Artists get upset because it is so unfair.

I deal with Artists who get upset with me because I say that they must be realistic about their prices, especially when they see works by a known Artist not as good as their work, but selling for a high price and they question why are their prices so high?
The answer is, they are a known Artists.
Unknown Artists always tell me that they get lots of likes on Facebook and their family and friends love their work and they are selling to them at good prices and I usually reply something like this.
If you believe that your family and friends and friends of friends will buy your work at these prices for the rest of your Artistic career, then do that, you do not need my help.
But if you know that they will not support you for the rest of your Artistic career then you can listen to me and I will help you.
Or you can go and complain about how unfair the Art Business is and that I want Artists to starve and give their work away, while you the Artist are doing it for all the right reasons and do not want to deal with people like me who have no "soul."
Yes, I have been accused of many things, I do not react, I just smile and say, “ I wish you the best of luck.”
If you do want to listen to me then this is what I tell new unknown Artists.
My 6 thoughts about getting your work out there.
1. The object is to sell your paintings and get them onto walls of strangers.
2. To introduce you to strangers and convince these strangers to invest in your work at prices that they will consider reasonable for an unknown Artist.
I want these strangers to become your collectors and your friends and life long collectors of your work and the price of your work will continue to rise as you become more popular and more collectible.
3. I am not interested in selling one of your paintings to someone. I want to sell all your paintings that you produce in your Artistic career to strangers.
Now that does not happen often as Artists move on but it does happen.
4. Its is not about the short term rewards it is about building an Art career that will last for a lifetime, putting paintings onto the walls of strangers.
Having a long term vision for your career.
5. Unfortunately in the early years it is a struggle and it will be difficult, but if you hang in their, believe in your self, your talent and your ability to persist against the odds, then you will be successful and command the prices your Art deserves.
6. It is not just about talent, lots of failed talented Artists.
It is more about self belief, persistence, determination and sheer mental strength to just never give up and the last ingredient and most important, work hard, always turn up even when you want to give up but never do give up, work hard, your gift deserves and demands that.
If it was easy everybody would be a famous Artist.
Selling paintings to strangers.
Turning strangers into collectors.
Turning collectors into friends.
Not selling one painting but selling a lifetime of paintings.
I do hope this makes it a little clearer about my vision for Artists, it is my desire that you all prosper and get the prices that you deserve, but it is a transition that takes time. I hope this helps some of you with this business.
I know some dislike it when I say it is a business but when you put a price on your work you are in business.
Keep painting.

Mark Shellshear.
Art consultant
mark@shellshearmedia.com