As an artist, one of the most difficult things is branding
yourself. You can't just put your art out there and hope for the best, you need
to think about the messaging, make sure you're targeting the right people, and
get your work in front of them. Here are 5 ways that professional abstract artist Charlie Steg has found to be extremely helpful when it comes to branding
yourself as an abstract artist.
Know Your Audience
The most important thing to know is who your audience is. If
you're not all that sure who your target audience is, Hoboken, New Jersey artist Charlie Steg recommends figuring out their age, gender, ethnicity,
income level, and other relevant information.
Understanding what they are looking for will help you better
craft your message in your art. A good example would be if you were an artist
creating abstract pieces of art to sell at a gallery exhibition. You would want
to know the demographics of the people who are likely to attend the event so
that you can tailor your message in a way that speaks to them.
Put the Work in Front of Them
One of the best ways to brand yourself is by putting your
work in front of people, so they can see it. There are many ways to do this.
One way is by finding opportunities to exhibit your work, like submitting to
juried art shows, reaching out to galleries or museums, or even just displaying
your work at local fairs. You can also set up an online gallery like Charlie Steg on Pictorem.
Another great way to get the word out about your art is
through social media. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are wonderful for
sharing photos of your artwork with people who may not know you yet. The goal
is for them to follow you on social media, come visit your website, and contact
you about purchasing a piece of art or commissioning a new one.
If you want people to buy something off your website but
don't have any sales yet, it's good practice to include a "buy"
button on all of your pages that link back to where the purchase would take
place.
It's important not only that other artists see what you're
doing but that potential collectors do too. Make sure that when you're
submitting artwork for juried exhibitions, jurors are able to find it via
submitted portfolios online too so they can collect it if they want it for
their collections.
Lastly, Charlie Steg advises to consider joining artist
organizations in order to get networking opportunities with other artists and
stay current on industry events and happenings.
Consider Pricing and Sales
When you're starting out, it's best to be realistic with
your pricing. Your prices can help people understand how much time and skill
went into the piece, but if your work is selling for $10 when there are people
selling their art for $5 or even $2, it's hard to compete. Pricing yourself too
high is also a mistake because then you'll never get any sales.
It's important to be mindful of how you're pricing your work
in relation to others in your field. If you're having trouble with this, do
some research on similar artists in the field and see what their prices are
like. You might want to lower your prices if they're higher than everyone else!
Get Creative with Your Marketing
If you want to be taken seriously as an artist, you need to
get creative with your marketing. The easiest way to attract the right people
is to use social media. Posting on multiple platforms often increases
engagement and will help spread the word about your work.
You can also use a blog or website as a place to share not
just your artwork but also your thoughts and feelings about being an artist. By
getting into detail about what it's like to be a struggling artist, you're more
likely to connect with people who are going through the same thing. It'll be
easier for them to relate and find meaning in your work. You can also use
Reddit or other online communities where people share content related-to art so
that you have a chance of reaching out to new people who might appreciate what
you have to offer.
It's also important not only post your artwork but post
images of yourself too. This allows potential buyers or collectors who are
interested in artists' stories, have questions about how they create their
work, or are simply curious about the person behind the work get a better idea
of who you are and what inspires you. It might seem weird at first, but it's
actually really helpful because it establishes trust with potential clients
while still giving them access to the type of work they're interested in
seeing.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve mastered the art of branding yourself as an
abstract artist, it’s time to get creative with your marketing!
Get your work seen and sell more of your pieces by hosting a
pop-up show, collaborating with other artists, and getting involved with the
arts community.
The most important thing you should do as an artist is to
keep experimenting. When you find something that sticks, you’ll know it.
