Blog on Art Marketing and Selling Art

When you're flying high, keep in mind that things can change, and when you're feeling low, keep the faith. [...]

Without light, we just can't see much - no shape, no color. There is less light in the shadow, so we see fewer detail and color in those shadows. [...]

This tool, "the door jamb" causes the viewer to gaze around or over the area at the side or bottom of the painting and into lighter elements in the distance. [...]

Glare and strong light causes the eye pupils to contract, making it difficult to see details in shadows [...]

Before I studied with Richard Schmid, I understood how to use color and value in my landscapes, but in a less scientific way than I do now. I knew that shadows are darker than the sunlit objects, and I even knew that the reflected light in the shadows was always darker than anything in the light. [...]

Like it or not, if your work can be recognized as "Your Work", you'll have an easier time attracting an audience for it. [...]

Sales really do beget Sales. [...]

What if I could make just as much, or more money painting the subject matter that truly motivates me? Since it is a given that in order to attract a collector clan, I'll need an easily defined, connected body of work with a unique style, why not make that body of work something that I'll never tire of? [...]

Never settle... as soon as you think you've learned everything there is to know about making fine art, your work is in trouble. [...]

We artists can no longer depend on someone else to do our "fishing" for us. If we don't know how to effectively market our work, our careers may not survive. [...]

This is part two on using straight lines to block in subjects in the drawing stage of a painting. [...]

Try drawing your rounded objects with angular straight lines... I think you'll find that it makes drawing a lot easier. [...]

I discovered that developing an elaborate business plan, while it was fun, was also a waste of my time and energy. Why is that?... [...]

A detailed understanding of the various levels and types of art collectors helps gallerists and artists know where and how to reach potential buyers. [...]

It is absolutely true that more art is being sold today, world-wide than in any time in history. I believe that consumers buy more stuff of every sort today than in the past because they can shop from their couch. [...]

One of the aspects I love most about using Instagram - I can experiment with types of images and quickly take note of how well my work connects to my followers. [...]

With just an hour a day on Instagram, I’m gaining new followers daily, many who are seeing my artwork for the first time. [...]

Don’t ruin the experience for them by presenting your work as though it is manufactured and sold as a commodity. Present yourself and what you make in an intriguing way. [...]

I suspect that in the future, the makers of Instagram will see fit to make the app fully usable from personal computers. [...]

If we artists are to entice and create a new generation of art collectors, we will do best if we meet these folks where they already live (and post). [...]

It’s been easier to find and target groups who are interested in the things that I paint with the Instagram platform. [...]

Today, running a business is more personal than ever - Especially when your interests and art resonate with like-minded folks [...]

Essentially, you're there to listen, learn and make art... not to impress anyone. [...]

There are basically two kinds of artists when it comes to sales venues: Those who prefer to follow the well-trodden path that others have paved, and those who prefer to blaze their own trail. [...]

Your website is your personal representative who speaks 24/7 to an unlimited audience on your behalf. [...]

Blogging is a chance to show people who you are in real time. [...]

Simply posting work online without providing a compelling reason for collectors to buy will not likely procure a sale [...]

The artist’s presence makes the experience of buying art more memorable. [...]

Most important, I need to stay true to myself where my art is concerned. I’ll strive to create the best work I possibly can, in a way that satisfies my own taste. [...]

Self-promotion is essential to growing a following these days. There is no magic single recipe for marketing. [...]

It's not uncommon for me to paint parts of the same scene several times before settling on a final composition for a larger work. [...]

We artists never really stop learning - our nature is to keenly observe life around us, color, shadow and "the way things look". [...]

I enjoy learning from those who know vastly more than I do, and finally, I constantly work at improving both my artwork and my writing skills. None of it is easy; none of it is quick, but it’s been an exciting ride and I’m grateful. [...]

When we artists try to navigate all the new ways to market work - with social media postings, website sales, blogs and newsletters, it’s nearly impossible to focus on the business of actually creating our art. [...]

Simplify Your Marketing Efforts [...]

It's still imperative that artists use quality materials so that their creations will stand the test of time. John Horejs is a perfect example of one artist who has successfully walked the line between offering quality work while practicing frugality. [...]

Who Buys Your Work or Who Is Likely To? [...]

When viewers move to my website, I gain a bigger chance of standing out from the crowd - because I'm no longer in the crowd. It's just me and them, where we can form a relationship and a one-on-one conversation about my work. [...]

While commissions can be lucrative, they're not always as joyful as painting for yourself. So whether you take them on or not, depends on what types of work you're capable of, and how much tolerance you have for letting clients direct the content of your artwork. [...]

Know who you are, and know why people buy your art - that's the true essence of marketing. [...]