How can artists increase their self-confidence?​

How can artists increase their self-confidence?

(Transcription)

What’s your level of self-confidence?

Ann Rea (00:05):
Hi, my name is Ann Rea and I am an artist just like you. I’m also the creator of the Making Art Making Money program. And what I want to talk to you about today is confidence. A lot of artists struggle with confidence. I did too. And there are some root causes of a lack of confidence amongst artists. So let’s talk about some of the frustrations that a lot of artists are experiencing when it comes to selling their art.

Do you want to show your art or sell your art?

Ann Rea (00:34):
The art establishment tells us that we should submit to show our art and literally ask us to write a check so that we can enter a prestigious juried show and maybe even from an art museum or a prestigious art contest. Well, chances are you’re going to get rejected. And what’s going to happen is I’m going to invite you to apply again and write another check. So think about this. If you keep doing this over and over again, writing a check, paying for rejection, eventually it’s going to mess with your head and it’s going to start to erode your self confidence. The validation does not come from a jury who’s never going to buy your art. The validation comes from people who pay for your art, your collectors.

You don’t need a resume or CV to sell your art.

Ann Rea (01:26):
Another thing that artists do that’s really frustrating is they’re bending over backwards to build their resume or their CV. So they think that the important goal is to have a list of exhibitions at certain galleries and certain venues. Well, it’s really frustrating because the competition is so tough and you have to wait for so long and you’re just hoping instead of planning to sell your art.

People seem interested but they don’t buy.

Ann Rea(01:54):
A lot of artists are enduring another frustration. Someone comes along and they seem really keen on your art. They seem really interested, like they’re going to buy it, but then they disappear and you wonder what happen=ed. It’s really frustrating and you start to question yourself and that starts to erode your confidence.

Do you wonder if your art is good enough?

Ann Rea (02:21):
So then what happens is the artist starts to fear. Uh, if they’re good enough, if their art is good enough, if they are good enough and are they ever going to make it, are they ever going to hit their goals? So they ever going to increase their sales and take it to the next level.

Are you seeking validation as an artist?

Ann Rea (02:42):
Let’s look at this. If your confidence is low, there’s a few things that are probably going on. First of all, you’re looking for validation in the wrong places. The validation comes from when a collector values what you’ve created enough to pay you. It’s not the other way around. Validation isn’t something that you pay for by writing a check to a self appointed panel of judges who are going to probably reject you anyway. You’re literally paying for rejection when you should flip the script and actually get paid for the value of your art and not worry about what judges think. Not going to buy your art anyway.

You job is not your art it’s your business.

Ann Rea (03:28):
If you’re working hard to build your resume, here’s the thing. You have a resume or a CV because you’re looking for a job, but as a fine artist, there are no jobs. You’re in business. You know really you’re in business. You own a business. When you file your taxes, you have to file a profit and loss statement from your business. There’s no need for a resume unless you’re working with art galleries and in that case, they’ll want you to produce a resume, but what do you want? Do you want to show your art or do you want to sell your art? If you want to sell your art you don’t need a resume because collectors don’t ask for a resume. They’re looking for value. They’re looking for inspiration and they’re looking for a connection with you. They don’t need a resume to connect with you.

Do you know how to sell your art?

Ann Rea (04:23):
Now, if people seem genuinely interested in your art and they somehow disappear and you never hear from them again, it’s likely that you just don’t yet know how to handle or guide a conversation so that you can sell your art. Now, I don’t mean manipulating people. I don’t mean using sleazy sales tactics because the fact of the matter is is that when you sell art, you are selling a luxury product to the affluent and the affluent can smell BS from a mile away. So you want to be genuine. You want to be authentic, which you have to guide the conversation through certain distinct stages. There’s actually seven of them and when you do that, you’ll see your sales increase naturally and organically.

Will you be one of ten Case Studies?

Ann Rea (05:19):
If you’ve got this far, maybe you’re struggling with some confidence as an artist, well, you’re not alone. Next month I’m looking for 10 artists who are going to be case studies in the Making Art Making Money program. Now, when I’m Making Art Making Money program on a subjective scale of one to 10 most of my students actually more than double their level of confidence and their level of focus. Let me just, think about that for a minute. What would your life look like if you’re a level of confidence actually doubled, even tripled. Pretty game-changing, right? But it actually happens. So if that’s something that you’re interested in, what I’d like you to do is just fill out the quick survey. It takes less than two minutes and if the survey indicates that I might be able to help you, then we’ll hop on a quick call and we’ll talk about how now if the survey indicates that it doesn’t look like I help you, I’m still going to help you. I’m going to offer you some free valuable resources so you’ve got nothing to lose. Go ahead and apply now.

5 Responses

  1. I have been working with two other “support companies” to grow my art business. My investment at this point is most of my profit.
    i REALLY to make headway in selling art. This past summer I had my first “real” gallery show and did very well. I sold my work, and I had lots of buyers…howeevThe audience was intrigued of positive comments, and gleeful buyers! YEAH.
    Now I am back in a small community of lots and lots of artists. I have joined the Vero Beach (FL) Art Club…perfect for meeting other artists,
    but intense in hours to volunteer. I’ve made nice new friends, but, I am a business woman, and my business is creating wonderful art.
    And…I want to achieve this goal of making happy buyers and enjoying my artistic growth and development, and paying my bills.

  2. Hi Ann Rea, Nice to read your rap and see that you’ve been around the game long enough to have a few things figured out. And I’m glad you’re willing to share them and save some folks the pain of learning the hard way. Love to see what you do as an artist. Blessings, David

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