A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Commission Art Business
If you’ve ever thought about turning your creative skills into a commission-based business—or you’re in the thick of it and want to make your artistic career a little more sustainable—this episode is for you.
I’m sharing seven hard-earned lessons from nearly a decade of working as a full-time commission artist. These are the real-world strategies that helped me go from an aspiring storyboard artist to running a thriving creative business rooted in storytelling, connection, and custom work.
Inside this episode, I’ll walk you through:
✘The simple systems and custom frame work I set up to keep client communication clear and professional
✘What I’ve learned about pricing (and why “starting at” rates are your best friend)
✘How I process payments through Square and PayPal with ease
✘Why doing a few intentional free projects early on actually helped me grow
✘And how all of this has helped me keep my creative integrity while still making a living
Tune into Episode 18 of The Curated Craftsmen™ podcast for seven tips that will help you get started working as an artist on commission:
Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck in your current process, these tips are meant to give you inspiration, encouragement, and a more structured path forward.
Mentioned Links:
Press play and let’s talk about how to build a commission art business that feels aligned, professional, and profitable. P.S. These tips can be applied to almost every creative medium.
Welcome to The Artisan’s Edge—a new miniseries from The Curated Craftsmen™ Podcast designed to give craftsmen and artisans a quick edge up in their creative business. These short, insightful episodes will drop between our regular interviews, offering practical wisdom, motivation, and strategies to help you refine your craft and business.
If you enjoy the show, be sure to share it with a friend—it helps us reach more creatives like you! And if you’d like to support the production, you can buy the next round of coffee for The Curated Craftsmen over on our Patreon. Every contribution helps us keep these important conversations going.
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| Maker's Mention | Thanks For Sponsoring This Episode!
SIN Customs
A boutique art studio operated by automotive artist Ryan Curtis in Manila, Arkansas, specializing in custom automotive artwork, including hand-painted signs, metal prints, banners, and personalized vehicle illustrations that celebrate car culture and design.
https://hotrodcarart.com/ | All Social Platforms: @SINcustoms
Support the show and advertise your creative company with your your own Maker's Mention Sponsorship here.