5 Old School Ways To Sell More Art
Feel like you’re screaming into the void online? Dependency on vendor shows and galleries stressing you out? This week’s blog outlines five tried and true ways to take control of your relationship with buyers and get your art out there. As we grow professionally- we tend to forget the basic building blocks of getting art in front of people. Here are my favorite tips!
COFFEE SHOPS. Cafe’s have always been bustling community hang outs. It’s a place everyone can go to relax & soak up the atmosphere. Check out your favorite local spots & put together an annual solo show pitch. This is a great way to ensure you can display collections continuously. Recurring solo shows give you something to look forward to & help build relationships with the local community. The key here is to find the right time to talk to the manager. I suggest asking for a business card or a good time to have a 5 minute conversation. Walking in when the place is busy and putting someone on the spot doesn’t usually work out well. Be respectful of time & ask about the best way to communicate so you benefit from undivided attention.
STUDIO VISITS. The life of an Artist is usually a complete mystery to normies. Studio visits allow interested collectors to come into your space, explore what goes into your process, ask questions, and look at work that is still in production. This is an amazing way to connect with buyers- it’s highly personal, intimate, and encourages deeper conversations about your work. When someone takes the time to come into your studio it is highly likely they will purchase your work. Allow them to be curious, handle your artwork & share more about why they collect. You can offer tours or visits by appointment only- which helps it to feel exclusive & more desirable!
WORKSHOPS. If you have a skill worth sharing, consider teaching a workshop, retreat or simple class. This is a great way to share your passion with a group of art curious people. Teaching allows others to truly understand the labor behind artwork & appreciate what it is that you do best. There are so many fantastic programs locally that offer artist led workshops (like the Artpothecary through DAC!). Just be sure to design an easy to follow curriculum & choose projects that are engaging, without being overwhelming or too difficult for beginners.
OLD SCHOOL MARKETING. Before the internet- Artists used to put together amazing promotional packages for upcoming shows and mail them out to galleries, collectors, editors, etc… These promo packages were works of art in and of themselves! You can really set yourself apart with this technique- people don’t expect to receive beautiful, tangible mail anymore. A promo package might include your artist statement, save the date details, and small prints of work from your upcoming show (think postcard size). This can be simple, or extremely elaborate. Be sure to include some hand written elements, doodles, details- whatever you want. The idea here is to generate excitement & engage people with that wow factor.
POP UP SHOWS. You don’t have to wait for an organization to put on an event. Sure a lot goes into the planning, marketing & everything in between- but you can take matters into your own hands if you’re really hungry for fresh opportunities. The best way to put on a low stress pop-up is by forming a group. Talk to fellow Artists, see who’s interested & begin delegating tasks so the burden of planning doesn’t fall onto one individual. Pop-Up shows can be incredibly unique & offer a lot more flexibility when Artists are involved in the process. You can organize your show around a theme, look for eccentric locations, include artists who practice the same medium- make it as uniform or complex as you want!