How to Promote Your Art Online and Sell in the Digital Era | Artblr
How to promote your art in the Digital Era: How to be seen or sell online
Painting can become a business. Here is how to promote your art in the digital era, get noticed and sell your work online.
Artblr··7 min read·
In short
To promote your art in the digital era, combine a presentation website and portfolio with online art platforms where buyers can discover and purchase your work. Upload quality photos, write a detailed biography and descriptions, keep your portfolio up to date and set consistent prices.
The most beautiful expression of human thought is art. Art has the role of impressing, captivating, and creating states of mind and feelings in the viewer. I believe that, without our realizing it, art speaks to us about our lives and pushes us to find ourselves in it.
As the great philosopher Immanuel Kant said, "Art does not want the representation of a beautiful thing, but the beautiful representation of a thing."
So let’s say you are passionate about art, you discovered you enjoy painting a lot, your family and friends are impressed by your talent and you are getting involved more and more every day. The next thing that crosses your mind is: how can I transform my passion into a business, how can I promote myself as an artist?
Painting, besides passion and hobby, can even become a business from which you can live. But like any business, it is subject to the rules of the business game, of which the most important rule is: promotion.
In this digital era, the best way to make yourself seen and to sell your artwork is through online platforms.
Tell me if it sounds familiar to you: you are online, looking for inspiration and ideas to promote your art. Whether you type "online promotion methods," "marketing ideas," "marketing strategies," or other similar words in the Google search box, most of the results are disappointing, to say the least.
Suggestions such as "start a blog", "give people value" and, the cherry on top, "be creative with a viral campaign" can be found on almost every site you go to.
Today's world is freer from prejudice than ever before, but we cannot say that it is completely missing. For example, there is still the stereotype of the incomprehensible and poor artist, always with their head in the clouds and empty pockets.
Are you good at painting and tired of working for months on a canvas that sells almost as cheaply as a pencil? I have good news: you can make money from your talent and passion if you train a little on the entrepreneurship side! Here are some successful ideas that you can put into practice right away. If you have talent, people interested in art will always be there, so take action!
You followed all the steps, from art school to solo exhibitions. How come your parents still pay your rent and give you pocket money? It's time to turn painting or drawing into a business! You don't need to take loans to open a school, it's enough to advertise yourself and know the right market for your creations. For example, if you live in a larger city, you can try to promote interior painting services. There are people who want spectacular decorations for their homes or even institutions that really want to offer a creative corner to employees. So leave a few flyers in the residential area of your city, send a portfolio to an advertising company (their creative department must be inspired and a creatively decorated meeting room will help copywriters or art directors immensely) or, why not, go to kindergartens that want to decorate the interior/exterior of the building with story characters. It is very important to have a presentation site, a portfolio of clients (even if they are, for starters, relatives, and friends), and a legal background - you can act as an authorized person or directly as a limited liability company. Operating within a legal framework will give your requests more credibility.
But have you ever thought you can focus on your creativity and let others promote you?
If this idea crossed your mind and you did a little research on Google, I am sure that the first art sites that popped up on your screen were Artsy or Saatchi Art, but there are many other websites that are working in similar ways, like Etsy, Artblr, Fine Art America, Artsper, Arts Artists Artwork, UGallery, Artfinder, Singulart and many more.
Well, if you are a professional artist, art sites like Artsy or Saatchi Art may be the optimal option for you to promote and sell your art. These websites work on a basic principle: artists from all over the world create a profile and a portfolio with their artworks, and buyers can see them, analyze them and buy them, all of this being possible inside of the platform. This way, the transaction between the seller and the buyer is made in a comfortable and easy way for both parties.
Besides this special feature, on these websites, you can find information about the world’s leading galleries, art galleries, art fairs, benefit auctions, and other events, all in one place.
And now the question arises: If I am not ready for Artsy or Saatchi Art which site do I choose?
