A Year in Review: Learning to Make a Living as an Artist

It’s hard to imagine that a year ago I made the decision to become a full-time artist.

It wasn’t something I jumped into lightly. It took a lot of thought, planning, conversations, and honestly, a fair amount of courage to take that step. I knew there would be ups and downs. I knew there would be seasons of abundance and seasons that felt painfully slow.

But knowing that intellectually is very different from experiencing it in real time.

So, as I look back on this first year, I wanted to take some time to reflect on what I’ve learned; not just about running a business, but about being an artist, trusting the process, and figuring out what it actually looks like to build a sustainable creative life.

The Year of Saying Yes

At the beginning, my primary goal was pretty simple: make enough work to make this work.

I wasn’t thinking as much about long-term sustainability or whether every opportunity was the right fit. I was saying yes to a lot of projects because I was trying to build momentum and make ends meet.

And honestly, there were seasons when that was exactly what I needed to do.

But eventually, I started to realize that constantly saying yes isn't necessarily the same thing as building a healthy business.

One of the biggest changes I’ve experienced over the past year is reaching a place where I can actually turn some things down.

I can look at a project and say, This isn't really my style. This isn't where I want to take my business. This isn't the kind of work I want to be known for.

And that is an incredibly encouraging place to be.

A year ago, turning down work felt almost impossible. Now, I’m beginning to understand that saying no to the wrong opportunities creates room for the right ones.

When Things Got Quiet

When January rolled around, things slowed down a little.

I started applying to shows, exhibitions, competitions, and other opportunities for the spring. And I was rejected. A lot.

For several months, it felt like I was being told “no” over and over again.

That was hard.

I started questioning what I was doing and whether I was actually any good at it. I wasn't entirely sure what direction I was heading. I just knew that I felt like I was supposed to be creating more art.

The frustrating part was that I didn't always have the emotional or physical energy to create the art I wanted to make.

I would start something, dislike it, scrap it, and start over. I felt drained and discouraged, and for a while, I wasn't sure if I was actually moving forward at all.

Looking back, I think I needed that season.

Not because rejection is particularly fun, but because it forced me to wrestle with why I was doing this in the first place.

The Turning Point

Then spring came, and something changed.

I was accepted into the Tennessee Craft Emerging Artist Tent, and that weekend ended up being a major turning point for me.

I had an exceptional show.

More importantly, I walked away with a different perspective.

For the first time, I really thought:

I can do this.

Not in a vague, hopeful way. In a this is actually a viable career for me kind of way.

That experience gave me confidence, but it also gave me energy. I came home ready to make something new.

And that led directly into my next collection.

Six Weeks, One Collection, and a Lot of Work

I spent about six weeks creating a new collection.

And then I promoted the heck out of it.

I poured a tremendous amount of time and energy into preparing for the launch, sharing the process, telling the story behind the work, and getting everything ready for a big launch party at the beginning of July.

And the response was amazing.

Some of you have been following along since the very beginning, and seeing your support throughout this entire journey has meant more to me than I can really put into words. Others found me through that collection and launch, and I'm so grateful that you’re here too.

That launch taught me something else important: artists need seasons of creation and seasons of selling.

They aren't necessarily the same thing.

Learning the Ebb and Flow

Over the past year, I’ve started to understand the natural ebb and flow of being a working artist much better.

There are seasons where I am deep in the studio, creating and developing new work.

There are seasons where I am focused heavily on marketing and preparing for a launch.

There are seasons filled with shows and exhibitions.

And there are quieter seasons that are necessary for recovering, planning, and figuring out what comes next.

I'm also beginning to understand how those seasons can work together financially.

Rather than expecting the same amount of income every single month, I’m learning to think about the year as a whole, with two or three larger launches or sales seasons that help fund the next stretch of studio work.

That shift in perspective has been incredibly helpful.

Preparing for What's Next

August has been a month of preparation.

I've spent a lot of time getting ready for a very full fall show season, including investing in things that will help me improve and elevate my booth and create a better experience for people who encounter my work in person.

And now, looking ahead, I have 11 shows in the next three months and five exhibitions, with the possibility of a few more opportunities being added along the way.

It’s a lot.

It’s also something I’m incredibly honored by.

Many of these exhibitions are juried opportunities, and being selected to participate in them is something I don't take for granted.

But this isn't me tooting my own horn.

If anything, I want to share it as encouragement for other artists who might be somewhere in the middle of their own messy beginning.

Because by no means have I “made it.”

I still have a lot to learn.

The Biggest Change Wasn't in My Business

The biggest change over the past year has actually been in my mind.

A year ago, there were plenty of moments when I wondered:

How am I going to make this work?

Was I crazy to do this?

What if this doesn't work?

Now, I find myself thinking something very different:

No. This is what I’m supposed to be doing. And I know I can make this work.

That doesn't mean I have everything figured out.

It means I understand the path a little better.

I understand more about what people connect with. I understand what they're drawn to. I’m learning to pay attention to what sells and why. I’m learning how people interact with my work at shows and, perhaps most importantly, how important it is to actually engage with the people standing in front of me.

There are so many small, day-to-day lessons that have added up to a completely different understanding of what it means to be a working artist.

And I know I'm only at the beginning of that learning process.

The People Along the Way

Perhaps the coolest part of this entire year has been the people.

The connections I've made.

The conversations I've had.

The opportunities that have come simply because I met someone, who talked to someone else, who happened to need something I could provide.

This creative community has been such an incredible thing to be a part of.

One opportunity has led to another. One conversation has opened another door. And so much of that has happened because people have been willing to talk about my work, share my name, invite me into spaces, and encourage what I'm doing.

I am incredibly grateful for that.

So, What's Next?

I honestly can't imagine what another year of this will look like.

And that might be my favorite part.

This fall is going to teach me a tremendous amount. Eleven shows in three months will certainly give me plenty of opportunities to learn, experiment, adjust, and grow.

And I'm excited about what those lessons will make possible afterward.

My hope is that all of this experience will ultimately give me more time in the studio; to create more work, develop new collections, tell better stories, and make things that resonate with people on a deeper level.

A year ago, I was wondering if I could actually make a life out of this.

Today, I don't have every answer.

But I have something much better than answers.

I have experience.

I have community.

I have a better understanding of the rhythm of this work.

And I have the confidence to say:

I think I can do this.

Actually, I know I can.

And I can't wait to see where the next year takes me.

Here is to another year of creativity!

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With ink-stained gratitude,
Emily Ciecka