1. Reevaluate the artwork

Evaluating unsold artwork is a crucial step for artists to understand why their work may not be getting the recognition they desire. Therefore, it’s important to take a closer look and identify potential drawbacks or improvement areas. And being completely honest about the strengths and weaknesses of your artwork is essential.

To best evaluate unsold artwork, try to view it from a buyer’s perspective:

• Would you buy this artwork?
• Would you pay the price you’re putting it as?
• Does the artwork convey a message or elicit an emotional response?
• Does the artwork have a unique or distinctive quality that sets it apart from similar works?

Understanding your artwork can help you make informed decisions about what changes to make. This process may be challenging, but it can ultimately help you improve your craft and make your artwork more marketable. So, don’t be afraid to take a step back and reevaluate your work – it could lead to great opportunities.

2. Offer the artwork to other venues

If your artwork isn’t selling, don’t get discouraged. Sometimes the first try doesn’t work, and that’s okay. Diversifying the places where you offer your artwork for sale can increase the chances of finding buyers and provide you with more things to do with unsold artwork. Consider reaching out to different venues such as galleries, art fairs, or online marketplaces to showcase your unsold artwork. Before approaching these venues, it’s essential to do your research and find the ones that fit your style and target audience.

When presenting your artwork to potential buyers, create an attractive portfolio or display that showcases your work in the best possible light. By presenting your artwork professionally and targeting the right venues, you can increase your chances of finding buyers and selling your unsold pieces. Remember, every artist faces challenges in selling their artwork, but with persistence and creativity, you can find new opportunities to share your art with the world.

3. Repackage the artwork

Repackaging unsold artwork can be an excellent way to give your artwork a fresh perspective and potentially make it more appealing to buyers. Repackaging can be as simple as changing the framing or display method or as complex as creating a completely new artwork by combining multiple pieces. Another option is for you to consider grouping similar pieces together or offer them as part of a limited-edition series.

To market repackaged artwork, consider using social media to showcase the new presentation and generate buzz. Creating a newsletter or email campaign can also be an effective way to reach potential buyers and showcase your repackaged artwork. Alternatively, consider hiring an art agent who can help you repackage and market your unsold artwork effectively. With a little creativity and strategic thinking, repackaging unsold artwork can be a great way to breathe new life into your work and increase your chances of making a sale. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things – you never know what might work until you give it a try!

4. Store it for the future

Sometimes, artwork doesn’t sell because it’s ahead of its time or just not the right fit for the current market. It’s okay and storing it away for the future can be a smart move.

However, it’s important to store your unsold artwork properly. This way, you’ll ensure they remain in good condition and are ready for future opportunities. After all, imagine the frustration of removing your unsold artwork from storage to sell it, only to discover that it was damaged due to improper storage. Therefore, some simple steps to avoid many issues are using acid-free materials and avoiding direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. It’s also a good idea to keep an inventory of stored artwork and label each piece to make it easy to find in the future. If storage space is limited, consider renting a storage unit to keep the artwork safe and secure. By storing unsold artwork properly, artists can ensure their work is ready for future exhibitions or opportunities.

5. Donate the artwork

By donating artwork to a non-profit organization or charity, artists can support a cause they believe in while also generating goodwill and potential recognition. When donating artwork, it’s essential to choose the right organization that aligns with your values and mission. Research potential organizations and their goals to ensure that your artwork will be used in a way that you are comfortable with.

Some organizations that accept artwork donations include:

• Hospitals and medical facilities
• Schools and educational programs
• Museums and art institutions
• Charity auctions and events

Donating unsold artwork is a great way to give your art a home and support a worthy cause. Plus, it’s one of the many things to do with unsold artwork that can help artists positively impact their community.

