One of the critical questions facing artists of all kinds is how to promote themselves. You are a creator focused on creating beautiful art. Still, unfortunately, marketing is quite a different animal, and filtering through all of the different promoting art strategies out there can become a headache.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking on an affiliate link, Nevue Fine Art Marketing may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships include, but are not limited to, Bluehost, Tailwind, Skimlinks, SareASale and StudioPress. To learn more visit Affiliate Link Disclosure Policy
Or is it?
After all, while we like to think of art as the expression of something personal and sublime – and it is – art has also historically been a means of responding to market demands.
Why do you think there are so many paintings of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and all manner of other religious figures?
They were in high demand, and the commissions kept rolling into artists such as Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, and Raphael.
However, before they got the jobs, those artists needed to promote themselves and make their artistic presence known and felt, and so it goes with you.
With that in mind, let’s review a few essential promoting art strategies for emerging artists:
1. How To Market Your Art
When it comes to building brand recognition, you need to develop a variety of marketing strategies and plans.
Learning how to sell yourself as an artist in several different ways is the only way you will succeed in the online marketplace.
Online Marketing
Promoting yourself on multiple platforms, including blogging, social media, and email, will help you build an online presence and increase the value of your artwork.
For example, social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are visual platforms that will showcase your artwork.
In contrast, Facebook and Twitter are standard platforms for sending realtime messages out to your fans.
Social media marketing should be at the top of your marketing plan.
Social media is a great way to build relations with your fans and learn more about them.
The more you get to know your followers the better you will be able to communicate with them on social media, blog posts, and newsletters.
To how to market your artwork on social media check out these online courses:
- Hype Your Brand On Instagram by Sue B. Zimmerman
- Pinterest Marketing For Makers And Designers by Megan Auman
- Facebook Marketing For Small Businesses by Nathan Latka
- Double Your Followers With Creative Marketing by April Bowels-Olin
Blogging provides a way for buyers to discover you when searching on Google and other search engines like Yahoo and Bling.
Publishing content that relates to your artistic style, art business, and the message behind your art will attract your target audience and is a powerful way to promote yourself as an artist.
Every post you publish creates another way someone new can discover you online.
Learn how to get the most out of your blog with this online course:
Blogging To Sell Your Products by Megan Auman
Sending Newsletters will allow you to stay in touch with your fans and keep them up-to-date on new artwork and upcoming events.
Marketing art to people who have a passion for your artistic style is easier than trying to find new potential buyers.
The people who gave you their personal email address did so because they love your artwork and want to be kept up-to-date with your art business.
Your newsletters should include more than new art for sale.
Include topics about:
- Creating art
- What inspires you to create art
- Your inspirations for your latest painting or drawing
- Upcoming events
Learn how to create newsletters that will sell your art with this course:
Simple Email Marketing For Makers by Megan Auman
Offline Marketing
That said, you shouldn’t overlook the means of promoting yourself in person, either.
For example, burgeoning singers in the UK often bust near Tube stations.
Likewise, holding your mini-exhibitions in rented spaces can be an excellent way to boost your local profile or providing an open studio event.
For example, some hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses may be willing to let you show off some of your artwork.
Many local businesses can not afford to invest in original artwork but are searching for some decor for their walls.
Set up a meeting with managers of your favorite local small businesses and ask them if they would showcase your art on their walls with no cost to them. All you would ask in return is to have a plaque on the frame with your name and contact information.
You could even make a deal and give them a small commission if a piece sells from their facilities.
People in the local area will start to recognize your artwork and your name. Soon you will become a well-known artist in the area.
Local Art Shows
Another way to build name recognition in your area is to sell your art at local craft shows and craft fairs.
There are plenty of craft fairs in the fall, summer, and spring in most areas.
The best way to get started is to attend some of the shows and observe how other artists and crafters are displaying their products.
Create a list of shows you think you will do well and apply for them for the upcoming year.
These are just a couple of different strategies you should be using for promoting art. Let’s talk about some other art marketing tips you can utilize.
2. Art Competitions
There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to get the creative juices flowing and expose people to your fine art.
Even if you don’t win, getting people exposed to your work is the real prize here well worth your time.
What’s more, if you win, you not only get the monetary windfall but all the bragging rights that come with it.
Online and in-person, competition for art prominence is incredibly fierce, so anything that sets you apart from the pack is essential.
