Artists: Adding a Drop of Productivity & Positioning

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Hey there Artisans!

Thanks so much for checking this out

In this video, I share something that completely transformed my artistic career – and it’s probably not what you think! While we often believe that improving our craft is the key to success, I reveal how understanding just a little bit of business, marketing, and productivity can quadruple your income while doing less work (yes, really – I’ll tell you exactly how it happened to me!).

Through my journey from struggling comic artist to successful concept artist, I show you:

  • Why artists often have a troubled relationship with business and marketing (and how to fix it)
  • How understanding “positioning” transformed my career overnight
  • The story of how my first published book (Seven Pirates) taught me crucial lessons about creative success
  • Why better art doesn’t always equal better sales (and what actually drives success)
  • How finding your unique position in the market can open doors you never knew existed

Key Takeaways:

1 – Your art skills are just one piece of the puzzle. Adding even basic business and marketing knowledge can dramatically change your career trajectory.

2 – Positioning is crucial:

  • Understand what makes you unique in your market
  • Identify where your skillset creates the most value
  • Find the intersection of your skills that makes you rare and valuable

3 – Productivity for artists is different:

  • Traditional productivity systems often don’t work for creative minds
  • Focus on building artistic rituals rather than rigid schedules
  • Learn to optimize for creative energy rather than just time management

I share my personal transformation from pulling 48-hour deadline crunches to managing multiple major projects while maintaining a balanced life with family. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the business side of art or struggled with productivity, this video will show you there’s a better way.

Remember: You don’t need to become a business expert – just adding a small “tonic” of these skills to your artistic arsenal can open up incredible opportunities.

What’s your experience with the business side of art? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

16 responses to “Artists: Adding a Drop of Productivity & Positioning”
  1. timmcburnie Avatar
    timmcburnie

    What’s a problem you are facing right now in your art journey?

    Reply
  2. Antti Kallinen Avatar
    Antti Kallinen

    I come from other industries than art, mainly engineering. Ive never really been interested in making money and i live in a small rural place. There is very little in local art possibilities and also zero networking. As such ive never learned
    1)what art jobs there are
    2) How do I find and apply to them
    3)Is it possible to work in art jobs online, or do i need to relocate or just make self-published projects like a graphic novel.

    I feel like i need somebody to hold my hand, otherwise i am too shy/afraid or stupid to make it. My art skills are pretty solid I think.

    Reply
    1. timmcburnie Avatar
      timmcburnie

      Hey Antti,
      If you live away in a less expensive smaller city or area there are plenty of options for working remotely as long as you have a decent internet connection.

      The key to art jobs is that it’s all about your folio, and getting in front of the right people. (Easier said than done, but the mechanics of it are really simply).

      Depending on your goals you would try and get exposure in different places online. There are probably options for creating either a business with your art selling the art itself or products you create, or to work as a freelancer for other people doing many smaller jobs. Or to try and get some kind of remote full time position. The key is to figure out what you really want to do… as no option is really easier than the other. Much of success is linking up your skills with a scenario where they are going to be in demand.

      Reply
    2. Nathan Parkinson Avatar
      Nathan Parkinson

      Hi Antii,
      From a year on the freelancing platform Upwork, I have learned:

      1) There are a ton of remote art jobs available for people with the necessary skills and professionalism.

      2) (Echoing Tim) The key to getting hired is having the portfolio to prove that you are capable of delivering what the client needs; then you actually have to be able to deliver.

      Knowing those two things, I have been working to develop a style and process (and ultimately a portfolio) that matches my tastes and temperament.

      If you’ve got the skills, you should have the portfolio; if you don’t yet, then building one should be a primary goal; though, as Tim mentioned, you do sort of need to know what industry you’re aiming for (e.g. illustration, comics, concept design, story-boarding, etc.) to build an appropriate portfolio.

      I’m still figuring this stuff out, but I’ve learned a few things 馃槈

      Reply
  3. Hugo Seriese Avatar
    Hugo Seriese

    Thanks (again) for the amazing deep dive, Tim. Stellar insights as always!
    I guess my biggest challenge right now is (as ever) choosing. Currently working on two comicbook projects that are stylistically quite different. I wanna do both, but theres only so much time in the day.
    Do I work on both of them at the same time? Or one after the other? It’s a bit more nuanced than that obviously, but boils down to that, I guess.
    Would love a sort of coaching call with you to talk about this more in dept.
    Looking forward to the next one!

