The Artist's Guide to Business
Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=videotoblog&utm_medium=referral)
Growing an art business is an exciting journey that demands stepping into unfamiliar territory and embracing new challenges. Yet, one of the biggest obstacles many artists face is waiting to feel “ready” or “confident” before taking action. This mindset can stall your progress and keep your business stuck in a cycle of hesitation. Instead, real confidence comes from doing — from taking deliberate, small actions that build your belief in your abilities over time.
In this article, inspired by insights from **The Artist’s Guide to Business**, we’ll explore why waiting for confidence is actually holding you back and how you can flip the script. You’ll learn about the psychology behind confidence, real-world examples of artists who transformed their businesses by acting despite fear, and practical steps you can take right now to grow your art business with confidence.
Imagine this: You receive a direct message from someone interested in commissioning a pet portrait. Your heart races. You wonder:
You start typing a response, delete it, rewrite it, and second-guess yourself. You tell yourself you’ll wait until you have a website, a pricing structure, or more confidence. And then tomorrow turns into next week, and the potential client moves on.
This scenario is all too common. Many artists believe that confidence must come first — that they need to feel ready before they can act. But here’s the truth: confidence is built through action, not before it.
Waiting for confidence is a form of protection. It feels safer because it shields you from potential failure or rejection. You avoid putting yourself out there, but in doing so, you also avoid the opportunities that could propel your business forward. The irony is that the artists who appear confident today felt exactly like you do when they started. The difference is they took action anyway.
Psychological research offers a powerful explanation for why action breeds confidence. The concept of self-efficacy — developed by psychologist Albert Bandura — refers to your belief in your ability to accomplish specific tasks. According to Bandura, self-efficacy comes from four main sources, but the strongest is mastery experiences — the actual accomplishments you achieve by doing the task.
Think about how you gained confidence as an artist. You didn’t become skilled by just reading about drawing or telling yourself you could do it. You became confident by picking up a pencil and practicing repeatedly. Each time you created something that resembled your vision, you built proof that you could do it.
Business confidence works the same way:
Your brain craves proof, not just pep talks. This task-specific confidence means you don’t need to feel generally confident to excel in one area. You might be great at painting but nervous about pricing. The way to build confidence in pricing is to practice pricing — not to wait for a vague feeling of readiness.
Taking action also includes investing in your business through courses, systems, or professional development. This kind of investment signals to your brain that you are serious about your goals. Whether it’s money, time, or effort, investing resources creates internal evidence of your commitment, boosting confidence even before you apply what you’ve learned.
Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset complements this idea. People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can improve through effort and practice. They view challenges as opportunities rather than threats. This mindset encourages action despite uncertainty and helps you shift your thinking from “I’m not good at business” to “I’m still learning business.” This shift is critical for moving from waiting to doing.
Waiting for confidence feels safer because it protects you from failure and judgment. If you never post your prices, you avoid criticism. If you never create a booking system, you avoid the risk of being taken seriously and then rejected. But this protection also keeps you from growth and opportunity.
Our culture reinforces this misconception by showcasing only the confident, successful artists without revealing their early struggles. Moreover, much business advice emphasizes mindset and believing in yourself before taking action, which can trap you in endless preparation without progress.
The truth is, you can’t think your way to confidence — you have to act your way there.
Sometimes, the action that builds the most confidence is the one you fear the most — like following up with a potential client who hasn’t responded.
One artist shared how she sent a proposal for a commission and didn’t hear back. She assumed the client wasn’t interested and felt vulnerable. Instead of giving up, she mustered the courage to send a simple follow-up email: “Hey, I wanted to circle back and check in about the proposal I sent.” The client responded warmly, explaining they’d been busy and were excited to move forward. This follow-up not only saved the commission but also gave the artist evidence that silence doesn’t always mean rejection.
In my own experience with wedding paintings, I used to agonize over every email, rewriting inquiries for hours. This led to delayed responses and probably lost clients. Eventually, I created a simple email template for commission inquiries. At first, it felt strange — almost lazy or impersonal. But using the template helped me respond faster, book more weddings, and gradually build confidence in my communication. That confidence made rejection less painful because I knew I was acting professionally and consistently.
When fear holds you back, the key is to start small. Psychologists use exposure therapy to help people overcome fears by gradually exposing them to the source of anxiety in manageable doses. You can apply this to your art business fears:
Every small action you take builds evidence that you are the artist and business owner you want to become. You’re not aiming for perfection — you’re aiming for progress.
It’s normal to worry about making mistakes. But remember this mantra: Messy action beats perfect inaction every time. You’ll learn more from trying and messing up than from staying stuck in fear.
For example, I once sent a commission quote with a typo that made the price look higher than intended. I was mortified, but the client asked for clarification and booked anyway. Mistakes aren’t the end of the world.
Also, most people aren’t scrutinizing you as closely as you think. Clients want to work with someone who seems organized and professional — not perfect. And if someone judges your efforts, that usually reflects their own fears, not your worth.
Failure is part of the journey. If you never post prices or collect emails, you’re failing by default through inaction. Taking action, even imperfectly, gives you feedback and momentum.
Choose one tiny step from the ideas above or from your own business that you’ve been putting off. It should feel a little scary but not overwhelming — what psychologists call “optimal anxiety.”
Once you take that step, notice how you feel. Chances are, you’ll feel a spark of pride. That feeling is confidence in the making.
Remember, this isn’t about “faking it till you make it.” You are not pretending. You are practicing the behaviors of the professional artist and business owner you want to be. When you create a booking system, you are being professional. When you quote your prices confidently, you are showing your value.
These simple actions keep you visible and connected with your audience while reinforcing your confidence.
You already possess the skills to create beautiful work. People want what you offer. The only barrier between you and a thriving art business is the action you take — especially the action you take before you feel “ready.”
Your future clients aren’t waiting for you to feel more confident. They’re looking for someone who seems organized and professional — and that someone can be you, starting today.
If building every system from scratch feels overwhelming, consider using done-for-you resources like the Complete Pet Portrait Business System, which includes pricing frameworks, client communication templates, and booking systems designed to save you time and boost your confidence.
Confidence isn’t a magical feeling that appears out of nowhere. It’s built one small action at a time. So pick that one tiny action, take it this week, and watch your business and confidence grow together.
© 2024 The Artist's Guide to Business. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Cookies Settings
