 Hey, artist, I am honest with you: many artists make excuses for not turning their art into a business. They fear that operating an art business is too overwhelming. But what if I told you learning more about the topic reduces fear and implementing the knowledge eliminates it? Today I aim to put some of these worries to rest so that you have a good idea of how the art business works. Last week’s newsletter about “Four Things You Must Do To Conquer The Fear Of Changing Your Career” prompted legitimate concerns, which I will address today. Here are the questions I got:
Without further adieu, please read my answers to these concerns. Q: "I have no idea how to prioritize, set goals, fit in marketing, and studio time! It is all very overwhelming." -Angela
Prioritizing is crucial when it comes to achieving success as an artist. You need to be discipline and learn effective time management and techniques to help prioritize your tasks. Keeping a day timer is a MUST! Begin by creating a schedule that balances your creative, marketing and sales efforts. Devote 60% of your time marketing and selling and the other 40% making art. With this ratio, you will be nurturing your analytical and intuitive mind simultaneously. If you find it tricky to balance your right and left brain; may I suggest the day when you are making art don't attempt the marketing part and vice versa. Additionally, set achievable yearly, quarterly and monthly goals for your business so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. This way, you can always remain focused on creating great art while ensuring that you are reaping the rewards of your hard work. Q: "I really want an art business but I am clueless as to how to start and what to focus on?" - Emily As an artist, starting can be challenging and leave you unsure of where to begin. The good news is that it all starts with the fun part - creating your art collection. To attract buyers and galleries, you must have a professionally curated portfolio that is well-targeted and priced appropriately. Once your collection is curated, it’s time to market, launch, and sell it. Although the framework is not complicated, each step requires effective strategies to ensure success. Fortunately, these strategies are learnable and can be implemented with practice. Q: "I have some paintings ready for sale but I don't know where to sell my art?" - Jeanine Before selling your art, it’s essential to have your artist biography, statement, and CV ready. Once you have those, focus on marketing your art and honing your sales skills. Next, you can start looking for venues to sell your beautiful creations. There are various ways to sell your art, so you can choose the one that best suits your capabilities. If you want to grow your business quickly and make a significant profit, consider doing art shows where you can meet people face-to-face or open your gallery. If you prefer a slower approach, gallery representation is ideal. However, remember that galleries usually charge a 40-60% commission. To apply for gallery representation, you must prepare your portfolio and website to showcase your talent. Selling art online is a great option if you have a busy schedule and cannot attend art shows or work with galleries. However, it may lead to slower growth, as online conversion is slower than the former suggestions. Online sales requires good marketing skills, an engaged subscriber list, and advertising to achieve desired results. Q: "How do I market my art in today's world of email marketing, newsletters, and social media?" - Diane The marketing landscape of today has undergone a dramatic transformation. With the advent of social media, email marketing, blogging, podcasting, LinkedIn, and YouTube, deciding which one to choose can be overwhelming. However, it needn’t be as complex as it seems. I have created an easy 4 steps to follow: #1 Pick a single social media channel to promote your artwork, such as Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. Treat your chosen platform as a place to brand yourself and your art. Keeping your content on these platforms with an 80/20 rule is ideal: 80% of your posts are about your art and mission, and the other 20% is about sales. #2 Next, select a platform like a blog, YouTube, or podcast to create your long-form art content. Create engaging, relevant, entertaining, and educational content about your art business. Again keep the same 80/20 rule as above for your content creation. #3 Use both platforms mentioned to grow your email list. To learn how this is done, click here. #4 Once you have a subscriber list, it is time to create newsletters to send out to your fans and start nurturing your fans into customers with the help of email marketing. Can you see how all the pieces fit together like a well-executed painting? Conclusion: Don't let fear hold you back because, as a creative, I know you are a warrior inside, waiting to prove to yourself and everyone else that you can make a living off your art. After all, haven't you waited long enough for your turn to shine and find true happiness every day? I believe that everything you desire is possible with a little guidance and faith in yourself. Don't hesitate to take that step towards your dreams. You have what it takes to succeed. If you want to learn with me, click here to check out my courses, where I share with you my professional experience as an artist and gallerist. My courses cover all of the above topics extensively. With Joy, Ting P/S: If your questions are not answered, please feel free to leave me your question in the comment. I answer to all my emails and comments.
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Ting YuenI am an artist and art marketing strategist that is passionate about creating meaningful art and courses that inspire your life, business and home. Archives
February 2025
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