Art doesn't go from studio to museum overnight. Nor is art by beginners usually ready for fine galleries. So what are your options when you're just starting out?
It can be daunting to take the first steps to selling your art. You want to grow, but you also know you need to just get your feet wet. Think about these starting points.
Your home
Hey, if you don’t hang it and live with it, why should anyone else? Host a few dinner parties to introduce the work to small groups of people.
biz basics
Your family’s homes
Ditto above. But make sure they’re asking for it before you give it to them.
Your spouse’s office
If the office is outside the home, new people will see it.
Other offices
Your hairdresser, doctor, acupuncturist, attorney, accountant, minister and other VIPs in your life might like to have an art loan for a short time.
Eateries
Restaurants and coffee shops are a natural first step. If you approach them seriously — and you work your mailing list — you can sell a lot of art in the right places.
Retail shops
Ask design shops to hang your art above sofas and beds. Check with book stores to see if they have a spot set aside for art. Scope out a clothing store that’s a perfect match.
Charity Auctions
Donating your art to a worthy cause makes you feel good. It is also a comfortable way to expose it to new people. Just know the tax rules re donating art.
Do you make wearable art?
Loan jewelry and other wearables to friends who admire it and who are headed to events where lots of people will see it and appreciate it. Give them a stack of your business cards to pass out.
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