Plus a free downloadable resources list!
Have you ever wondered what kind of tools or resources one might need to start an art business? It’s not much, I’ll be honest. I started mine with about $500 worth of supplies and a fierce drive to create. Got myself some nice paints & brushes, bought a printer and photo paper and I was on my merry way. I’ve slowly built it up over time, adding in some real head-ache saving tools along the way. I’ve compiled a list of things I think have been very helpful to my business, and a couple that I feel maybe not so much.
My Must-Haves:
- Printer + Scanner
- A printer was my very first investment I made into my business. I did my research to find the best ~affordable~ printer for art prints and decided on the $300 Canon Pixma. I was very happy with it for the first couple years until I worked it to death. Also, Canon’s customer service sucks. I recently invested in the Epson EcoTank printer that set me back around $900. The difference in print quality is astounding, it can print a wide range of sizes and I couldn’t be happier with it so far! Also go cartridge-free and thank me later. It has a nice scanner too, which you will want especially if you paint traditionally.
- iPad with Procreate
- An iPad was the most expensive investment I’ve made to date, but SO worth it. I bought the iPad solely for one drawing program. Before trying Procreate, I worked 100% traditionally. Of course, I was only worried I might not actually like painting digitally until after purchasing it! Turns out I love it, and the convenience is unmatched. I can sit on the couch in front of the TV with no mess or clean-up. I can correct mistakes with a tap and have a ready-to-go art file. It’s also the most intuitive and easy to learn program I’ve ever used. 6 thumbs up!
- High Quality Paint/Paper/Brushes
- Now, some may argue that you don’t need to buy top-of-the-line art supplies, and I would completely agree with that (to start). However. HEED MY WARNING: once you make that upgrade, you’re never going back! It went against everything I stood for the first time I spent $10 on one tiny 0.5 fl oz tube of paint. The good stuff makes all the difference though, seriously. Get some nice brushes too, you don’t want crusty bristles with an uncomfortable handle that slips out of your hand!
- Adobe Programs
- I use both Illustrator and Photoshop. These programs are really great for editing your artwork for print and creating repeat patterns. I also use them for making marketing materials, portfolio spreads and things like that. There’s definitely a learning curve to using them and I’m no expert, either. I really only use a couple tools in each program, but because they are so widely used in product & design, they become a bit of a necessity as your business grows.
- A Good Camera
- As an artist, you really need a good camera, or need to know someone with a good camera. Clear, clean and high quality photos are needed for art prints, social media, web, marketing, etc. Even if you have the most amazing art in the world – fuzzy, dark photos of it may ruin your chances of getting the gig, booking the gallery, what have you. Luckily, these days newer phones have amazing cameras! You can totally get by with just using your phone’s camera, no photography skills required.
- Ring Light / Lamp
- On the note of taking good photos, lighting is key. The light in my studio suuuuckks, so I’ve got a ring light lamp on my work table to help with taking photos and video content. If I can, I’ll take my work to the brightest window in the house and do shots there instead, colors look much more accurate in the natural daylight.
- Easel
- I use a tabletop easel/drawing board for both traditional art and when working on my iPad. It’s been such a neck-saver! Totally a must when you’re like me and hyperfocus on a piece for hours at a time. It seriously strains your neck and shoulders, who knew painting could be like a sport!
- Paper Cutter
- This one maybe seems a little silly, but I literally use it everyday. I use it to trim prints, cards, packaging, labels, etc. The quickest, easiest way to make a straight cut and it has a ruler built-in! The amount of videos I’ve seen of artists measuring, marking and using scissors to cut still astounds me. Depending on the sizes you work with, a smaller one should do you just fine.
My Must-Not-So-Much:
- Cricut Maker
- I may get some flak for this, but I am not so happy with the cricut machine. The amount of trial and error trying to get this thing to work properly almost gave me an ulcer. The program is clunky and confusing, and I wasted a ton of materials trying to get an end-product that I was not happy with. I think this is a fun tool for one-off crafts and projects but production-wise it’s so much of a hassle. I learned very quickly it’s worth the extra cash to just outsource to a manufacturer. Save the time and stress!
- Fancy Computer Set-Up
- Alright, I admit that I am dreaming (and saving) for a fancy iMac computer someday. And obviously you’ll need some sort of computer to run a business. However, I don’t think you need a super computer right away. I got started on my tiny laptop, and then it died. So I bought a cheap desktop computer and have been using it just fine for a couple years now. It’s okay to just make do sometimes!
- Pantone Books
- This one is more specific to product and surface design based business. I’ve got a bone to pick with Pantone right now so I’m calling them out. Pantone started charging artists money for the Adobe plugin which is really not cool. I’ve been getting by with free color conversion resources online, it’s a little janky but just do a quick search and you’ll be fine! Also, their swatch books cost thooussands of dollars and I find that to be a ridiculous and unnecessary expense especially when you’re just a baby business.
All of these tips and tools, of course, are based on my experience. There is never a one-size-fits-all solution to running an art business, but I hope this list may have been helpful for you! Be sure to download my free resources list – I’m giving away years of research and secrets for free here!!