The best option, as an amateur artist or even as a professional artist, is Artblr.com. This website has all the characteristics of the ones mentioned before but is more user-friendly and accessible to every artist. It’s the perfect place to work on your online presence. It is addressed to both occasional and professional artists, all over the world.
On Artblr, artists can also produce a certificate of authenticity for the artworks in their portfolio.
Another amazing feature is that any buyer can search for artworks and artists by city or country. This is why Artblr has become one of the best places for people and businesses who want to encourage artists in their own cities to decorate their homes or their offices.
If you are still skeptical about how this art site works, you can always create a profile, upload some of your art pieces and take a close look at how it works.
Many artists are present on more than one platform and being on Artblr is definitely a good idea for every reason mentioned above.
So, what are you waiting for? You are one step closer to finding your way to success!
What does success mean?
A successful career in the art world depends on a number of factors. For some artists, success has nothing to do with the financial side. The success for these artists can come from the satisfaction of creating unique and innovative works. Other artists enjoy the thrill of sharing their talents with other artists and getting noticed. Of course, there are artists who focus only on the financial side. Only you can decide what success means to you.
It is important to emphasize that achieving success in any of the categories listed above requires time and effort. Artists should be prepared to dedicate part of their time to it.
Many artists ask us if we have any advice on how to achieve success on Artblr, and we certainly have! We encourage you to read and follow the 4 helpful tips in the lines below to maximize your chances of getting noticed:
1. Upload quality photos of your artwork
It is not a cliché to say how important the photos of the artwork are, and that they should represent reality as accurately as possible. As our clients cannot see the works in person, they rely heavily on the photos provided. So, if a photo is taken from a side angle or from too far away, or if other elements of the room appear in the frame, your work risks not being shown at its true value, and viewers may not be attracted to what they see.
Don't forget the details in the photos!
Sometimes a single detail can capture attention and generate the acquisition of the artwork. For example, let's say you painted a picture in several layers (transparent touches of paint applied one over another), and in a certain area you managed to get a spectacular effect, or, you focused much more on an important detail, this aspect can attract attention and increase the attraction to the picture in question. Who doesn't want a spectacular work of art in their home?
2. Write a detailed biography of yourself and precise descriptions of the works
Our collectors are not only interested in the work done, but also in the person behind the creativity. Therefore, we encourage you to write a biography as detailed as possible that highlights the creative processes or motivation for creating art.
Also, if you are just starting out, it is just as important to say so: our site encourages new artists, and this can turn into a plus for you.
3. Keep your portfolio up to date
We encourage you to always keep your portfolio up to date: every time you create a new piece of art, upload it to the website.
4. The right price for your artwork
Appropriate prices are essential for the sale of works of art. As an artist, you should always be prepared to explain how and why you came up with your prices. It is therefore very important to adopt consistent pricing principles and methods.
Each artist has an equal opportunity to be selected for a special feature. Maintaining an up-to-date, informative profile of your creative work can expose you to potential customers.
I hope this article helped you in your pursuit of the best alternative in promoting your art business!
Use online art platforms where buyers can see and purchase your work, and support them with a presentation website and a portfolio. Many artists are present on more than one platform to increase their visibility.
Which websites can I use to sell my art online?
Artsy and Saatchi Art are well suited to professional artists. Other platforms work in similar ways, including Etsy, Artblr, Fine Art America, Artsper, UGallery, Artfinder and Singulart.
How should I photograph my artwork to sell it online?
Buyers can't see the work in person, so photos must be as faithful as possible: shoot it straight on, close enough, without other objects in the frame. Add close-ups of striking details.
Why does an artist biography matter for selling art?
Collectors are interested in the person behind the work. A detailed biography that explains your creative process and motivation helps them connect with you; if you are just starting out, say so.
How can I make money from my art locally?
Offer decorative painting for homes, offices, advertising agencies or kindergartens. Leave flyers in residential areas, send your portfolio to companies and have a presentation website and a legal business structure.