How I took my hobby art business to a successful full-time art career.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 พ.ค. 2024
- I started as a passionate hobby artist without much artistic skill, turned my passion into an Etsy, word of mouth took me to take on clients and an art business, and my art business just continued to grow. Now it is my full-time job, I have a team of people around me that help continue building my business. I hope hearing my journey will serve as an inspiration to you, if you are wanting to start your own!
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MUSIC: paid for and licenses acquired from Artlist.
00:00 - How it all started… (early pics)
01:20 - My 2013 Etsy experience (with pics!!)
02:18 - Taking on wedding clients
04:25 - Starting to teach in-person workshops
06:02 - How I got into teaching online courses
08:12 - Then TH-cam came along…
09:31 - Oh ya, I wrote some best-selling books (almost forgot)
11:05 - What I learned in my journey…
12:16 - The encouragement you need.
14:14 - How to your art to another level. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
![[Art Biz] If I Had to Start My Art Business Over from ZERO](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1rgMq4tEX2w/mqdefault.jpg)
Do you have an art business? LMK👇🏻Don't miss my course The Art Within! We cover sketching and watercolor fundamentals, discover creative style, and how to get into "flow state" for optimal creative mindset. Check it out: www.jennarainey.com/the-art-within // If you want more monthly watercolor tutorials, I offer ad-free Patreon-exclusive tutorials and live art classes on my Patreon. www.jennarainey.com/patreon
Hi Jenna- I am a newcomer to your tutorials and I am amazed at your generosity in sharing your time , and of course talent, with others. Very encouraging to me with definite imposter syndrome! Thank you and every good wish for your future- Susan in UK
My story is a lot like yours. Creative my whole life, had a job I hated and was obsessed with watercolor, people started buying and asking for commission, snowballed into markets and workshops, and then finally registered my LLC and now working to license. Thanks Jenna for being the best role model and for always sharing your knowledge! I’m a loyal student of Jenna Rainey University lol 🤘🏼
Working to license? What's that?
What an inspiration. I am a designer. I worked in the garment industry for 30 + years. Retired, opened a clothing store, sold that and moved back to California. Got a job doing display for Anthropology at 60. Had to quit, to care for my parents. I now just keep my hands busy. People tell me to start an Etsy shop with each new project. I love hearing your success story. Thank you for the share…
You’re an inspiration for me, I just turned 60 and just started painting. :)
What an inspiration both of you are. Thanks for sharing your journey ❤
Most valuable 15 minutes online today.
Thank you Jenna for sharing, wishing you the best!
What you do has been my dream for over 10 years.. it took me 10 years to gwt the courage to start❤. I wont let fear stop me anymore!
I'm 20 years old and have enjoyed creating art since before I can remember. These past couple years I have had a lot of medical stuff hit me, which has lead to me being unable to work as much. This year I have been dabbling in other art mediums to distract myself from stress. I've seen many artists my age starting their own businesses and thriving, which has inspired me to do the same. I'm in the early EARLY stages, but I'm still so excited. I haven't been this passionate about something since I was a little kid with my first acrylic paint set. When you mentioned that in the beginning all you could think about was art- I related so much. Even when I am bedridden, I am thinking of new things to create.
Keep going!!!
One of the things we love about this channel is it helps people new to art find what they love about making art, and kindle that into the passion and determination that can sustain a lifelong pursuit. This is excellent teaching, and excellent coaching!
Awesome journey! Glad to be apart of it, love your technique and ease of instructions. Keep up the good work.
So i went to school for art and graphic design in the late 90s. Worked in educational publishing as a graphic designer for a while, been a stay at home dad for two awesome boys for the last ten years.
My little is on the autism spectrum, and i’m needed at home to support him, he is a total daddy’s boy, so he’s awesome and I’m really lucky, but being a special dad; it’s hard. now i am in my mid forties and trying to figure out how to get back in the game. I volunteer poster design here, t-shirt design there, in my community, and that’s rad, it feels great to make stuff, but I want to step it up. My passion is still with graphic design and typography, but also really love working with wood, paint and I really loves plants and cooking. I’m trying to figure out an art business that can be flexible, but focuses on my passions, I think I’d like to start with craft fairs at first and see where it goes. I have a few other ideas as well.
On the cusp of another international move with my family this summer, we move a lot with my wife’s job, which has pros and cons, I’ll have a fresh start again this fall. I found your delivery here open an honest, very informative, you’re a sound communicator, cheers. New subscriber, thanks for the inspiration. Dabbled in water color back in the day, still have my brushes, paper, tubes and cakes, will have a look at your water color content. Also interested in your licensing experience and your other art business knowledge, my lack of confidence in these areas has always held me back. Cheers 🤜🏻⚡️🤛🏻
What an incredible journey! Love that you did your brother in law and old roommate’s wedding stationery ✍️
Just an amazing humble start, by just helping out family and then turning it into an Art empire!!! Can’t wait to see where you (and John and Kelly) will take this business 🎉
Thank you Jenna for sharing your beautiful story.
