Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Create a Body of Work Ready for Sale
8–20 weeks (dependent on medium)
Produce at least eight finished works in your medium that you would be willing to sell to a stranger. 'Finished' means: complete by your own standard, not a study or a draft. At least half must be originals (not prints, copies, or reproductions). Set aside one work that you intend to sell first.
Proof required
Submit a portfolio document or link containing at least eight finished works in your medium. Label each as 'original' or 'reproduction'. Include a one-paragraph statement of the selling price range you intend to set and why — not 'I will price competitively' but a specific range with a rationale.
What gets checked
- At least eight finished works are present — not sketches or studies
- At least four are originals — not prints or reproductions of the same piece
- Pricing statement gives a specific range with a rationale — not 'whatever the market will bear'
Resources
Foundation: start here · Depth: go deeper · Mastery: for the dedicated
Foundation
Depth
List Works for Sale on a Public Platform
2–4 weeks (listing and setup)
List at least five finished works for sale on a public platform accessible to buyers you do not know personally — Etsy, ArtStation marketplace, a personal website with a payment link, or an art fair application. Each listing must include: a title, a description (at least 50 words), dimensions and materials, price, and at least two photos.
Proof required
Submit: links or screenshots of at least five public listings showing title, description, dimensions, price, and photos for each; and a 100-word note on the platform chosen, why you chose it over alternatives, and what your plan is for making the listings discoverable to buyers outside your personal network.
What gets checked
- All five listings are publicly accessible to buyers outside the candidate's personal network
- Each listing has a title, description of at least 50 words, dimensions, price, and at least two photos
- Discovery plan names at least one specific action — not 'I will share on social media' but what specifically and where
Resources
Foundation
Depth
Complete a First Sale to a Stranger
Ongoing (after milestone 2 — timeframe unpredictable)
Complete at least one sale of a listed work to a buyer you do not know personally. The buyer must have found the work independently or via your public promotion — not been directed to purchase by a friend or family member. Document the sale and write a 200-word reflection on the experience.
Proof required
Submit: a screenshot of the completed sale transaction (payment confirmation from the platform); evidence that the buyer is not known personally (the platform order details or a note describing how the buyer found the listing); and a 200-word reflection on what selling to a stranger taught you that selling to people you know did not.
What gets checked
- A transaction is documented on the platform — not a cash payment to a known contact described as 'a stranger'
- There is at least some evidence the buyer found the work independently — through the listing, a search, or a public share
- Reflection is specific about what the sale taught — not 'it felt validating' but what changed in how you think about your work as something of value to others
Resources
Foundation
Depth