selling art

Anna Afshar watercolor

The Art Biz ep. 167: How to Have a Sale of Your Art and Feel Good About It

Discounting your original work might be unpalatable, but there are reasons for doing so, including the fact that unsold work is taking up space and energy. (Promotion might be a better word than sale.)

In this episode and article, I discuss the psychology and process around having a sale of your art or any products 6 options for structuring it and 3 mistakes you don’t want to make.

The Art Biz ep. 167: How to Have a Sale of Your Art and Feel Good About It Read

Acrylic painting of tropical fruits in bright colors artist Julia Hacker | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 132: Not All Online Galleries are Created Equal with Alex Farkas

Plenty of online galleries will happily take your money in exchange for “exposure.” UGallery has a different model. They are paid on commission, so they do whatever they can to see that art sells.

This isn’t a commercial for UGallery. Instead, I want you to be aware of people and companies who are working hard for artists and doing things the right way.

The Art Biz ep. 132: Not All Online Galleries are Created Equal with Alex Farkas Read

The Art Biz ep. 58: Adding E-Commerce to Your Website with Lynn Goldstein

Twenty years ago it would have been unthinkable for me to suggest that artists add shopping carts to their websites. Above all, it was crazy expensive to do so at the time. But also it was considered a bit tacky.

Boy have things changed! Not just since Covid, but even in the decade leading up to where we are now.

Online shopping carts are affordable and easy to implement, and the vast majority of the population is comfortable buying online—even buying art online. Some even prefer the online experience.

Then there are the galleries. Many of them struggle to make sales (again, even before Covid) and haven’t quite gotten the hang of social media. They were the last of the art world to come into the 21st century way of doing business.

But now even galleries are selling online, with mega-dealer David Zwirner leading the way in 2017.

Why wouldn’t you make it easier for people to buy directly from you?

That’s what Lynn Goldstein thought, too. She built a shopping cart for her website earlier this year. And the sales rolled in immediately after the March launch.

To date, Lynn has sold 18 original paintings and about a dozen reproductions directly from her site, and I wanted to find out how.

It must be said that neither Lynn nor I are not experts in all of the options you have for shopping carts. I wanted to share Lynn’s experience and, above all, her results.

Listen in if you’re curious about how she did it.

The Art Biz ep. 58: Adding E-Commerce to Your Website with Lynn Goldstein Read

Kate Ward fiber art

How to Turn Your Buyers and Collectors Into a Sales Force

Want more help selling your art?

You have a sales force right under your nose: Your collectors.

The people who loved your art enough to buy it and live with it are your biggest fans, and are probably itching to share your art with their friends, families, and colleagues.

Make it easy for them!

Your first step to turning collectors into an art-selling brigade is to stay in touch with them. Sending newsletters, personal emails, postcards, and holiday and birthday cards keeps your name in front of them.

People are more likely to remember to recommend your art if you remind them that you’re still alive and working in the studio.

You risk being forgotten when you neglect your buyers and collectors too long. 

Aside from regular contact with the important people in your life, a special touch here and there will upgrade their experience with you and, simultaneously, improve your sales.

Here are a number of ways you can make it easy for people to promote you and your art.

How to Turn Your Buyers and Collectors Into a Sales Force Read

Author Maria Brophy

The Art Biz ep. 13: Find a Niche for Your Art with Maria Brophy

Maria Brophy has served as an art agent to her husband, Drew Brophy, since 2001. Since then she has also helped thousands of other artists plan their careers, increase sales, and negotiate deals. Her experience and secrets are chronicled in her new book, Art Money Success.

I asked Maria what she was most excited about these days, and she gave me a pretty decent list.

I liked #1 on that list: niche markets. Done! Now we can talk.

In this episode of the Art Biz Podcast, Maria and I discuss:

  • What is a niche market?
  • 4 types of niche markets for artists:
    1. Style of art
    2. Lifestyle
    3. Geographic location
    4. Purpose
  • How to find your niche audience.

The Art Biz ep. 13: Find a Niche for Your Art with Maria Brophy Read

Jan Thomas California hills

Rural Artist Market (Curious Monday)

Start local, and then expand.

This is a piece of advice I offer clients who are trying to build an audience for their art.

The problem is that this solution doesn’t always work for artists who live in rural areas.

When you live in a rural area, is your best bet to expand your online following?

I’d love to hear from rural artists who have faced this dilemma.

Rural Artist Market (Curious Monday) Read

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