From Studio to Sales: A No-Nonsense Guide to Selling Your Art

So you’ve created some amazing art, and now you’re ready to turn those masterpieces into money-makers. First off, congratulations on taking this step! It’s a big deal, and yes, it’s totally normal if your stomach is doing backflips right now. Let’s break down how to get your art out there, both in your local community and in the vast wilderness of the internet.

Starting Local

Art Markets and Craft Fairs

Remember those local markets you walk past every weekend while getting your coffee? Time to be on the other side of the table! Start small with local craft fairs or art markets. Pro tip: Don’t just sit there looking at your phone – engage with people! Yes, even the ones who say “I could make that myself” (spoiler alert: they won’t).

Partner with Local Businesses

Coffee shops aren’t just for laptop-wielding writers anymore. Many local businesses love displaying local art, and some will even sell it for you. Make friends with café owners, florists, gift shops and independent stores. Bonus points if you become such a regular that they know your coffee order.

Network (Without Being Awkward)

Join local art groups and attend gallery openings. And no, you don’t need to wear a beret or speak in metaphors about the meaning of life. Just be yourself, talk about your art, and remember: other artists are your community, not your competition.

Taking Over the Internet (One Pixel at a Time)

Online Marketplaces

Etsy, and similar platforms are like the shopping centres of the art world. Yes, they’re crowded, but they also have built-in traffic. Start here to learn the basics of online selling without building everything from scratch.

Social Media Strategy

• Instagram: Where art goes to get noticed
• TikTok: Where art goes to go viral
• Facebook: Where your aunt will be your first customer (hey, a sale is a sale!)

Remember: You don’t need to be on every platform. Pick one or two and rock them instead of spreading yourself thin and having mental breakdowns over missing a post.

The Practical Stuff Nobody Talks About

Pricing Your Work

Don’t just close your eyes and point to a number. Calculate your materials + time + markup. And please, for the love of all things artistic, don’t undercharge because you feel guilty. Your art is worth more than a cup of coffee (even those frothy ones).

Quality Matters

When it comes to prints and merchandise, quality is non-negotiable. Work with a reputable print shop (hey, that’s us!) to ensure your art looks as good on cards and merchandise as it does in your studio. Nothing kills sales faster than fuzzy prints or merchandise that falls apart after one wash. This month we want to make it easy for you by creating an offer just for the creatives and artists out there: prints, a merchandise sample pack, business cards and leaflets all for £125 inc VAT.

Keep Track of Everything

Get yourself some basic business organisation tools. A shoebox full of receipts might be “artistic,” but it’s not going to help you during tax season.

Final Words of Wisdom

Remember: Building an art business is a marathon, not a sprint. Some days you’ll feel like a creative genius, and others you’ll wonder if your cat’s paw prints might sell better than your work. Both feelings are normal.

Start small, learn as you go, and don’t forget to actually make art along the way. After all, that’s what got you into this in the first place!

And hey, when you’re ready to turn your masterpieces into cards, prints, or merchandise that people will actually want to buy, we’re here to help make that happen. Because let’s face it – your art deserves better than being printed on your home printer that’s running out of ink.

Now go forth and sell that art! Your creative empire awaits.