How to Grow Your Art Business During Economic Uncertainty

Estimated read time: 8 minutes

Picture this: It’s 2009. I’m up late at my kitchen table, surrounded by nearly empty art supplies, zero dollars, and a recession screaming, “Maybe this isn’t the time to start your own creative business.”

I literally wrote about this in my new book The Artist’s Side Hustle— (available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats now) published with Hay House—because starting this dream while working full‑time in chaos? That’s the whole point.

Stacie Bloomfield launched Gingiber in 2009 — right in the middle of the Great Recession — and built it from her kitchen table into a $2M+ art licensing brand with products in 1,400+ stores. If there is one thing that experience taught her, it's that uncertainty is not a reason to wait.

It’s Not Just Hard—It Can Be HARD AND FUN

You know that feeling: everything’s shifting, your world resets overnight, and you’re hanging on like your knees are glued to the pool’s side. I get it, I’ve lived it.

Since 2009, I've navigated:

• The Great Recession (ended June 2009) – launching a creative business in a rough economic climate. 

• Etsy going public – ushering in resellers and manufacturers that completely changed the marketplace.

• Blogger shutting down – and losing most of my organic traffic overnight.

• COVID‑19 pandemic – wiping out major revenue streams and forcing an entire business pivot.

• USPS postage hikes – stamps rising from around $0.45 in 2013 to $0.78 in 2025.

• Personal impact – my husband lost two jobs, and we had to maintain household stability while keeping the business afloat.

I list these because I get the trepidation—you’re not imagining it. I remember it.

It’s terrifying to lead when your footing is shaky. When you deny the fear, shove it down, and still show up, that’s gaslighting yourself into doing work you don’t feel like doing. Because if you don’t show up, your worst fears often come true. But the magic? If you do show up, you survive. You grow. HARD CAN BE FUN.

Why Now Is Actually Your Moment

Economic uncertainty is actually one of the best times to build an art business — it filters out fair-weather competitors, deepens audience connection, and rewards consistency over volume. The artists who show up now build the audiences that buy later.

• People are pausing: Homes, cars, courses—everyone’s freaking out mid‑decision, just… waiting.

• Global shakeups: Tariffs and shipping chaos mean fewer voices fighting for attention.

This is your lane:

• Consistency wins: While others freeze, your art becomes a beacon. You show up. You matter.

• Connection counts: Hearts want stories and soul now more than ever, that’s what you create.

• Smart investment: This isn’t about cheap ads or materials—it’s about placing your energy where it counts, while others hesitate.
  
  

The artists who build during downturns aren't the ones ignoring the chaos — they're the ones using it as creative fuel. Scarcity sharpens focus. Economic pressure forces you to get clear on what you make, who it's for, and why it matters. That clarity is worth more than any algorithm boost.

What You Can Do Today (No Fluff)

The three most effective things you can do right now to grow your art business: learn one small new thing, share it publicly, and make one real human connection. Do those consistently and you're already ahead of most.

1. Learn one small thing: A new technique, brushstroke, style tweak. Go deeper on your interests.

2. Share it: Post or email—messy is better than silent. Don't shrink. Get louder. 

3. Talk to one person: A fan, a follower, a friend who loves your work. Real connection builds real trust.
   
   

Want Guided Help?

If you want the full system Stacie Bloomfield used to build Gingiber — licensing, products, and teaching — Leverage Your Art is the course that covers all three income streams from the ground up. For ongoing accountability and a community of artists doing the same work, the Side Hustle Society is open now. And if you're looking for the fastest way to start — The Artist's Side Hustle (Hay House) gives you the whole framework in a book.

• Level up your creativity and build a business that you are absolutely wild about!

• Design and sell products

• Teach what you know, courses, workshops, you name it

• License your art additional income
  
  

This is the last year I’ll offer all three complete income streams in this format. I can’t spill all the beans yet, but I guarantee: I won’t offer this much game-changing content inside Leverage Your Art again.

Final Word

Most people stay on the edge of the pool—and that’s… safe.

But safe doesn’t make art matter.

You—your voice, your vision, your art—does.

So dive in. Show up.
Your future self and every person touched by your work? They’re already high-fiving you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Your Art Business During Uncertainty

How do I grow my art business during a recession?

Focus on what you can control: your creativity, your consistency, and your connections. Keep making work, keep sharing it, and keep showing up for your audience. Recessions reduce noise — artists who stay visible gain disproportionate trust from the buyers who are still spending.

Is it a good time to start an art business during economic uncertainty?

Yes — and history backs it up. Many successful creative businesses launched during downturns, including Gingiber, which Stacie Bloomfield started in 2009 during the Great Recession. Uncertainty clears the field of distracted competitors and forces you to build on a real foundation.

What should artists focus on when economic uncertainty affects their business?

Prioritize building your audience, strengthening your email list, and diversifying your income streams. If you rely solely on one platform or one revenue source, a single disruption can derail everything. Multiple income streams — licensing, products, teaching — create resilience.

About Stacie Bloomfield

Stacie Bloomfield is the founder of Gingiber, a surface pattern design and art licensing brand she built from her dining room table into a multimillion-dollar business with products in 1,400+ brick-and-mortar stores. She has earned $500K+ through art licensing and has taught 5,000+ artists how to build real income from their work.

She is the author of The Artist's Side Hustle (Hay House), a Moda fabric designer, and the host of the Art + Audience podcast. Her programs — including Side Hustle Society, Leverage Your Art, and the Art Licensing Pitch Playbook — help artists at every stage turn their creativity into consistent income.