How does an artist do this? PinkstonePictures from Miami Beach, FL on February 21, 2013: These are great suggestions for art lovers. Artists' original prints (e.g. It's Always Better With You, Original art, painting sale, affordable painting. But, if those are the primary colors in your work, it may be slightly more difficult to find interested buyers. Portraits or studies, abstract or impressionistic, people will always enjoy looking at other people. But, in the age of the internet, its easier than ever to sell paintings. I am so luckyBut what to paint!? Treating that as a jumping-off point, the researchers Marshall Ma, Charles N. Noussair, and Luc Renneboog analyzed 5,500 abstract works that had sold at auction, according to the Blouin Art Sales index, and found that blue and red works sold for prices 10.6% higher. I have a site of my work on Facebook its called a one-time painting. You have a lot of talent and the ideas you promote are good ones for artists who want to know how to sell their works. It could just be advertising I just don't know. Some paintings I sold were of actual places, and others simply evoked memories of a place. I prefer to actually give my art away than to be in that situation. Still, a working artist may find it worthwhile to do a few commercial paintings to keep the wolf from the door. Museums and private collectors will be quite a small market for higher-priced artwork. I try to sell but do not get any bites. Best wishes. I haven't considered selling any of my art, but I found the lists fascinating. Thank you so much for researching and posting this article. I'm curious about that "Top 10" list - is this really the top 10? I have never seriously considered painting, though I loved art as a subject at school. These ideas are interesting, but do they really matter? Aspiring artists: Choose your hues accordingly. Unfortunately, art collectors dont seem to enjoy earth tones, muted colors, or grey scale works. Was it the Fighting Temeraire painting by any chance. Good question and I answered it for myself just last night as I viewed one of my favorite artists on Instagram. Of course, there is a collector base for artists who make black, white, brown, and gray paintings. This is a really interesting piece. Paint what inspires you! i live with an artist who does collage so it is not like I don't have any inspiration for it. For example, an artist in a heavily touristed area may find that they can easily sell paintings of local scenes. Volume is one aspect of any business which must be addressed. 80 x 80 cm. Luckily (I suppose) my favourite subject is landscape painting, which I love. Print on demand (POD) websites such as Zazzle are a useful tool here. Just because an artist has access to these platforms doesnt mean that theyre guaranteed to sell their work. Most importantly the quote which gives the meaning of being an artist in a nutshell "A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his mind is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist" St. Thomas Aquinas. Thank you for writing this lens artyfax. Local views, landmarks, events, or histories that are distinct and unique to a particular place sell well. Whether it's a seascape, cityscape, or moonscape; glacial, jungle, or mountaintop; intimate, aerial, or panoramic, a landscape is a natural, appealing choice for most art buyers. For instance, in the case of a painting, is it being marketed to the right person/people? I hope to be able to make a living doing something I love so this article has helped. Do I need to paint pieces to satisfy the need in the art business? Answer: Graphite (pencil ?) Then a friend gave me some paints snd an easel! But since smaller paintings are also generally priced lower, working on a smaller scale is not necessarily more lucrative in the end. I sell less in this way than on eBay, but the difference in achievable price makes the number of sales immaterial. I'm with Saatchi art and have a fb page and an Instagram pag, See my oil on painting for sale on my Instagram page #workingmen32, I found ths really helpful thank you for taking the time. What do you think? I found it to be a good review of my experiences in selling art as a previous owner of galleries, a publisher of limited editions and exhibitor in trade shows. I am not an artist but this article interested me because my daughter is a very talented artist. The yr before, sold 3 paintings. Perhaps I ought to try it? And I do love painting landscapes, as well as flowers and bouquets, however, I feel like in the USA the top of the list for the best selling subjects would still be abstract art, which is no surprise - the States are just so much about the new, modern, abstract, futuristic and so much less about being conservative. It does have a serious side and I have written about this in another lens. It has long been said that the use of the colour red helps sell a painting. Most people just dont have the space. Innovative and Contemporary Original New Medi Shells Rustic Coastal Painting with Acrylic on Canvas 50 x 50". Loved your note of expression: "paint what you want to and enjoy it". Want to learn more about color and design? That way, they can look at their pieces everyday and show them off to guests who come over. That way, if a collector is interested in one of your paintings but doesnt have a huge wall, then you have something smaller that might interest them. There is a frisson of connection when a viewer looks at a painting of another person. You have given me some ideas. Minimalist New Media Original Painting on Canvas Thank you so much for the wonderful information! I was in a local art fair this last weekend and sold just one painting. These days, the trend in dcor is towards the minimal and modern, so it makes sense that tastes in art would follow suit. These sales will help pay their bills whilst, on the side, they can paint in their own style and choose subjects that are more personal. As with any endeavour, success can depend on many factors. Art is about communicating with the viewer in order to inspire moods, thoughts, or feelings. But she's only 16, so maybe when SHE is paying the bills she will see it differently! Thanks for this, it's been really interesting. I listed some sculptures on both Etsy and eBay and thought Id get more traffic on Etsy because its artsy, but I got about 5 views on Etsy and about 70 views on eBay and the traffic came much more quickly. So, many artists paint seascapes because its easiest to find buyers for those works. Art buyers are attracted by the idea of a controlled supply. Local scenes definitely appeal to buyers, for personal, historic, and nostalgic reasons. Wonderful, thoughtful lens on what sells and why. thanks for sharing! Collectors who buy portraiture tend to have works commissioned. But sometimes, size doesn't count the most. This data was taken from a survey published in Art Business Today. If your favourite subject happens to be the most popular, you're sitting pretty. on November 02, 2013: Congrats on being awarded a Purple Star for this lens! This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Thanks for your interesting lens and thoughts on art, and sharing some of your work.