    Reply
    1. Nathan Parkinson Avatar
      Nathan Parkinson

      Hi Hugo,

      Here’s something to consider . . .

      Knowing yourself, your tendencies, track-record, etc. which path would most likely result in your finishing the books? Do you tend to start too many things and not finish projects? Or do you systematically work at projects till completion?

      If you have a trail of unfinished projects, it’s probably best to pick a comic book and buckle down and finish it. Then pick up the next one and finish that. It builds momentum.

      If you have great productivity and project management, then maybe bouncing between two projects would work well for you. Ideas from one can spark inspiration for the other.

      Just a few thoughts.

      Another question would be, Are these books the projects you should be working on right now? but I’ll leave that question for another moment of introspection 馃槈

      Reply
      1. Hugo Seriese Avatar
        Hugo Seriese

        STOP MAKING ME THINK AND INTROSPECT, TIM!!!
        Haha, no thanks so much man. Great questions to ponder!

        Reply
  4. Eugene Tor Avatar
    Eugene Tor

    Hi Tim. Just a little personal example.

    I am an international artist from Russia, where there are almost no projects that I would like to participate in. Yes, there is a game industry in this country, but in terms of creative freedom, you can only find something interesting in the indie sector, if we talk about digital art. So I have to take jobs that I would not do if it were not for the payment.

    But to get even the work that I do now as an artist, you had to try hard, but…
    I did not have the necessary skills, but they took me when they saw my desire to get this job.

    A lot depends on luck. Not all processes can be controlled and planned, especially when you are a beginner artist.

    (one way or another, I am happy as a creator, because in my free time I develop my projects, which allows me to maintain a balance between hired work and personal freedom)

    Reply
    1. Nathan Parkinson Avatar
      Nathan Parkinson

      Hi Eugene,

      Have you considered online freelancing platforms like Upwork. I’ve been on there for over 1 year and I have seen many cool opportunities go by for the people with the right skills and portfolio. A lot of the work is remote, so you can work from anywhere. It could be something you build up on the side; though personal projects are food for the soul and it would be a shame to complete abandon those.

      Reply
    2. Nathan Parkinson Avatar
      Nathan Parkinson

      I just checked out your artwork. You have developed some good skills.

      Reply
      1. Eugene Tor Avatar
        Eugene Tor

        Thanks for the recommendation, Nathan! Unfortunately this site is down, like many others, I checked. That’s one of the problems of living in this country now (politics are beyond my sphere of influence), and even a VPN doesn’t always help.
        So I’ll continue to develop personal projects, improve my skills as an illustrator and concept artist. Someday the window of opportunity will return to this part of the planet, I hope.

        Reply
        1. Nathan Parkinson Avatar
          Nathan Parkinson

          You’re welcome. That’s rough. Sorry to hear it. Hopefully you might be able to join Mighty Artisan.

          Reply
  5. Nathan Parkinson Avatar
    Nathan Parkinson

    Thanks, Tim. I’m excited about the new community.

    I’ve been studying art for 5 years, freelancing on Upwork for 1 year. After several “free” or basically free jobs, I finally got an hourly job a few months ago that paid a good rate. I learned digital drawing/painting a couple years back and got a couple jobs for digital painting in addition to my own projects. I enjoy digital art, but it takes me so much time because I can zoom into endless detail and polish. I can see opportunities passing by for my lack of professionalism, productivity, and artistic identity. I do not feel like a professional because I’ve not been able to handle deadlines up till now because I don’t know my process well enough (what I think I can do in a week or two takes a month).

    After a $150 job taking me 35 hours to complete digitally, I decided to jump ship on digital and develop a pencil/paper style to eliminate the distractions and challenges of digital: just focus on good drawing. I’ve also mostly stopped working with reference while illustrating. For general things like poses, fabric, animals, objects, etc. I’m trying to force myself to internalize my reference by studying it before and after illustrating a piece. I am way more productive when I’m not searching for reference (such a time drain). I’d rather draw it wrong in my image and stylize it and then go learn from my mistakes and do better next time.

