The following is from the Stop The Starving Artist newsletter - "heART and Business."
Every week you'll get a little bit of "H.E.A.R.T." to help you grow your art business.
Highlight 💡
(A key creative business insight I'm currently seeing.)
Last week, we looked at what's keeping artists from growing, and I just want to say THANK YOU
to those of you who received that info with an open mind. I hope it's very clear that I want you all to succeed at the highest level, and in order for you to succeed, you have to be willing to operate at a high level. This is far from trying to guilt or shame ourselves into white-knuckling our way to "success". (Whatever success is for you) It's about seeing the reality, accepting it, and learning to operate within that reality while finding joy in the process. Knowing that the process is what grows us... not the outcome.
I had someone leave this comment on a YouTube video of mine yesterday:
My response? It's like owning any other business, to be honest.
And this is the reality we have to accept... which leaves us with 2 choices in 2026.
- Make art just for yourself.
Stop worrying about trying to make money from it. Just enjoy it. Love it. Be it. This is a BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING way to live your life. Do NOT EVER think you are less of an artist if you choose this path. - Make art, and make it a business.
This is the harder path... but it's a powerful path. Not better... just not for everyone. This is the path of seeing the business as a growth opportunity. As a chance to level up who you are on so many levels. It will require resilience, strength, and courage... and it will not be easy, but the more we make the process simple, the more likely you are to succeed.
Which brings us to the one thing that will drive you to being successful this year... having a VISION.
We recently did our quarterly goal-setting call within our community, and there were some incredible breakthroughs when people started to see the vision they have for their art business. And something I do differently is, I encourage artists to set a vision for the next 90 days... NOT the next 365.
Why?
Because your brain can't hold onto a year. Research shows that 80% of people fail their annual goals by mid-February. But 90 days? That's close enough to create urgency, far enough to build momentum, and short enough that your brain believes it's possible. Plus, this gives you FOUR chances to win this year instead of one... that's how you build momentum and habits.
Not just by pushing through the "21 Days" (which research shows is a myth) but by giving yourself the opportunity, time, and grace to make mistakes, and still keep going.
The questions you'll have in the "Execute" stage will help you set a vision for your art business for the next 90 days, so you're pulled in the right direction, instead of feeling like you're having to push all the time.
Execute ✅
(Your action items...)
Here's how to set a vision for the next 90 days that actually works.
This isn't about planning every detail. It's about getting crystal clear on ONE thing you want to achieve, and the THREE actions that will get you there.
STEP 1: SET YOUR 90-DAY GOAL
By [specific date: April 19, 2026], I will have achieved:
Make it specific. Not "grow my business" but "sell 15 original paintings" or "build an email list of 500 engaged followers" or "launch my first online workshop."
STEP 2: YOUR WHY (WHAT WILL THIS GIVE YOU?)
Do a journal entry. Write down how your life is different when you achieve this goal. This is what you will return to throughout the 90 days. This is the REAL goal... because you're not trying to just "sell" something... you're trying to enjoy the process.
What's different about your days? How do you approach marketing? How do you see your business? What makes it all joyful and exciting?
Don't skip this. This is what pulls you forward when things get hard.
STEP 3: YOUR THREE SPECIFIC ACTIONS
These are the ONLY three things you'll do consistently for the next 90 days to reach your goal.
Action 1: ___________________________
How often: _____________________
Action 2: ___________________________
How often: _____________________
Action 3: ___________________________
How often: _____________________
Examples:
- Post one finished piece on Instagram (3x/week)
- Send a newsletter to my list (every Friday)
- Reach out to 5 potential collectors (weekly)
STEP 4: WHAT YOU'RE LETTING GO OF
What will you say NO to for the next 90 days so you can say YES to your goal?
This might be scrolling social media, perfectionism, saying yes to every request, comparing yourself to others, or trying to do everything at once.
That's it. ONE goal. THREE actions. 90 days.
Print this out. Put it somewhere you'll see it every day. And get started.
Awareness 👀
(The current things you need to know about social media, the creator economy, and running an online business.)
AI content is flooding the internet, which means your authentic, messy, human creative process is becoming MORE valuable in 2026. This article shows exactly what's working now (loyal communities, niche content, crafted virality) versus what's dying (chasing virality, posting constantly, one-off brand deals). If you've been feeling overwhelmed by the content treadmill, this is your roadmap to what actually matters.
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Reflect 🤔
(Question to sit with this week.)
If you knew you couldn't fail, what would your art business look like 90 days from now? And more importantly... what would make the journey to get there feel joyful instead of like a grind?
Thrive 🔥
(This week in this community.)
If you're looking for some extra goodies, I got to do an interview for the Artist Academy podcast recently. If you don't know Andrea, she's an incredible muralist who makes her living traveling around painting buildings. And she's just the nicest.
Go check it out!
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Talk to you next week, and as always, feel free to reply and let me know if you're getting value from these newsletters! We look at all the emails!
- Lennon
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