Hey there chickadee, what do you call your small art biz? Do you just use your real name? Or maybe an alias? Do you have it registered legally? Or have you even thought that far ahead yet?

While coming up with a good ‘art name’ may not be on your radar, it’s definitely something to think about before you go and get too famous because whatever people get to know you as first, usually sticks. You want to make sure that you are becoming known by a name you can grow with and live with for the rest of your life (and beyond!).

On today’s Ask an Artist I’ve got five tips to help you land on an individualistic artistic moniker that will help you establish and brand yourself as the independent artist you already are:)

Five Tips for Choosing a Great Art Business Name

First off, have you thought about whether you would like to use your real name or an alias? There are benefits to both, your name will never get ‘old’ but using an alias is a little more private and can be easier to remember. Occasionally artists even include a descriptive word (see tip 4)
If your going to use anything other than just your legal name in the business name, make sure not to choose anything too narrow that may pigeonhole you down the road. Like beware or using something related to fanart or a certain subject matter as you may want to grow beyond that later on.
Try to be thoughtful of difficulties your audience may have with spelling or remembering your biz name.
Using the words ‘art’ or ‘painting’ or ‘printmaking’ or ‘tattoo’ within your moniker can help you not only get found on search engines, but can also help to be a mini-marketing opportunity when others see your name in comments or communities.
Once you think you’ve come up with a great moniker/biz name, the last step is just to check it online and on the platforms you plan on showing your art on to make sure it’s not a name that is taken (at least not by anyone super big!). If it is… unfortunately you may have to go back to step one.

2.6.2022