Why do so many artists struggle to build a successful art business?

Artists routinely do everything except the basics, making decisions with short-term outlooks (what can I make this year, where will I be in 6 months) rather than thinking long-term. The business doesn’t take off because they avoid the fundamental work—marketing themselves consistently. When you understand how much time you have left in life, it makes a compelling argument to tackle the things you don’t want to do now, so the business can compound over decades.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-24