Beginning Artist

Marketing 101 by Mike Savad
Why Your Work May Not Be Selling - By Mike Savad
Evaluating Your Own Work To Sell – By Mike Savad
How To Critique And Edit Your Own Work For Better Sales

there are also tons of marketing threads already open.

for now concentrate on more work, 4 won't be enough to hold anyones attention for that long. you'll need clear, large images of your work. small are too small, some are too soft. they won't print it if it doesn't look good up close. use a scanner. you should have better descriptions, something that describes the piece they are looking at. you need far more keywords. adding your email invites creeps and spammers.

you'll have to advertise to get viewers, letting it sit - won't make it sell.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Yes, I agree you should put more of your work up to show. This does attract peoples eye more and keep their interest. Give it time. Things don't happen over night. Other artists will eventually catch on to your work, but like Mike said more is better then just 4.

I must say that after being a bit snubbed by Mike, I do not carry him in my heart. However, I must admit that he is quite right in his commentary. You need to put more work here and with a good quality to be print.He his right for you and he his right for me! Do not give up, continue and sales will be there one day.

i'm just very direct and not all that complimentary. but i speak the truth speaking through experience.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Reading everything you post Mike, I realized it. Thank you for all yourr contribution and your time. Peace :)

What I see are four different artists with four different styles. As soon as you find and develop a style for everything you create, the easier it will be for people to associate you with your work.

i agree with the style thing. find your style and make series of things using that style. this way people recognize who you are at a glance. the last 2 have a theme, you can go with that. there are plenty of dark or goth people that may be into it.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Enjoy your time out of the public eye to develop your style without being corrupted by worrying about sales.

The first thing to do to be a working artist ( painter ) is to be a student. Which you are doing. Learn from many teachers, try new techniques and styles. Experiment and play. Don't limit yourself or get hung up with one idea. This is the time for you to develop your style and build your inventory. This stage can take quite a bit of time. So relax and flow with it. At this stage you can work on getting known in your area. You do this by participating in local art shows and joining the art center in your area. Don't rush the process, for it will set you up for disappointment.

Allison, all comments here are so true. More work and learning on the way.

Take the time you will need to develop your style. You will find a lot about yourself along the way on your journey. Let your art come through. Don't try to rush it as you want to be your own style. It will take time.

Getting on these forums have really helped me and many others.

Alison, you can't get by just on technique. LEARN THE BASICS. LEARN TO DRAW. And by "draw", I mean figure drawing, object drawing, composition, color theory, EVERYTHING.

You want frank advice? I see none of those qualities in what you've put in your gallery.

You have a lot of competition here. There are wonderful artists here who have put the work in, built a solid skill foundation, and then started doing their own thing.

It's good you're in school, but unless you've paid your fees in full in advance, when you leave school you're going to have a sizable school loan to pay off and believe me, an artist doesn't need a heavy debt load while trying to sell his/her work. It's a very tough business. What I would recommend is NOT go to art school - screw the diploma - unless you're planning to teach, it doesn't mean squat in the real world. Instead, get a steady job that hopefully you won't hate and take local classes in the artistic basics I've already mentioned. I have a BFA and made the Dean's List a couple of times. Big deal. I'd rather have spent the time I was forced to take things like Ecology and Political Science (yes, in art school!) painting and drawing.

Good luck, I wish you the best.

Do you have any suggestions for a beginner artist trying to get their artwork out in the world?

For what purpose? To sell? Just to be seen? Where exactly in the world are you thinking that you want your artwork to be and for what reasons?

What are you REALLY asking? Are you wanting to build a reputation? Build a following? Build a list of potential buyers?

Basically, anywhere you place your artwork besides your own home will be "out in the world".