Get the Attention of strangers.

The one question I get asked more by Artists than any other, especially those in the first 5 years of their career, is how do I price my paintings?

I always answer, “That is not the right question.”

“The right question is, how do I get the attention of strangers and get my paintings onto strangers walls?”

In the beginning of your Art career it is not about the money it is about getting attention.

The price of your paintings in the beginning is not that important, don’t give them away, but don’t price them like you are a mature Artist who has had a long career, she has paid her dues and deserves the prices she gets.

No matter how talented you are, how gifted you are, if you are unknown, then you are unknown.

So getting known is the most important thing you can do, do not look to a Gallery or dealer to do this for you, because they are an endangered species, now because of the internet it is up to you.

Artists must learn the necessary skills to be successful in this day and age because the internet is a disrupter and it has changed everything.

Often worrying about how much I should sell my paintings for and that people should pay what they are worth, is an excuse to hide.

The Art market will only pay what it believes your Art is worth and if have not been around for very long it then has to decide if it will take a risk on you because you may not be around in another 5 years and most Artists do not want to grasp this.

The mature Artist who gets good prices for her paintings now, payed her dues, she also started at the bottom and was unknown and got small prices for her work and now she sell her work for big prices, you have to pay your dues, it is like an apprenticeship.

It is not only about talent and creativity it is also about longevity, will you still be painting in 10 years time or will you have given up?

So in the beginning it is about building a career, not your prices.

You need to do all you can to get the attention of strangers and get your paintings onto strangers walls because strangers are the ones who will build your career and make you famous.

You must get there attention by being in every show you can be in, enter competitions, enter group shows, get your Art up on social media especially in Artists Groups.

On top of that you will have educate yourself in running a small business, learning to sell and market your Art and learn to talk to strangers and improve yourself.

Then every day you will still need to produce wonderful, original Art.

If it was easy, then everyone would be successful.