Ten Effective Strategies for Selling Your Art
Selling your art might feel overwhelming at first, but there are many ways to do it! Our goal is to make people aware of our art, build a fanbase, and become known in the art community. It takes time, but every step counts. Here are 16 simple ways to sell your art. Mix and match these strategies to fit your style and audience.
Let's explore these methods to help you find the perfect approach for your artistic journey.
1. Galleries & Exhibitions
Selling your art through exhibitions and galleries is a traditional but challenging way to start. Galleries often take a commission, sometimes up to 30%, when your artwork sells.
Holding your own exhibition or teaming up with others can boost exposure, but it requires a lot of effort to organize and promote.
You can also explore local art societies for exhibition space or even host your own events. If galleries aren't your focus, try approaching cafes, home stores, or hotels to showcase your work.
Collaborating with other artists in your area is another great way to expand your reach.
2. Social Media
Selling your art through exhibitions and galleries is a traditional but challenging way to start. Galleries often take a commission, sometimes up to 30%, when your artwork sells.
Holding your own exhibition or teaming up with others can boost exposure, but it requires a lot of effort to organize and promote. You can also explore local art societies for exhibition space or even host your own events.
If galleries aren't your focus, try approaching cafes, home stores, or hotels to showcase your work. Collaborating with other artists in your area is another great way to expand your reach.
Make sure you pin your artworks from your website onto Pinterest so that it links back to your website, and ensure you have a good title and description with relevant keywords that would help someone find your work.
3. Sell your Art as Prints
Another way to increase your earnings from your art is by selling prints of your work. With archival and Giclee printing, artists can offer high-quality reproductions of their original pieces.
Selling prints allows you to make multiple copies of each artwork, expanding your earning potential. It also opens up your art to people who may not be able to afford the originals.
Offering prints in various sizes and price points can attract a wider audience. There are several online platforms like Saatchi, Fine Art America, and BlueThumb (for Australian artists) where you can sell your prints.
Remember, the more places you showcase your work, the greater the chance of being discovered.
4. Utilise Print on Demand Sites
Print on demand sites are fantastic income sources for artists. These platforms let artists upload their artwork, which can then be printed on various products.
When a customer places an order, the item is printed and shipped directly to them, and you earn a commission from each sale.
It's a great way for independent artists to showcase their work globally without worrying about minimum orders or stock storage. Some sites even allow you to sell these products through your own website.
popular print on demand sites include Printful, Society6, RedBubble, and Zazzle.
5. Sell Your Art and Products Wholesale
Selling your products and art through wholesaling to retail stores involves manufacturing your items. You can find manufacturers, like those in China, by getting samples made and taking advance orders. It's possible to negotiate smaller order quantities and even split orders into multiple designs.
Creating a collection of complementary products can boost sales by telling a cohesive story and offering customers the chance to buy multiple items together. This approach also encourages stockists to reorder from you. Having your own website is crucial. While social media is helpful, a website provides essential information and acts as a central hub for your online presence.
It allows potential customers to learn more about your work and products easily. Directing traffic from social media to your website can convert followers into customers, and having your own website adds professionalism and builds trust with your audience.
Though setting up a website requires effort, it provides a solid foundation for selling your work and improving visibility.
6. Set Up Your Own Website
Selling your products and art through wholesaling to retail stores involves manufacturing your items. You can find manufacturers, like those in China, by getting samples made and taking advance orders. It's possible to negotiate smaller order quantities and even split orders into multiple designs.
Creating a collection of complementary products can boost sales by telling a cohesive story and offering customers the chance to buy multiple items together.
This approach also encourages stockists to reorder from you. Having your own website is crucial. While social media is helpful, a website provides essential information and acts as a central hub for your online presence.
It allows potential customers to learn more about your work and products easily. Directing traffic from social media to your website can convert followers into customers, and having your own website adds professionalism and builds trust with your audience.
Though setting up a website requires effort, it provides a solid foundation for selling your work and improving visibility.
Another way to sell your art that you might not have considered is through "Party Plan." This method involves hosting social events, typically at someone's home, where you showcase your products to a group of invited friends.
The host receives small gifts or discounts as a thank-you for hosting, and the more sales made at the party, the better the rewards for the host. You can also offer incentives for guests to host their own events, helping you book future gatherings and reach new customers.
Make the event enjoyable by incorporating activities or art lessons, and use it as an opportunity to share your story and the inspiration behind your artwork. You could even team up with another small business that also does party plan events to co-host and expand your reach.
7. Hold Your Own "Party Plan" Events
Another way to sell your art that you might not have considered is through "Party Plan." This method involves hosting social events, typically at someone's home, where you showcase your products to a group of invited friends.
The host receives small gifts or discounts as a thank-you for hosting, and the more sales made at the party, the better the rewards for the host. You can also offer incentives for guests to host their own events, helping you book future gatherings and reach new customers.
8. Sell on Etsy
Etsy is a well-known online store that specializes in handmade items and unique pieces. It's a fantastic platform for reaching customers worldwide, especially those who appreciate trendy and one-of-a-kind products.
Etsy's user-friendly interface makes it easy for anyone to sell their creations. Artists can upload pictures, add descriptions, and keep track of online traffic effortlessly.
9. Licensing your Art and Designs
Another way to earn money from your artwork is by licensing it. You can transform your artworks into repeating prints and sell them to textile manufacturers or designers for use in their collections or packaging.
Platforms like PatternBank offer a marketplace for selling designs to companies for various purposes.
Additionally, you can list your prints on sites like Spoonflower, which specializes in custom fabric, wallpaper, and gift wrap printing. Even if you're a traditional artist, you can still license your work through art licensing companies like MHS Licensing.
These companies can help get your prints sold in major retailers or featured in hotels and restaurants. Keep your artwork visible across multiple platforms to increase your chances of being discovered by art agents and potential clients.
10. Collaborate with Other Designers
Partnering and collaborating with others is a great way to boost your income and expand your reach. Artists often team up with interior designers to create artworks for projects, or with fashion designers to design signature prints for new collections.
Collaborating on marketing, promotions, and events can also create exciting opportunities. You can even approach other small businesses to create home decor collections based on your prints.
Building relationships and networking with other designers can lead to exciting projects and opportunities for growth.
Maximize Your Reach and Boost Your Sales with These Proven Methods
Ready to take the next step in your art career? Try out these strategies and see what works best for you. Leave a comment below with your thoughts and share your experiences!
 | Shikha Garg is an artist, illustrator and like to blog about travel sketching and watercolor painting. Her newly launched venture, Travel Sketch Love, organizes art tours and workshops in India under the top art instructors from around the world. She leads South India at the international watercolor festival, Fabriano Inacquarello, Italy and is always looking for ways to connect artists and build communities. Connect with her on instagram: @Shikhagargart Website: www.shikhagargart.com Email: shikhagargart@gmail.com |
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