Congratulations! You had an article written about your art.
©Juliet R. Harrison, Coming Into the Frame. Photograph. Used with permission.
Whether it is in a newspaper or magazine or published on a blog, website, or as a podcast, you are deservedly thrilled and want to share the good news.
How do you do this?
How widely you share the article and how you share it depends on the importance of the article (not all articles are created equal) and the format in which it was published.
Who will care about this as much as you?
Who will be happy for you?
Who would be bummed if they didn’t hear?
Most importantly … Who needs to know about this?
Here are some ideas for leveraging an article about your art.
Let Your List in on It
If the article is substantial and has keen insights, a solo email outside of any regularly scheduled emails is in order.
If it’s an honor, but not terribly meaty, add the article to a section in your regular email or newsletter.
Share It on Social Media
Sharing your good news on social media is a given, but why not get a little more creative than posting the link?
Take a photo of it within an interesting composition. Perhaps it’s a selfie or includes your pet or is hanging on a clothesline.
If it’s digital only, you can still snap a selfie pointing at the screen.
You’re an artist. Be creative!
©Kim Harrell, Venus. Sterling silver, gold, and diamonds, pendant 80 x 45 millimeters, neckwire 18 inches x 460 millimeters. Used with permission.
Add It to Your Website
Keep track of such accomplishments by adding them to your website.
If you haven’t appeared in the media a lot, you can include the article on your About page.
If you’ve been racking up media appearances, it’s probably time to make a Media or News page, like Victoria Veedell has done. I love the way her page is so visually engaging – not just a pile of links.
Do you blog? You might also write a blog post about the interview process (if it’s interesting) or as a follow-up to what was in print.
Now to the most critical step …
Tell Your Collectors and Those You Are Wooing
©Jeffrey Hirst, Mies 880. Collagraph and solarplate, image size 7 x 5 inches. Used with permission.
If, again, the article is substantial, use it as a promotional piece.
Your collectors will be proud to know of your accomplishments, and potential venues and buyers might be equally impressed. Consider sharing it with consultants, designers, and gallerists.
If your article is online, send a personal email to these individual VIPs with an enticing reason for them to click – and, when appropriate, a note of gratitude for their support to this point.
If the article is in print, snag as many copies as you can. Otherwise, invest in color photocopies to share.
You might send the entire publication with a handwritten sticky note flagging the page where the article begins.
Your Turn
The possibilities are numerous – how have you leveraged an article about your art?
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This is a great reminder–thank you! I’m wondering what the etiquette is when you write an article and it is published in someone else’s blog?
I wrote a story about my work and it was featured in another blog– I would like to list it on my own blog as well. It is my writing and I wasn’t paid for it. Should O ask permission or just publish it with a link to the original post?
Lea: It depends on what your agreement is with the other blog.
I wouldn’t duplicate it. If time has passed, maybe tweak it a bit and republish on your blog.
I am in my 70’s and have done art my entire life. I have never had a show. How do I start to sell my work?
Here is a link to a web site run by a very nice man called Graeme – he is 80 – and dont be fooled by his atrocious website design – there are some very useful directions in there
Mandy: I removed that URL because it look like a shady site that required login.
Susan: That’s a great question! I have a self-study called Art Biz Lift Off: http://artbizliftoff.com
I also have a series of posts on this blog as a starting point.
See the first one here: https://www.artbizblog.com/2009/08/4steps1.html (leads to others)
See also: https://www.artbizblog.com/readytosell.html
Hope these help.
Alyson,
A fairly well-known art critic in our area wrote a short article about my solo exhibition for the local newspaper. Of course, I want to share it with my clients and put it on my website. Here is my question: do articles like that (or published in magazines or books) fall under the copyright law?
Christine
Christine: That’s so great! And … Yes, they do. I wrote about that here:
https://www.artbizblog.com/2012/02/reprint-review.html
That might give you some ideas.
You can also take a pic to include with whatever you decide on.
Thanks for sharing my “In the News” page. I wish I would have added it to my website earlier. I’ve always had the press listed in my CV. Now it’s easy to keep track of where my art is mentioned.
My pleasure, Victoria. I’m glad you found it. 🙂 Hopefully an uptick in visits.
Thank you Alyson. I was interviewed for a feature article several months ago. I am patiently (or not so patiently!) awaiting the summer issue to be published. I am excited to share it when it arrives! (Love the hanging on the clothesline idea!)
Alyson, I follow many advice you gave. This is very inspiring.