How to sell your art online: A comprehensive guide for artists
Do you want to turn your artistic passion into a source of income? Discover the best strategies to sell your paintings online and attract buyers from around the world!
1. Photographing paintings professionally (even with your phone!)
Keywords: Art photography, proper lighting for art, photo editing.
- Ideal settings:
- Lighting: Indirect daylight (avoid flash).
- Background: White or neutral gray.
- Shooting: From a 90-degree angle to avoid distortion.
- Free photo editing tools:
- Snapseed (to adjust colors).
- Canva (to add a simple frame).
Example*:
> "Poorly lit painting (left) vs. Same painting after editing (right)." [You can add an illustration].
2. Pricing your paintings: The Science Behind the Numbers
How to price paintings, the price of a painting, factors affecting the price.
- A simple equation:
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(material cost + hourly rate x number of hours worked) x 1.5 (for margins) = base price.
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- Additional factors:
- Your fame as an artist (the higher your exposure, the higher your price).
- The size of the painting (large paintings are more expensive).
Warning: Don't overprice - it devalues your art!
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3. Write a compelling description of your paintings
Keywords: Describing paintings, writing content for art, attracting buyers.
- Elements of a successful description:
- The story: What inspired you to create this painting?
- Techniques: Colors used, type of fabric, etc.
- Dimensions: Exact size (in inches or centimeters).
Example:
> "The 'Crimson Sunset' painting:
> - Painted in oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches.
> - Inspired by the sunset in the Empty Quarter desert.
> - The knife painting technique gave a holographic texture to the trees."
4. Promote your paintings on social media
Marketing art on Instagram, attracting buyers for paintings, art hashtags.
- The best platforms:
- Instagram: Use hashtags like # Art_Arabic and # Paintings_For_Sale. - Pinterest: Perfect for visual arts (categorize your paintings into organized "boards").
