Getting Started as A Professional Artist
If you have stumbled upon this article you either are in the process or are thinking of becoming a professional artist who makes money by selling their artwork. Making money by selling artwork is arguably easier than ever before. While there are many ways of going about it to varying levels of success below we will give you some of what we have found to be the basics of starting out.
First; no matter if you are completely self-taught or you hold an MFA, if you are passionate that shows and will go a long way in your success. However, there will be days when it seems as though no one is interested in your work- this is not a true indicator of your talent or future success. So please do not take it to heart; we understand that when you create artwork it is a piece of you- of who you are and rejection or criticism of your work is simply someone’s opinion- afterall MOMA once turned down a painting from Andy Warhol….
Just like in any business, and yes we are looking at art as a commodity for our purposes, knowledge from Data/Metrics/statistics/any information that is quantifiable helps lead to better decisions about how to proceed and thus mor potential success.
One of the things we have found that truly sets certain artists apart and rockets them into the sales stratosphere is MARKETING.
Luckily the internet has made marketing more accessible to the average person. From Social Media Platforms, to easy websites, blog postings (like this one), and maybe most importantly reputable art sales sites that even include you in their email blasts (it is critical to read their terms & conditions before posting any work- never give away your intellectual property!).
A favorite and very successfully local artist once told us ‘just send everything into the newspaper or magazines or websites whatever...they all need something to write about and everyone loves art’
Involving yourself in the Local Events/Art Associations/Exhibitions/Fairs ect. This is a good way to see in person who is attracted to your work. Remember what we said about information- the more knowledge you gather (without aggressively cornering people and putting them on the spot) the better off you will be. You will want to figure out who your buyers are and keep track of who your buyers become over time- it often does change. Always keep something on you to collect emails an ipad with a sign up, or just basic home printed client cards. It is more important for you that they give you their information rather than you giving them your card.
Get your own client list and cultivate it- send out email news letters at least 1x a month; even if you are just snapping a picture of what you are currently working on- keep those that love your work engaged in what you are doing! Having your own client base is important not just for your current revenue but the more people who follow your work, the more buyers you have, the more attractive you will look to a brick and mortar gallery. So that when you are ready you will have more options in galleries, more power in negotiating your consignment amounts, and exhibition planning. *
*all information above is opinion based on our experiences in the market as to what seems to consistently work for people-we are not making a guarantee- it is not fool proof and as mentioned before there are many paths to becoming a professional artist*
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