The following ideas on how to market your art dovetail into one another. Just one of these top art marketing tips may be the stepping stone to your success.
Make use of every personal contact you’ve got. If you know someone who works in a gallery, ask him to introduce you to the art buyer. Get into conversation with just about everyone who shows interest in your paintings. That person just might know someone with influence. Read the full article Turn Personal Contacts Into Leads here.
If you live in an attractive house, make use of the setting and create a “pop up” art gallery. The selling price of the painting should include the cost of the frame and all painting materials, a charge per number of hours that you spent working, and don’t forget to collect sales tax. Review your payment system beforehand and consider if you are going to accept checks, credit cards and so forth.
It goes without saying that you will be selling art online. Listings are free on sites like Artbrokerage and Fineartamerica. Make it clear to customers what they are paying for, that is, what cut of the cost is going towards post and packing, and sales tax. GET A FULL LIST OF THE PLACES YOU SHOULD BE POSTING YOUR WORK.
Have printed material ready to hand out. Go into hotels, restaurants and so forth, and talk to the management about displaying your brochure. This tactic may net you a free selling space, for example, a restaurant owner who wants paintings from local artists to display in his dining area.
Book space at an art exhibition. When you show in a professional space, even temporarily, you increase your outreach. Exhibitions are a superb way to make contacts and get your work seen. We have purchased work two years later from an artist originally discovered at an exhibition.
Undertake public projects. If you paint scenery for a stage production or a bright mural in a children’s room in a hospital, your work has a captive audience. Get your paintings into a collection of corporate art.
Form a group with local artists. Together, you could save money by sharing studio space, get discounts by buying art and promotional materials in bulk, and setting up exhibitions together.
Be available for art commissions. Go around to the larger houses in your area, and drop one of your contact sheets in every mailbox. Make it clear that you are able to undertake commissions, family portraits, pets, landscapes, whatever your specialty is.
Using the local media is easier than you think. Write to a local journalist, one who specializes in covering area arts about your work. Write a press release and send to television and radio companies.
Find an artists’ agent to represent you. A good agent has many contacts, and he will be able to help with art marketing; representing you to advertising agencies and movie companies, publishing firms and even museums requiring fine artists to create exhibition backdrops.