I am an artist and cannot sell my work, how do I get it out there?

Question

I want to sell my art for a substantial amount to lead an easy life. Plus to fund my humanitarian ambition to work in Africa and many other poor countries.

Answer 1

Ok hmm..you can:

1. Get an online gallery
2. Donate some work to the hospitals to hang that way if people see them....get it, or maybe restaurants. At first you may have to do at the beginning.
3. Try Ebay
4. Start Interning maybe at some local art studios and galleries around you

Best of Luck
God Bless

Answer 2

I've been an artist for three thousand years and I can tell you right now there is no money in it. If your dream is to go to Africa and do relief work GO! Do it now. Why run the risk of never fulfilling your dream based on the off chance you will be the one in a million artist who makes it rich? Your plan is flawed from the start anyway because to make it in the art world you cannot have an alternate dream or alterior motive. To make it in the art world you must have nothing in your life but your art.

Answer 3

Try ebay, try donating some work, you won't get rich quick, or not at all, alot of artists work are famous after they die. The more your art is out there the more people will see it. So donate some for local offices or libraries and hope someone sees it and calls you. But don't think about selling it first. There has to be a demand for something to cost money. Good luck and I would love to see a couple if you have pics of them to show.

Answer 4

ebay is always a good start. Also check out local craft shops, art galleries, restaurants - ask them if they would take a look at your work with a view to selling it. Commission normally ranges from about 20% to 50%: sometimes the gallery will a commission plus 17.5% vat ontop of that - which is why ebay is a good place to start. Sometimes libraries put on displays of art-work but quite often you need to belong to the local arts society to exhibit (which might be worth doing...)

Answer 5

I think you might need to work on the skills that are needed for doing humanitarian work in developing countries. As for selling your art - why don't you start doing work on commission. Go for what the client wants

Answer 6

Exposure. People have to see it to be interested in it. James Surls, a well recognized sculptor got noticed when he rented the window of a vacant store next to where there was an art event where art critics were attending. Good luck!

Answer 7

Create your own event, like an exhibition or party, and get other artists to join you.
Then get out there and spred the word...
Then who knows, maybe you can make it into a monthly event and news will spred by word of mouth. Soon enough you will have the "[Insert Name Here] Annual Art Festival".

Answer 8

1) Try selling it via Ebay..... got a much wider audience than if just selling locally

2) Create a website showing your current creations, and give your contact details in order to take work on commission.

3) Scan some of your works into Digitised form (e.g. jpg files), and add to your site a "Print on demand" merchandise store via someone like http://www.equisto.co.uk or i think http://www.cafepress.com do something similar

4) As it's nearing Christmas, and if you know someone who's a bit of a chatterbox..... holds lots of gatherings at their house (e.g. Cheese & Wine parties, etc), and appreciates art... give them one of your paintings for christmas, perhaps stick some sort of "Certificate of Authenticity" with your contact details on the back of the frame.

Answer 9

YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF "WHAT MAKES MY WORK BETTER THAN ANY ONE ELSES?" iF YOU don't have anything that will make people want your work. You just as well use if for wall paper. It isn't talent ,it is the uniqueness of your work and what the public would like. How about going to Africa then paint!!!! You would have something of interest then HUH?

Answer 10

Ask lots of questions on Yahoo Answers regarding the worth of one of your paintings, does anyone know how to contact the artist etc, to get everyone curious about you.Mind you, I suspect that this has already been tried.