What happens in the first year of marketing my art business?

The first year is unquestionably the hardest year if you’ve never marketed yourself before. This is normal and expected. You’re learning new skills, building momentum from zero, and figuring out what resonates with your audience. During this time, you need to stay consistent and get enough feedback on your art to answer a critical question: do I have a product that people want, or should I adjust my approach? The first year is about persistence through discomfort, learning the basics, and not quitting when things feel slow. This is the road of being an entrepreneur—it’s challenging, and you need people to encourage you and remind you that everyone goes through this phase. The artists who succeed are those who push through this difficult first year rather than giving up and starting over with a different approach or platform.

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Asked by an artist in business for about a year · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-08