Art is an essential part of our lives. It allows us to express our innermost feelings and bring out our creative side. In its absence, life would be dull and empty. Art is what gives us comfort when things get tough. Can you imagine a world where humans couldn’t be able to share their thoughts in an artistic form? Probably not.
When people create, they put a part of their soul into their work. And by putting their artwork out there, they reveal themselves to the world.
For people with a creative spirit, the idea of pursuing an artistic career sounds perfect.
However, it’s not long until they start doubting whether it’s possible to make a living out of art.
And this is a valid concern since it’s not easy to make yourself seen. But it’s not impossible either. You just need a great strategy to promote and sell your artwork.
In what follows, we’ll share some practical ways that could serve as a guide if you’re looking to sell your art.
Know your target audience
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The first thing to consider if you’ve thought of selling your art is who your target audience is. This means finding the people who would enjoy your style and be keen on buying your artwork. People might enjoy only a particular type of art and not be impressed by another. This is why establishing your target audience is essential. Instead of wasting time promoting your art among people who don’t appreciate your style, you can get straight to those who would find it impressive.
When defining your target audience, be as specific as possible. For instance, you might like painting horses. Instead of limiting yourself to this criterion, you can get even more precise: what kind of horses do you usually paint? Do you make oil paintings or watercolor paintings? Is their size large or small?
Asking yourself these questions will help you determine the right audience for your art style.
But before defining your target audience, you need a clear idea of what your niche is. What do you enjoy painting the most? Is it landscapes? Portraits? Animals? It’s not difficult to tell what your area of interest is; all you have to do is take a look at what you’ve painted until now.
Find the right platforms to promote your art online
Once you’ve established your target audience, here comes the most demanding task: promoting your art online. Before uploading your work anywhere on the Internet, make sure to photograph your pieces like a pro. When taking pictures, focus on getting the right angle and choosing the ideal lighting. Using editing apps to make slight adjustments is fine, just don’t overdo it – you don’t want your photos to look completely different from the original artwork.
After you’ve prepared your content, you can move on to the actual step of putting your art out there. There are various ways of doing this.
Design your website
You could start by creating a website where you can include information about every piece of work, such as size, title and price. A blog is an excellent idea, as it will help you get closer to people who might be interested in buying your paintings.
Turn to social media
Another excellent way to promote your art is to use a social media platform. One popular platform among artists is Instagram. Using the right hashtags can attract people to your profile and grow your visibility. To get enough engagement, it’s vital to choose the appropriate hashtags. Don’t use one just because it’s popular – pick words that are suggestive for the type of content you post.
Interacting with your followers is essential for engagement on your Instagram account. You want to build a connection with the people that appreciate your artwork. So make sure you reply to some of their comments and let them know you’re grateful for their support.
Don’t just wait for people to check your profile – be supportive of other artists’ work as well. You can share their content on your story or leave a nice comment on their post. They might do the same for you, which could bring their followers to your profile!
A collaboration with artists that you find inspirational would also be excellent. You could go live together in a Paint with me type of session. Or you could both work on the same piece of art, each of you painting it in your own style.
Think about where you will sell your art
So you’ve found your audience, you’ve grown your Instagram account, and now it’s time to get to the next level: selling your art. How can you do that? Well, a straightforward way is to make it accessible through your website. Tell people how they can get in touch with you if they consider purchasing one of your pieces by including contact information on your site, such as your email. Make sure to also add details about the payment method and the necessary documentation to keep a record of the whole process, as it is, for instance, a bill of sale.
Nowadays, the Internet makes it easier for artists to find potential buyers for their artwork. You don’t have to stress anymore about waiting for an art contest or making efforts to exhibit your piece in an art gallery! You can put your work out there with just one click. There are different platforms you can use to sell your art; you just have to find the right one for you.
But don’t rush into it – take your time to consider all the available options by checking different platforms and examining the pros and cons for all of them.
Etsy is very popular among artists, but it also has a downside: it’s not easy to make your art stand out because many users are on the platform. However, it’s also not impossible, as there are different tools on the site that will help you reach the right people.
Making it to the top as an artist is challenging, so remember to be patient and don’t let these small obstacles stop you from moving towards your dream.
Establish a price for your artwork
Wanting to be paid well for your artwork is only natural. After all, you are putting your time into that passion of yours. However, it would be ideal to start from the bottom and gradually increase your price instead of charging too much from the very beginning.
Once your sales start growing, try to be flexible. If, for instance, people want to buy two paintings, you can offer them a discount.
You might find it pretty challenging to decide on a price, and if that’s the case, don’t hesitate to talk to other artists who have already gone through this process. Or, you could simply start looking on other artists’ websites whose artwork and experience is similar to yours. This will make it easier for you to figure out how to establish a proper price.
The time you spent working on a piece and the materials you used are both essential factors you should consider when deciding. Other artists also include the size of the painting in the pricing, as there might be buyers who anticipate they will pay less money for a smaller size.
Turning your creative passion into a source of income requires perseverance, confidence and using the Internet to your advantage. It’s indeed a journey with many challenges, but the freedom and fulfillment that come from monetizing your passion are worth the effort.
Are you ready to embark on it?
