Thanks to Artella I've been successful in selling both my art and my e-products online.  My little business has grown through marketing, and I learned that marketing from Marney's You*University e-course.  I'd be happy to discuss things I have done and what has worked and what hasn't.

Where I am totally lost is in selling or even showing my art locally.  I hope some of you who have done this will share your tips! 

 I'd love to hear more about this, too.

What is the process for finding a gallery?  Do you need to have an agent?
 

 

This is something I've been interested in as well. Our current home in PA has a great little coffee shop downtown that allows artists to display and sell their work with no cost involved, so that might be an avenue to check out - they get unique art for their shop and you get exposure! I'm going to seek something like that out when we move to MN in a couple of months. I also am hoping to volunteer at a local art gallery and make some connections that way! I'm open to all kinds of other suggestions!

No, You do not need an agent. I've been extremely lucky as a professional fine artist - after 30 years of exhibiting in galleries internationally, I have learned SO much! Finding the right galleries, art dealers, and reps is a constantly changing thing as the markets shift and the internet has entered into it. Now that I have a collector base, I sell about a third of my work online. One size doesn't fit all - AT ALL. You may want to work with only local galleries, or you may want to approach the "big" markets.... You determine the markets, locations and the right niche, depending on your style, subject matter, how prolific you are, etc. etc. And you would put your gallery package/portfolio together based on the gallery's criteria. Which ones to approach? And how? That is where you have some homework to do. There are some art biz coaches online that give some good general advice and a free newsletter - (artbizcoach.com/Alyson Stanfield may be the best). And I would be more than happy to offer some individual suggestions if anyone wants to contact me...

The main thing is to go ahead and start trying things before trying to figure out which is the "best" way to go first.  I got stuck in that mode for years.  The learning curve is huge no matter what so you might as well dive in and get going.  Be prepared to make mistakes.   It seems that  even if you have somebody to help with marketing,  you are still your own #1 marketing manager, 24/7.  It's a lot of work.

I'm going the online route first.  I'm learning eBay, Etsy, ArtbyUs and other online art selling sites as well as marketing by blogging and Squidoo lenses, not to mention just exactly what my artistic style is, all at the same time.  And, finally, at long last...I'm having a blast.  In my first month on eBay I've sold only one piece a week, but it's a start.  I suspect it takes a while for people to see your name and trust that you're going to be around a while before they start buying.  (Or maybe my art ain't that great. lol)

 I can also see now how getting in an real life gallery would feed back into the online aspects of the business, and vice versa.  Helps people to be able to go back and forth and see how much work you're putting into it.  Here in my part of Iowa I'm lucky to be near several funky galleries and I think none of them have ACEO's (artist trade cards made for sale).  I think that's probably my niche.

Now I should stop talking and get back to work!  lol

Gretchen

heArt-a-Day 

 

Local-selling Ideas:

Check out local crafts shops. There's one here called Craft Fair, has stayed in business 5 years. Charges monthly fees for display area (no commissions on sales).

The local Farmers Market (Saturdays, lovely park setting) charges vendors monthly. It's a nice mix of produce, jams/jellies, flowers, paintings, a calligrapher and crafts.

In a larger area, an Indie Art Fair might be a good draw. This has happened in Brooklyn and Chicago. See NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/fashion/24renegade.html

It's not too early to think about a Christmas shopping event and put together a small indoor art/crafts show, find a space early. A well established one here happens at a union hall.

Happy selling!

Pat 

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I sell some of my art locally in a boutique.  Initially I went in with my beaded jewelry to see if she would be interested in carrying it.  Now I also sell altered comp books, jewelry and I have a few more ideas....  I've had better luck with the local market than with my shop on Etsy.  I have also done the juried art shows for fine art for 10 years, but I rarely sold paintings that way.  Of course now that I'm into altered art I'm not sure where to market it.  So I could use some tips as well.  Thanks, purplepaint

 HI,

 I've tried both, I find one advantage to selling on line is that people are not picking up your art work and  getting  grease  on it, or smudging your oil painting and saying, "Oh, I thought it was acrylic, sorry."  Actually, I think it depends on a lot of factors, like location, available time to package and mail, success rate of others who have sold work in the area.  Aside from a long list of factors like that, I think a person has a "feel" for what "fits" where.  Maybe I'm just too sensitive (or unseasoned) but I think art is so personal that I don't want some things I've done in a large venue. Maybe that is just a trust issue or something.  Just thought I'd add to the discussion.

 
Regards, Marie
 (Cece Wilson)