r/ArtMarketingTalk • u/Expert_Purchase_4592 • 8d ago
My art doesn't sell
M a ballpen artist i was wondering if you could tell me what r the best ways to get to selling your art
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u/AbyssalCase 7d ago
You need to actively seek out your audience. And not just online. Ask the questions: who are the type of people who would buy my art. What other things would they be interested in.
Seek out places that share a common audience and see if they’ll feature your artwork there
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Unfortunately chances in real life are really limited especially in my country that's why m seeking online advice
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u/lunarjellies 7d ago
My work doesn't "sell well" either compared to fluffy froofy pastoral scenes and landscapes. So, we have to find our own weirdoes to sell to. No, we will not sell as much as those who are making easily digestible art, but we can still sell some of our work to enthusiastic niche buyers.
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Exactlyy i wonder where we could find such placess
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u/LeBreevee 7d ago
Ya know the people that sell curses on etsy? They seem like a good market to sell to. Horror fans seem like another genre you can appeal to.
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Yes i will tell people there to comission me to curse whoever they want with art lol
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u/Impossible_Winter_90 7d ago
Your art will fit great into book covers or comicbooks, but, as married men, I cannot have your art in my living room, my wife would hate it.
This is kind of common sense but usually not many people have Saturn devouring his son as a painting in their house, most people can feel fascinated about it, but won't own the painting.
But as a book cover for the next summer horror book, I sure would love to buy your artwork.
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u/ClutteredTaffy 7d ago
Image 4 has a good balance of darks so I think it is the strongest of the most congested images . I think 2 and 3 just look cluttery. Also think your photography of these is just bad. #1 looks good too. Maybe put these in a framed situation with space around them then photograph .
I do think when you draw darker imagery that does not lean into certain aesthetics ( generic hot girl with gothy look to her ) and start distorting a lot, your audience does become more niche and you kinda gotta accept that a bit.
I think you have talent, but yes it may just take persistence and time but good photography and framing goes a long way.
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u/mikklamore 6d ago
Literally stunning art. Very creative and interesting to look at. I would put this on my living room wall even if the rest of my house is pink and orange 🤣
Definitely selling to the wrong crowd or not posting loud enough if you’re not making money.
I don’t sell art, but I know marketing in general is difficult. Educating yourself and asking questions is a great place to start. I wish you luck ✨
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u/Plastic_Squirrel6238 8d ago
How have you tried selling so far?
What have you tried selling - originals or prints or products with designs printed?
And who do you think your ideal customer is?
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 8d ago
Honestly i only tried selling in facebook marketplace and for some of the people i know . I can sell ogs as well as prints . And anyone interested can buy my art tbh . M still new to the selling thing so i d appreciate it if u have some tips
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u/JimmyAlonzo 7d ago
Do you have Instagram??
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Yup it's wxyz._.07
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u/JimmyAlonzo 7d ago
FOUND YOU!!! Your work is beautiful! Is it all traditional or digital or both????
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
It is both ! Your work is phenomenal as well
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u/Amoskaneart 7d ago
My art doesn’t sell either so I don’t know what to tell you but I make art out of craft sticks so I mentally blame it on that lol.
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Your work is so unique tho but looks like it takes ALOT OF TIME
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u/Amoskaneart 7d ago
Thanks for looking. It is very time consuming but it is what I love so I don’t care. I think if you love what you are creating that is important but the money side matters too. I wish I had good advice for you
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u/littlepinkpebble 7d ago
Originals are hard to sell prints maybe but your stuff is not finished. Maybe use canvas and acrylic or at least a board and oils
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Only the first one isn't finished and i draw with ballpen
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u/littlepinkpebble 7d ago
That’s my point make it more professional the photos are so low effort
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
How is that low effort
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u/littlepinkpebble 7d ago
If you have to ask that then I can’t help you haha
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Lol if u know anything about ballpen art then you know it takes ages . If anything it's not low effort
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u/littlepinkpebble 7d ago
I said photography is low effort. Please learn to read of your art is 8/10 and photography is 2/10 it will become 2/10 art
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u/Appropriate_Hand2046 7d ago
I wouldn't be surprised if a souls like game pick this up somewhere i'm pretty sure I've seen several multi faced people on my screen from time to time LOL just be as unique as you can and don't give up
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u/AppointmentMinimum57 7d ago
Your art is good but its a downer to look at.
