5 Biggest Mistakes I Made in My Art Career (How You Can Avoid Them)

Starting a career as an artist can be overwhelming. There's so much to learn, so many directions to take, and plenty of mistakes waiting to be made. When I began my journey, I stumbled more times than I can count. But those failures taught me valuable lessons—ones I wish someone had shared with me earlier. To help you navigate your own path, here are five major mistakes I made and how you can avoid them.

1. Not Picking a Niche Early On

When I first started, I wanted to do everything—illustrations, concept art, mascot designs, T-shirts, comics, and more. While experimenting is great for growth, not narrowing down my niche early enough made it hard to build a recognizable brand. Clients and followers were confused about what I specialized in, which slowed my growth.

How to avoid this mistake: Take time to explore different art styles and industries, but once you find something you truly enjoy and excel at, commit to it. Having a niche makes it easier to attract the right audience and clients.

2. Not Specializing in a Specific Skill

I used to believe that being a jack-of-all-trades would open more doors, but the reality was that I became average at many things instead of great at one. Specialization is what makes artists stand out and become highly sought-after.

How to avoid this mistake: Choose one core skill—whether it's character design, environment art, or illustration—and master it. You can always expand later, but becoming an expert in one area first will make you more valuable.

3. Ignoring Community Engagement & Networking

For a long time, I focused purely on creating art and ignored the importance of building relationships. I rarely engaged with my art community, commented on others' work, or participated in discussions. As a result, I missed out on opportunities and collaborations that could have helped my career.

How to avoid this mistake: Engage with your community! Comment on posts, join art groups, attend events, and connect with other artists. Networking isn’t just about getting clients—it’s about surrounding yourself with people who inspire and support you.

4. Relying on One Income Stream

Early in my career, I depended solely on commissions. This was risky because when commissions slowed down, so did my income. I had no backup plan, which made things stressful.

How to avoid this mistake: Diversify your income. Explore print-on-demand, digital products, courses, Patreon, YouTube, or freelance marketplaces. Multiple income streams give you stability and freedom.

5. Not Building an Email List

I relied too much on social media to reach my audience, not realizing that algorithms could change overnight. I lost potential clients and followers simply because I had no direct way to reach them outside of social platforms.

How to avoid this mistake: Start an email list as soon as possible. Collect emails from people who love your work and send them updates, promotions, and exclusive content. This ensures you always have a way to connect with your audience, no matter what happens on social media.

Final Thoughts

Mistakes are part of the journey, but learning from them early can save you time, stress, and setbacks. If you’re serious about growing as an artist, pick a niche, specialize, engage with your community, diversify your income, and build that email list!

I hope my experiences help you on your path. What’s one mistake you’ve made in your art career? Let’s discuss in the comments!