How to Promote your Art and Advance your Art Career
The following article is the advice I’d give myself over 25 years ago when I began drawing. I was shy, clueless and too naïve to believe that someone would see me or discover my art after I have my college degree. If you think like me, stop it. There’s a very slim chance of this happening unless you’re super lucky. Instead focus on cultivating your ability to promote yourself shamelessly. Yes, shamelessly. You must feel good about it though to sound confident and sincere talking about your art.
Stop asking for permission to do what you want. No one can give you the advice that feels right for you. Only you know what’s genuine to your soul and what feels off. Give yourself permission to feel and dream. Let yourself be free to express who you’re! Be unique.
One thing no successful artist shares with others is his business know-how. Here’s one of life-learning lessons from me…Success in artist career strongly correlates to the artist’s personality.. No strategy or marketing advice will work for you if you’re not extraverted and confident, or you don’t attempt to adapt to your circumstances and pursue your goals with relentless passion. If you avoid people (my case), your sales are very limited because guess what? You sell art to people around you or with whom you develop a relationship.
Money affirmation from Bob Proctor: I am so happy and grateful now - that money comes to me in increasing quantities through multiple sources on a continuous basis.
There are several effective ways promoting your art:
- The most effective way is to work on publicity efforts that include both local and national magazines, newspapers and presentations. Aftercall, that’s the reason why PR firms exist. They promote artists heavily. The artist must lead with a story and emotion to generate interest in his/her work. This strategy must be ongoing reaching out to top publications with lots of potential for bringing relevant traffic. The subcategory in this strategy is to be active in relevant groups on Facebook to help others, befriend, and generate genuine interest. Local media likes the community aspect in artist’ press releases meaning that your event needs strongly correlate to you local scene (is it a show with a community outreach? A donation for cause? or something else?)
- Have strong, professional presence online via your site, Instagram and possibly affiliations with art organizations.
- Collaborate with pro artists on special projects or shows and events who are a few steps ahead of you. It’s useless to run after people who don’t care what you do but you must continue reaching out, maintaining social presence to find those who are supportive of your vision.
- Find a successful mentor who might not be available for free but learning from such a mentor can cut on years of frustration and disappointment for you.
- Work with curators. Curators place your work in museums raising value of your art.
- Teach art or art-related subject either online or locally or both. This way you constantly attract new people and build the customer base for your services. You’re getting paid consistently if you manage your time and clients well.
- Be very social on all social events generating interest in your art and personality by talking about your ideas and mission instead of explaining that you are an abstract artist or a portrait one.
- If your goal is to be represented by a gallery, befriend many artists showing at that gallery.
- Write step–by-step demonstrations for specialized publications.
- Win a big award. Win more awards. This is not an effective strategy for most artists but those who win big awards or residencies attract attention and advance their careers.
- Apply to residencies, especially those in or near New York, LA and other cultural centers. Curators walk through non-profits picking their stars.
- Live in a big artistic place to network and connect with art professionals. This is essential to art promotion. This outreach should be constant like brushing your teeth.
- Work with interior designers, especially if your art is abstract. Take them out for lunch to understand size and color specifications to create art that they want. Think of it as commissioned work.
- Use Facebook ads to sell a low-entry print or course to attract attention and build customer base to sell higher-priced items later on.
You kind of have to work on all of this simultaneously building strong foundation and relationships with people and think of it as your business that must have all the legs in a stool, not just one or two.
Veronica Winters
Becoming a successful artist can be a challenging and complex process, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. So in addition to what I wrote above:
- Develop your skills: Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, musician, or writer, honing your craft is essential to becoming a successful artist. This may involve taking classes, practicing regularly, and seeking feedback from other artists or mentors. It depends what art style you choose to pursue. For instance becoming a realist artist is a lot of work to put in no matter how you slice it.
- Build your portfolio: Your portfolio is your calling card as an artist, and it’s important to showcase your best work in a professional manner. Consider creating a website or online gallery to showcase your best art, and make sure to keep your portfolio up to date as you create new work. Be as consistent as possible in size, style and subject. Instagram is a good alternative to show your process videos and art in space. It’s also a virtual place to network.
- Be original and creative: The art world is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay ahead of the curve by being original and creative. Experiment with different styles and techniques, and don’t be afraid to take risks. Listen to interviews with contemporary artists. While business secrets remain as such, some artists do share good tips in networking.
- Network: Building relationships with other artists, curators, collectors, and other professionals in the art world can be crucial to your success. Attend art shows and events, join artist groups, and use social media to connect with others in the industry.
- Develop your brand: As an artist, you are also a brand, and it’s important to develop a clear and consistent message about your work and your identity as an artist. Consider creating a logo or tagline that reflects your style and personality.
- Be persistent: Success as an artist often requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and persistence. Don’t be discouraged by rejection or setbacks, and continue to work on your craft and promote your art. With time, effort, and a little bit of luck, you may be able to achieve your goals as an artist.
