How to make money selling art?
So, you might be thinking about how I make money from digital art or just art in general. In this article, I will be sharing my experience as an art manager and dealer as well as offering some advice for those wanting to pursue this avenue of work.
For artists, the most important thing is that you get yourself out into the public eye. There are a few ways of doing this one is to do what is called a “go see” this is when you get an easy to carry portfolio and literally just walk into every gallery in your area. Show them your artwork and ask if they would like to exhibit you. Most of the time the “go see” technique will lead to nothing in terms of a show, but it will make you known to the people working in the industry who are around you and being successful in art is as much about the quality of your work as it is about how personable you are.
Other ways to get yourself into the public eye include attending an art college not because you’ll learn a lot but because you get to do student shows for which there are always art scouts and press attending. The issue with this is that these student shows are a meritocracy and so in order to reap any of the benefits you’ve got to be the best artist in the show or at least in top 3.
Another way is to find a collective of like-minded artists who all want to hold shows around your area this way resources can be pooled and show costs greatly reduced for the individual. The drawback with the collective approach is you are very much David with his slingshot taking on the behemoth that is the art industry, which may be exactly what you want.
Finally, if you’re this way inclined you may want to do some street art. This can be an amazing way to gain notoriety just make sure you create your art in a respectful manner, don’t go painting over business’s windows or anything crazy like that. But bear in mind no one ever got anywhere playing it safe, now don’t go do anything illegal.
So, you’ve got yourself out there, now people are interested in your work and you need to sell it, this is where the most important part of the process of being an artist “the art of the sale”. Selling art is far harder than making it, not in all case but in most just ask Van GOUGH. It takes a very special kind of artist to be able to create and sell their art, creative people are like a fruit-bearing tree constantly producing material but unable to move around and impact the world directly.
So, if you’re not the rare kind of individual who is able to sell their art themselves you need to find a dealer or a well-connected person to sell your art, a gallery could also be a valid option. The most important thing here is DON’T SIGN anything, just get all the details worked out and put into writing an email will do work out per cent you should never give away more than 50% if you find yourself doing that you’ve got to ask yourself what I am getting out of this? Is the gallery paying for everything? Bringing in pro hangers? What are they spending on the press? How established am I as an artist? Is it this deal or nothing?
If you feel that this is your only opportunity and you find yourself giving away over 50% maybe it is worth it but doesn’t lock yourself into the deal. Sure, you can give away 70% on your first ever show if you have no choice as this is your only way in. Its always better to get something if it is your first time take the shitty deal and work to make sure you never have to again. The sad truth is as an artist you will get ripped off when your starting out you have to it’s just how mafia works. But as long as you’re not locked into a bad contract your good you’ve got upward mobility.
After reading this article you may be thinking what artists need is a place where they can get directly in touch with their customers, an art exchange of some kind? Perhaps it could even be blockchain based maybe they could sell unique digital editions. Well here we are we have launched such an art exchange for the moment we only do digital art but who knows what the future may bring we have the technology we have the know-how, we have the platform what happens next is anyone’s bet physical art only needs a few more factors like tracked transport of the art. But that’s all just speculation, for now, our digital art exchange is live and the benefits for all digital artists cannot be understated. How to sell your art online simple we have you covered.
When I started writing this article the intention was to just talk about how to make money selling art and maybe a bit about our art exchange. However, now I think I will just use this as a way of imparting all my knowledge base and kind of a guide to the art world this time I’ve covered the basics for artists.
