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No artist works in isolation. Most artists want their art to be seen and enjoyed, and if this is their full-time career, they need to find buyers. It’s often hard to make an impression in the art world, but unless you promote your brand, you won’t find an audience. No matter how talented you are, people are not going to find you unless you make an effort to reach potential buyers. For many artists, this is the most difficult task they face. Some are naturally reclusive and don’t feel comfortable with self-promotion, whereas others are happy to create a splash.
Here are some tips to help you promote your artwork online.
Pre-internet, the only way to promote artwork was to hold exhibitions, sell pieces of art to influential people, and hope that via word-of-mouth recommendations your talent was eventually recognized. Thanks to the internet, life is a lot easier these days. Anyone with or without an ounce of creativity can sell their artwork online. The internet makes it very easy to reach people all over the world. It will take a while to build your brand, but the first thing you need to do is create an online portfolio.
Build a Website
All artists need a strong portfolio. Your portfolio is how you persuade galleries to feature your work or clients to commission you for a piece of art. A website is a perfect venue for an artist’s portfolio, as you have the potential to reach a global audience.
An artist’s website needs to be visual in focus, so if you are creating a site in WordPress, look for themes designed for photographers or visual artists that place a strong emphasis on images rather than text. Upload high-resolution images of your artwork and include some information about each piece of work, you, your influences, and any other relevant information.
Don’t forget to include contact details and social buttons. If people like your work, they will want to share it with their friends.
Social Media
Use social media to promote your work, forge new connections, and let people know when you have an exhibition. Set up a Facebook page for your artwork and open accounts on visual social networking sites like Tumblr, Instagram, and Pinterest. It’s very important that you post regularly, as the more active you are, the more people are going to see, like, and share your work.
Networking
Use networking sites such as LinkedIn to connect with other artists and art-related organizations. Art is a business like any other, so it’s essential that you become an active participant in the art world. The more you put yourself out there, the more likely you are to connect with people and organizations that want to promote your work.
Use email and social media to connect with existing clients. Keep in touch and send them regular updates on your latest artwork. You never know, they may want to make another acquisition or attend one of your forthcoming exhibitions.
This is great. Really important information for artists now!