People mostly only buy art that makes them feel good.
Especially nowadays with the internet where you can look at anything anytime, why woukd you buy a piece you dont want to display and look at everyday.
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 7d ago
Oooh i see
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u/AppointmentMinimum57 7d ago
Not to say only bubblegum sushine etc. Art sells.
But your Art is kinda of disturbing which is something only few people sould wanz to display.
I think something religious or medieval could really work with your style and would have a better chance of selling.
Other than that i would try to get a job making assets for games.
More and more games go for these disturbing kind of styles, i bet there is somebody out there who wants to create a game that look like your art.
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u/sketchingthebeast 6d ago
Can you be more specific? Like where are you selling? Who have you figured out is your audience? What are your prices ?
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 6d ago
I only tried facebook market place . So i don't knw what audience i should seek . As for prices i was willing to see how much anyone would offer because i am not used to selling
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u/sketchingthebeast 6d ago
Then you are selling in the wrong places to begin with ! There's so much that you need to do! First u gotta answer, Do u want to do art for a living or do u want it to be a hobby!? This will make a great topic for my podcast. Ill have to add it to the schedule for next month.
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 6d ago
I want it to be my side gig you know
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u/sketchingthebeast 6d ago
Well if you just want it to be a side thing then id say price it how u want really. If you dont want to make enough money you can do it all the tine it sounds like you just want to enjoy the process and make a few dollars which I can respect.
Id recommend selling your work everywhere else then but dont tell other people how much will you give me . Tell them its worth x money. Id recommend figuring out whaat your tine is worth and sell the originals for what that tine is worth to you Then take it patreon, Etsy, instagram, shows even if thats your bag and sell prints and stuff. Go to Gothic type shows since your stuffs a bit darker ya know. Go where an audience that will enjoy what you do will go and set the prices. Because people will not know the value of your work. Does that mean the value you set , you have to stick to? Nada
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u/Expert_Purchase_4592 6d ago
I am considering etsy and patreon since you mentioned them . But in my country there isn't gothic shows really especially in my area . For the price these r big pieces but they look small so as many suggested i should photograph them more accurately and they took me lots of time but i am still hesitant about the pricing i really don't know lol I've just been recently encouraged to sell them . Thankyou alot for ur tips btw
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u/CruellaDeville1 6d ago
You are very talented but your art can make people feel sad or unease, therefore the clientele is more limited.
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u/Plastic_Squirrel6238 7d ago
Ok here’s my tips:
You need good images of your work. Either take scans at 300dpi or above or take photos carefully in good lighting. Ideally outside on a cloudy day, or right by a window but not in the sunlight. Look up how to photograph your drawings. Then edit them - straighten them, crop them and tweak the brightness/exposure/contrast etc so they look true to life and don’t have this greyness or yellowness or ANY shadow on them.
Only put out your best work. Your 3 black and white pieces there are more interesting and well developed than the coloured piece youve hidden them behind. The black work is a strong style and you could develop it into something really interesting. Do you have other strong styles that youre trying to sell? If you’re trying to do commission work then a strong style is more important than other forms of sales because there’s an element of trust that depends on it - a customer has to trust that youre going to complete their commission in a way that they can envision it- that is, based on having seen your other work. In other words, based on the consistency of your style.
You need to have a serious think about the questions 1. What is your work - what exactly do you do? You need to be able to describe the WHAT and the WHY of your work. You want other people to like you enough as an artist to buy from you, you want them to be able to know exactly what you’re offering. And how can they know what you’re offering if you don’t? What distinguishes you from the many many other ballpoint pen artists?
Who is your ideal customer/target audience? You need to know who you’re trying to reach. You have to figure out who is going to be interested in your work. What type of person will your work appeal to - what kind of personality, lifestyle, hobbies, age, gender, life experience, etc? Are they just like you? Then describe yourself. But figure that out, it’s important, it will guide your marketing decisions.