I am an emerging artist and I would like to know the best way to promote my art?

Question

I am an abstract painting artist and I would like to begin to sale my art as a freelance artist. I would like some help on promoting my work and how to get my works in the public eye.

Answer 1

You call yourself an emerging artist, but you don't give any details about how emerged you are yet. Have you shown your work in local cafes? If not, start there by taking your portfolio around (ask for an appointment with the manager to show your portfolio, it's more professional that way)- that way you get exposure and have something to put on your resume while you keep making applications to galleries. Also apply for art festivals, artist's residencies, and grants. You won't get everything you apply for, but anything you get will help advance your career. Be open to novel opportunities, such as joining a group of radical artists. You never know where it might lead. Always document your work with slides, because some galleries still require them for applications. However your portfolio is your most important promotion tool. Ask other artists to show your their portfolios to get ideas about presentation. You also need a short, catchy bio because you will be asked to trot it out a lot. It can be hard to write your life's story when you're just starting out, but keep working on it! You need good people skills. Be friendly and reliable, but don't dress and talk like a typical business person, because no one expects you to. Be yourself. Get your art on the Internet by creating a web site. Finally, all that is secondary. Concentrate on your work. It may open doors for you when you find your muse!

Answer 2

Art galleries. If you want to actually be successful, you need to get your work shown by good contemporary art galleries. That is the only way to promote your work, unless all you want is to sell it for a couple of hundred dollars on ebay or in some starving artists sale.

Answer 3

There is a great book that can help you. It is "Making It As An Artist". It was written by a professional artist and gives very good information on how to present your work to galleries, how to attract media attention and maintain a living as an artist. Do a search for that title...It is written by DePolo.

Answer 4

Contact some non-profits and ask if they are having any benefit events that you can set up and sell some of your art at. You will want to offer them a cut from the sale price but you will still make money and most importantly get your art out there.

Answer 5

Go to art shows, ask around town. Buy the Artist's Market and send stuff off. Go to art museums, ask questions. You can start somewhere. The world loves art. Good luck.

Answer 6

Have you considered going to local restuarants? I know in my city, all the smller places will hang your work for you. I know this sounds kind of silly but maybe a myspace page as well? I know a lot of music artists I know started there and now they are bigger than they ever wouldhave thought. Just an idea.

Answer 7

Get an artist's agent or you can become affiliated with a gallery (the bigger galleries will promote your work for you).

Answer 8

get it on the internet.
sell prints for low, originals for high.
make artist friends.
you are in a sense promoting yourself, so if you act in such ways as to make people like you, they will also like your art. (kinda shallow sounding but very true)
good luck.
spoonman

Answer 9

I dont know if you have any of thse where you are but here where i live they do a weekly show at a coffe shop im my town try the local thing good luck

Answer 10

Try to do as many shows as you can. try to get into galleries. when you get a gig pass out as many cards as possible. sell as many things as posible even if they are small, just to get your name out there. From artist to artist, good luck.