Not surprisingly, prints sell more than original paintings, as they are cheaper. What should I do? The study attempts to describe why those two colors are the most popular, while acknowledging that the psychological effect of color is complex. According to a number of experts, red is associated with being adventurous, aggressive, social, powerful, protective, brave, arousing, passionate, sexy, and exiting (sic). Blue is associated with dignity, conservatism, poise, and reserve but also with being relaxed, comfortable, soothing, and intellectual.. Diana Grant from United Kingdom on April 25, 2014: Very helpful information - I'm going to forward this to an art student. Also, portraiture may be hard to sell because not everyone wants a picture of an unknown person in their home. I did not have these particular requirements in mind when I painted it but that does not counter the reason for the sale. I must admit to being unsure what relevance this list has, except that it confirms the fact that limited-edition prints sell better than open-edition prints where more copies can always be produced. bernard leach picassomio scale What are the most popular themes and subjects of art that sells? Impressionistic landscapes also have a wide appeal. Great lens! But I find it very relaxing, you can try any of several creative techniques and you can produce very exciting art works. We must be clear about who is buying what. joycelinleahy@gmail.com on June 29, 2017: Wondered if there was a 'size' that sold better than others? A bright yellow truck is parked right beside the small building partnered
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A bouquet of delightful pink flowers burst from a green vase. I can personally attest that this was the reason for many of my sales. Are smaller paintings more sellable than larger ones? There isnt one particular subject that does best in the art market. So, whatever you decide to paint, someone out there will be interested in gazing upon it. Abstraction, however, tends to sell well everywhere. LOL! I remember my first abstract sale. kahlo frida paintings roots I create art both for the pleasure of it, and to sell it. Innovative and Contemporary Original New Media Abstract Black And White Work on Canvas Judith Brenner Chardonnay 90 x120cm Mixed Media on Watercolour Paper unframed 3000 As each of us forge ahead in this world, we should be mindful to help those around us. The list has many notable and surprising omissions. 40H x 60W inch, Innovative and Contemporary Original New Media Abstract Black And White Work on Canvas Last yrs Labor Day Show through my artleague, no sales. And the aspect of memory of places is very true. Hope someone out there will love it too. Incredible! Richiewest from Devon, United Kingdom. It is one of the best articles I have read about selling art. Whatever you are painting, do it as well as you can in the genre and style that you choose. Make works in a range of different sizes. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. I did join a group some years back to develop my portraiture and figure painting but it never really grabbed me, so I have stuck with landscapes. Abstract images usually look good in any home as long as the colors compliment each other. There are alot of things I am still a bit not sure about like pricing, or where my artwork will be seen the best. People love to look at a beautiful vista and in that sense, buying a landscape is like buying a spectacular view. Birthday Wishes from Here on April 02, 2013: Thank you for sharing this great information about art! Out of how many categories? Shabby Chic White Shells, Original Rustic Shells Coastal Painting with Acrylic on Canvas 
HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Many who have beach homes choose to decorate those walls with beachy art, and many buy seascapes to remember their vacations. I am wanting to start selling my art more and this is a wonderful resource, thanks! However, to many artists who would like to make a little cash, it is of considerable interest. Paint it for yourself and put your heart into the work. Thank you fir this article. THAnks for commenting. A study by CentER, a research institute at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, claims to have unlocked a secret that has been driving art dealers mad for centuries: What colors make paintings desirable? Dont stick to one size, either. For myself, those are the paintings I sold best. My daughter, Meltedrachel, here on Squidoo is a textiles artist. You've covered some very good information here. In this article, we'll explore the popular subjects and themes for art that sells, including sales in the world of fine art prints. Check out this article. Simply by doing this you will find that a better artwork will result. Thank you for interesting view. Right now i use pencils charcoal penvils , colored pemcils, matkers, watercolor bricks.
