, and teams; never ignore them. Interact, engage, and nurture them because they might be the lead needed to attain success.Â
Professional artists don’t take for granted human connection. So, follow up after first meetings, check-in at intervals, send thank you messages and updates.
It is essential that contacts feel valued and involved; positively include them and the pleasurable experiences they enjoy from the relationship you keep with them have the power to propel you to greatness. Because in return, your contacts begin to value your art, their relationship with you, interaction and would make it a priority to share your work with their networks.
Prepare for opportunities and impromptu:
The most important thing you need to know about artists-entrepreneurs is that they never stop looking tirelessly for opportunities and avenues to get there work out there. Well, if you have a strong official business card and digital presence; making the best of impromptu wouldn’t be a challenge.
Furthermore, a solid digital presence and mindful archive update enables people you to show the people you are introducing yourself to your online gallery. But also, try to consider and review your decisions on places your art can be viewed and sold.Â
This allows identifying other places apart from galleries where your work can be exhibited or bought to be displayed for other art lovers to appreciate.
For an artist, all the world is a gallery. So, if you see a location where your work can be shown and will be appreciated; get talking, leave your business card, follow up, check-up, interact. Your strong digital presence and archive update enable you to show the people you are introducing yourself to your online gallery.
Artist-entrepreneur never stop looking for other avenues to get their work out there! Therefore, keep the search for local and national curators, businesses, interior designers that would appreciate your work. Request meetings with them, present your work to them and be on their radar.
Find local art groups, galleries, and curators you can collaborate with. Go further to ask if you could exhibit your work at local, national, and international galleries that you take an interest in.
Shivers down your spine already? There is the decision to stay outside at the corner of the ring or get in the ring and show your capabilities because the competition is high. Also, no one sees how talented nor will they bestow adequate compensation for your work if blinking in the dark is all you do because no one sees anything!
Confidence and professionalism:
These two conjoined with commitment, consistency, character are important if you are to go a long way. An artist-entrepreneur is always ready to take opportunities because they are confident in who they are and believe strongly in what they do. Be ready with prices for your artworks anywhere because clients are everywhere these days.
If your level of confidence is low, it reflects for people to see and no matter how talented and creative you are; the absence of professionalism and courage will “spoil your market”( as we say here in Nigeria).
Never underestimate connections and networks; show yourself to be a professional by having the best tools that establish you both as an artist and an easy to work with, efficient business person.
Invest in your art and yourself as an artist: This requires that you manage your finances well. So, buy from brands like Arteasy Nigeria with the opportunity of getting the best tools and materials at inexpensive prices to make the best piece of art; leaving you with enough money to invest in yourself. Art Easy Nigeria has a warehouse of tools and materials that are carefully selected to make life easier for you as an artist-entrepreneur.
Set goals;
Art professionals and entrepreneurs have goals that guide and guard them in the kind of decisions they make and the things they do. Setting goals saves you time and resources that would have been wasted without a structured plan.
In conclusion; ask yourself:
What is your vision and what are the goals that will help you achieve those dreams of yours? 
Is there a topic you’ll like us to talk about? Kindly let us know in the comment section.
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