6. Repurpose the materials

Sometimes, despite an artist’s best efforts, certain pieces of artwork simply don’t sell. In these cases, repurposing the materials used in the artwork can be a way to breathe new life into the pieces and make something new and valuable. Furthermore, it helps reduce waste. However, it’s important to note that this should only be considered as a final resort if the artist truly believes the piece is no longer of value. To safely repurpose the materials, artists can carefully deconstruct the piece and reuse the materials in a new project. For example, the canvas from an unsold painting could be a base for a new piece.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many things to do with unsold artwork. From repackaging artwork to repurposing the materials, artists have a variety of strategies to explore. It’s important to try different approaches and not give up on your artwork. Remember that unsold artwork doesn’t mean failure; there are always new opportunities to showcase your work. So keep creating, keep pushing boundaries, and keep believing in your artistic vision.

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Author bio:

Meet Samantha Davis; a teacher turned blogger. She is an avid traveler and writer who currently works as a consultant for Beltway Movers. Her love of travel has taken her to various art galleries and exhibitions around the world, inspiring her passion for art. She now writes about it any chance she gets. Through her writing, Samantha hopes to share her love of art with others and inspire them to explore its beauty and creativity.

The post 6 Things To Do With Unsold Artwork appeared first on Art Business News.

The traditional way of selling art through brick-and-mortar gallery works. But if you find yourself creating marketing materials, building websites, packing boxes, and accounting for your sales when you’d rather be painting, sculpting, or blowing glass, then it’s time to consider selling to the trade.

Also known as wholesaling, selling to the trade is commonplace in the commercial marketplace, and it’s been around for decades among fine artists who see it as a means of expanding their reach and collector base. And in today’s marketplace, it can provide income via multiple distribution channels. 

Instead of relying on their own sales and gallery consignments, successful artists have entered the world of wholesale and are building a distribution network of publishers, gallerists, dealers, consultants, decorators, and designers who provide a professional skill set in dealing with the art world, from marketing and selling to packing and shipping. And today, online marketplaces have become another means of expanding your distribution.

The more places your art is on display, the better chances it has of it selling. So let’s look at four types of art industry trade distribution and what they typically charge for services.  

PUBLISHERS

An art publisher is not unlike a book publisher. A book publisher (think Simon & Schuster) manages the careers of many writers, while an art publisher manages the careers of many artists. Not only does an art publisher provide operational, promotional, and financial guidance, but also, and perhaps most importantly, a publisher maintains a client list of galleries and retailers around the world in which to sell the art they “publish.”  

A typical art publisher needs to buy at a deep discount so they can sell the art wholesale to a retailer (i.e., a gallery owner). For instance, if the retail price of a piece is $5,000, the retailer will expect a discount of 50/10, which means the publisher usually asks for a discount of 50/50/20: $5,000 less 50 percent is $2,500 less 50 percent is $1,250 less 20 percent is $1,000. 

This is a wonderful relationship for artists who can paint quickly. Let’s say you can paint 100 pieces annually. How many can you sell on your own? Not many. However, the publisher’s distribution network of dealers, galleries, and trade professionals does the selling for you, leaving you with more time to paint.  

GALLERISTS AND DEALERS

Otherwise known as gallery owners or art dealers, they account for 51 percent of art sold annually. Gallerists and dealers are the business side of the industry, acting as the retailer, curator, accountant, marketer, and sales team all in one. 

“It’s not an easy business,” says Eric Smith, president, and CEO of Redwood Art Group. “When you’re dealing with a gallery owner, I encourage you to work with them, create a long-term relationship. They are your partner, and you never bite the hand that feeds you.” 

Gallery expenses include rent, power, sales commission, advertising, marketing, events, and more, so a typical gallery needs to buy or consign the work at 50/10 to 50/20. On a $3,500 piece, this translates to $3,500 less 50 percent is $1,750 less 10 percent is $1,575, less 20 percent is $1,400.

Also remember, when you work with a gallery, your distribution is almost always limited to the area they occupy in order to protect your relationship. Even if the gallery is in Los Angeles or New York, you’re still relying on foot traffic — so be patient.  

DESIGNERS AND DECORATORS

Interior designers and decorators can be a significant source of distribution for some artists, and they often don’t take as large a piece of the pie. That’s because designers and decorators are not guiding or assisting you; they are simply selling directly to their client — the collector. You have to be out there in order to connect with the designer or decorator, so you’ll still have to capture the image of the piece, post it on your website, and provide the marketing. 

