Millions of people have paintings that decorate the walls of their homes. If you are a painter, you may desire to show your art to the world. One of the best ways to do this is to sell it yourself! Marketing your own art takes a lot of effort, but it's worth it. Finishing your painting and creating a collection of works is a great start, but you should continue with creating a personal brand and approaching buyers as they would approach you. By staying professional and increasing your presence, you can sell your paintings online, and even in some galleries.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Creating a Brand Online
Step 1. Build a social media presence
You probably already have at least one social media account. What's more, you already have a basic understanding of how it works. Social media can be used to connect with other people and show off what you find beautiful. These qualities also make social media an excellent way to kickstart your career. Here are a variety of websites you might consider using-each has a slightly different way of working, so try more than one.
- Facebook is a great way to stay connected to a broad demographic of fans. Create a fan page (separate from your personal account) and use it to talk about upcoming events and new works.
- Instagram is filled with a younger demographic. Because it focuses heavily on images, Instagram is an excellent platform for displaying sketches, work in progress, and finished commissions.
- Twitter requires concise language, but it turns out to be very useful. Take advantage of 140-character tweets to promote events and connect with other artists.
- Tumblr allows you to download the entire work, and is also a great way to build relationships with other artists (because a good Tumblr consists of a mix of original content and artwork that you find beautiful).
Step 2. Start by selling through a third party website
Many artists start their online sales not through personal pages, but through well-known websites featuring many new artists. There are several advantages to this: you don't need to know any coding to get started, and many new shoppers feel more comfortable shopping through websites that provide customer protection. Here are some well-known online art vendors.
- Artsy has been around for a long time and covers a wide variety of styles.
- If you have a simple or sweet aesthetic to your work, Etsy is a great choice.
- Spreesy is a newer site that fits perfectly into Instagram's presence.
Step 3. Give a fair price for your work
Pricing for your work can be very difficult: many new artists end up underpricing them, which won't keep them going. Don't be low-key-choose a pricing plan for your work, and stick to it. The key is consistency! (And if you're worried that you're overvaluing the work you're selling, it's often a sign that you're properly rewarding it.)
- You can start by appreciating by the hour-for example, if a painting takes 10 hours to complete, you can rate your time at IDR 200,000/hour and value IDR 2,000,000 for your work.
- You can also value by linear inch size; for example, if a painting is 20 by 30 inches, and you value $7,000 per linear inch, the total price is $4,200,000.
- Don't forget to factor in the cost of materials! Include finishing touches such as frames in this tally.
Step 4. Take commission services
If you've been building an online presence for a long time and displaying a consistent artistic vision to your fans, sooner or later someone may ask you to create a piece of their own. This is so exciting! Don't go overboard with working on someone else's vision, but ask lots of questions and keep the person informed.
- Make sure you send your portfolio to people who ask about commission services-they usually find your style to suit theirs if you're going to work together.
- To maintain consistency, rate commission services similar to other paintings of the same size, and consider materials and time commitments.
- Request a deposit of approximately 25% before starting to create works. This will give you some protection in case the buyer doesn't like the finished product. If the buyer refuses the painting, you can keep it and sell it to someone else at a later date.
Step 5. Wrap carefully
Once you've successfully sold online, you'll definitely need to submit your work. Wrapping the painting in a number of dense, soft layers will keep it safe in transit, so the painting will reach the buyer's hands as well as when it was shipped.
- Start by wrapping the painting in pallet wrap (art supplies that look like plastic wrap). Start by wrapping the back, then pull it to the front, then back to the back.
- Line up the long edge of the painting with the large piece of cardboard, then mark the short side. Then, flip the painting over the long edges, so that the painting is in the center of the cardboard. Cut along the long edges to make a large rectangular cardboard. Wrap it around the painting, and secure it with wrapping duct tape.
- Wrap the prepackaged painting in a carton with one or two layers of bubble wrap. Secure the bubble wrap with wrapping duct tape.
- Place the painting that has been covered with bubble wrap in a nice large box, then fill the empty space with bubble wrap or foam.
- Finish by writing a description on the box and sticking some “Fragile” stickers.
Step 6. Consider creating your own website
If you've been online long enough, it might be time to move sales to your own website. This is a big step, and probably best done if you already have a strong customer base, but putting sales and portfolios together under one domain name is both professional and elegant.
- You can use basic coding knowledge to build your own website.
- Using a template service, such as Squarespace or Weebly, is also possible if you're not coding savvy.
- Consider adding a blog to your website. This allows you to post longer thought outcomes than social media, and can also be used to draw attention to upcoming events.
- Don't forget to provide links to your social media and vendors.
Method 2 of 3: Selling Paintings at Exhibitions and Conventions
Step 1. Start at a local location
Exhibitions and conventions can be a great way to connect with new people and sell your art, but they can be expensive. There is a separate fee for the booth, as well as travel costs and will take up your working time (if you work). Try to sell paintings at events close to your home, until you have an adequate understanding of what it takes to be successful at a convention.
