Become a Working Artist: 5 Key Steps to a Fulfilling Art Career

By: Shakirra Meghjee

Published February 09, 2025

Forget the starving artist trope. Who says art careers don’t pay? With a standout voice, technical chops, and the right people in your corner, you can make it happen on your own terms.

First, let’s address the doubt. The art world isn’t exactly low stakes. Putting yourself out there as an emerging artist can feel like running headfirst into a wall of questions:

🎨 “Am I offering something truly original?”

🎨 “Can I break through in a field that feels so saturated?”

🎨 "How do I make a living without losing myself in the process?"

These anxieties are natural, but they don’t have to paralyze you.

The art world rewards those who know who they are, and a stable, enduring art career is all about leaning into what makes your work yours. So, how do we build confidence in our artistic identities?

1. Explore first, edit later

Art that stands out comes from pushing past the obvious. Your style isn't something you decide on overnight – it comes from experimenting, questioning, and creating without hesitation. Discovering it means making, breaking, and remaking your work all the time.

Maybe your artistic instinct develops from sharp observations, personal experiences, or reimagining your biggest influences. The key is to stay curious and keep refining. The more you explore, the more your perspective takes shape until it’s unmistakably yours.

2. Follow the ideas that won’t let you go

The themes that keeps you up at night, the motifs you can’t shake – those are the ones you won't get tired of pursuing.

Now, instead of asking what you should make, focus on what you want to make. When you follow that pull, your practice stops feeling like an obligation and becomes something you return to naturally.

3. Close the gap between vision and execution

A strong idea is only half the battle – how you bring it to life is what sets it apart. Whether it’s sharpening your color theory, perfecting anatomy, or bending a medium to your will, technical skill is what gives your work its edge. 

The stronger your execution, the more freedom you have to push boundaries, distort, and reinvent while staying true to your artistic intent. 

4. The right people will find you (if you let them)

Put your work out there (online or offline!) regularly, even before it feels “ready.” It's how folks who connect with your work will begin to find you. Then, watch who’s drawn to your work and why – even if it’s just a handful of people.

That spark of connection isn’t random; it’s a clue. Instead of chasing validation, focus on resonance. The most sustainable art careers aren’t built on going viral – they’re built on making work that makes people feel deeply, again and again.

5. Build as you go, let the business follow

An art career isn’t built in a day. It’s a series of smart moves made at the right time. If a few people at a pop-up love your work, start a no-fuss Google Sheets email list (the commercial MailChimp subscription can come later). If they want to buy prints, make a few instead of sinking money into bulk production. 

Let your art lead, let the business follow, and be strategic about where your money goes. The rest will fall into place.

Your art matters – and so does getting paid

Here’s the part artists find hard to talk about: we need to make money.

Working as an artist comes with real expenses – materials, studio space, time to experiment – but building the business side of your art career doesn’t mean selling your soul to the algorithm.

Whether it's setting up a way for people to support you through prints, commissions, or a boutique shop on Creator Collective 😉, start with what serves your art the most. Let the funds you make through your practice serve your creativity, not dictate it.

How Creator Collective supports artists

At Creator Collective, we take the marketing stress off your plate so you can focus on what matters – making your best work.

From assistance with buyer inquiries, sales, and shipping to guidance on logistics and taxes, we’ve got you covered.

Need a hand launching your art career? Join the Collective today here.