Etsy takes a portion of your sales, which I am fine with because it is user friendly and beats the alternative of building/buying your own website and paying for an annual domain and website fee. But by the time you file your taxes, have you even made any money at all?
Do you end up OWING money for all the hard work, sweat, and sleepless nights you poured into selling your work?
Oh, and how to do you even keep track of all of your supply expenses vs. what you earned back?
I'm just an artist who loves to create, and who wants to spread my wings and fly. However, creating the kind of art that I want to create takes a lot of time, patience, practice, rendering, creativity, money, and late nights. That, and I am completely clueless when it comes to business smarts.
Lately, I've had ideas pouring out of my ears, and no time to put them into fruition. Working full time, having daily personal responsibilities, fulfilling church callings, and most importantly, making time for my family usually means that (unfortunately) art is a last priority. I often go weeks or months without working on anything, even though it nags at my mind every day. It has been the most frustrating thing in the world.
In order for me to dedicate the kind of time I want into my passion, it often requires burning the midnight oil, which then results in a very exhausted Annika. It also results in a very messy/neglected house. This in turn, makes me very ornery.
There is also very little reward in terms of appreciation for the art I have created. I could spend hours, days, maybe even weeks on a project, and literally make pennies on it (and that's if I'm lucky, haha).
Here's the thing though. I have wanted to be an artist for sooooooo long. My entire life, in fact. But that's just it. I am an artist. Or at least an aspiring artist. I am an aspiring artist who works full time. I am NOT a business woman. I have studied, practiced, trained for, and loved art since I was a kid. I am creative, but I am not business savvy. I can barely organize my underwear drawer, let alone my business and business finances. Time management, focus, finances, and organization of ANY kind are not and never have been strong suits of mine.
I don't know who to talk to or where to turn to find help on how to do things from a business or financial aspect. And if I'm being honest, I wish I didn't have to worry about any of that stuff. It's too adult, too overwhelming, and too over my head. I want to stick to the creative side of things, but I am realizing that if I want to do what I love, I have to do a whole lot of what I don't love along with it. I need SO much help.
Sadly, lack of time and the "adult" technical part of things holds me back and makes me second guess trying to make a business of my art. And suggestions or encouraging words are appreciated.
Thanks and good day!
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