CAN YOU MAKE A LIVING OUT OF ART?
With the help of technology and education is making a living from art possible?
The fact is that artists are no longer reliant on passing trade or the use of traditional marketing methods to sell their work.
The digital age has opened up new and exciting opportunities for art and for artists wanting to expand their reach - technology may be the key.
Song writers, photographers, performers, fine artists can all take advantage of video blogs, websites, online associations and the social networking sites to promote their work and build a clientele.
Ultimately this avenue can also help artists attract media and gallery attention giving artists some leverage.
We found some insightful Irish artists from Galway offering their comments on this very subject... The accents are fabulous and the many 'contradictory' perspectives give you food for thought. At ArtInvesta we enjoyed it and hope you will too.
HOW DO I PUT AN ARTIST'S STATEMENT TOGETHER?
The style of your artist's statement is limited only by your imagination.
This fabulous video is an example of an artist's statement from Charlotte Young using multimedia techniques.
It's funny, informative and clever.
With great humour and a straight face Charlotte delivers a flawless performance outlining exactly what the audience needs to know about her art.
DO I NEED AN ARTIST'S STATEMENT?
Yes!
If you want to post your work online, approach a gallery or hold your own exhibition you need an artist’s statement.
Why?
Because it tells the market about you and your art...
The team in the VineArts Gallery video have some good pointers to help get you started writing your Artist's Statement.
But be sure to be limited only by your imagination. There is no magic formula or method to follow.
LICENSING ART - STEP BY STEP AN INTRODUCTION
The copyright and licensing facility on ArtInvesta is a simple 'offer and acceptance' system and an excellent way to enter the market. However there is still a lot to consider when you first start licensing your work especially if you are going to DIY.
To compete first ensure you produce work that is licensable. Think about the products you buy that are decorated with artworks and designs. Many are part of a series and are often vibrant - rich in colour. You can gauge from products currently on the market if your artwork is suitable or not. A portfolio or bank of work is also important demonstrating both your commitment to art and offering choice to potential manufacturers.
Self promotion, as much you can muster, is also critical to success. If you exhibit from home seldom leaving your studio don't expect a potential buyer to find you. Get on line, blog, exhibit and let it be known that your work is available for license.
Once you have been approached by a manufacturer wanting to license you work start asking questions.
- What do they want to do with your work?
- How large/small will the production run be?
- What will the license period be?
- How long before the product will hit the shelves?
- Where do they intend to distribute/sell the goods?
- Can you see/approve the prototype prior to production?
- How much are they offering and what are the terms?
Naturally when you are just starting out you don’t want to create obstacles. However you do need to consider your reputation and if the company or the product is unsuitable take the hard decision to decline!
In this short video Maria Brophy shares her licensing knowledge and expertise. This is a top quality information clip - well worth bookmarking.
HOW CAN I MAKE MONEY BY LICENSING MY ART?
When you license your art, you give specific rights to a third party, usually a manufacturer, to use your art and they pay you a royalty.
This is the perfect way to increase the income from your art and one of the reasons why it is critical to take high resolution good quality photographs of all your work.
Artwork can be found adorning just about everything;
- clothing
- shoes
- fabric
- packaging
- stationery
- calendars
- household appliances
- soft furnishings
- toys
- sports equipment
- furniture
We really enjoyed this clip of the artists experience in the world of licensing and hope you will too. Interviewed by Tara Reed - Sue Zipkin discusses getting started in the industry and introduces Steve Mumm at the SUTEX 2010 show.
If you want to know the steps to take to successfully license your artwork and make money watch our other VQUIPS and take a look at the support article on AQUIPS.
PRICING 101
Artist Lorna Wallace discusses how she markets her work.
Starting on eBay Lorna began selling her original art for just under $10 a piece.
As her recognition and experience grew so did the demand for her work. Her original paintings now sell for between $800 and $1400 each.
ArtInvesta gives the talented Lorna Wallace two thumbs up. This amazing lady graciously shares her information honestly and frankly.
The video is a 'Fine Art Registry' production.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Kylie Guthrie talks about her passion for the creation of art rather than the hassle of having to sell it.
Kylie outlines the variables one must consider when settling on a price to sell.
These include years of experience; demand and how well established you are. She also talks frankly about the strategies you need to take to increase the value of your work.
Kylie understands the importance of establishing buyers who can grow with you and perhaps become collectors of your artwork.
As an entry level artists Kylie talks about attracting entry level buyers at entry level prices which in turn establishes you as a selling artist which builds demand and demand equals premium prices for your work.
At ArtInvesta we encourage artists at every stage of their development to exhibit and offer work for sale. We believe this information will greatly assist new and emerging talent to price their work appropriately.
