DIY: to sell or not to sell (your artwork)

JennaMartin, Petapixel

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At some point in your evolution as an artist, you reach a stage where it's time to decide whether to share your work with the world. Deciding whether to sell or not to sell can be a difficult decision. I know one fine artist who never made it past that one. Does it come from a fear of rejection, a fear of success, or loving your work so much you can't part with it? Here's an article from Art Business on how not to sell your art. Note that the site considers art a business.

If you decide to try selling, a host of other decisions crop up. Through a gallery? Online? For how much?

In my view galleries are a necessary evil for the professional artist. Unless you are very successful already, you become part of a stable of artists, so a sense of competition enters in. The gallery wants money to cover expenses, sometimes more than what it takes to cover expenses. But people often go to galleries with the express purpose of buying art. Here's a list from Art Bistro of articles about art gallery know-how (and alternate spaces for showing your work). Jenna Martin at Petapixels posted an informative article titled Selling Art in Galleries.

If you've decided to take you heart in your hands and offer work to a gallery, here are some pointers from About.com. If you decide to go the route of selling your work online, here's a list of ways to sell digitally.

So, you're standing in front of the gallery owner with a painting in your hand and s/he wants to know how much to charge. Here are two approaches to pricing your work: Maria Brophy and Amy Wilson at Art Bistro.

Juried competitions are a nice option. It may be a competition, but you end up with an idea of where you fit in the art spectrum. Of course, this depends on who's judging the show. There are a number of sites that offer information about upcoming competitions, such as Artshow, Café, and Artists' Register. Be sure to check with local artists for opportunities nearby as well.

If you decide to sign up for a distant competition, how to ship your artwork becomes something to solve. I'll be writing about this next time.

-- Marge