How to Start an Art Business in 2025: Overcoming Resistance

“The moment an artist turns pro is as epochal as the birth of his first child.” - Steven Pressfield

Inspired by Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I took a major step toward starting my art business, Alberi Productions. Curious about how I overcame Resistance to turn pro? This guide shares my journey, practical steps, and tips to inspire you to launch your own art business. While I won’t provide a step-by-step blueprint, I hope my story and insights spark your creative entrepreneurial journey.

My Lifelong Passion for Art

Like many of you probably reading this post, I’ve always been an artist at heart. I love the feeling of creating something from nothing. Drawings, paintings, furniture, music, even engineering complex systems have all been driven by my creative process. While it’s certainly satisfying to step back and enjoy the finished product, the process of creation has always been my primary motivation. It’s therapeutic - like meditation. From the age at which I could hold a Crayon, I’ve been in love with the process. Even today, my passion hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s grown. But I’ve always wondered, is there something more? Could I turn this passion into a professional art business?

Understanding Resistance: The Barrier to Turning Pro

Many of my creative outputs up to this point have been given away as gifts. To me, there’s little (if anything) purer than giving something original that has been produced through creative passion. It’s almost like giving part of your soul away, in the best way. Not only do I enjoy the process, but I also enjoy the fact that others appreciate the outputs of that process. Over time I’ve wondered, would it be possible to spread that enjoyment beyond my circle of family and friends. At some point I realized that it is possible, but it requires a stronger commitment. It requires a professional approach.

So, what’s stopped me from starting an art business? Steven Pressfield, in The War of Art, calls the force holding us back Resistance. It’s a universal obstacle—fear, procrastination, life’s demands—that keeps artists from going pro. For me, Resistance took the form of:

  • Life’s demands: Family, my day job, fitness, and hobbies competed for time.

  • Fear of the unknown: I doubted my knowledge of business operations, marketing, business tax requirements, etc.

  • Procrastination: The overwhelming “unknown unknowns” paralyzed me.

Life events, obligations, fear of the unknown, procrastination, and other aspects are all part of what Steven Pressfield calls “Resistance” in his book, The War of Art. Resistance is what prevents an individual from going from an amateur to a professional. According to Pressfield, Resistance is many things: invisible, universal, insidious, implacable, impersonal. To me, Resistance is an extremely steep hill. It makes you work and endure the “pain” to climb it, often not knowing when you’ll reach the top (hint: the hill has no top). For many, Resistance seems too powerful to overcome. Until very recently, I was a victim of Resistance.

The Push I Needed: The War of Art

In April of 2025, I traveled to Japan with my wife, daughter, and in-laws (the Retirement Travelers). Leading up to the trip, the knowledge of having to endure 14-hour plane rides and multiple trips on the train led me to look for some new reading material. I recalled a recent episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, in which he mentioned the book The War of Art, so I picked it up. This short, powerful book by Steven Pressfield changed everything. Its three sections resonated deeply:

  1. Defining Resistance: What stops us from turning pro.

  2. Combating Resistance: How to adopt a professional mindset.

  3. Beyond Resistance: Finding purpose in your creative journey.

The book was the kick in the ass I needed to start climbing that hill. I won’t summarize it here because no summary can do it justice. You have to read it for yourself for the full impact. It’s a must for any aspiring artist.

Learn more about overcoming creative blocks in The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

First Steps to Starting My Art Business

Starting Alberi Productions, LLC felt daunting. I’d never run a business, and the unknowns were overwhelming. But AI tools simplified the process. By asking, “How do I register an art business as an LLC in Maryland?” I got clear, actionable steps. Here’s what I’ve done so far:

  • Registered Alberi Productions, LLC with Maryland.

  • Secured social media accounts on major platforms.

  • Built out tomalberi.com and alberiproductions.com with new content, shopping, and email features.

  • Obtained an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

  • Applied for a business checking account.

AI also helped with business planning and marketing strategies. Tools like these make starting an art business in 2025 more accessible than ever.

And, of course, my business wouldn’t be complete without products. Check out my latest artwork at Tom Alberi | Artwork Portfolio and stay tuned for the opening of my shop.

Where I Am Now: Progress, Not Perfection

So what’s it like running a wildly successful art business? HaI I’m not there yet, but I’m making daily progress. A few more steps and I’ll be ready to open up my online shop. Each step boosts my confidence. Am I going to immediately quit my day job and dedicate all of my time to my art? No. I actually love my day job, as it gives me opportunities and experiences that I won’t get through my art business alone (not to mention, it’s an effective way to pay the bills and gives me the financial freedom to pursue my creative passions). But, my options for the future are greater because I’ve taken this major step.

Are You Ready to Turn Pro?

Are you ready to overcome the Resistance and turn pro? I hope you are, and I hope this post has encouraged you. Here are some steps to get started:

  • Read The War of Art: It’s a game-changer for creatives and could inspire you to take the leap.

  • Use AI tools: Get step-by-step guidance for starting and running a successful business.

  • Take small steps: Start a website, create a portfolio, register your business.

  • Embrace the journey: Progress, not perfection, is the goal. Enjoy the process.

Any questions or comments? Please feel free to contact me!

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