SPOILER: You’re not behind. You’re just trying to do something the world never taught you how to do.
Let’s be honest—this isn’t what we signed up for.
Most of us became artists because we love to make things.
We didn’t think “yes, I would love to become a part-time content creator, full-time administrator, and occasional accountant who paints on the side.”
But here we are.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between “I want to sell my work” and “I have no idea where to begin,” let me just say—you are not behind.
You’re not flaky. You’re not unmotivated.
You’re trying to build a business in a world that never taught you how to do it your way.
So let’s talk about why it’s hard to start—and what you can do to finally get some momentum that actually feels good.
The 4 Most Common Struggles (and How to Shift Them)
1️⃣ “I don’t know where to start.”
You want to get serious about your art biz, but you’re overwhelmed by everything—the website, the prices, the branding, the copy, the content, the camera, the captions…
And so you do nothing.
The Shift: Start with what’s already inside you.
Before you worry about selling or posting or pitching, build your foundation:
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Why you make what you make
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Who your work is for
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What you want people to know when they land on your page
Write a bio. Define your dream buyer. Figure out your “why.”
When those three things are clear, every other decision gets easier.
Pro Tip: You don’t need a niche. You need a compass.
2️⃣ “I hate self-promotion.”
This one’s huge. Most artists I know don’t want to feel salesy or fake, so they don’t show up at all.
But here’s the thing: you’re not afraid of visibility—you’re afraid of being misunderstood.
You just want people to get what you do. You want to feel seen, not sold.
The Shift: Don’t promote. Connect.
Write to the person who already loves your work, even if they haven’t met you yet.
Tell stories. Share your process. Let them in.
That’s marketing—but the kind that actually feels good.
3️⃣ “I have no idea how to price my work.”
This one brings out all the fear:
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“No one’s going to pay that.”
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“What if they think I’m full of myself?”
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“I’d buy this for $40, so why would anyone else pay $200?”
The Shift: Start with a formula, not your feelings.
Try implementing a formula to determine what you’ll charge. There are tons of options for using this strategy and you can find them all with a quick google search.
But after you search–pick one and start!
You can always adjust it. But getting something on the page is better than ghosting potential buyers because you panicked.
You deserve to be paid for your time, skill, and energy. Period.
4️⃣ “I don’t know if I’m ready.”
Let me say this plainly: you are never going to feel fully ready.
And that’s okay.
The good news is: you don’t need a five-year plan or perfect confidence.
You just need your next three steps—and maybe a place to figure them out with people who get it.
The Shift: Forget the giant leap. Take one small, intentional step.
The Real Secret? You Don’t Need to Hustle. You Just Need a System That Works for You.
You don’t need a content calendar.
You don’t need to go viral.
You don’t need to “build a brand” if that phrase makes your skin crawl.
What you need is a process that:
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Breaks things into small, doable steps
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Feels human and kind
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Actually helps you move forward
And that’s exactly why I built the Minted Makers Co-op—a cozy online space where artists can build the business side of their practice with structure, support, and a little creative magic.
Inside the Co-op, we do things like:
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Host gentle 10-day challenges (like the Fresh Mint Sprint)
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Co-work on pricing, bios, and business stuff in The Office
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Create together in real time in The Studio
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Offer feedback, ideas, and encouragement—without the pressure
If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready to start (your way)…
Join us inside the Minted Makers Co-op.
It’s free to access, warm to be in, and built for artists who are ready to grow something real.
👉 Click here to join the Co-op for free+ get started
You don’t have to figure this all out alone.
You just have to begin.