Here are some online art competitions to look into:
- Artistsnetwork
- New American Paintings
- MFA
- Associations Of Illustrators
- Artshow
- Fine Art America
- Jerry’s Artarama
3. Photograph Your Art Well
In the online space, few things are more gauche than an awful, low-res fuzzy photo.
Your website is your online gallery. The quality of the image you share could be the final reason your artwork sells or doesn’t sell.
If you don’t know how to photograph your art, educate yourself.
Related Posts:
4 Best Digital Cameras For Photographing Artwork
7 Tips For Photographing Artwork To Sell More Art Online
4. Share Your Words (and the News)
Maybe you’re someone who’s burning to give interviews and talk about your art nonstop.
Perhaps you’re the exact opposite and would instead let your art do the talking – and do just about anything else than talk to people.
Either way, words are a valuable resource, and one of the most important ways to reach out online is to be essential.
As such, you’ll want to make sure that you share your words with your audience.
If you feel comfortable in front of a camera, you might try to maintain a vlog. This should be fun and artsy and take on everything from quick chats to in-depth highly-scripted talks about your thoughts on the art world today.
To learn ho to vlog check out:
Vog Like A Boss by Amy Schmittauer
If you aren’t the talkative type or are a bit camera-shy, you might consider taking to a blog instead of a vlog.
You’ll need the former anyway, and pouring your attention into this (or hiring someone to maintain it for you) can be a great way to get people to know you better.
Related Resources:
The Guide To Producing Shareable Content
How Long Does It Take To Rank In Google
How Pillar Content Generates Traffic
5. Show Off Your Personality
Getting people to know you is incredibly important, given how many choices they have in terms of people they can choose to follow.
Just as we may have hundreds of Facebook “Friends” but only a few who are actual friends, people can only follow so many online accounts with any kind of vigor.
You need to make sure you stick in the forefront of people’s minds and stay there, and to do that you need to show off your personality.
This can take on, well, whatever form your own personality takes.
Maybe you’re a natural comedian who can get in touch with your inner TikTok star.
Maybe you’re a quieter, more soulful type who wants to express themselves in poetry or another nonverbal art.
Of course, there is more to life than art, so whether it’s sports or movies or anything else, showing fans what you’re a fan of can help build your own fandom.
Doing so will also help you to attract your target audience.
Check this course on storytelling:
Storytelling: Using Story To Influence And Connect by Stefan Mumaw
6. Stay up-to-Date
The world changes faster than ever before, and you don’t want yourself and your art to get lost in the shuffle.
That’s why it is incredibly important to make sure that your posts and art are up-to-date with current trends, not just in the art world but the world at large.
In terms of personal promoting art strategies, it is essential to strike while the iron – and news – is hot.
When you do respond to current events, be they of an online Twitter gossip nature or something more “serious” in the real world, you’ll want to do so with trending hashtags that can keep your content at the forefront of those browsing these search terms.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure your art likewise stays up-to-date with current events.
The more you’re able to comment on what’s happening today, the higher chance you’ll have voice and influence among an expanded base of followers tomorrow.
Final Thoughts on Promoting Art Strategies
All of the tips outlined above can allow you to self-promote online and offline, helping you to maximize your artistic relevance and exposure while gaining fans and followers along the way.
All of these tips outlined above can allow you to self-promote online and offline, helping you to maximize your artistic relevance and exposure while gaining fans and followers along the way.
Learning how to market art or how to promote your art is basically the same thing.
The goal of any marketing strategy is to make people aware of a product or service.
Your objective is to make people aware of the art you create.
Promoting your art should be done online, offline, and locally.
You do not know who will become your next loyal ar collector.
You might also be interested in:
- 5 Instagram Strategies That Will Help You Sell More Art
- The Ultimate Roadmap to Gallery Representation for Emerging Artists
- How to Get Your Art in Front of Your Ideal Audience
- The Benefits Of Using Print-On-Demand For Your Art Business
- Show Your Love for Wildlife with a Fine Art Print of a Cardinal Pastel Painting
Popular Art Marketing And Sales Tutorials
Below are some of the most famous art marketing courses that will grow your online art business:
Most Popular – How to Make a Living Selling What You Make by Megan Auman
Most Popular – Build a Successful Creative Blog by April Bowles-Olin
How to Build a Business While Learning Your Craft by Megan Auman
Pinterest Marketing for Makers & Designers by Megan Auman
Did you enjoy this article? Don’t forget to sign up for my free weekly newsletter.
You can also join me on:
Learn how to start, grow, and monetize your online art business.
Art Business eBooks
Art Business Workbooks
Art Business Planners
