How do you work with the pull between selling and ignoring the art market entirely?
This is an interesting question posed last week by one of my readers. I used to spend a great deal of time struggling with this issue. I know how supremely wonderful it feels to sell a piece of art you have made. Even if you are having the worst day, it can be made wonderful, instantly, by a sale. The problem arises because we like it so much and we want more. And we need more, especially if we are relying on sales to fund the making of our Art.
But that is where it gets trickier. Once the sale of a painting or sculpture is made, that particular piece somehow feels significantly stronger than the remaining unsold ones. The gallery might even lament its loss, exclaiming they could sell 5 more like it if they only had more.
But you only made one. In fact, when you created it you were not even that sure it was any good. Who knew it would be anointed with such grandeur? So you can easily set about to do more like this painting. However, while you are making the additional work it is hard not to compare and wonder if it is as strong as the piece that sold so effortlessly. That one painting that everyone seemed to love. The more you think about it, the more you realize how much you love it too. It seems the whole world loves this one painting and now you do too.
If only you could make more one or two more like it. Surely you can.
Well, I am sorry to say, from my experience, you can’t. And in trying, you end up wasting precious time and energy focused on something very, very different than making Art. You are now focused on the marketing of Art.
It is fine to pay attention to what sells and what doesn’t. It is just not helpful to be thinking about it while you are making your Art.
At first this seems counterintuitive. In most businesses that produce a product you thrive by paying attention to what your customers are buying. And when they buy you just make more. Lots and lots more.
[Tweet “”Your Art, if it can inspire you, will inspire others.” – Nicholas Wilton”]
But Fine Art is different. This doesn’t mean it is necessarily harder to sell your Art – in fact I believe that working without regard for the market actually produces stronger work, which to no surprise, sells. And it is easier, much easier to make Art when you are focused solely on what is happening right now in your studio, in the present, in front of you.
It is important and comforting to remember that you, the artist, is utterly in the drivers seat of your own creative process. The more you can safeguard spilling your mental energy on what might sell or might not, the better. Instead, focus on making your art practice about what feels aligned with you. What is so wonderful about this task is that you are already perfectly ready to take this on. Today.
Making your work more and more like you is also the most powerful business strategy for marketing your work. Thank Goodness.
There is only one you, one distinct creative journey you get to walk in your lifetime. If your Art can demonstrate this difference, your uniqueness, then the likelihood for people wanting to buy a small part of your courageous, utterly authentic journey is very high. Your Art, if it can inspire you, will inspire others and that is something that is, without even trying, very, very marketable indeed.
What do each of you focus on when making art? Do you think about what has sold previously, or is it more about the painting itself? Or is your experience something else entirely?
A special thanks to Sara (last name not listed) and all of those in our creative community who are commenting and contributing in response to the ArtLife Blog. It is a benefit to many. -nw
25 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
I have a constant dialog in my head, I try to get out of my head as much as possible, but it’s never far away. I do compare what I’m working on to other successful pieces and ask, will this sell? is it as good as the ones that have sold? Do I like it? I turn up the music and just keep working hopeful to get into an intuitive state where these questions aren’t guiding me. I think I’m getting better avoiding the negative dialog, and still allowing positive criticism to guide me to complete a painting. Your videos, posts and blogs are so helpful. Thank you.
Absolutely..the fact that you have awareness is a great place to start…the best work does come from totally unhinged thinking–I love that saying ” Dance like nobody is looking” That is what we need to do.
I have a constant dialog in my head, I try to get out of my head as much as possible, but it’s never far away. I do compare what I’m working on to other successful pieces and ask, will this sell? is it as good as the ones that have sold? Do I like it? I turn up the music and just keep working hopeful to get into an intuitive state where these questions aren’t guiding me. I think I’m getting better avoiding the negative dialog, and still allowing positive criticism to guide me to complete a painting. Your videos, posts and blogs are so helpful. Thank you.
Absolutely..the fact that you have awareness is a great place to start…the best work does come from totally unhinged thinking–I love that saying ” Dance like nobody is looking” That is what we need to do.
I’m finding your work so interesting–in a great way. Unable to look away from it. So different than my own but there are elements I’d love to play with. — I definitely use my previous works as a launching point for my next. I work in my sketchbooks designing loose compositions with my preferred subject matter making side notes. I try to work in series within these themes drifting between coastal, woodland, floral/gardens, and semi abstract figuratives. My galleries of which three are located in coastal areas prefer coastal works but now take my other themes as well. Early on I asked them what they wanted me to provide to them. Answer was whatever I was painting. No requirements. Looking back now I think I was asking for them to define me. And my work. But I finally realized that was my job. I was confusing being an illustrator with being a fine art painter. Lesson learned. Thanks for your thought-provoking posts.
Good point–I did illustration for many many years and it is super hard to transition. It is hard to put yourself soley in the drivers seat…it is all about what you want to make…then and only then do you need to bring others in to sell the work..
I’m finding your work so interesting–in a great way. Unable to look away from it. So different than my own but there are elements I’d love to play with. — I definitely use my previous works as a launching point for my next. I work in my sketchbooks designing loose compositions with my preferred subject matter making side notes. I try to work in series within these themes drifting between coastal, woodland, floral/gardens, and semi abstract figuratives. My galleries of which three are located in coastal areas prefer coastal works but now take my other themes as well. Early on I asked them what they wanted me to provide to them. Answer was whatever I was painting. No requirements. Looking back now I think I was asking for them to define me. And my work. But I finally realized that was my job. I was confusing being an illustrator with being a fine art painter. Lesson learned. Thanks for your thought-provoking posts.