Typically, a designer works on a 25 to 30 percent margin. For instance, if the sale price of a painting is $4,000, you’ll receive anywhere from $2,800 to $3,000 for the piece. Then they resell it to their client for the full price or maybe slightly more.

ONLINE PLATFORMS

Selling online has become a mainstay for many artists, whether on their own website or in affiliation with one of the many online platforms. Of course, selling directly from your website or your own social media platforms gives the potential of interacting directly with buyers, creating a relationship much like you would do at an art fair or gallery opening.

Having your own site gives you complete control over presentation and sales, but the challenge is having a well-designed website that’s easy for search engines to rank. Merely uploading your work on your website won’t get you noticed. You’ll need to have an aggressive marketing plan of blogging, emailing, and social media to engage followers and potential buyers.

You might choose to partner with a platform like SaatchiArt, DeviantArt, or Redwood Art Marketplace. Each of these platforms markets aggressively and manages the sales process entirely. You can expect them to take between 35 to 40 percent of the sale. If your work sells for $2,500, you’ll receive between $1,500 and $1,625 for it. 

PATIENCE PAYS OFF

We like the way this quote from Cory Huff, CEO and Founder of The Abundant Artist, sums it all up: “The final decision on what to do and how to do it comes down to you as the artist. It’s your work and your life. Artists remake new markets and forge ahead into areas that others can’t see. That’s what makes artists unique and interesting. As with any business strategy, the best strategy to selling art is the one you can maintain. Be patient. Take some time and plan out your strategy. And, most importantly, give yourself room to have fun and experiment.”

LEARN MORE

You can learn more about selling art in the art industry’s wholesale marketplace at the Topics & Trends Educational Series seminars at Artexpo New York, running November 18-21, 2021, at Pier 90 in Manhattan.

For more information on Redwood Art Group’s fairs and how Redwood can help you develop your career and grow your business, visit https://redwoodartgroup.com/.

About the author:

Linda Mariano is the Editor-in-Chief for Art Business News and Managing Director of Marketing for Redwood Art Group. With a career that spans 30 years, Mariano is a leader in marketing, brand management, e-commerce, and promotion initiatives for major retailers, specialty retail, art industry, licensing partnerships, media, and entertainment, as well as entrepreneurial business environments. For Redwood Art Group, Linda oversees the marketing and brand extension efforts of the company.

All photos courtesy of Redwood Art Group.

The post What it Means to Sell to the Trade appeared first on Art Business News.

Although there is no clear roadmap on how to move forward, the team at Huntington T. Block has seen a few trends among galleries, art dealers, collectors, artists, art fairs, and more that are smart to have on your radar.

The Evolving Gallery Scene

The prolonged closure of galleries across the country has forced art galleries and dealers to develop strategies for different ways to stay relevant, promote artists and run their business. For example: 

• Online viewing rooms – Many art dealers have embraced digital technologies to stay connected with key cliental and artists during the pandemic. Although a majority of galleries already had established virtual platforms in place, online viewing rooms are being relied on even more now as an effective way to showcase artwork and engage collectors—whether it’s a major art fair like Art Basel Hong Kong or a small to mid-size gallery. In fact, viewing sites have almost become the norm as a replacement for art fairs that could not proceed. Obviously, these digital platforms do not allow potential buyers to experience art physically, but many collectors feel comfortable buying their works through reputable galleries from familiar artists.

• Financial support – Many small businesses in the art industry may potentially qualify for financial assistance through the federal government. The rapid and evolving changes around what help is available can be intimidating and overwhelming. Art dealers should feel empowered to seek out guidance from financial professionals to navigate any confusion or uncertainty about how to access, benefit, or qualify for government sponsored loans and grants or assistance.

• Employee relations – Art museums and galleries around the world have been faced with tough decisions—layoffs and furloughs—in response to the financial fallout. For example, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, recently furloughed about 300 staff members, more than 40 percent of its workforce. If possible, galleries should consider hiring freezes and salary cuts to help retain workers. The altruistic goal here being to help ensure that staff can weather this crisis as-best-as possible so, when the time comes, they may return to work on their feet.

