The more people who know and follow your Art the easier it will be to sell your Art.
I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to always make stronger and stronger Art so that this small but growing audience would continue to stay engaged. I thought that the only way to keep people interested in what I was doing was to be always churning out better and better Art. Every couple of weeks I would send out an email with a new painting.
The only problem was that sometimes my work wasn’t better. Sometimes I felt stuck and actually made things that I didn’t want to show anyone. As a result I would put off promoting my work, which led to losing touch with people.
I tried to appear consistent and highly creative but in actual fact I wasn’t. I needed chunks of time away from my studio. I needed vacations from my art practice. I needed to talk to other artists. I needed to look at other artists’ work to get re inspired. Sometimes I just wanted to doodle in my sketchbook with no particular plan at all. Sometimes I didn’t even feel like making Art and instead wanted to just go on a hike.
All this inconsistency used to bother me. I didn’t want to give the appearance to my audience that I wasn’t a serious, productive artist. It was a real problem for me and I grew tired of trying to appear different than I actually was.
[Tweet “”Making art is your bid for connection with the outside world.” – Nicholas Wilton”]
And then I discovered something about my audience (and I am pretty certain yours too) that changed everything for me. It changed how I related to them. It made it much easier to remain motivated in promoting my work. It also prompted those who found out about my work to share it more, which has lead to a bigger and bigger audience for my work.
What I discovered about my audience was quite surprising. I found out that most people who are interested in my art are equally interested in the process of how my Art is made. Not just the actual painting part, but all the time in between as well. People want to know what I saw on that hike that translated into a painting, they want to know what you are talking about with other artists, they want to know how you feel when you are on vacation and then what happens in the studio when you come home. They want to know how you find your way back to your art and what it feels like when you get there again.
All the things you do, feel and experience that end up re energizing your Art are great content for those who are interested in your Art.
People will love and follow your Art not just because of the Art, but also because of the unfolding story around the process you go through to make it. Making art is a bid for connection with the outside world. If the artist can share more of what goes into the personal process of making the art it allows people peering into your world to connect better with you. And this connection is vitally important if someone is going to spend, not just their time, but also their money on your Art.
Just like your best Art, making your best promotion has a lot to do with letting the world truly see you. Your audience wants to see the breakthroughs but they are especially interested in the time in between. It is ok to show the challenges, the timid attempts at something new or even the dismal failures. It makes you human. It makes you more like them and as a result they will more easily connect with you and as a result, your Art.
How do you connect and engage with your audience? Please share your thoughts and comments below.
In gratitude, Nicholas
14 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.
Thanks for this post! I’ve just now come to that conclusion. I cannot be “on” all the time. I feel like you’ve given me permission now:-).
Thanks for this post! I’ve just now come to that conclusion. I cannot be “on” all the time. I feel like you’ve given me permission now:-).
All I can say Nicholas is thank you for sharing YOU. I have been following you for some time and there have been several occasions where I want to stop following you because I have felt like I will never be as good as you or as creative or as “perfect” as you. So it is very interesting that you wrote this note about that very thing. Even though I am not a buyer because I too am an artist I can imagine that other people might have felt the same kind of thing. I really noticed a shift at some point when you started to show more of your process and actually admitted small failures, etc. I perked up again and felt interested again and a sort of kinship in the sharing of life’s up and downs, which at the end of the day are the same for everyone. Once again you nailed it my good sir…you nailed it. Warm regards. Mary Scrimgeour
All I can say Nicholas is thank you for sharing YOU. I have been following you for some time and there have been several occasions where I want to stop following you because I have felt like I will never be as good as you or as creative or as “perfect” as you. So it is very interesting that you wrote this note about that very thing. Even though I am not a buyer because I too am an artist I can imagine that other people might have felt the same kind of thing. I really noticed a shift at some point when you started to show more of your process and actually admitted small failures, etc. I perked up again and felt interested again and a sort of kinship in the sharing of life’s up and downs, which at the end of the day are the same for everyone. Once again you nailed it my good sir…you nailed it. Warm regards. Mary Scrimgeour
As an older and developing artist, I often feel that pull to be painting all the time in order to try to “catch up”. What you describe in your post is more often my experience and it’s difficult sometimes to let down a bit. But what I notice is that I need it in order to come back and make more art. And something else that you shared at the workshop I went to at Westerbeke about needing the mistakes in your art has been helping me to see the development process in my art making as well as the relationship that is built between me and the art. I am starting to see my need to go hiking and take photos, my desire to play in my art journal with no agenda or purpose, or my desire to just chill and watch a movie as all parts of my process that inform my development and my work. Thanks so much for all you share!
As an older and developing artist, I often feel that pull to be painting all the time in order to try to “catch up”. What you describe in your post is more often my experience and it’s difficult sometimes to let down a bit. But what I notice is that I need it in order to come back and make more art. And something else that you shared at the workshop I went to at Westerbeke about needing the mistakes in your art has been helping me to see the development process in my art making as well as the relationship that is built between me and the art. I am starting to see my need to go hiking and take photos, my desire to play in my art journal with no agenda or purpose, or my desire to just chill and watch a movie as all parts of my process that inform my development and my work. Thanks so much for all you share!
