7 Ways You Can Stand Out as a Painter

 

 

1- Being a Painter is Being Yourself

 

“Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken”  This quote by famous Englsih writer Oscar Wilde is today truer than ever.

Yes we never really create from nothing. We use materials. Brushes. Colors than we didn’t create. Yes you can paint “in the style of”. Yes you need to inspire yourself from someone.

But copying is never a good idea.

Don’t paint something you don’t like.

I would even go as far as saying do not paint a subject you a master of. Or at the very least that you are not very familiar with.

Do not spread yourself thin.

 

2- Do What Other Artists Don’t

 

If everybody is painting oil, paint acrylic. If every painter is depicting landscape, paint the sea! And have a good reason to do so. Call it a mission if you want. But people want to buy from people. And people have values. It needs to be communicated in your paint. Why are you obsessed with Zebra like Norma Bessieres and Victor Vasarely? People buy a why. Not a what.

 

3- Be Consistent

 

It’s great to have a masterpiece. But gallery will not expose you unless you have a collection of work. That can fill a gallery. And if you do well, they will expect you to do more. If you put all of your talent in one masterpiece. You will be out of ammunition by the time the gallery and your clients ask you for more. Be good. And consistent.

 

 

4- Value Yourself

 

What is your true value? According to the market. Your competition. The price in the area you are trying to sell. Is the market’s value adequate to the emotional value you have of your work?

At the end you have to be satisfied. Happy to sell your work.

But what you think you art is worth, is not necessary what the market thinks.

Do your research.

Also, if you are represented,  plan for the gallery markup. Some gallery take a commission. Some add a markup.

Discuss this with them.

 

5- Don’t Let Your Ego Let in the Way

 

A lot of artists have a huge ego. And that’s fine..it is part of being an artist.  They think it helps them getting out there. It could not be further from the truth.

When you sell art, it’s all about others.

 

6- Make Others Talk About you. Don’t Promote Yourself Directly

 

There is never anything more annoying than hearing an artist vanting his own talent. If you are successful, people wil flock to you. You will have what people call charisma. You will attract them.

Moreover, people who buy art tend to be intelligent, educated, experienced, and with a certain financial ease. They will see right through you.

Don’t play someone you are not.

Be humble. It might seem counterproductive, but in the long term people will want to be with you. Talk about you. And promote you.

 

7- Keep on Trying

 

So many artists stop after the first drawback. If you can’t find a gallery, keep on trying! Finding a mentor will help you a lot. We wrote about finding a gallery or an artist mentoring program. It could help you too.

Don’t get discouraged because you haven’t sold yet. You are not going to become Andy Warhol in one day.