Reactionary Selling

As the state of the economy worsens, art collectors may feel that it’s wise to sell their pieces. Financial professionals typically caution against reactionary selling during a financial crisis. My team and I, just like all fine art lovers, have a strong passion for art and fear the dangers of any type of commoditization. Fine art insurance aims to protect rare and historic objects to help guarantee their survival, in good condition, from one generation to the next—and over many centuries in some cases. 

However, the general consensus among art dealers and art advisors, from my perspective, is that there is no mass desire to sell artwork at this time. Most collectors take a more conservative approach to the sale of artwork, which requires time and skill in order to optimize value for both the buyer and seller.  Additionally, the high-end collector segment of the marketplace is somewhat insulated from immediate effect of the economic downturn.

Auction Market

Several of the recently concluded auctions, particularly last fall, resulted in lower than expected sale totals. The sales were lower not due to a decrease in unit price per se. Rather, the decrease was tied to a lack of supply of high-quality pieces available for sale. It’s too soon to speculate what the art market conditions will be in one month, one quarter, or even one year from now, and beyond. However, it can be assumed that any current reactionary selling will not have a substantial impact on overall pricing in the future.

The current challenge with buying art is not financial, but rather logistical. As lockdowns continue, physical inspections of artwork and movement of pieces cannot occur—a critical aspect of the sale process. For the time being, many collectors are developing “wish lists” in the hope of investing in the artwork of established artists—this could be the result of the recognition of artwork as an asset class and confidence in the value of good artwork.

Managing estimates at auction will be the key to bringing in potential buyers. There are a lot of people who still have a lot of money. If there is good work available, I can see where the auction houses may work to appeal to the collectors’ desire for good value and be able to build interest and sales.

Looking Ahead

Overall, we must remember during these delicate times that this is not the first downturn in the economy that the art world will have lived through. Galleries, art dealers, collectors, artists, art fairs, and the industry as a whole need to support one another as we navigate these challenges.

The post Art Market Trends in Response to COVID-19 appeared first on Art Business News.

However, to successfully advertise your art on a website, blog, or social media page, it’s essential to craft innovative descriptions for every piece, making it inviting for visitors to purchase your creations. When trying to sell your art, the more information you provide to potential clients about a particular piece, the easier it is to convince them to make a purchase.

In this article, we’ll be sharing some surefire pointers on how to write fascinating art descriptions for your artwork that will boost sales.

Define the Inspiration behind Your Art

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to selling that picture, it may require more than a couple of words to convey your message to the buyer. How you describe the muse behind your art can elevate the appeal of your designs. There are no set guidelines for product descriptions, but a general rule of thumb is that it needs to be alluring.

Begin with describing the source of your inspiration, be it a historic event, a person, a unique experience, or just something that appealed to you. Don’t just reference being inspired by an event, explain how that experience influenced your design, from shadow play and lighting to your chosen color palette. Describe how it impacted your perception of pigments and color as an artist and influenced the tiny details that are significant to the artwork as a whole.

You can explain why you choose a specific texture or the particular aesthetic you were aiming for and how the color palette helped you achieve the finished product. Let the words flow, and you can make adjustments to the final draft when you’ve arrived on the desired emotion you’re aiming to convey.

Include the Bare Facts

Once you’ve covered the inspirational aspect of your artwork description, it’s time to focus on more factual details. For this, place yourself in your customer’s shoes and consider the kind of information you’d wish to acquire before finalizing a purchase. This would include most of the physical details, such as:

• The accurate dimensions of the piece
• Materials used in creating the artwork
• The kind of procedure involved
• Explain the delivery process/method

The good news is, you can follow this formula for all the art listings that go on your website or blog with minor tweaks depending on the piece of art. Consider every possible detail that the customer would like to know and explain it in a clear description, so there is no ambiguity or confusion.