PRICING YOUR ARTWORK
Cedar Lee, mid career artist, talks about her formula for pricing her work. She stresses affordability but also uses an interesting pricing structure. Established for over 5 years Cedar paints prolifically in oils and acrylics.
Designing your pricing structure by size is quite a popular formula with new and emerging artists. Cedar Lee works to a dollar per square inch.
Enjoy this video and engage with this talented young artist and her personal approach to pricing her artwork in the current market.
NICHE MARKETING
If you want to find the right markets for your art consider selling online.
The web is a fantastic way to find your buyers and extend your market reach.
Get involved in social networking. Find people, clubs, associations with interested like your own and start talking to them.
Join forums and start a blog. Tweet about your work, your interests and ultimately your art.
These steps are in effect building a mailing list for you to target.
A website with a secure shopping facility or secure online gallery space, like the one offered by ArtInvesta, comes next.
In the clip Matt Richards talks about selling online and his very special niche market. He produces and sells mobiles online.
Matt shares some fabulous insights into selling online and his real life story of starting a thriving business from scratch.
TIPS TO SELL ART ONLINE
Selling art online may be a little daunting but if you tap into some of these ideas you will master it in no time.
Sign up to the social networking sites and start blogging about your work. Get as many people talking about your work as you can – but be sure not to become addicted to the web...
Don't wait for things to happen, be proactive.
Create the best work you can and let everyone know it's available for sale.
Join forces with online services for new artists, especially services like ArtInvest who have much to offer emerging talent.
Rethink the need for gallery representation. Undiscovered artists find it difficult to get into the galleries and often the fees are prohibitive.
You may not need an agent either, at least in the early days. You can reconsider an agent when you are internationally acclaimed and need the assistance!
Know that you are entitled, as an artist, to make money from your art. Don't be afraid to charge for your work.
Consider creating a range of sizes and pieces as to ensure most people can afford to make a purchase.
We were delighted to find the co- founder of CanvasPop, Adrian Salamunovic sharing many of our ArtInvesta views. Adrian offers some fabulous insight and ideas you may find valuable to help sell your art online – and to top it off he is an amazing speaker.
HOW TO SELL ART ONLINE
To sell art online you need a presence and an audience.
Potential buyers need to be able to find you.
Offer the best work you have available, take accurate photographs that reflect the true colour of the work and supply all the details to enable the buyer to make a well informed purchase decision.
If you don't have your own website with secure shopping facilities find an online service suitable for your needs - and sign up. ArtInvesta offers as much free gallery space as you need and access to a global market. Take a look at our site and compare what we have to offer. www.artinvesta.com
Display as many images as you can in the image gallery and start networking. Social networking is powerful highly cost effective and far reaching.
This clip from Cory - an Online Marketing Coach and Social Media Specialist - really hit the mark with ArtInvesta. Explained in simple steps this clip offers top quality advice.
HOW TO START AN ART COLLECTION?
To collect anything you must first know what it is you want to collect. The same is true for art.
The best way, when first starting your collection, is to take time to look at as much art as you can. Submerge yourself in art culture and have fun exploring the art world.
Visit art galleries, spend time online, go the museum, attend art auctions, wander the street art fairs, exhibitions and trade events in your town or city.
Eventually and naturally you will develop an intrinsic knowledge of what you like and ultimately what you should collect.
Remember, you must live with your collection so steer away for collecting what you think may be valuable in the future or what the professionals tell you to like! Develop your own knowledge and taste, and then if you seek the help of professionals you have a platform on which to build.
Once you have established what you are going to collect start your research. Know as much as you can about the artist, their motivation, their work and their aspirations.
Ultimately an art collection can bring you great pleasure but also has the potential to be a sound investment.
At ArtInvesta the research is readily accessible, as is a global selection of emerging artists. Take your time perusing the online galleries and encourage the emerging artists exhibiting with ArtInvesta by rating and commenting on their work.
This video clip features Anne-Brigitte Sirois of Art State LLC, interviewing John Weber discussing how he helped collectors when they first started building... It’s a fascinating and different perspective from a very talented art collector and gallery owner.
WHY DO PEOPLE BUY ART?
Art collectors come in every age group and from all walks of life. In very broad brush strokes you can categorise them into three primary groups.
- Younger people who buy art for enjoyment and as decoration
- Middle aged people who buy for beauty but also prestige and potentially profit and
- Mature buyers who buy for passion
ArtInvesta engages all potential art buyers offering art from emerging talent along with lots of information to help the collector make a well informed purchasing decision. The online gallery is secure, easy to use and convenient. In a no pressure environment collectors can make their selection, either from the fixed price pieces or make offers for artworks on the ArtInvesta offer and acceptance system (a type of real time auction).
