Art galleries are closing, and art shows are canceling. Many artists are uncertain of where to start to sell more art.
The scarcity and permission-based art establishment is broken. Representatives are taking 50% or more in sales commissions, and they are discounting art.
Many artists don’t know their niche. So even though juried shows and art contests are typically rigged, artists are paying to enter because they hope to gain exposure and validation. Contest organizers accept more entries than they can’t possibly critique yet the organizers are accountable to no. Artists are literally paying for unnecessary rejection. The only ones who win juried shows and art contests are the organizers.
Art galleries are forcing many artists into exclusivity agreements, which is preventing artists from selling more art.
Representatives; are not allowing artists to contact their collectors. Thus, artists can’t build relationships with their collectors, and they can’t cultivate referrals to other collectors.
However, real relationships equal revenue. Artists can sell over 80% more art through referrals, on average, and keep 100% of their money. Referral sales are more accessible, more organic, and they don’t feel pushy.
Affluent collectors always make money in up and down markets. The pandemic has affluent remodeling and or relocating, so they are buying art today. People who care about art care about the artist, not the middleman.
Conventional sales and marketing strategies don’t work for artists because artists aren’t selling goods or services. Our product is emotion. Right now, there’s a lot of inspiration.