I’m working on my art skills as a hobby and looking forward to selling my stuff consistently too.
You are an inspiration to everyone who wanted to start something and become a story of success. ❤
I love watercolor! Found it during the lockdown and It quickly became my "covid craft." I mostly give my work as gifts, and I've done a couple commissions. That was weird. People have told me I should set up an Etsy shop, and I may just do it. Your story is inspiring me to take the leap.
Jenna, I completely enjoyed this video, and your story. I am a hobby painter (watercolor) and have dreamt for a long time of illustrating books, having an Etsy shop, and selling my work. Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration!
I love your journey and your patience to keep going 💚
What an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your well deserved success!!
Thank you, Jenna! I found you during Covid and have loved watching you grow! I'm still enjoying watercolor and it's a hobby for me, a relaxation and break from other things.
Love your story, your passion and your talent! Thank you ❤️
Those live classes were literally the highlight of Covid 🎨
Omg another amazing video by Jenna! Thanks again! 🙏👩🏼🎨💖
Could listen to you all day Jenna!!! You were born to teach, love your videos xxx
You talk about so many aspects and processes about your journey so far, it's enlightening for anyone trying to accomplish some sense of purpose with their endeavours. 😊
Fantastic video Jenna, thank you! I appreciate you sharing your journey…very inspiring!
Omgosh I'm a believer!!! I started the fluid art -paint pouring deal, I'm alone, 60 and also hate my day job... but 8m going to try to figure it all out too. Thank you for this, my 1st of your videos, I'll be paying close attention!! Plus you have a relaxed teaching style I love, thank you!!!😊
Your story really resonated with me especially the part where you would be thinking of art 24/7. I’m struggling right now with finding time to start an online business and TH-cam about metal smithing and jewelry design. I have a young child so finding time for myself can be a challenge in itself.
Just do the art. Don't worry about online business.
I just finished Everyday Watercolour, painted everything, including the little donkey! Now I am starting Everyday Watercolour Flowers. I wanted to start this hobby many years ago, before You tube existed, but the Art tutorial books that I had were too advanced for me. Your You Tube lessons started from the very basics, and I finally got it, and this became my favourite hobby. Your free online teachings have helped me a lot and your books are a great addition to the videos. I am very grateful for these lessons you have taught, they helped me to really start painting and developing in it. 💌 Your art is beautiful!
I'm so glad to hear that my resources have been helpful for you, Sara! Thanks for the love!! 💕
Thanks for this jenna! ur like the older art sister I never had :') love how TH-cam makes it so easy to share and have a creative community
Awesome! Thank you for sharing your journey! You’re an inspiration! I discovered your work when my friend gifted me your Everyday Watercolor Sketchbook as I had started dabbling in watercolor during COVID lockdown after putting my craft on hold since 2001. It’s fun! I’m looking forward to learning more from you. I mastered my Sunflowers after watching your TH-cam video!! 🌻😉
I am very pleased and thankful that I came across your overview of your business and you starting from scratch. I am very inspired, and I intend to do something in a different vein, but in the same artistic vein, and I wanted to thank you personally for sharing this with us, you are an inspiration, and no dream is not possible.
Get it girl. It's inspiring to see how you made your career happen. I feel like I will be watching this video anytime I need encouragement in art and work.
This is so inspiring. I'm at the day job-i-hate stage. Used to be in art school and thought I wouldn't be able to make a living. Now thinking of going back. Thank you for sharing your story.
I needed this!! Thank you so much for the inspiration 💕 and the reminder that good things take time 🧡 And I'm willing to work hard while I wait 🙏🏼
Thanks for this! Loved seeing the big picture of how you got where you are today!
Thank you for posting this - your experience at your last job (10 years ago) completely resonated with my current circumstance.
Thank you for sharing your journey Jenna. It’s really inspiring ❤
Thanks Jenna. Loved hearing your story. It's inspired me as I continue with my design work. I paint onto glass and want to develop my skills of painting plants. Your tutorials look just the ticket 🙏
You're a great teacher, so loving it is a win win🎉
Thank you Jenna for your reflection of your journey. I would definitely be a slow burn. Currently building my website with Art Storefront learning a lot.
You are so inspiring! What an amazing journey, thanks so much for sharing this 😊
Thanks for sharing the journey to where you are now. You have attained an enormous amount of knowledge.❤
thank you for sharing your wonderful journey, its lovely to hear.
as a fellow professional artist i love hearing about how other artists make it work and have the determination, drive, and different reactions to different opportunities that come along for them.
