Marketing your artwork - by Jacob Netherland

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by Jacob Netherland

Created on: June 18, 2009

Keep Your Artwork Off Your Desk and in the Mail

It's a cold hearted fact: You aren't taught business in art school.

My boyfriend attended one of the best art schools in the country, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and never once heard the word "market." This seems common among the art world. It's important to know that you are now independent business owners, and must treat your services like a business.... what are you selling? Yourself and your wonderful talent. This is a hard change of pace, but it can be done!

The links below provide an EXCELLENT place to start if you haven't yet put your portfolio online, and want to create a web presents for yourself.

Great sites for all types of artists include:

How to Market Yourself:

* Contact Nonprofits and Businesses. Don't wait for them to come to you! Yes, you are a wonderful artist, but if they don't know about you, they can't call you and you'll be sitting by your phone all day and night with a box of tissues.

Send them a letter (on a special letterhead that you created) and tell them you would love to be considered for any future projects. Include a CD of your artwork. and a business card. (Hint:) You can find a list of businesses in your area by visiting the Chamber of Commerce website for your town/city.

* Join an artist's guild: Whether you're an architect or illustrator, you will benefit from a community of other artists. (Scroll to the end of this article for a list of resources.)

* Look for periodicals that have jobs and/or a marketplace in the back. You can usually find contests there, too.

* Get yourself in shows. Contact a friend or schoolmate and collaborate on putting a show together. Or find someone on www.craigsltist.org. Make sure they have art that's similar to yours. Here are some tips on putting together a show:

* Find art spaces and contact the director or someone in charge of the

gallery, ask them how much it costs to rent and what percentage they

take. I hear anything more than 15% - 20% is too high.

* Promote! Once you have everything set up, promote the show. Tell

everyone. Call the radio and ask them to give you a little shout out.

Send the newspaper show details (time, place, etc)

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