Step 2. Do it early and with caution
Many conventions begin to open registration for booths almost a year before D-Day; You'll want to be prepared well in advance of the deadlines for the events of your choice, and register as early as possible. Most conventions have a permanent registration, including portfolios and artist statements-this will help event organizers determine if you're the right person in terms of genre and style. However, knowing whether a convention is right for you is equally important. Before registering, find out the answers to the following important questions.
- How much space is given to each booth?
- Are seats included?
- Will there be shops in the vicinity?
- Is the space easy to reach (especially if you have mobility considerations)?
Step 3. Be professional
When it comes to an exhibition or convention, don't just socialize: you're there to promote your art and brand. Be friendly to everyone, from guests to fellow artists and staff, don't let your artwork take up other people's desks, and reorganize when you're done.
- Wrap the artwork you bring with care, and be sure to bring extra supplies for wrapping.
- Bring your business card too-this way, even if someone can't buy a painting that day, they can still contact you later.
- Pay for a booth or table at the convention on time; otherwise your place may be redirected to someone else.
Step 4. Bring your decorations along with your painting
Your painting should be the thing that grabs people's attention the most, but you need to catch their interest first. Decorate the booth with decorations that match your aesthetic and relate to your painting to attract the attention of potential buyers.
- Consider displaying small objects that relate to your subject (e.g., shells, if you like seascape painting.)
- Bring a plain colored tablecloth to create a smooth and professional looking workspace.
- A standing banner complete with your name, sample artwork, and contact information can be placed anywhere, and will attract attention without being distracting.
Step 5. Be communicative
When you're done getting ready, be friendly to the people who come to your table. Smile and greet passersby, and master the skills to build conversation without appearing too pushy. You might even consider providing commission services, such as sketching or watercolor painting, to interested buyers.
- If you're at a loss for what to say when someone looks at your work, smile and say "Hi!" or "Hello!" will be very useful.
- It's also easy to build conversations with potential buyers using compliments ("Your shoes are great!")
Method 3 of 3: Showing Paintings in Shops and Galleries
Step 1. Use your network
Your professional network may be bigger than you think, and many fruitful business relationships are the fruit of personal friendships and connections. If you're looking to sell art in a physical store or gallery, reach out to people you know who might be able to help. Introduce yourself, provide samples of your latest work, and say what you need.
- You can build a network by meeting in person, by phone, or by email. The important thing is to be polite! If you want to contact an old friend of your mother's from school, say "Hi Aunt Judy, my mother used to tell me about the time you spent in college. I called because my mother told me about your gallery, and I think my work is a good fit. to put in there. Here's my portfolio and website. Thanks for your time."
- Also check with past teachers and professors-they often have resources that can help. Say "I'm trying to take my career to a more professional level, and I think exhibiting my work in a gallery could be the next step. Do you know any places around that focus on young or emerging artists?"
Step 2. Do a portfolio review
If the cost is available, portfolio reviews can help you focus on your art, so it sells better. In general, this involves paying a certain fee to the jury and all the jury members who will meet with you and discuss how your artwork relates to its marketing. This is worth considering if you really want to take your painting business to the next level.
- Be polite to people who provide feedback! The art world is small, and there's no telling when you'll see them again.
- Don't be too gloomy if there is criticism. Not all artists receive universal acclaim, so focus on improving yourself by applying constructive criticism to your work.
Step 3. Consider the consignment
Look for shops or boutiques in your area that might accept your work, and contact them to ask if they have a consignment system: this way, you'll pay the shop a share of the profits if any work is sold. The consignment system is an excellent choice for three reasons: you get publicity, you don't have to pay a down payment, and you don't have to pay rent for the building where your work is being sold.
Step 4. Submit to gallery
The final way to sell your paintings is, arguably, the most professionally appealing way: through galleries. A gallery is almost like a museum, in that its contents are carefully curated and staffed by professionals who are experts in the arts, except that the artworks displayed on the walls are available for sale. Sign up broadly-just like when you apply for a job, you might not get an answer from every place, but every contact is still valuable.
- When submitting a painting to a gallery, stick to the submission process. You can find this information on the gallery's website, but you will often be asked for samples and statements (especially if the gallery has a specific theme).
- Submit a collection of related artworks. For example, you can submit a series, or several paintings you worked on at different times, all of which refer to Aztec mythology.
Tips
- Unless you're only good at one type of subject, such as landscapes, it's a good idea to paint in a wide variety of genres, such as still life. Every art-loving client has their own favorite genre.
- Even if a customer doesn't buy a painting, provide your contact information. Who knows, they might finally decide to buy the painting that caught their eye that day.
Warning
- Don't meet at the buyer's house, unless you know them personally. That is a risky thing.
- For safety's sake, don't sell paintings to anyone until you have the money in hand. Or you risk losing your art for nothing in return, not knowing for sure if they will pay you.
- Don't neglect your social media! Even when you are exhibiting in a gallery, you can continue to build a customer base with your online presence.