Art critic, Julia Morton, sheds more light on the different type of art buyers as she talks with art professionals and art lovers asking - why do people buy art? We love this short clip at ArtInvesta – well worth watching.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BUYING ART ONLINE?
Perhaps the most obvious benefit of buying art online is convenience. From the comfort of your home you can browse the online art facilities looking for the perfect acquisition. No pressure, no sales hype and no rush.
A good online site will also supply you with all the details you need to make an informed decision, information both about the artwork and the artist.
Buying online also affords you the time to research. Investigate the artist, look at previous sales and compare the art against other similar pieces available.
Spend some time researching the online gallery too. Is the site secure? What guarantees do they offer?
Value for money is another factor to consider. Unlike traditional galleries whose fees can range anywhere from 40-75% online galleries have low overheads making them affordable.
ArtInvesta is leading the way in online sales offering artists two options. A ‘fee free’ service and a flat 10% commission service.
This fee structure enables the artist to pass on the savings to the collector/buyer increasing sales for the artist and value for money to the buyer.
In this short video Fleur Allen discusses the pros of buying online. It's informative, short and to the point. A great clip worth watching!
BUYING ART - HOW MUCH IS IT REALLY WORTH?
Buying art because you love it is important but have you ever wondered how artists price their work for sale and if you are getting value for money?
Some artists base their prices on a formula. Size, complexity and experience all being taken into account. But rather than looking at these various pricing formulas let’s consider what, as an art buyer, to take into account when making a purchasing decision.
The following list is by no means exhaustive but is food for thought when considering if the price being asked by the artist is warranted;
- Is the artist known or unknown?
- What is the artist’s story? What experience do they have?
- Is the artist just starting their career or are they well established?
- Is the artist represented by a gallery or agent?
- Does the artist have works in private collections or galleries?
- Is the artist committed to a long term career or just going through a ‘phase’?
- How complex (detailed) is the work?
- What medium is the artist using?
- What size is the piece?
- What style of work is on offer?
- What technical skill level is demonstrated?
- What level of training and education is held by the artist?
- Is the artist emerging, experienced, a protégé or student?
These are the sorts of things to consider when looking at a price tag. However gathering all this information can be difficult.
ArtInvesta encourages all artists using their site to supply as much of this information as possible enabling art buyers and collectors to make an informed purchase decision.
In addition ArtInvest produces a wide range of statistical reports to assist the serious investor build an art portfolio.
In this short video the artist talks about the very issues raised in our article. A well delivered information piece it reinforces much of what we recommend the art collector/buyer consider when making a purchase.
MAKE A VIDEO BLOG
A video blog need not be traumatic. You don't need special lighting, sound and costumes! The best blogs are made simply. Press record on the camera and be yourself.
Your artist's statement, a log of your work or the story of your latest piece are just some examples of what can be captured on video and broadcast to your audience.
Video is also a fabulous way to build a rapport with your buyers and potential collectors. They may never get to meet you in person but they will feel a connection. So get the camera rolling and start posting.
If you have a website it's easy to embed your video or start a YouTube channel. The more exposure online the better. Talk about your work, promote it, drive traffic and potential buyers to where your art is exhibited.
At ArtInvesta we encourage all artists to try this method. Be bold, be creative, be yourself.
We especially love this blog by Sera. She doesn't sell her art on our site, well not yet, but she does use others. This young artist has her finger on the pulse and we congratulate her. Take a look at her short clip it may give you some ideas and encourage you to have a go!
HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST
Courage, focus, persistence...
To be successful at anything you must stick at it.
With this in mind the work and words of Stephen Magsis caught our attention at ArtInvesta. He works in oils and paints urban Detroit. With over 800 pieces to his credit Stephen obviously gets great satisfaction from both following his passion to create and seeing his work sell.
This short video highlights a talented man and his success. Beautifully produced for Michigan Public Radio by Roy Feldman.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PRICING YOUR ART FOR SALE...
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SELL MY ART?
Before deciding on the best ways to sell your art consider who and where your market is.
For instance if you want to sell exclusively to your local community, only produce a few pieces a year and like the social interaction of street fairs and festivals you know what to do!
If however you have exhausted your local area, produce art prolifically and want to tap into a global market catapulting yourself to international stardom you need to look at a combination of exposure methods.
Consider setting up a home studio, hold regular exhibitions, approach the galleries to hang your work and get online.
Building a presence online is essential and integral to the success of all other efforts.
This fabulous clip espouses the virtues of being online and offers some great insight into selling art options. Featuring Danny Page and produced by Nathan Boehme this is an informative must watch.