Thanks for sharing your journey! I’m an artist & just started a TH-cam channel, I think patience & determination is needed & of course passion. Thanks for the encouragement to keep going! 😊
Loved this video. Here is a short version of where i am in art… been painting since 4th grade..studied fine art is collage. Married and he was drafted (yes i am a senior..ha) moved every 3 y .. in and out of the country. Kept painting whenever i could. Gave most of it away. Payed for child education by taking a position in Banking.. retired as a svp and am back at painting full time. Took up watercolor during COVID. Love,love it. Would like to make it pay for itself. Not sure that will happen but love to paint. Now volunteering to paint portraits of homeless vets as they get employment etc. Thank you for sharing your journey and I imagine the journey is not over yet. The very best to you.
Thank you for this inspiration!
Congratulations to your successful journey and thank you for sharing your experience with us. 👏👏👏💞
Thank you for sharing that it takes 10 years for you to build your business. Really put things into perspective that good things takes time.
To answer your question, I found everything to be surprising and inspiring. My daughters are really good at drawing Anime like people and they love to draw. So, I shared your story with them, so they can see that having art as a passion, can lead to whatever they want to do with it. I am excited to watch more videos with them and even do some water painting. We love painting and I want to see them continue to grow in what they love to do and so I am happy to see and find your channel and work today. Great Job!!! 🌻🌻🌹🌹❤❤
Wow our daughter fabulous at drawing aswell I was just speaking to my mr about THIS. Drawing is life changing. And it helps with so many things.
Thank you for creating such a human and inspirational video. Just starting out of my journey this is what I needed to hear. Thank you ❤
such a timely video for me- thank you!! also i'm beyond excited for your new book!!!
Yeah can’t wait!!!! 🌊 📖
You’re my number one inspiration. For your art as well as your business. ❤
This is really helpful and motivating, thanks for sharing 😊
i just found you randomly - then when you showed your book Everyday Watercolour I was like wth i've seen this name and book before?! .....then i realised, when i was younger i must have loaned your book from the library. i recall very early age motivation to become an artist - thank you SO MUCH!
This is the first video of yours I’ve watched, came up in my recommended feed (sometimes the algorithm works in our favor lol), outstanding, very information rich, humble, sharing. Thank you. I’ve subscribed. Inspiring. I had always created art, never considered myself an “artist” though it was the most defining thing about me, now art is in the closet due to work (but always the “real me” in the corner) and it’s time to…take it out. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your story! You are great and always inspiring!
Great story! What a journey! Wish you all the best!
WoW amazing story congratulations for all your experience and thanks for sharing your experience!!!❤
Thank you so much for this extremely beautiful video. I needed this. I'm very very very grateful for this. You're incredible.
This is really inspiring - as somebody who's always been creative, painted constantly and always wanted to make it what I do for work. I currently have an etsy shop which is busy and an instagram which I'm finding difficult to grow currently. This video makes me feel like I may be able to scale up and build something career-worthy. It really is the dream
Thank you for sharing this success story. Its an inspiration to the rest of us struggling entrepreneurs.
It was your first book that got me into watercolor. Then I found you on your you tube. My journey started with you in your first book. That was before I knew how great your personality is on you tube. Sincerely, thank 😢 you.
Thank you for sharing your story with us! I admire your work and focus. Good luck from Germany Angelika
For such a young woman, you have your act together. good job.
This is both an inspiration and an overwhelm. Pondering it all!
Wonderful! Much continued success!
So this is how the progress of learning on the go is like 👍 this is inspirational and gives a way broader perspective.
Thank you for sharing your story ❤
Your video is inspiring. I am finally at the place where I truly want to pursue art - I have done art shows, art markets and First Friday Art Walks before in the past but it was always something like yay it's here and it happened and then I stopped doing art for a while. I am starting The Artist's Way book with a group, I am in a surface pattern design course right now and I just found your channel - all are BABY steps. And this will take years and I need to get past the idea that I will just be old lol
Hi Jenna,
I have your “Everyday watercolor” book. I love it!
You’ve been a huge inspiration to watercolor artists like me.
Thank you ❤
Thank you for sharing, very inspiring story for creatives out there.
About to become an Empty Nester. Planning on doing more watercolor! Loving your vids. Thx!
You are so inspirational Jenna! You have inspired me to paint in watercolor which is a new medium I hadn’t worked in until the last year. And I am obsessed with painting watercolor flowers! I moonlight as an artist but would love to make this my day job. I am where you were 10 years ago and am excited about this new passion of mine. Any tips welcome! :)
How delightful. I buy the Blue Sky monthly planners every fall at Stapes. I love them!
