8 Steps to Selling Your Art Online

You've put in the late nights, sacrificed time, and poured your heart into creating your artwork. Now it's time to turn that passion into a thriving business.

Here’s how you can ensure your art career not only starts strong but also continues to grow and flourish. ⤵

1. Mindset is Paramount

The foundation of a successful art career begins with an unwavering belief in yourself and your work. Confidence is key. Shield yourself from negative influences and avoid discussing your goals with those who might not support your vision. (Yup, even your family and close friends *Sorry Mom*)

Focus on consistency in your creative process. When you believe in your art, that conviction shines through and attracts others to it. Your mindset can be your strongest ally when you speak positively to yourself or your greatest obstacle if you hold onto that inner critic. (Goodbye imposter syndrome)

2. Guard Your Creative Time

Listen closely because I want this to light a fire under your 🍑 ... Your art is not just a hobby; it's your livelihood and business. Set dedicated time for creating art and protect this time fiercely. Whether it's early mornings, late nights, or weekends, make sure nothing and no one interferes with your creative process. This disciplined approach ensures that you consistently produce work and progress in your art career. (having discipline will be one of the strongest driving forces of your success no matter what you do in your life)

3. Explore and Specialize

While exploring different mediums and styles can be soooo much fun, many professional artists gained recognition by specializing in one particular area first. If you are still exploring, marvelous, keep learning and playing in new mediums. But know that your success will most likely not come during this playful era in your work.

Find your unique strength or “one thing” as quickly as possible and devote yourself to mastering it. This doesn’t mean you can’t experiment, but having a signature style helps in building a recognizable brand that people will begin to recognize.

4. Find a Mentor

Identify someone who has achieved what you aspire to in your art career and learn from them. Success leaves clues and growth does not happen in a vacuum.

A mentor can provide invaluable guidance, support, and a road map to success. They can help you avoid common pitfalls and accelerate your progress. Their experience and insights can be instrumental in helping you become the best artist you can be.

5. Consistent Online Presence

Create a consistent schedule for posting about your work online. This strategy not only keeps your audience engaged but also helps in forming deep, personal connections. This also help you refine how you talk about your art AND simultaneously helps you define your style. Its a Win Win!

Use platforms where those who would collect art like what you create would congregate. Think Instagram for those Gen Xers, Facebook for those baby boomers, TikTok for the younger or divergent (🥰), and Pinterest as a visual search engine to showcase your art, share your creative process, and engage with your followers. Consistency is key to maintaining visibility and growing your online presence.

6. Pricing Your Art

Be 👏 clear 👏 about your pricing and the value of your work. Establish a system to price your art objectively, considering factors like materials that you had to buy or would have to replace, the time spent to research, plan AND create, as well as how much the economy of those who primarily buy your work can afford. Don't forget to also allow for over head of paying for utilities and the actual amount to pay yourself!

This minimizes the impulse for emotional discounting and helps in maintaining the perceived value of your art. Transparency and consistency in pricing build trust with your collectors.

7. Leverage Every Opportunity

Take advantage of every opportunity to list your art for sale, including online marketplaces and social media platforms. Link your art listings across all your social media profiles to increase visibility. Platforms like Instagram or TikTok Shop, Saatchi Art, and your personal website can be excellent starting points. The more places your art is visible, the higher the chances of making a sale.

8. Participate in Art Shows and Fairs

Proactively reach out to art shows, fairs, and respond to open calls. Showcasing your work in public increases your visibility and opens up networking opportunities. It also provides valuable experience in talking about your art in person. Each event is an opportunity to meet potential buyers, connect with fellow artists, and get feedback on your work.

Just Starting is the Hardest Part

Just starting is the hardest thing you will do when making and selling your art. Once you are able to move through that, you know that you can accomplish anything.

If you want a little more help, CLICK HERE. I have put together a list of all the resources I wish I had when I was starting out. There are well over 122 of them that I would love to give you for free, including:

• Websites to put your artwork online.
• How to locate fairs and art shows.
• How to get grant money for artists.
• And so much more.

Succeeding as an artist requires a blend of confidence, discipline, strategic planning, and proactive marketing. By focusing on your mindset, guarding your creative time, finding your niche, seeking mentorship, maintaining a consistent online presence, pricing your work objectively, leveraging sales platforms, and participating in public events, you CAN build a thriving art career. And this is just one of MANY ways to do it.

Remember, every successful artist started where you are now. With dedication and the right strategies, you can turn your passion for art into a successful business. Your journey is unique, and every step you take brings you closer to your goals. Keep believing in yourself and your work, and I promise you, your art career will flourish.