Have you ever dreamed of becoming a paid artist? Do you have paintings sitting around you'd like to sell but don't have a clue how to do it? I used to feel the same way until I started to research different avenues available on the web. The internet has opened the doors and made that dream a reality for many artists to become paid working artists. I too have successfully sold many paintings online and I thought maybe other artists would like to hear about some of the things I've learned.
I would like to preface that this article is intended for those who like the idea of representing themselves as an artist and do not feel the need for gallery representation. If this sounds like something that interests you then keep on reading!
A great way to display your artwork is with a custom personalized website. There are many great services on the web you can use to develop your own site (like Go Daddy.com and Names Direct.com) and of course you can always just employ a web developer to do it for you. Personally, I think its best you try to do it yourself. That way, you won't be charged each time you have new artwork to upload on your site.
Don't forget you'll need to purchase a domain name and can do so with several different companies online. Just google search 'domain name registration' and you'll find plenty of options. As an example, I have two domain names - GaylesPaintings.com and GayleEtcheverry.com and they both point to the same site. I decided to use two because my name is sometimes hard for people to pronounce.
Another great way to display your artwork is to set up a blog (sites such as Blogger.com or Wordpress.com are a few examples). Blogs are very easy to manage and upload content and most importantly - usually free! One cool feature blogs have is called an RSS feed. This allows your fans (even if it just starts out as friends and family) to be notified immediately after you upload new additions on your latest artwork.
In order for you to upload photographs of your artwork, a digital camera will work the best. You don't have to invest thousands of dollars in a camera. I bought my camera two years ago and it still works great. I paid less than $300 and it works like a charm!
Two websites I've used in the past to sell my artwork on are EBay and Etsy. I like them because hundreds of thousands of visitors check out their respective sites daily with many purchasing artwork. This gives the ability of people in different parts of the world to buy original artwork for a price that fits their pocketbook. Yes these companies do charge fees for listings, however it is much cheaper than the 50% commission most galleries would charge. Plus, you'll be able to accept credit cards from your customers by using a service called PayPal. Don't forget to add links between your portfolio site/blog and EBay/Etsy listings!
You could always sell your artwork right on your website if you feel comfortable doing so. Many artists currently do this instead of the typical sites like EBay and Etsy. Currently, I sell my paintings through my website, however sometimes I will post a painting through EBay or Etsy. I do suggest if you are new to this that you just start out on EBay or Etsy. It will help bring in new customers.
One of the most important elements to your success will be from networking. A strong networker connects with others and together they actively search for quality referrals for each other. (Note: These can be from completely different fields of work, such as real estate, plumbing, child care referrals.) Top sales expert, Zig Ziglar was once quoted saying, "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
Networking can be done all the time, whether in person or online. First of all, tell everyone you know what you are doing. When you meet new people ask them what kind of business referrals they are looking for, then tell them what kind of referrals you are looking for. (Just in case you've forgotten, you are looking for people who enjoy art and would love to own an original piece of art created by none other than you!) Also, hand out business cards with your website/blog address, email address and/or phone number so people will know how to contact you.
Now that you'll be on the computer promoting your blog/website, you should join some of the free social networking sites available on the web. You can find thousands of options with social networking, Myspace and Facebook being two of the most popular. I'd like to suggest you also join groups that specifically allow business networking, groups like JasonsNetwork.com. Once a member, upload photographs of your artwork with links to your site. Being a part of groups like these will give you access to unlimited new paying fans!
Probably the most important element in your success will be to NEVER give up. Create your masterpieces, put them online and continue to promote yourself. Request email address from people you meet asking if they'd like to stay up to date on all your new works. Then, send an email to your subscriber list with links to the new additions and always ask for your fans to forward the email to anyone they think would be interested in your artwork. It will take a little bit of time for your list to grow, but be patient, you'll begin to sell your artwork before you know it!
About the Author:
Los Angeles based artist, Gayle Etcheverry is more than happy to share her tried and true tips so you can learn how to Sell Your Artwork Online. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
