10 Tips to Promote Your Own Art and Design Work

Artists who are either self-employed or who are looking to build up a brand and sell their own work on the side need to understand some basic advertising and networking principles. One of the most effective ways to reach potential clients and build up your contacts list is to launch a personal website and maintain a presence on social media sites. Read below for 10 more tips that will help your art or design work get noticed.

1. Post your portfolio online: Set up a personal website and post your portfolio to show customers, gallery owners and others what you can do. Even if your work isn’t digital, you can take pictures and upload them onto the site.
2. OnArt Art Exchange: This website allows artists to create their own profiles, submit artwork and network with other artists. Categories of art currently on the site include mixed media, painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, fantasy art and digital art.
3. Design a unique business card: Anyone can have a business card, but an artist or designer should have one that adequately represents your talents. Even if you’re a sculptor or fashion designer, sketch an image and create a digital version to put on your card so that customers and contacts will be able to get a general idea of what you can do just by looking at your card.
4. Starving Artists Gallery: Starving Artists is another network for artists who want to show their artwork online, sell their work and meet valuable contacts.
5. Visit galleries and exhibits: The easiest way to meet other artists, art professionals and customers is to visit gallery openings and special art exhibits. Take along a business card to pass out if the moment’s right.
6. Catalog your art: This tip is especially important if you have a website. Take photographs of each of your pieces and upload them onto a CD to pass out or transfer onto your online portfolio.
7. Show at a local artist’s or culture fair: Most cities have artist’s fairs, local culture fairs and other events where local artists and designers can set up a booth to sell and show their work. Visit the event’s website or call the Chamber of Commerce to find out how you can get a spot.
8. Become an expert: Maintain a presence on forums or record an instructional video on painting or photography that you can post on YouTube. Provide links that track back to your online portfolio, and the more you donate quality, authoritative information and training to the online public, the more people will associate your name with good work and good business.
9. Offer your services for free: Offer to teach a youth acting class or seniors drawing class at a community center, and you’ll quickly make valuable contacts in your area who are willing to pay you back however they can in recommendations and referrals, a gig designing posters or other literature for their cause, and invitations to fundraisers that will introduce you to art patrons and clients.
10. DBSQ: This online art gallery and social site is great for artists who want to learn about shows, submit their work to online exhibits and more.