Finally, create a Call to Action (CTA) to motivate the desired response from your potential clients; at the end of the description, encourage them to directly reach out to you for any further questions or queries.

Use the Right Keyword (But Don’t Go Overboard)

Before you begin to draft the perfect description for your art piece, it’s recommended to pick the most suitable keywords or phrases that customers may use to search for art like yours. People often choose to skip this approach, but search engine marketing is possibly one of the most cost-effective marketing methods today. This requires you to do some keyword research, so you know the right terms to include in your description before the piece goes up for sale.

Once you’ve selected the appropriate key phrases, you can scatter them throughout your product description, as long as the text makes sense. The ideal frequency would be 2 to 3 times maximum. Exceeding that limit would classify as keyword-stuffing and can blatantly risk your Google rankings, as well as turn away any potential clients.

When optimizing your art descriptions, you can also seek the expertise of a digital marketing agency or a marketing expert. Their experience and knowledge of the industry might save you from errors in boosting SEO; they will elevate your art description technically so that maximum potential clients view your work.

Add an Inviting But Searchable Product Title to Your Creation

The right keyword is not only incorporated in the body of the description but the title of your art piece as well. When considering a title for your artwork, it’s important to include a keyword that relates to the context of your art. You want the title to describe the finished product and for viewers to be able to understand the image through the title. This is especially important when selling your art online since most art collectors or buyers search for pieces using specific keywords. Therefore, if your title does not consist of the relative keyword, it could affect your chances of being found online. The search engine algorithm will naturally skip your artwork if it lacks the appropriate keyword, and your piece will not show up in the search results.

Your descriptions may fall on the wordier side, but that’s okay. You may address the different aspects of your artwork and the creative process as eloquently as you wish. Just remember, you want your story to succeed in capturing the viewer’s attention and prompt them to seal the deal. With beautifully written descriptions, your sales will never have to suffer again. Play around with words and be sure to express your journey as an artist in a way that resonates with collectors and helps them emotionally connect with your artwork. 

In a Nutshell

In the end, it’s essential to be equally creative with your words as you are with your art. When you’ve got a compelling story to tell within your description, it’s guaranteed to grasp the attention of art enthusiasts and collectors. People look for something with feeling, and if you manage to effectively deliver a powerful message, there will always be a shower of praise on your doorstep. Keep creating compelling descriptions for your artwork, and you will never be out of commission again!

Author Bio: 
Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing and anything tech related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics. He occasionally writes blog articles for Dynamologic Solutions, a software house in Pakistan.    

The post How to Write Art Descriptions That Will Sell Your Art appeared first on Art Business News.

I’ve been told several times over my career that I’m not a good writer. And my photographs have been dismissed as well. Like most artists, I internalized those hurtful comments and even believed them. But I never let them stop me.

Well, at one point, I did give up my dreams and got a “real” job selling other people’s art. But I pulled late nights and early mornings to write the scripts, essays, and books that haunted my spirit and demanded to be given voice. I never stopped writing or taking pictures. I just couldn’t.

It took a long time to realize that “they,” my critics, were simply wrong. Everyone brings their own experiences, aesthetics, and stories with them when they look at art. Just because someone doesn’t like something, doesn’t mean it’s “bad.”

But more importantly, no one is born a brilliant artist. It takes time and dedication to a consistent practice to get to the good stuff, to develop your craft and find your voice.

A few years ago I was at a dinner party with the gorgeous artist Kiki Smith. Kiki’s had massive success in her career, the kind most of us only dream about. We were talking about our journeys as artists. A curator quipped in, “I studied fine art in college, but I realized I wasn’t a good enough painter to make it. So I became a curator instead.”

Kiki caught him, “No,” she said, “that’s not why you quit. You quit because you aren’t an artist. An artist wouldn’t have quit. An artist would keep making art because he couldn’t help himself.”

It’s that simple. It’s not about whether you’re good or bad, it’s not about how much money you can earn. It’s about owning who you are, giving voice to your ideas, doing the work, and not letting anyone stand in your way. What’s the difference between artists who succeed and artists who fail? Purpose and dedication. Never quit.

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