The Business of Art SUCKS. 🎨 The Top 5 Challenges Every Working Artist Faces (and How to Tackle Them Without Losing Your Mind)

There are countless number of books, blogs, podcasts, artist coaching schemes, art marketing gurus, and workshoppers out there to turn anyone off of trying to sell your art on your own. Hell, 80% of these are scammers, 15% are not qualified, 3% are too expensive to justify the cost, and 2% might be just what you are looking for. However, how do you find that 2%? The bigger question, are YOU the 2% that you need?

Being an artist today means wearing a lot of hats — creator, marketer, shipper, accountant, social media manager, and sometimes therapist (to yourself). For most of us, the challenge isn’t making the art — it’s keeping the business side running without burning out or losing touch with why we started in the first place.

Whether you’re just starting to sell your work or you’re a few years into a steady rhythm, here are the top 5 challenges that almost every working artist faces — and practical ways to turn each one into an opportunity for growth.

1. The Time Tug-of-War: Balancing Creation and Administration

The Challenge:

When you finally find your creative groove, the last thing you want to do is stop to write an invoice, update your website, or post on Instagram. Yet the business of art requires structure — and that structure eats into studio time.

Example:

You plan a painting day, but end up spending half of it emailing collectors, printing shipping labels, and answering DMs. Suddenly it’s 5:00 PM and your brushes are still dry.

The Solution:

Batch and block your time. Dedicate two or three specific time blocks per week for “business work” — admin, emails, scheduling, marketing — and protect your creative time like it’s sacred. Tools like Notion, Trello, or even Google Calendar can help you visually separate your making time from your managing time.

Pro tip: Start small — even two uninterrupted hours of creative work can re-center your week.

2. Pricing Paralysis: Knowing What Your Art is Worth

The Challenge:

Pricing is emotional. You’re too close to your work, and putting a number on it feels like putting a price on your soul. Many artists either underprice out of fear or overprice out of comparison — both can stall growth.

Example:

You post a new piece online and immediately second-guess: Is $600 too high? Too low? Then you start changing your prices every few days, confusing your audience and yourself.

The Solution:

Develop a pricing formula you can stick to. Base it on measurable factors like time, materials, size, and experience level — and be consistent. Transparency builds collector trust.

A simple rule of thumb:

(Hourly rate × Hours) + Materials + 10–20% markup for gallery or retail presentation

Once you’ve landed on a structure, don’t negotiate your worth down. Instead, create smaller, more affordable options — prints, sketches, studies — to offer different price points without devaluing originals.

3. Marketing Fatigue: Feeling Like You Have to “Perform” to Sell

The Challenge:

You’re an artist, not an influencer — but visibility matters. Constant posting, filming, and talking about your work online can feel like it’s pulling you away from actually making it.

Example:

You spend an hour editing a reel of your process, and it only gets 73 views. It’s deflating, and you start questioning if social media is even worth it.

The Solution:

Treat marketing as storytelling, not self-promotion. Share your why — what inspired the piece, what you struggled with, what surprised you. People connect with authenticity, not perfection.

Schedule one or two “story share” posts per week and automate them with tools like Later or Planoly.

And remember: engagement isn’t validation — it’s visibility. Keep showing up, even when it’s quiet.

4. The Money Maze: Inconsistent Income and Financial Overwhelm

The Challenge:

Sales are seasonal. Some months you sell out, others you sell nothing — and the unpredictability makes planning (and sleeping) difficult.

Example:

You make $3,000 one month from commissions, then nothing for six weeks. Bills don’t care about your creative cycle, and it’s easy to panic.

The Solution:

Think like a small business.

• Track your expenses and income monthly (a simple Google Sheet or QuickBooks Self-Employed works wonders).

• Create multiple income streams: original art, limited prints, workshops, merch, or digital products.

• Set aside 20–25% of all income in a separate tax savings account.

Consistency is built over time. When you start viewing money as data, not drama, it becomes easier to plan — and breathe.

5. Creative Burnout: Losing Joy in the Work You Love

The Challenge:

When art becomes your job, it can stop feeling like art. Constant deadlines, commissions, and the pressure to produce can squeeze out curiosity — the very thing that makes your work yours.

Example:

You realize it’s been months since you made something just for yourself. Every brushstroke feels like it has to “perform.”

The Solution:

Schedule personal projects the same way you schedule paid ones. Create “studio play days” where nothing needs to be finished or shared. Revisit old materials, experiment with new mediums, or collaborate with a fellow artist.

Protecting your creative joy isn’t optional — it’s your fuel. The business only thrives when the art does.

Final Thought

Success as an artist isn’t just about talent — it’s about systems, discipline, and grace. The artists who thrive long-term are the ones who treat their practice like both an art form and a business plan.

You don’t have to do it all at once — just start with one improvement, one small structure, one healthy boundary. Over time, those tiny habits create a sustainable rhythm where both your creativity and your business can flourish.

I know it seem daunting, but you GOT THIS! Don't forget, it is all about EBB and FLOW, the key is, when you FLOW...remember what worked, and when you EBB...remember what didn't work and adjust. There will be a lot of that, but it hones your business to you.

Let me know in the comments what your biggest challenge has been and how you overcame it!

Until next time, keep being awesome!

~Law