Like it or not, many people buy art to match their dcor. Laura Hofman from Naperville, IL on April 06, 2014: I've never painted, but you are inspiring me! Abstracts however are often bought for their colour to match with a room's dcor. As an artist, I like to know what sells. Diana Grant from United Kingdom on August 16, 2017: Very useful advice to retain for the future. The disposable income or budgets of the buyers will affect how they look at the prices and hence the commercial viability of a painting. Linda Jo Martin from Post Falls, Idaho, USA on February 08, 2013: Your broken fence mousepad is beautiful thanks for all the information on what types of art actually sell. I do love abstracts a lot, I just do not practice it that much, which I feel is about to change - whatever one may say, but unless you do not depend on your art for living, an artist should meet the demand and expectation of the potential clientele, shouldn't they?
The survey also researched what the best-selling media were. I once convinced her to print some of her work and I took it to a local craft fair and sold $400 worth, but money just does not motivate her. I would like to make a living at it but when I get too much into that, it creates anxiety and too much time and work - especially running my business. I have an aching for buying street vendor paintings like from Paris, and any country, with their little nooks of shop filled streets. Private buyers, commercial buyers, and interior decorators and designers will all have different requirements and views about the type of art they are looking for. Wildlife and other animals, on the other hand, are usually shown in larger, wilder settings, from afar and in profile. However, not all paintings are created equal. Have you tried illustrations for books? Art is communication. I will be referring back to this post for helpso thank you so much. Some savvy artists wait to gauge a painting's effect on the audience before they give it a price tag. Your article helped me more than I imagined!.
My only problem is that I don't know how to show my art to the world, like what should I do? That way, your paintings will fit comfortably on the wall of an average collectors home. I create a texture in my pastel paintings by building up the painting in layers so that early layers show through in the finished piece. I have tried to find a market for my paintings in the UK but not any success till today! Not only that, but most galleries now conduct a large percentage of their sales online or via mobile apps. Unless theyre the type of collector who donates work to museums, or they have an enormous house, they want work that fits on their walls. Some were made up from my own head, simply composed to create a great image, but they reminded the buyers of a place they knew. So the advice is still the same, paint what you want to and enjoy it. Looking to sell 2 dali prints.signed and # and 1 nieman signed #.where should i start? I appreciate the comments you shared too. I am just about to attempt selling my art online and this article has been really useful. Should this change, I ask myself? My own favourite genres are landscapes (mostly semi-abstract) and abstract paintings. John Dyhouse (author) from UK on February 14, 2014: John Dyhouse (author) from UK on February 05, 2014: I loved all of your art, but my favorite from this lens was the broken fence piece that was shown as a mouse pad. Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, c.1500, oil on walnut (framed), broke records when it sold for $450,312,500 at auction. All rights are reserved and they should not be copied or otherwise used without my express permission. Greetings! Question: I don't paint, I use graphite only. Thank you so much! taking up painting is on my bucket list. A home market, which tends to purchase low-priced and copies of originals, is the largest market for art. Thank you very much for sharing this article. Renee Dixon from Kentucky on February 01, 2014: A very good discussion of art and commerce - thank you. Great stuff. I recently sold this abstract landscape, which surprised me as our small and local exhibitions usually attract the more conservative art lovers. Just the information that I needed to read as I try and build a base of 'sellable' work. However, the gains of selling more smaller paintings might be equal to the gains of selling fewer larger paintings. I agree with many points. I think landscapes are a common theme and I wouldn't mind doing one myself. Her household scenes often have a sly cat somewhere, they are wonderful! Instagram, Twitter, etc, I still have to gain a lot of followers for a lot of people to see my work. I would say that you should create in whatever media suits you best. She has no marketing skills whatsoever or any desire to please anybody at all, and will barely show her art to anybody. A lower-priced and smaller painting might appeal more to an impulse buyer or someone who's a bit intimidated and hesitant to commit to a larger work. My experience at my art group's exhibtions is that most of our "clientele" tend to go for Landscapes, especially if the place depicted holds memories for them. african american church prints Susie Lehto from Minnesota on February 22, 2015: Dreamer at heart from Northern California on September 26, 2014: Thanks, Your article is full of great suggestions. Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions. Some artists who work on a smaller scale intentionally create paintings that are related thematically or stylistically to one another, since this encourages customers to buy more than one and arrange groups of paintings instead of stand-alones. I am surprised that your daughter is not excited by selling those prints, I certainly would be. Thanks for all of the fantastic information. I've been going to portait painting classes recently and have surprised myself by doing a few portraits where people actually recognize the subject of the painting. Many people think that landscape painting is the most quintessential kind of art. Thank you for publishing this lens with such a comprehensive list of valuable info. - 1" deep wooden support bars - Gallery Stretching & Wrap Very interesting lens! Commercial concerns use art to decorate offices and public areas. Abstracts and figures are both types of art that sell well. For example, why are dogs popular, but not cats or horses?
