Carolyn, thank you! Event though many of us know about marketing and sales, we don't always put it into practice on a daily basis. I think most artists would agree with me that it's hard to market your art...many of us feel humbled as artists and are not always are best promoters!
Marketing can be hard, but as the artist and creator you know more about your work than anyone else. People interested in art love hearing directly from the artist, and feeling like they know you. The messages you put out in the world reflect what is true about your inspiration, technique and more, so it's very authentic and that's what collectors appreciate. This is not to say you couldn't hire someone to help you with creating an advertisement, posting on social media or writing emails.
Good reminder of important elements of marketing. I stay in touch with collectors through approximately quarterly SendOut cards with a new painting (I once sold the painting because of the card!). The message is short, sometimes just a hello, hope you're doing well, or happy holidays. I've never received any comments or replies but a few years ago a couple who had purchased two of my paintings came back a couple of years later, she holding one of the cards. I also send a newsletter once a month, talking about a variety of art subjects and introducing new work. None of this has reflected in direct sales at the time of the newsletter. Sometimes a nice comment from a friend or acquaintance, not from any of the collectors (some of whom, repeat collectors). It's hard to know if these activities do anything but I continue. I do have to work on what you call the confluence of my story and the audience's interests. That's a good point and another to-do on the list. Thanks a lot.
Great work Bela! You are demonstrating the effect of continuous marketing. It can be hard to track a sale to a particular message but you can see the results of your cumulative efforts.
Yes, of course it is difficult for an artist to talk about his or her art to promote it, because artistic motivations are complex and most of them are not always clear. I find this video very inspiring, because it emphasizes that the reflection that can and should accompany creation is also a process. Thank you Carolyn...!!
This was very helpful. However, Very daunting to the pure artist as marketing seems to be a whole 'other' job outside the creation of the work...as is sales. Thank you .
Carolyn, I look forward to watching and learning from your videos. I am fairly new to this and I have a lot to learn. At 68 this is a new chapter in my life
Im an ex advertising and marketing rep for a couple of The biggest marketing companies in the world. And am transitioning into a full time artist. I think everything u said is dead on. I had a large “friend” base on FB. So I started there. Not having actually met every person in that base at all. It just grew exponentially over the years. Then went into other online platforms. Networking and meeting all kinds of people has been great for me. Next I’m going to do some traditional local advertising. I need to reach more people. I sell whenever people see my pieces. As long as I’m in “my” demographic. I’m not fine art. I know who my target audience is. I’ve also done art festivals and that was good but a Lot of physical work. Anyway, Thank u👍🏻I just subscribed 😊
Thanks for subscribing and sharing your experience. I love the fact you are looking to sell locally; there is often a great marketplace of local shoppers that artists overlook!
HI CAROLYN, I'M AFRAID IN THESE MODERN TIMES NO ART DEALER OR CURATOR IS GETTING SERIOUS IN THEIR ROLE AS A WATCHMAN OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE, WITHOUT LIVING INTO THE EXPECTATIONS OF MARKETING. WHEN WHAT MATTERS IS THE NEW CURRENTS OF ART THAT ARE EMERGING AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN ANONYMOUS LEADING PART OF THIS CULTURAL EVENT, ''I'M AFRAID''
I have been following you and constantly receiving your email. You are super proactive. I am super interested in art marketing for social impact. How can you mentor me. I currently live in the UK but my target group are low income artists in Nigeria.
Carolyn, thank you! Event though many of us know about marketing and sales, we don't always put it into practice on a daily basis. I think most artists would agree with me that it's hard to market your art...many of us feel humbled as artists and are not always are best promoters!
Marketing can be hard, but as the artist and creator you know more about your work than anyone else. People interested in art love hearing directly from the artist, and feeling like they know you. The messages you put out in the world reflect what is true about your inspiration, technique and more, so it's very authentic and that's what collectors appreciate. This is not to say you couldn't hire someone to help you with creating an advertisement, posting on social media or writing emails.
Good reminder of important elements of marketing. I stay in touch with collectors through approximately quarterly SendOut cards with a new painting (I once sold the painting because of the card!). The message is short, sometimes just a hello, hope you're doing well, or happy holidays. I've never received any comments or replies but a few years ago a couple who had purchased two of my paintings came back a couple of years later, she holding one of the cards. I also send a newsletter once a month, talking about a variety of art subjects and introducing new work. None of this has reflected in direct sales at the time of the newsletter. Sometimes a nice comment from a friend or acquaintance, not from any of the collectors (some of whom, repeat collectors). It's hard to know if these activities do anything but I continue. I do have to work on what you call the confluence of my story and the audience's interests. That's a good point and another to-do on the list. Thanks a lot.
Great work Bela! You are demonstrating the effect of continuous marketing. It can be hard to track a sale to a particular message but you can see the results of your cumulative efforts.
Yes, of course it is difficult for an artist to talk about his or her art to promote it, because artistic motivations are complex and most of them are not always clear. I find this video very inspiring, because it emphasizes that the reflection that can and should accompany creation is also a process. Thank you Carolyn...!!
This was very helpful. However, Very daunting to the pure artist as marketing seems to be a whole 'other' job outside the creation of the work...as is sales. Thank you .
Yes, Denise that is actually true. Many artists in business spend 30-50% of their time on marketing and sales
Carolyn, I look forward to watching and learning from your videos. I am fairly new to this and I have a lot to learn. At 68 this is a new chapter in my life
Thanks David - great to have you as a subscriber!
Im an ex advertising and marketing rep for a couple of The biggest marketing companies in the world. And am transitioning into a full time artist. I think everything u said is dead on. I had a large “friend” base on FB. So I started there. Not having actually met every person in that base at all. It just grew exponentially over the years. Then went into other online platforms. Networking and meeting all kinds of people has been great for me. Next I’m going to do some traditional local advertising. I need to reach more people. I sell whenever people see my pieces. As long as I’m in “my” demographic. I’m not fine art. I know who my target audience is. I’ve also done art festivals and that was good but a Lot of physical work. Anyway, Thank u👍🏻I just subscribed 😊
Thanks for subscribing and sharing your experience. I love the fact you are looking to sell locally; there is often a great marketplace of local shoppers that artists overlook!
HI CAROLYN, I'M AFRAID IN THESE MODERN TIMES NO ART DEALER OR CURATOR IS GETTING SERIOUS IN THEIR ROLE AS A WATCHMAN OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE, WITHOUT LIVING INTO THE EXPECTATIONS OF MARKETING. WHEN WHAT MATTERS IS THE NEW CURRENTS OF ART THAT ARE EMERGING AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN ANONYMOUS LEADING PART OF THIS CULTURAL EVENT, ''I'M AFRAID''
I have been following you and constantly receiving your email. You are super proactive. I am super interested in art marketing for social impact. How can you mentor me. I currently live in the UK but my target group are low income artists in Nigeria.
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