[Evelyn]

For those who’ve opened an obrt to sell their art, what were the real process and costs and is it manageable as a small, independent artist?

[Elif Valeriya Martinec]

Thank you very much for this question, it interests me very much too, so I am eagerly waiting for the response 🙂

[Ivana Castellano]

Hi Evelyn,
Great question. I’m happy to share from my experience. Of course, every case is different, but maybe this gives you some useful insight.
Is it worth it?
For me, yes. But it really depends on your expectations, the plan you start with, your previous experience, and what skills you bring in.
In my case, after working in-house in different fields like IT, marketing and tourism, I always knew that at some point I wanted to go freelance. Still, I first wanted to gain experience: how to handle clients, how teams work with external collaborators, building contacts, developing professional skills, and so on.
Even though I enjoy teamwork, I didn’t feel aligned with most job offers I found. It was hard to find a work culture where I felt truly comfortable or where I could see myself in the long run.
Working independently turned out to be a much better fit for my personality, values and rhythm. So I think going freelance is not just a professional decision, but a personal one too.
About opening an obrt to sell art:
I personally combine services and products, both digital and physical. If I only focused on physical products, I don’t think it would be enough financially.
I’ve taken part in several fairs, and on average, a good one (especially around Christmas) brought in around 200 to 300 euros. But from that, you have to subtract material costs, production, and the fair fee itself — which ends up being around 50%.
I think it’s important to find ways to diversify, within the things you enjoy and are good at. For example, selling products on consignment through shops on the Croatian coast works better for me than fairs. I can do one big shipment at the beginning of the season and concentrate the workload.
It’s all about finding a balance between what you like doing, what you’re good at, the effort it takes, and whether it pays off.
The obrt has definitely opened new doors for me. I’ve been able to sell in stores and take on more professional collaborations. Before that, I was working with commissions and using autorski ugovor to invoice. That can also work well, depending on the job and if the client is a company or organization.
My profile is a mix of graphic designer, surface pattern designer, illustrator, visual artist. That variety has helped me adapt. I think it’s hard to rely on just one type of product if you want to have steady income. I had to learn to look at the numbers at the end of the year, because monthly income can really vary depending on the season.
It also takes time. For me, it took about two years to start seeing more consistency. So I’d say opening an obrt and working independently is not just a financial decision, but also a lifestyle choice.
If you want to stay as a small, independent artist, I think your work has a strong historical element that could open doors to more specific projects in that field. I’d think about ways to expand your practice — through workshops, collaborations with museums, maybe even restoration projects. There’s a lot of potential in that direction.
It’s also good to remember that being an independent artist means handling everything: admin, marketing, sales, promotion. That all takes time and energy.
On the practical side
I opened my obrt through the “potpora za samozapošljavanje” (self-employment grant), which was a huge help. I probably couldn’t have done it without that support. They cover the monthly costs for two years, and also provide funds for equipment like a computer and printer.
There’s no fee to open the obrt itself, but the monthly cost today is around 260 euros.
Hope this helps! If you or anyone else has any questions, I’m happy to help 🙂

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