Hi Jenna, great history of your art career. Like you I got hired and fired many times. Finally I had enough and started my own pencil portrait studio in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since that time of 2000 I taught in person art classes for the beginning artist in mind. Had my own "Learn to Draw Books with Al Sideen " and so on. Presently I am a caricature artist and get hired to draw at weddings and corporate events. Summer will be soon so I will be a travelling caricature artist with Wonder Shows. Wonder Shows does carnival rides and games for small towns fairs and festivals around southern Manitoba. So , yes once you find the art medium that you like to do and follow your passion, the sky is the limit. I compliment you on your business indivers as to being licensed and so on. This was done because poeple in organizations saw your talent and of course your personality. So good on you my friend! No doubt I wish you all the best in the year of 2023. What a beautiful video you did here as it is quite the testimony of you desire and passion. All the best Jenna.
thank you for sharing your story... so inspiring 🥰
Such an inspiring journey. Thanks for sharing❤ I'm a writer and poet and so many of your tips are useful for creatives at large.
This is so inspirational! thank you for sharing! just starting with ETSY and instagram now and it is such a challenge. I think things have gone much more diffucult now with ETSY. Love you books !
Very inspiring! I love lettering and I started a Redbubble store last year. No buyers until now. But I haven't done much to promote that too. Some other events happened. But videos like this inspire me to get back. Thank you!
Jenna - great summary of a journey of resiliance & focus... your talents and vision of the end result as it's possabilities unfolded is truly inspiring!
PS I love sharing your work and courses to motivate people on their watercolor journey's...
I really liked Hearing your Story. It Always gives me Hope that people can make a living Out of Things they Love. I've Heard so often that you can't make Money with Art and you are prove that you can make creative stuff or teach people while also having a Business 👍
Thank you for sharing! You are so inspiration! I am a hobby artist and strive to be a profession at some point! Some day!
What a great inspiring story ❤❤🎉🎉
I am on the same process as you on my way to living my full time job to become an artist and of course being able to sell my art. Vey inspiurational
I’m glad that I stopped to look at your video. I have 2 of your watercolor books. I’m retired and I’m going back to school. I’m going back to do my graphic design degree.
I just started doing art 2 years ago! I’m having so much fun, and absolutely love it, but it’s still a hobby. I’ve sold a few paintings, and I make cards/paintings for friends all the time, but I would love to make it a legitimate side hustle. I still really like my day job though, so I’m not really looking to be a “full time” artist … at this point. Dreamy dream would be part time at my current work, and creating the rest of the time :) You are such an inspiration Jenna! Thanks for all your encouraging content! I love your stuff!!
One minute cold open resonated with me do much
Well done. You kept moving forward.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
:)
You are amazing!!! 🎉
You are an inspiration ❤
you have inspired me to start my art again.
Love the video, am a lifelong crafter, but I want to grow an art business. I have never been entrepreneurial, possibly because I get started and don't know what to focus on, the steps to take, and get frustrated. I have an idea of what I want to do and right now I am just working on experimenting and practicing to see if I even have enough skill to give it a go. I will continue following you and see if I can take this further.
Wonderful…motivational
Inspirational 💙
All your hard work is paying off Jenna! Great job! I'm curious what kept you from throwing in the towel when you hit those "dry" times of friction/no income coming in, only paying for things going out/not knowing how to monetize your art/how to get help with no budget etc...
Thank you so much for sharing 🥰🥰
Thank you for sharing.
This is a great video! Thank you so much for sharing your journey. It is definitely encouraging for the slow start part of it. I would love to shift to full time.
I have been noticing products lately, and have thought about licensing, so I will look into your course about that!
I've also have dreams about art shows, books, and a booming online store for prints and originals... Now I just have to make the plans and then the dreams into goals.
All the best Ashy, you definitely have what it takes ⭐️ perseverance will get you there.
Ps. What a beautiful Irish Landscape video ⛰ I dream about those rolling green hills
@@watercolourartincapetown2919 Ah! thank you! That is so encouraging.
I think I could live in Ireland. I could defnitely paint it forever (as long as I didn't run out of green!)
Respect the fact you didn’t let the experience during your first big project put you off 👌
Thanks for not giving up.
Wonderful video, I am a visual artist specialise in oil painting 🎨 . I hope to learn a good stuff from You Jenna.
Hi! This was a good overview if your path to success as a professional creative. It would be goid to emphasize to newbies/emerging creatives that what your primarily describing is a path/pricess to becoming a successful commercial (and graphic) artists which is not exactly the same for "fine" artists.
Helpful ❤
Congrats! You are a excellent and cute teacher =) I desire much more sucess for you!
You and Emily Olson! Both taught piano, and became super artists!