Elevate your artistic voice. 

Congratulations on reaching this pivotal stage! You're mastery has blossomed into confidence, freeing you to focus the deeper vision behind your work. This is where artistry meets purpose. 

As an Establishing Artist, you're ready to claim your place in the art world. This is the time to declare your unique vision, build a consistent body of work, and share it with a wider audience. While previous stages focused on developing your craft, this phase introduces the essential business elements that will help you r art thrive in the world. You'll learn to balance creative fulfillment with professional demands, transforming your passion into a sustainable practice.

Your art business should reflect your artistic vision and support your creative growth. Together, we'll develop strategies and systems that serve your unique goals and allow your work to reach its intended audience. This is where your artistic voice finds its place in the world. 

MILESTONES

When these milestones are accomplished, you have elevated your voice as an established artist in your niche. Congratulations!

• Consistency and Focus: Declaring and consistently creating in your niche.  Developing and exhibiting at least 20 paintings on a theme.
• Gaining Recognition: You have gained recognition through awards and accolades. 
• Engaging in the Art Community: Being invited to demonstrate techniques or serve as a judge for juried exhibitions.
• Artistic Identity: Crafting an Artist's Biography and refining the Artist Statement to reflect your mission.
• Business and Sales: Establishing a pricing structure for your work and achieving regular sales. Working on commissions for clients.

• Publication and Marketing: Having your work published on blogs, in books and periodicals. Regularly marketing your work within your established niche. 

ACTIONS

Professional Development

• Declare your niche by selecting your specific market and subject matter as a focused theme within your work. 
• Write your Artist's Biography and update your Artist's Statement reflecting your focused intention.
• Develop at least 20 paintings on your theme, building a collection of work in your niche, and exhibit the work. 
• Work toward key accolades in your industry, such as signature member status. 

Business Essentials

• Set up your business structure in your state.
• Create a pricing structure to sell your work using the How to Price Your Work with Cecilia Murray guidance.
• Develop essential documents:
  • Commission agreement
  • Model release form
  • Photography release form for derivative works

Marketing and Visibility

• Develop marketing materials that communicate the vision to appropriate audiences.
• Submit your work for consideration in periodicals, blogs, and books within your niche.

Artist Spotlights and Growth Strategies

• Watch Jeanne Rosier Smith for insights on declaring your niche and developing a series. 
• Watch Maintaining Motivation for guidance on staying inspired long-term. 
• Watch Jacob Aguiar for inspiration on goal-setting and creative breakthrough.
• Watch Master Pastelist Harley Brown to learn about his Artist Journey and be inspired by one of our living legends in pastel.