Good discussion. I love abstracts! Did he think it would make the painting more commercially successful or was it just a dramatic "finishing touch"? Consider this analysis: Maybe we should aim for the high-priced / collectors' market, but realistically it may prove more profitable to consider selling copies (maybe a limited edition) or trying to increase income from an artwork by publishing the art in various formats such as greeting cards. But it is common for people to be attracted to colorful pieces, with blue, yellow, green and orange being the most popular colors. Many commercially successful artists straddle the line by painting in a variety of sizes to appeal to a wider audience. As I said, you shouldn't only worry about selling: You should also paint what you are happy painting. Very well-done, and quite a bit to think about. I want to sell more paintings and my genre is favored by buyers. But maybe I can use some of this info here when she's ready to hear it! Nadine try eBay. One of a kind Mixed Medium on Canvas If an artist is to make enough money to live from their art, they must treat it like a business. I am an spiring artist who sells only a few works per year and always by commission. The scene must appeal to me emotionally first or it will never succeed. That's why they say" Art is in the eyes of the beholder". Thank you so much for taking the time to share this information! Also, since abstraction usually has a nonrepresentational or symbolic approach, the viewer is free to interpret and ascribe meaning, and this freedom is another reason why abstract paintings sell. Knowledge is a great thing! How are you doing? John Dyhouse (author) from UK on September 24, 2014: Thanks for the comment, Abstract does seem to sell well, especially as prints. Then since lock down, ive had the chance to have a play with acrylics and have painted 3 paintings arnt too bad :))love acrylics! Not a market I have any experience of myself though, but googling may help to find potential avenues to sales.
There are no rules that determine the value of a piece. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. thanks, a great info for artists,specially for a new one, Awesome thanks it helps with a lot good infor bru. I keep it simple and treasure those aesthetic highs where I can sit and create. Most serious artists would probably not prioritize the monetization of their art, thinking their efforts should primarily reveal the "truth" about themselves or their subjects. Once your name becomes known there is an oportunity to branch out and paint that which inspires you. I imagine that focusing on a popular breed of dog might be a very smart way of tapping into that canine's fan club. In general, since they cost more in materials and might take more time, most artists ask more for larger pieces. But nice to have a few facts to ponder. John Dyhouse (author) from UK on August 09, 2013: @SamanthaHaupt: Good luck and enjoy your new hobby. Not only that, but a landscape might work in any type of house or setting. This is a great lens for getting me rethinking my priorities. Already have a painting and trying to figure out how to sell it? All paintings featured in this article, unless stated otherwise, are by the author. Invest in original pai Coastal Blue Pink Abstract Acrylic Painting Canvas 42X68" The Song of Blue Water. That way, they are able to own paintings that depict their family or friends. But mostly I just paint birthday cards for nearest and dearest. The time, skill, and talent that goes into any painting should also play a part in its pricing. Not a lover of watercolours. I wish I had time to take up painting! The answer is as simple as it gets. However, certain art subjects do better in certain locations. In small seaside towns, for example, galleries have the easiest time selling pictures of the ocean. An original oil painting on canvas by Sophie Berger. It almost looks like they divided all possible subjects into 10 categories and ranked them. beach fl labels mr2 Most artists say that they sell more small paintings. I did a painting of 911 which was hugely liked and responded to emotionally, yet I didn't think it was my best technically.
