Why I Still Make Art Even When Sales Are Slow

Being an artist is not for the weak. Speaking for myself — sales are SLOW.

Let’s really talk about it. I haven’t sold a painting since August. That’s a whole five months. (Thank God for my job. I watch the clock every day I’m there but at least it’s paying the bills).

The art world is unpredictable and if this is the route you want to take, buckle up and be prepared for a season of slow sales.

You have to be prepared for the silly moments where you compare yourself to others and start doubting your ability.

You have to be prepared for times you make a new product and it does absolutely shite in sales.

You have to be prepared to spend money to make money.

You have to be prepared to get ten likes on Instagram for work you spent hours creating.

You have to be prepared to spend hours editing (because being an artist also means being an unpaid content creator) only for it not to go viral. 

You simple have to be prepared for things not to go the way you hoped and living in that state of unpredictability is not easy! 

However, if after all of that you still have a burning desire to keep creating and putting your work out there for the world to see, then you’ll know this is a path worth going down. 

The thing is - without sounding cocky - I know I’m going to succeed with my art. Like, I have no doubt that one day I will be a full-time artist and my work will be known worldwide. God has that written for me — I’m confident in that…but with that confidence also comes the understanding that it’s all a waiting game and if you’re not ready to wait and hang on in there what’s really your purpose for doing this? Why stick at it?

I create because I enjoy it. Simple.

But if you want to get deep - I create to uplift women. We live in a society where women aren’t respected or valued enough and I hate that for us. I hate it for all women but it hits a little different when it’s women of my culture because it really hits home. That’s why I make art that uplifts and celebrates Black and brown women.

We are massively underrepresented in the art world ( a whole different topic) so I decided to make a stand — to wave my big, cultural, feminine flag that screams it’s time for change. I want us to feel seen and celebrated for exactly who we are.

So I guess my purpose overrides the sales.

If I were doing this solely for money, I’d be failing miserably but thankfully that isn’t my only motive. Yes, it’s amazing to benefit from art financially but my main goal is to express myself and to share that expression with the world.

I don’t know when my sales will pick up but I know why I’m still here and…I am not going anywhere.

Eden xoxo