How can you sell art for living nowadays or become a famous artist even if you have skill and talent?

Answer 1

I'm an art consultant at one of the largest fine art galleries in the United States. However, the following is just my opinion based on experience and observation:

To become a well-known/famous artist - or to live off of one's art - requires significant MARKETING. In fact, some artists with very little talent, still make an exceptional living by selling their work. The key is to sell it - to anybody.

A gallery (a good one) will market your art for you by advertising the gallery, having openings and art shows, and by training its sales staff to effectively sell art. To join a gallery, you will have to market yourself to the art buyer, or whoever decides what artwork will enter the gallery space. You are selling to that person first, and that person will sell to the public.

You do not need to be represented by a gallery to sell work. You can market yourself to businesses and companies directly. You can also compete for public projects usually offered through city and state programs to beautify city and state property. You can also sell your work directly to the public at art fairs and trade shows, but you will need to consider your audience. Are they more likely to buy a $100 painting, or a $1,000 painting? Are they more likely to purchase a still life, or an abstract?

After considering all of your options, if you have decided to go the gallery route, PLEASE visit that gallery to see if your work is a match. If you can't visit the actual gallery, explore their website. Find their guidelines for submitting work. DRESS NICELY. The tortured, angry artist, covered in paint, is not a cool look. It is very unprofessional. Dress nicely, be clean, and follow the submission guidelines to the letter. Artists who come to the gallery dressed in their studio clothes, lugging canvases with them, are often turned away. At the gallery where I work, only the owners make decisions regarding accepted art, and they are very busy people. They cannot drop everything just to look at your work.

Finally, a word about pricing. Here's the secret: keep your prices as low as possible. Everyone dreams of selling a $30,000 painting or sculpture. The unfortunate reality is that very few people are capable - or even interested - in buying art at that level. The lower your pricing, the more prospective buyers you will have. You may need to paint thirty $1,000 paintings to equal that one large painting, but you will have increased your collector base by 30 (not 1) and those people will impress their friends with your work, and their friends will want to see what else you can do. Those friends may also become collectors of your work. Your first-time collectors may become returning collectors. AND, the art consultants who sell your work will see that your work is popular and they will become more and more excited to talk about your work to THEIR returning clients - which leads to increased sales for everyone. The smart artist will avoid increasing his/her prices until he or she can no longer keep up with the demand. Even then, a price increase is usually 4% to 10%. Let your buyers tell you when you’ve increased your prices too much (they’ll stop buying).

Finally, a word on selling with a gallery:

Generally the gallery will accept work on consignment, which means that you send in your art, the gallery displays it, and once it sells you will get paid. The gallery may keep 50% and give you 50% (this percentage is agreed upon when you first join the gallery). Some artists abhor the idea that 50% of their sticker price is going to the gallery. What did they do? You're the one who painted the darn thing.

Truthfully, the gallery deserves every cent. The gallery is not charging you rent to hang your pieces on its walls. The gallery is not charging you for the electricity needed to light your work. The gallery is not charging you for the advertising it publishes, the TV spots it films, the cleaning lady who dusts everything, the sales staff who sell your work (and who generally work on commission).

Once your piece of art sells, the gallery uses its commission to pay all of those things: the electricity, water, heat, rent, advertising, etc. Whatever is left over is used to pay the sales staff and hopefully turn a profit (we're all in this to make money).

Some people think that if they go to the artist directly, they can avoid paying that extra 50%. Don't let them! When you sell your own work, YOU get the 50% commission. You also preserve your market/retail value. The last thing collectors want to know is that their painting or artwork is really worth half what they paid for. They want to believe they made a sound investment when they purchased this beautiful object for their home. If you start selling pieces out from under the gallery, the gallery will get angry, your collectors will get angry, and ultimately you will ruin your reputation as an artist. You can't make a living like that.

But also keep in mind that just because a painting in hanging in a gallery does not guarantee it will sell. Some paintings hang on the wall for a year or more. Living off of your art requires strategic marketing and PATIENCE. Most artists, like most authors, supplement their income with another job until they can afford to paint exclusively.

I hope this has helped you. Next time I’ll try not to be so long-winded.

Answer 2

Artists just need to know how to make money. I recommend reading Making It As An Artist. It was written specifically to answer your question - gives good tips from a professional artist. A "starving artist" is an artist without direction...there is no need to starve in the art profession. I understand that art value increases upon an artist's death and that is where the term "starving artist" originated, but somehow artists have accepted this as a way of life. Check out the book it may change your outlook and talk to some professional artists... honest ones may be hard to find and not all of them are ready to give out their secrets of success...at least give it a try. Talented artists are hard to find and very much in demand. Just need to tap into the right market. Good luck.

Answer 3

I would try to get into an art fair to sell things in your area. I love to go to art festivals. I love to look at the art and if I don't have money to buy at the time of the fair I always get a business card or brochure. I often do contact the artist at a later time to make a purchase. I also gives you a chance to show people your work and talk to others who do what you do and compare notes.
remember to treat the business of art like a business which it is. Also whatever medium you work in consider creating something that someone can buy for just a few dollars. I'm talking about something like a postcard or greeting card or small mini sculpture, These small items can put money in your pocket and if the person likes your work they might call you for more, show up the next time you show your work or tell others about you. Good luck.

Answer 4

You do what you are good at - creating art. Give the job of marketing and selling to those who are good at that. First respect yourself so that you will be able to respect other professionals. Each artist is good for some one some where in the world but if you start looking for them you will be left with no time for your art.

Answer 5

It might be considered by some that a lot of Artists who think they have a lot of talent really dont seem to have all that much when you see what they produce.
If you really believe in what you do then you will have to try to find a way to sell or publish it when you can and try to suppliment your income from other means and hope that it will become popular one day.

Answer 6

You have to make ART your LIFE. You have to become your own manager and sell, sell, sell. Donate art to worthy causes for prize or raffle (not auctions though, that devalues your art). Have your own show at a library or restaurant.Travel around, apply to every show and gallery, and get your name out there.

It's a full-time career - skill and talent are important, but, unfortunately, you have to spend as much or more of your time selling yourself if you want to become "famous". It takes years to get your name out there - this is not a career for someone who is afraid of hard work and rejection, or for one who needs instant gratification.

Good fortune in your career.

Edit: Margarita your post is brilliant - thank you!

Answer 7

a painting a day

low prices for a decade

get your name in local art news

meet as many people in the art community

donate to events like charity

get into group shows

keep a steady style for a full decade

stick to one style and theme

never paint the same painting twice unless its stands alone

Answer 8

One thing that no one else has mentioned (I think) is to have a talented web designer create a website for you to display your art. Or, alternatively, create your own website.

Answer 9

Keep doing what you're doing & perfect you craft...the money will follow . Good Luck & Happy New Year!!

Answer 10

SLEEP WITH A ART DEALER! OR DIE (SOME GET FAMOUS BY PASSING ON)