Early morning view of worktable. Photo by and courtesy of Artwork Archive artist Krista Machovina

Achieve your art business goals this year by asking yourself these questions.

As mid-year approaches and the heat sets in, it’s time to reevaluate where you are at with the plans you set at the start of the new year.

Summer is a critical time for every artist to take stock of where they are at with their goals.

Whether your New Year's goal was to grow your art business, get your work into a national gallery, quit your day job, or get your business organized, July is an ideal time to take stock of your goals, measure progress, evaluate your tactics, and adjust your deadlines if need be.

Ask yourself these 6 questions and position yourself to do great things with the remaining days of 2024. 

1. Which goals have I made progress on and where am I falling short? 

Ask yourself what's working and what isn’t. 

Look back at the goals you set at the start of the year. You should have made clear, measurable goals with distinct deadlines. If you haven’t, do it now. Take a minute to recognize the achievements you have made so far and then continue to look forward.

If your goal was to grow your overall art business, take a look at your monthly sales. Are they more or less than the previous year? Which months performed better than others? How can you use those insights and apply that knowledge to grow the other months?

If getting into an art gallery was your goal, how many galleries have you sent a catalog of your works? How many art fairs are you participating in and how many shows did you apply for? How often are you searching for new opportunities that can further your art career?

Keep track of what you are doing and what you are accomplishing. This will inform your future progress, helping you achieve your goals.

 

2. Why have I met certain goals and not others?

You know where you are succeeding, but it’s time to figure out why you are succeeding. 

Let’s say you’ve achieved a goal of making more income from art fairs. You probably had a system to achieve this goal: You likely carved out time to research fairs & work on your applications.

On the flip side, say another goal was to get the business side of your art career organized, but you're still swimming in a sea of unpaid invoices and stray papers—think about why.

Do know where to get started? Do you have the right tools? Do you think you don’t have enough time? Do you get distracted by social media when you get on your computer?

Write down the tactics and steps you took to reach your successful goas, then think about how you can apply them to goals you didn't reach.

 

3. Do I need to reevaluate my deadlines?

So, you didn’t make painting or sculpture—or whatever your main artform is—your full-time gig this year. Take a step back and acknowledge that that’s a big goal. The problem with New Year's goals and resolutions is that they often get lost in the shuffle of everyday life. They're so big that they can seem intangible without a roadmap.

Once you have identified high-level goals that you haven’t achieved yet, break them down into smaller, more actionable steps with their own deadlines to put in your schedule.

Set a reminder two weeks from now to see if you've made any progress. If your goal involves weekly maintenance like staying organized or sending out price lists to galleries, set a reminder for yourself every Thursday at 6:30 pm to spend an hour working on that specific action step.

 

4. Is my marketing strategy effective?

Are you using social media, newsletters, or other platforms to reach your audience? While you don't have to use every single platform made available out there, you should have a pretty good idea about which platforms work best for you as an artist. 

Ask yourself which platforms are working best for you in terms of engagement, sales, or any other metrics that make sense for your art business. 

As an artist, marketing is less about being visible in all places and more about being visible in all the right places. Know where your strategies are most effective so you can narrow down your efforts. 

Take a look at your measurable metrics. For example, if you're using a platform like Instagram to share your artwork, make sales, and grow your art business, check your engagement rates, follower growth, and performance of your posts. Use these insights to refine your strategy. 

 

5. Am I balancing my art and my business well?

As an artist, creating is core to who you are. 

But, we know balancing your passion with the demands of actually running a successful at business is anything but easy. 

It's common to get overwhelmed by one aspect and ignore the other. So if you feel that, know that you're not alone. But, also know that you're an artist-entrepreneur, so make sure you're carving out time for both your creative work and the business side of things. 

Here are some tips to help you find that balance:

• Set a Structured Schedule: Carve out specific blocks of time for your art and business tasks. Maybe mornings are for painting, and afternoons are for admin work.

• Delegate: If you're feeling swamped, consider hiring help for things like marketing or finances. Even trading services with fellow creatives can lighten the load.

• Practice Self-Care: Remember to take breaks. A walk, some yoga, or a bit of meditation can help you recharge and stay inspired.

Balancing your art and business takes some planning, but it's doable. Remember that you're an artist-entrepreneur, and you have the power to thrive in both areas!

 

6. What goals can I set for the rest of the year?

Check in with yourself and set fresh goals to keep your art career moving forward. Take a moment to think about what you want to accomplish by the end of this year. 

Whether it's mastering a new technique, adding to your portfolio, or boosting your online presence, clear goals will give you direction and motivation. Remember to break your big goals down into actionable steps to make them more achievable. 

Goals keep your momentum going. Set some specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T) goals for the rest of the year. Then, create your detailed action plan. Use our S.M.A.R.T. Goals worksheet to help. 

 

Checking back in mid-year is a motivator

Knowing now that you have six months left in the year to achieve your goals for the year will give anyone more sense of urgency.

Taking the time to access your goals and tactics will help you achieve more in the coming months.

Set yourself up for success by getting the tools that easily help you track your sales, give you insights into your art business, help you present your work professionally, and grow your career.

Try Artwork Archive free for 14 days to see how it can help you reach your art business goals this year.