Nicholas, as always a timely and thoughtful post..thank you. I agree with you and find my customers want the bigger story, too. It’s very easy now with social media to share on a daily basis all that is going on in my life/work that informs my creative process. I post pictures of my current and past work at least once a day, but I also sprinkle in photographs of my studio…my process…my dog…my kids…snapshots of my daily life…my favorite flowers or bits of nature that inspire me, etc. This serves as a bridge to connect with folks on a level other than just marketing or sales. It’s a human connection and a way to express humor, frustration, wonder and simple humanity. Keep up the great work you do! Judy Augur
Nicholas, as always a timely and thoughtful post..thank you. I agree with you and find my customers want the bigger story, too. It’s very easy now with social media to share on a daily basis all that is going on in my life/work that informs my creative process. I post pictures of my current and past work at least once a day, but I also sprinkle in photographs of my studio…my process…my dog…my kids…snapshots of my daily life…my favorite flowers or bits of nature that inspire me, etc. This serves as a bridge to connect with folks on a level other than just marketing or sales. It’s a human connection and a way to express humor, frustration, wonder and simple humanity. Keep up the great work you do! Judy Augur
Marvelous post, Nicholas. I have been struggling with the very things you address — I don’t want to show the failures or dead ends or paintings in process. I do want to keep in touch with my collectors and friends who love my work, but it seems I’m always tongue-tied unless I have something really great to share. As Pamela says – I think you’ve given me permission be real and share the realities of the creative journey.
Marvelous post, Nicholas. I have been struggling with the very things you address — I don’t want to show the failures or dead ends or paintings in process. I do want to keep in touch with my collectors and friends who love my work, but it seems I’m always tongue-tied unless I have something really great to share. As Pamela says – I think you’ve given me permission be real and share the realities of the creative journey.
A wonderful post, and a subject that has been on my mind lately.
As an artist who also teaches, I love sharing my process. I have shared works in progress and even failures in the past, but to my disappointment I have sometimes regretted it. I think it was because I didn’t realise that people who do not paint, don’t necessarily know what to look for in a painting in process. Sometimes they share it as if it was finished – which I found embarrassing, or judge it as a poor painting. One friend scolded me for sharing wip saying that she didn’t want to see my unfinished work.
Perhaps it is different with realism and abstract painting, I don’t know.
On the other hand, I love seeing works in progress.
A wonderful post, and a subject that has been on my mind lately.
As an artist who also teaches, I love sharing my process. I have shared works in progress and even failures in the past, but to my disappointment I have sometimes regretted it. I think it was because I didn’t realise that people who do not paint, don’t necessarily know what to look for in a painting in process. Sometimes they share it as if it was finished – which I found embarrassing, or judge it as a poor painting. One friend scolded me for sharing wip saying that she didn’t want to see my unfinished work.
Perhaps it is different with realism and abstract painting, I don’t know.
On the other hand, I love seeing works in progress.
I really enjoyed this post because I used to do & still do the same exact thing. it is a work in progress to try & undue all the pressure i put on myself to perform & be productive.
I too used to think that if i wanted to promote myself i needed to be a ‘serious, productive artist’ who is locked away in the studio for hours on end painting until i’m too exhausted to see straight.
nothing could be further away from this way of thinking. it is indeed the time away that is important, helps me to gain perspective & insight. i keep reminding myself it is okay to take time away from making the art, take time away from trying in vain to create something out of nothing. now i am going through a major life change because i just had a baby & i don’t have the time to paint & this is okay too & when i am ready i will do it again.
thank you Nick for reminding me of this. it is so nice to read, & it is true i am most attracted to people & artists who do show a side of their humanity, their vulnerability, because it helps me feel i am not alone with my thoughts & feelings, and it is very attractive to see someone admit to the hardships & failures they have endured.
I really enjoyed this post because I used to do & still do the same exact thing. it is a work in progress to try & undue all the pressure i put on myself to perform & be productive.
I too used to think that if i wanted to promote myself i needed to be a ‘serious, productive artist’ who is locked away in the studio for hours on end painting until i’m too exhausted to see straight.
nothing could be further away from this way of thinking. it is indeed the time away that is important, helps me to gain perspective & insight. i keep reminding myself it is okay to take time away from making the art, take time away from trying in vain to create something out of nothing. now i am going through a major life change because i just had a baby & i don’t have the time to paint & this is okay too & when i am ready i will do it again.
thank you Nick for reminding me of this. it is so nice to read, & it is true i am most attracted to people & artists who do show a side of their humanity, their vulnerability, because it helps me feel i am not alone with my thoughts & feelings, and it is very attractive to see someone admit to the hardships & failures they have endured.