Good point–I did illustration for many many years and it is super hard to transition. It is hard to put yourself soley in the drivers seat…it is all about what you want to make…then and only then do you need to bring others in to sell the work..
I can relate to this article in many ways, yes it is very amazing to sell your work, and get paid money & can be addicting, you want to sell because it feels so good & is validating.
I agree with Nicholas in that it is impossible to make art based on this thought process, in fact it will kill the joy in art making very quickly & bring on anxiety, depression, self doubt, fear, uncertainty, & most of all no joy in the process. This is not a fun way to work at all & can create a lot of angst. For me, the best thing to do is go back to the beginning, what excites me, what do I enjoy doing, I always go back to this basic rule of thumb & the rest follows suit. I think about what excites me, what gets me wanting to paint & what am I passionate about. Once i have established these questions, i do just that & I don’t think or worry about the outcome because that is out of my control anyways, and the more I try & control the outcome the more it will be frustrating, because i simply can not control it. This system has proven to work every time. Do what I want, and the rest will follow. Completely counter intuitive as Nicholas says, but works really well. It is like magic. Think positive, do not worry about the outcome, just do the work & the rest will follow on its own.
Amen. You say this so eloquently….nice to hear from you–I will get over to your studio soon once this show is over!
Great, looking forward to it! Good Luck with the show! I cant wait to see all the new work.
yes – go back to the beginning. And yes the outcome is out of my control. Lovely!
yep!
I can relate to this article in many ways, yes it is very amazing to sell your work, and get paid money & can be addicting, you want to sell because it feels so good & is validating.
I agree with Nicholas in that it is impossible to make art based on this thought process, in fact it will kill the joy in art making very quickly & bring on anxiety, depression, self doubt, fear, uncertainty, & most of all no joy in the process. This is not a fun way to work at all & can create a lot of angst. For me, the best thing to do is go back to the beginning, what excites me, what do I enjoy doing, I always go back to this basic rule of thumb & the rest follows suit. I think about what excites me, what gets me wanting to paint & what am I passionate about. Once i have established these questions, i do just that & I don’t think or worry about the outcome because that is out of my control anyways, and the more I try & control the outcome the more it will be frustrating, because i simply can not control it. This system has proven to work every time. Do what I want, and the rest will follow. Completely counter intuitive as Nicholas says, but works really well. It is like magic. Think positive, do not worry about the outcome, just do the work & the rest will follow on its own.
Amen. You say this so eloquently….nice to hear from you–I will get over to your studio soon once this show is over!
Great, looking forward to it! Good Luck with the show! I cant wait to see all the new work.
yes – go back to the beginning. And yes the outcome is out of my control. Lovely!
yep!
Thanks for your response, Nicholas. This is one of the best, most concise hit-the-nail-on-the-head arguments I’ve come across, and I’ve been pondering this issue for years. It also is helping me in a period where I’ve switched media and my work isn’t finding any resonance with anyone. So right now it is a purely solitary path. James Krenov, master cabinet maker, said something to the effect of- stop competing, stop trying to keep up with trends, in the end the work is about excellence, and the only competitor is yourself.
cheers, Sarah Zoutewelle
Thanks for your response, Nicholas. This is one of the best, most concise hit-the-nail-on-the-head arguments I’ve come across, and I’ve been pondering this issue for years. It also is helping me in a period where I’ve switched media and my work isn’t finding any resonance with anyone. So right now it is a purely solitary path. James Krenov, master cabinet maker, said something to the effect of- stop competing, stop trying to keep up with trends, in the end the work is about excellence, and the only competitor is yourself.
cheers, Sarah Zoutewelle
This is so timely for me Nicholas as I’m producing work for a show at the moment. BRILLIANT ADVICE. And so reassuring. Thank you.
This is so timely for me Nicholas as I’m producing work for a show at the moment. BRILLIANT ADVICE. And so reassuring. Thank you.
Timely advice for me. I have been pondering this question. I want more sales, but I have not been willing to sacrifice what I want to do, for the sake of marketing my art, and trying to guess what will sell next. My experience is that it is next to impossible to try to recreate that which came spontaneously in the initial creative surge. The flow of the art work becomes stiff and tight and is no fun for me and it doesn’t work. If you want more of the same make a print. Lots of people willing to buy those. Not into prints myself, but I know a few artists that are doing very well with prints of their original work. I have never been a fan of printing my work though. On the other hand it works for me if I stay within the style and colour choices of the “sold” piece of art….no two exactly the same. Go with the creative process, not what you think the next customer will by.
Timely advice for me. I have been pondering this question. I want more sales, but I have not been willing to sacrifice what I want to do, for the sake of marketing my art, and trying to guess what will sell next. My experience is that it is next to impossible to try to recreate that which came spontaneously in the initial creative surge. The flow of the art work becomes stiff and tight and is no fun for me and it doesn’t work. If you want more of the same make a print. Lots of people willing to buy those. Not into prints myself, but I know a few artists that are doing very well with prints of their original work. I have never been a fan of printing my work though. On the other hand it works for me if I stay within the style and colour choices of the “sold” piece of art….no two exactly the same. Go with the creative process, not what you think the next customer will by.
I am new at this but to me it is logical you do not want to just make copies of your previous artwork. That is not creative at all. You want to create something new that you are feeling today. Create what you feel then just find someone who feels it enough to buy it.