Look Around You For the Most Applicable Advice
Debra Keirce
The following article was written by Debra Keirce, a regular contributing author to The BoldBrush Letter.
Look Around You For the Most Applicable Advice
When first starting my art career, I often had a lot of low priced work that was piling up in my studio. I didn’t have a collector base yet. My first instinct was to go to established artists and ask what I should do to sell more art.
It’s natural to seek advice from the successful professionals you admire. However, their recommendations might not always be practical for you. Seasoned artists often suggest applying to top galleries or entering prestigious shows, which may not be achievable without years of experience and skill development.
Instead, consider observing and collaborating with peers at your own skill level and price point. Their successes and experiments can provide valuable insights and practical advice relevant to your current stage.
Here’s an example. In theory, one day we would all love to sell a piece of artwork for six figures, right? Honestly, I will be happy if my prices stay right where they are, below $10,000. Does that mean my advice is worth less than the advice of an artist featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City? Maybe. But I would argue that for many artists where they are in this moment, the experiences I share will be much more useful.
Another consideration when following advice, is balancing time and resources. Artists adopt different strategies, from focusing on skill improvement to actively pursuing marketing opportunities. I have seen both approaches lead to similar outcomes after decades of dedication. Look at the people around you. Are they focusing more on technical or sales skills? How is that working for them? How long have they been working their strategies?
There is a whole industry for social media advice. Most is not geared to the unique situations of creators. Success in the art world is unpredictable and varies for each artist. Some thrive without social media presence, while others struggle despite extensive online and print exposure. In my experience, it’s most beneficial to seek advice from peers who are sharing your social media posts. Their wins and challenges will be more relatable and supportive. Share and tag each other. You will all benefit.
Ultimately, while learning from established artists and even historical figures is inspiring, the most practical and effective advice for modern day marketing often comes from those navigating the same path as you.
I’m talking about artists who are entering the same exhibitions you are, showing at the same galleries as you, teaching at similar venues, taking instruction from the same mentors as you. Also, some of the most useful advice is often about the things your peers tried that didn’t work out well for them.
All of this may sound counter intuitive at first. No matter how many amazing art experiences I have that come about because of my friends, it’s human nature to seek out the experts, dead or alive. Yet, no matter how many books I read about Leonardo da Vinci, I somehow haven’t managed to paint a Mona Lisa yet. I’ve fallen down a lot trying. Maybe there’s value in that too? Who in your circles can you observe and learn from today?
Debra Keirce
www.DebKArt.com
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I liked your advise. I belong to an art group that does shows to promote ourselves. It is help for to enjoy sharing our challenges and successes.
I like the idea of sharing posts of other artists.