What Kind of Artwork Sells Best?
I’m often asked what kind of artwork sells best – traditional or contemporary, paintings or sculpture, large or small works? On its face, this is a pretty easy question to answer – all I have to do is look over my sales records to see which media and subjects have been selling the best. We’re constantly looking at this kind of information in the gallery to get a sense of where our sales are coming from. I’m hesitant to share this information, however, because I’m not certain how helpful it is for artists who read the blog.
The problem with this kind of data is that we are in such a small industry that it’s very, very difficult to draw truly useful information from these kinds of statistics. Sales can fluctuate dramatically from month to month, and what’s selling today, may not be selling tomorrow. I wouldn’t want an artist to change direction or think that what he or she is creating can’t sell because it’s not what’s “hot” at the moment.
How to Ship Paintings | A Step-by-Step Guide for Artists and Galleries
Paintings are both fragile and valuable and can prove a perplexing challenge to ship safely and efficiently. Read this free, step-by-step guide from Xanadu Gallery owner J. Jason Horejs to learn how to best approach the shipping process so that your artwork arrives safely. Learn tools, techniques and tricks Horejs has acquired during his 20 years in the gallery business.
Marketing Boost – Offer to Clean Past Client’s Artwork
One of your biggest enemies in building strong relationships with collectors is time. Your customers may never stop liking you and your work, but they may instead do something far…
To Title or Not to Title Your Art, That Is the Question
Last week I received an email from an artist asking about titling her work. This is one of the more common topics I discuss with artists. I understand that titling your artwork can become tiresome, and many artists feel that a title can get in the way of the artwork.
Do titles really matter? Can the wrong title prevent you from selling your artwork? Can the right title guarantee a sale? While the issue may seem like a minor one, it is an issue you will be dealing with constantly over the course of your career.
I am an advocate of titling artwork, and I feel titling deserves investment of time and thought – from my perspective in the gallery I see that titles matter to potential buyers.
Read my conversation thread with the artist below, and then share your thoughts about titles in the comments below. How do you feel about titles? How do you come up with your titles? Your experience input and opinion are of tremendous value in adding to the collective knowledge available to other artists who read the blog.
Choice Overload | Cramming in too Much Art Hurts your Sales
I have long maintained that it’s a bad idea to try and show too much art at once. Whether the art is being shown in a gallery, or at a weekend art festival, I believe it’s better to show a limited number of pieces instead of trying to cram everything you can into your space.
I believe that having too much art in one space hurts you in several ways. First, it makes your display look crowded and unprofessional. Most art needs some space to breathe. Your display will look better if each piece has its own visual space.
How to Succeed at Art Shows and Festivals
The summer art show season is upon us again when tens of thousands of artists have the opportunity to show and sell their creations to the art-loving public. Participating in…
Keeping in Touch With your Art Collectors
Whenever I talk about keeping in touch with collectors, the number one concern I hear expressed by artists and gallery sales staff alike is “I don’t want to annoy my customers.” A valid concern, to be sure, but while there certainly is a point where you would be crossing the line and being too persistent, most of the time you are erring on the opposite side and not contacting your collectors nearly enough.
As a general rule, I like to contact my collectors every 4-6 weeks. By varying the type of contact and keeping the contact relevant there is little risk of offending. Remember, your contact isn’t made in a vacuum – these are not strangers you are contacting cold – these are people with whom you have already begun to establish a relationship and who have bought your work – they want to hear from you.
Responding to Negative Feedback About Your Art
I recently had an email conversation with an artist who had just been through battle on her blog. After years of extensive blogging, she received her first negative comment, an…
A Love Letter to Art, Or What it All Means to Me
I am writing a different kind of post today. I generally try to write practical and helpful posts around the business of art. I love to give tips that might…
Breaking the Ice – Starting Conversations with Potential Art Buyers (and anyone else who crosses your path!)
Several months ago, my wife, Carrie, and I attended a live performance of the Phantom of the Opera at Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium. The show was a part of…