How to make sure your art is good enough to sell?

​To be a successful artist takes talent, the right mindset, and an entrepreneurial spirit. I have been an artist for over 20 years and owning my art gallery for the past 13. The journey has been rewarding and exciting, but it has its challenges.
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The Passion for Creating Anyone who thinks being a working artist is all fun and game is mistaken because being a successful artist requires dedication and hard work. The desire to make art into a business is about passion and the will to live out your destiny. I genuinely believe our talent is given to us to share our mission in life. If art is in your future, it is time to take it more seriously.

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The Reality. Most artists don't realize that operating an art business is more than your talent. You also need marketing, sales, and mindset skills; combining these attributes creates the perfect package to harbor a successful business.
Today, I will touch on the topics of art-making since that is the most vital part; without your craft, you don't have a product to sell.

Up-Leveling your Art Skill One of the essential skills as an artist is your ability to create beautiful work with mastery. Having the skill does not mean you need a BFA, but it has to be at least adequate.

Most importantly, you must have enough passion for your art to continue developing your skills through persistent practice and hard work.

Develop A Distinctive Style Dedicate your time mastering your chosen medium by taking workshops or online courses. But do not learn by copying. Learn the techniques and take your knowledge to develop your distinctive style. As an artist, you need to build your unique voice, something that separates you from your peers. If you don't have a unique style yet, check out this blog on how to build your own style.

Practice makes perfect Nothing is going to improve your art skill more than doing it. When you practice your craft, don't be afraid to make mistakes because, like in life, we learn through our mistakes. When your artwork is not working out, do not abandon the work; learn to solve your problem. Once you've solved the problem, you will improve significantly as an artist. Make sure you schedule studio time weekly to learn.

Observation One thing you will notice as you dive deeper into your work, you will start to see things differently. You will look at objects, colors, and nature with a different mind. Your observation will develop a keenness for shapes, forms, textures, and colors. You will begin to ask yourself how to create a specific color that you saw in nature during your hike. Or how to paint that texture of the tree, or which brushes to use for such and such. You know you are becoming an artist when you become addicted to your craft, and it consumes your life.

When you visit galleries, art shows, or museums, develop your skills by asking why composition works. Be curious; ask questions when you observe art. Looking at old master's work will help you better understand designs and fundamentals.

Learn through Humility. Be open-minded to construction criticism. When taking art classes to develop your skill further, be sure to ask your teacher to give constructive criticism on your project so that you can learn about your weakness and strengths.

Treat it as the most valuable lesson, and thank your art instructor for her honest opinions. Once you know your weakness, address your mistakes quickly and sharpen your skill.

Trust Yourself As a self-taught artist, I find what is even more important than asking people for their opinions is to trust yourself. Be your critique and trust that your knowledge will solve your painting problems and bring you to new heights in your techniques.
If you need a little guidance, I have created a free guide to help you solve your art mistakes. Grab Your Guide Here.

Be Prolific As you build on your art skills, you should also work on proficiency. To be a professional artist means you have to have an extensive collection of artwork every year. Your art must also have a focus direction. A cohesive and comprehensive art collection should be your number one goal in getting started with your art business. You must join my waiting list for my signature course if you want to learn my secrets to having an 80-95% success selling rate.

With Creative Joy,
Ting