Brave new world of marketing art
©2008 D.T. LaVercombe all rights reserved
In this modern internet age we artist have been handed a whole new set of tools to bring our work to market. There are hundreds of online Galleries, maybe thousands. There are ‘print-on-demand’ site where you can upload digital images that collectors can see and order prints of. There are social networks (mySpace and FaceBook and thousands of smaller social networks) to join and find friends and fans on. All of these spread the word and images of the artists work. Thousands of people can view, make comments, be directed to the artist’s website, all without the artist walking out of there studio.
Does this work? Will this become the future of art marketing? I have in the past few years sold art from the internet, a couple of paintings and a few prints. It certainly does not make me a living, but it is better than not sell these pieces. I have never been a great self promoter, so the internet has allowed me to spread my vision to people who would not have had a chance to see it otherwise. The internet has let people from China, Turkey, Italy, Canada and the U.K to become familiar with my art. That is all good, but I do not think that digitally seeing my work is the same as seeing it in person.
I do not think that the virtual gallery will replace the physical gallery, anytime soon . Last week I went to a gallery in the city near where I lived. I went to see a ‘virtual’ friends work, in person. Albeit the artist work is beautiful on line, but to see it in the context of the other work on display was breath taking. To be able to lean in and see the texture, the brush strokes and the details that the artist had used – not replaceable. The print-on-demand prints are very good and the details of the originals come through. Seeing them on the site, however, does not do them justice. These site are selling , and they sell a lot of art. I would guess though that the majority of those sold are more photographs than paintings. That is just speculation on my part.
The other down side to all this Internet Marketing is the time commitment. Updating your FaceBook or mySpace page takes time. Photographing your art is tricky and requires time, then you have to upload it to the various sites you are on. If you do not do this regularly your fans and friend lose interest. All this time takes you out of the studio so your products drops . . .so it becomes a vicious cycle. It has always been that way to promote ones work, chasing galleries and shows, finding people to to come to see your work, convincing them to purchase your work – when all you really want to do is paint (sculpt, draw. . .etc.)
So I use these tools I email galleries and write blogs, and upload pictures and send out photos of my work, hand out cards that have my website listed and my many phone #s. All of this is marketing art in the modern world. If you feel like it let me know what your thoughts are on this, and any insights on sites you have found. I am glad to be here on yet another site!
September 28th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I write lots, but normally about other people. I tend to forget myself in it all. However, this network means more people have seen my work too.
I now send my work direct to FB using RSS feeds from my sites. This way I have the fanbase growing there and they see all I do, which brings others to this site along with showing them everyones work here.
I have just set up the chatroom here and will be adding to the side of it, a video player that will show hints, tips and other helpful things like, how to set up ablog, for the people that are scared by the whole idea.
Marketing is all very well, but with the RSS feed from this blog here, you can make it much easier too:)
September 28th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I had a Facebook place early this year, advised to as a way to attract people to my Red Bubble selling site. I got really frustrated with the lack of any responses at all (maybe I was doing it wrong, I am terribly shy about marketing) and then heard that Facebook was going to claim copyright privileges on anything that was uploaded, so I got the heck out of there. Maybe things are different now, but I’d sure like to know a better way, I’ve read lots of marketing articles and I have trouble with aggressive approaches.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Glad it’s not just me who feels this way! I’ve tried various avenues but just don’t have the heart for vigorous self-promotion. The internet has provided a new channel for artists to “get out there” but simultaneously diluted the impact available. I’m seriously considering forgetting about sales and concentrating on what I enjoy.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
That is why I have opened the chatroom. As you know I opened this site to help people do things easily, and am trying to build the site up so that I can easily give advice AND more importantly, help doing this.
I am also opening a Q&A session soon where you answer a question and I can give you the answer. Mainly about the marketing tools etc.
I want to do it for purely members only so watch out for a new group soon
September 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
FB has changed its rules back to what it was orginally. I am on FB and I have to say,I think it is starting to slowly pay off.
While I would like to market locally, I live in a very poor area and what few Galleries there were, are now gone. That means I would have to go to the city and with no transport. Just isn’t going to happen, at least not right now.
The most important thing you can do is “target” market your Art. Wither it be via a Magazine or a Banner on a very large World wide site.
Take advatange of any free advertising and network with other Artists.
Leave business cards or Postcards people can use but with your contact info on it, at any local shop that lets you do this.
I also blog both on my Blogger and now on Angel’s site, I also have a main web site and I do these myself to save money.
There are so many things you can do, to help sell your Art.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Thanks for all the comments. Syd, I have a FB Page and 370 fans, Everyday I post a Painting of the day and a link to the painting on my FineArtAmerica account. FAA has a visitor counter and I have seen as many as 15 hits in 24 hours, sometimes as little as 5. No sales yet but I am patient. I do believe that is the key to ’social network’ marketing. When I first put up my ‘fan’ page on FB I had 4 fans and one of them was me. It has taken 6 months to get to 370. Thanks again for all the response it is good to know some one was listening!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
These Blogging tools are great for telling readers about your work, this particular tool is great at hooking Google in to come and read it.
I love my Blogs!