Etsy artists: can you make a living on Etsy?

[Former_Member]

How long did it take you, if so? What strategies have you found most helpful?
i'm a painter and printmaker and illustrator and I have a lot to learn, but am looking to build my portfolio and career. Ideally, I would be able to support myself in this endeavor with my art sales. So far, that plan has abysmally failed, but I hope to learn lots and lots from my fellow friends here, and maybe avoid getting a temping job in the process (me+office=creativesadness)

Anyway, tons of tips or insight or suggestions or critique, please--all are appreciated!

Thank you so much and happy March!
-Joanna Swan

[CopperLeafStudios]

I ran my art biz for about 4 years on the side before taking it full time. I let it grow slowly before fully relying on it for income. It is possible, but it's a lot of hard work. Write down your goals, and create a plan to get from where you are to where you want to be. Hope to make $x in sales per month? Create that much (or double!) each month. Hope to be in X number of galleries? Start networking. Plan to wholesale? Get your policies and products in line, and start making contacts. Eventually you'll get a better feel for things and be able to wean yourself off your temp job. Just write it all out, and commit to doing a little at a time, every week, every day.

[Former_Member]

Have a nive business.

[Former_Member]

I don't make a living on Etsy, but I make a living off of my business. Etsy is just one of the venues I use.

[Former_Member]

I would love some tips. Good topic, thanks,

Moon

[Former_Member]

I just started on etsy, after putting a two year hiatus on my work to get settled in NYC & pay off some of my debt. I had success selling at craft fairs, so I feel pretty good about etsy, even though I've only made one sale so far. The competition is pretty high here, so I'm doing my best to market my store & network. I can't wait to get my business cards & revamp my website ^o^ so much work being an artist

[autumnandindigo]

I got lucky at first and was capable of surviving during the winter months. I'm expecting the same outcome this coming winter, but for now.. I'm in freak out mode. I'm barely scraping by and working on my business in a different medium, but there's hope. It's super hard work, but I'm a single parent of two young children... with Etsy being my only income for the time being. If you want it to work, you MUST make it work. You're business is only going to give you what you put into it.

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for the responses, you guys. It's so scary out there for self-employed folks scraping by...
@Claire, I am also lucky to not be a parent yet! You are really an inspiration, wow!
xo, Joanna