    I am fighting against the temptation to stop producing art and just grind skills; I’ve done that several times before and it hurts a bit to think about; a year or two back I boarded the proverbial “Finishing Train” and I plan to ride it to the end of the track, not getting off at each town to take workshops and “study.” I have learned a bunch in the last 5 years and plan to continue learning for the rest of my life, but I must keep pushing forward into the world of paid work, or I’ll likely sink and have to get a typical 9-5 to pay the bills.

    To facilitate my new pencil style, I began building a semi-fantasy world, creating characters, and writing a story (I’m basically brand new to writing fiction). I have been illustrating this story for several months, but the world-building has been in the works for over a year. Productivity has been challenging as I learn new skills (world-building; writing fictional plots, history, characters, scenes, etc.; visually designing characters, costumes, places, etc.); the path has not been straight (AT ALL), but it has been incredibly rewarding. I am now working to take the artwork I have created so far for my story and get back out into the market with a newly stylized portfolio.

    This story project was actually jump-started as a result of your advice: “One of the best ways to get better at drawing is to draw a comic.” I appreciate that advice. I’m no longer working in a comic format, but rather illustrating the story on full pages. I’m trying to focus on the artwork and mainly use the story as inspiration for the visual content, but I get so invested in the writing, the story, and the characters that it really eats up my time; when I’m actively creating episodes, I spend about half my time writing and half drawing. I keep trying to prioritize the artwork, but the story keeps grabbing me; I am interested to share it at some point, but I’m not sure what I’ll do yet.

    I would be very interested to participate in Mighty Artisans and meet other people in the struggle with me; I just hope it’s not too premium 馃檪

    All the best, Nathan

    Reply
  6. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Hi Tim
    Another really excellent and informative video… Yes I totally agree with you .. mental flexibility is absolutely essential in learning and embracing some of the peripheral skillsets that we need as artists… Especially as the business and technical world around us is constantly shifting and accelerating. And as you rightly say, we need to be able to operate in that dynamic world …. for a living.

    Every moment is a new creative moment ….. and taking on a little bit of business and a bit of marketing will begin to manifest and evolve in the world around us…

    Thank you

    Reply
  7. Daniel Willardson Avatar
    Daniel Willardson

    Hey Tim, great video! Looking forward to seeing how this community you’re fostering grows! I think you brought forth a lot of important insight on making sure one’s business acumen and productivity structure is up to par.

    I’d love to see a follow up video from you on what some of those structures look like and how you implement them more specifically! It goes without saying that each individual will have to craft a structure to there specific needs, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to go about starting to build one.

    I think as far as positioning goes, I definitely see what you’re getting at about re-contextualizing one’s own skill set to where it is truly going to be used most efficiently. We all want to build a career without going insane with deadlines and little pay. I do worry that a lot of us either have blind spots to our own strengths and weaknesses, or that to truly lean in to what helps us stand out would cause us to become *too* niche.

    It works out when the skills line up to make oneself a unique individual that people want work from. But how does the situation change if we find our skills may not line up with what those doing the hiring need? I work in TV animation in Los Angeles and I feel that the industry is both contracting AND becoming more homogenized stylistically. Everybody wants feature quality on a TV budget. Everyone pursuing animation online has that color-blocky, spiderverse, gouache painting style going on. It makes it much harder to stand out. How do we find the things that make us a unique quality hire in that situation? Or do we have to start pivoting elsewhere to build that identity? Any thoughts?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Phillipa Suckling Avatar
    Phillipa Suckling

    Hi Tim. That was a great video! What I’m most interested in is community and finding my direction.

    I have done an excellent art business course in the past but it’s main focus was children’s books and surface design. I feel there would be some cross over with marketing for other industries. However, they are obviously not quite the same so new information is always helpful.

    I started out wanting to do children’s books. Then I changed to surface design. Long story short I burnt out. So now I’m not really sure what I want to do. I do know that I enjoy fantasy art and telling stories. The project I’m working on now for fun is my own comic book. I have written the script but it’s still in the editing phase. I also have some characters designs. I am finding it is giving me some much needed joy again and I have come out of my burnt out.

    I am really looking forward to learning more about what you are planning with this course.

    Reply

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