The Business of Being an Artist
A creative practice is a business, whether you call it that or not. Contracts, taxes, copyright, marketing, community, and mental health all determine whether the work continues past the first few years.
This directory covers business formation and operations (LLC/S-corp, accounting, CRM, email marketing), legal and IP protection (copyright, contracts, legal aid, fiscal sponsorship, insurance), learning platforms (free courses, MOOCs, masterclasses), community and portfolio tools, and creative wellness (therapy, burnout resources, imposter syndrome guides).
The Art Morph Bottega model treats these as the operating system that lets creative work compound. Ignore them and every year of your practice starts from zero.
Build Your Business
Protect Your Art
Learn & Level Up
Read, Watch & Listen
Community & Portfolio
Mental Health & Creative Wellness
About the business of being an artist
How do I copyright my art?▾
In the US, copyright exists automatically the moment you create the work. Registration with the US Copyright Office (copyright.gov, $45–$65) is optional but strongly recommended — it's required to sue for infringement and to claim statutory damages. Register groups of unpublished works together to reduce cost.
Should artists form an LLC?▾
Once you're generating meaningful revenue (typically $10,000+/year) or taking commissions with liability exposure, yes. An LLC separates business and personal assets, simplifies taxes, and looks professional to clients. Formation costs $50–$500 depending on state. Before that threshold, a sole proprietorship plus solid contracts and insurance is usually enough.