The Art of Marketing

The art of art marketing
If you are an artist who is looking to take your business from "making some cool art" to "Selling Art" you will soon be confronted with the reality that marketing is now part of your daily business, perhaps 50% of your day.

I've known many artists in my 30 plus years of making art and trust me marketing or promoting and sometimes even talking about their art is the last thing most artist want to do. They just want to make art. Sure, that's the fun part. Truth is many great artists are not performers or verbal pontificators or even small talkers. They are visual artists for reason. That is their language, the space they feel most confident inhabiting. Many like myself included are introverts. We love to be alone making art.

So what does an artist do?

Well if you can hire a small social media team or even a social media person, do that. Have them photograph your work, shoot you working and then upload and work the social media platforms like a magician. Well, most artists can't afford that extra person. They have studio rent, supplies, food and then home bills to meet. That's out.

So then what?

Accept your reality and begin to integrate daily marketing into your art making business. And you must think of your art making practice as art business. Get serious. Really serious. You are making something that you need to sell in order to keep making more or it will all fall apart.

Start slowly.

Take photos of all your art as you are doing it. Take photos of you with art. Take videos of you making art. You don't need another person to do this. Get a tripod and a selfie stick. These WIP (work in progress) or process videos are something many people love watching. If you need convinced of this and think making art is like watching paint dry (it is at times), just watch some ASMR videos on YouTube. People find the process of making art to be soothing and meditative. Remember most people don't make marks on paper or canvas or carve wood. It's a fascinating act to watch. Kind of like watching pandas eat. You don't see it everyday.

Get busy.

Begin to upload your videos and photos daily on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook and LinkedIn. You can use the same content on each one, but do it daily and consistently. Then respond to comments with your personal comments, not just a "like" or a "heart emoji". Engage with your community. Part of reason people buy art from you is because of YOU. Show your personality on your posts. Let your audience get to know you and your art, they are one and the same.

Sounds like a lot of hard work?

It is a lot of hard work. So is making good art. Together they will push your business to the next level.

Go get 'em artist!