What can you do to start increasing your art sales today? Check out these quick tips to sell art. How to sell more art and make money.
Well, truth be told there are a thousand ways to look at this question. So I figured I would unpack it from a few different angles.
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts with tips for selling art You are allowed to have your own too.
1. Competing in a less saturated market
Could it be a way of increasing your art sales?
If you are finding it difficult to sell your art, it could be that your art style is too similar to that of others in the industry.
Niche markets are great when you find the right one.
They are absolutely hopeless if you can’t reach your audience and sell.
Adjusting your style to break out of your comfort zone is a fun way of exploring new techniques and mediums.
Ultimately redefining your style as a continual process. In doing so you will open up your services to a wider range of clients.
Instead of competing in a saturated market.
Why not revisit your value proposition? To redefine certain parameters and expected outcomes.
Abundant Artist.com is a good place to source more in-depth knowledge about your value proposition.
2. Your prices might be too high.
In relation to your target audience.
If you are comfortable with how you have priced your art.
Then perhaps you need to expand your audience to find more potential buyers in higher income brackets.
It could be that you haven’t found your middle range yet.
Getting to know your potential buyers will make it easier for you to set prices that are realistic for you and your buyers.
Keep in mind that the aim of the game here is to sell more art. If that means starting lower than you had expected then at least it’s a start in the right direction.
Putting the chances on your side by keeping your prices reasonable will maintain sustainable growth allowing you more freedom to evolve as an artist.
3. Could you sell more art?
If you asked the right questions to the right people?
Consider showing a few paintings to a variety of people. Friends and family are a good starting point. But don’t stop there.
The more people you can speak to about your work the more you will learn about pricing as well as how people view your style and format of art.
This could apply to any form of art. Be it sculpture, drawing, painting or mixed media art.
Informal conversations are also likely to give you a good indication of what the arts true value is.
Piecing together this feedback will help you to position yourself faster into a price range that makes sense for the buyer (your potential clients) and yourself.
4. Selling more art could be as simple as
Reaching out to a wider audience will also help you to sell more art and make money.
Have you considered that if the people seeing your art are not buying then maybe you need to show your work to more people by diversifying your target audience?
There are a number of marketing strategies that can be put in place to reach more people and ultimately sell more work.
Your work does not stop when you put the paintbrushes down.
5. Don’t be afraid to
ask, ask, and ask
Try asking galleries to evaluate your art. Remember that the feedback you receive will differ from person to person and it’s the same with galley owners.
You can also ask people in your workplace or members of the local community.
Choose the social media platform that will draw the most results in your opinion based on the art you have produced or the art service you are proposing.
Open a discussion on social media about your work and see what happens.
6. Work with a mentor
Selling more art does not have to be a solo mission.
Find an artist with more experience than you in selling art or even a business professional whom you admire and ask them for advice.
It is nice to be able to bounce ideas off a person you can trust and rely on for quality guidance and decision-making.
You will find that everyone has their own way of interpreting art and evaluating art.
7. Be open with the feedback.
If you want to sell more art then be ready for a variety of opinions.
This means that the outcomes of all your discussions will vary. In some cases in your favor and at other times to your disappointment.
That is if you feel strongly enough about your convictions.
However, being open to some feedback can only add value to the changes you could make if selling more was essential to your business thriving.
By staying open to feedback you will find that your art will also evolve faster.
8. Sticking to the middle
Sitting on the fence is not always a bad thing.
The rule of averages is a good starting point. So think about putting prices on your work that sit in the middle of your highest potential price and the lowest.
Essentially you are creating a safe zone to start from. This format of pricing is likely to attract a wider range of potential buyers.
Finding that middle ground for your prices will give you more confidence to maintain consistent rates without having to consider discount requests as often.
By reassuring potential buyers, you can also educate them about what rates they can expect.
You are more likely to make multiple sales with your clients as you create new art.
9. Price your art
In relation to how unique your art is.
Generally speaking, any artwork that is perceived as unique, original, one of a kind, will almost always have more value than a piece of art that is perceived as accessible by many.
For example, one-of-a-kind drawings or paintings will hold their value higher as opposed to the same artwork being repeated with traditional or digital prints and or replicated copies.
Some artists choose to stick with unique pieces with every new project whereas others work by producing a series of similar pieces. Often representing the subject being interpreted in multiple ways.
Your art is your intellectual property. There is nothing wrong with sweating this asset if you can find value in doing so.
Perhaps you are a textile artist, in which case it would make perfect sense to make duplicates of your designs and patterns in order to manufacture diverse products.
10. Explain clearly
what your art is about
We are all familiar with the theory that because you are an artist no one understands you. Spoiler alert. It does not have to be that way.
In fact, you are more likely to understand better what you are doing if you start to define and refine the way you explain to others what you are doing.
If you are serious about your art, then you should have at least 2 or 3 dominant influences that guide and represent who you are as an artist and an individual.
Sharing such thoughts with others will also help them to better understand you and perhaps even support you.
So the next time you hear someone complain about not being understood.
Lend an ear and try to help them work out a solution to communication so that they can share their work and be understood. And if you are still wondering how you can sell more art?
Then perhaps organizing an introduction with a clear statement of what you do might just help you connect with more people.
How to sell more art and remain authentic to your process of creativity and expression?
Selling only original, one-off art might limit you financially when you are first starting out. (That’s only because no one will know who you are.)
But if your original artwork is reasonably priced then you can also prepare a few prints to sell at a considerably reduced rate.
Not everyone anyone can afford to make high-end art purchases, but it does not mean they won’t appreciate your artwork.
Retaining value in your work by keeping the prints you do to a minimum will also keep your work authentic in the eyes of your clients. Allowing you to continue to create new and exciting work more frequently.
Selling prints does not mean you are selling out. Put into context you are better off trying to maximize your sales and pay the bills. Rather than hold out until the storm passes for that well-earned payday.
Let’s face it, artists don’t get paid every day, and if you are grinding and hustling to make things work out.
It just might be your way of keeping afloat until business picks up.
How unique is your work? How to sell more art could be as simple as just being different.
Can someone find a painting similar to yours easily?
Does another artist paint in a similar style to what I have created? Understanding the difference between being a great technician and an independent thinker will give you the edge you need to set yourself apart to convert more sales.
There is no right or wrong formula
It doesn’t hurt to do some research though. You might find that there are other opportunities and styles you want to explore that could suit you better.
Don’t fall into those traps
There are plenty of textbook formulas to calculate the pricing of your art, you can find them on Google. Don’t fall into those traps by following the rules to the letter. Rather take into consideration your audience because they are the ones who will consider your work when they compare where you are in relation to your competitors.
To wrap this up
Take your time to get your prices right and avoid the inconsistencies of price fluctuation and confusing your buyers. I hope this has helped you to understand how you can sell more art.
If you would like more advice about making a living selling art then simply leave a comment or send me a message.
For more information and tips on running your business as an artist, you can visit my posts on Turning your art into a business and How to be a full-time artist
David Lagesse
Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.