Start selling art online without feeling gross

Often I hear from artists that they don’t want to be pushy, they don’t want to bother people and they don’t want to sell. Even though they seriously would love to make a living from selling art. So let’s talk about how to start selling art without feeling bad about it.

REMEMBER THE VALUE YOU PROVIDE

It’s a fair trade. When you focus only on what they’re giving up (money) and not on what you’re giving up (valuable art) then it’ll feel bad. Remember it’s an even exchange.

If the other person didn’t think it was an even exchange, they wouldn’t buy it.

Your art is valuable. So focus on the value you provide. Focus on the part you’re giving more than what you’re getting in the trade.

And find the price range where people see it as an even exchange. Don’t assume people won’t like it, and don’t assume everyone will be obsessed with it. Find the true value by seeing what people are willing to pay for your art. List a few pieces at varying prices and see what works.

If you need to learn more about pricing, I wrote an article on that here.

As an artist you’re providing a valuable item that can be kept through generations. It can become an heirloom item. It can become someone’s favorite gift on their birthday. It can help someone feel seen in an emotion they didn’t know how to express in words. It can become the defining point in someone’s home, where they spend the majority of their free time here on earth. Making these spaces beautiful helps make life worth living.

And that’s a very valuable thing.

BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT

Having an art product that you feel proud of helps take a big chunk of the “is this good enough?” feeling away. But even if you’re not proud of it, it can still sell.

There have been a few times where my tapestries have gotten damaged in transport from one art show to the next. And these art pieces are time consuming to create, so I didn’t want to simply stash it away. I still wanted to find it a new home through selling.

Instead of abandoning it, I made all the flaws very clear.

Remember that selling anything should morally be an even exchange. That’s why it’s so important to take detailed photos or videos when selling art online, so potential customers can see exactly what they’re trading their money for. In person, these details are obvious if anyone cares enough to inspect it. Online, you should make sure to specifically photograph the flaws.

Point out any scratches, dents, or faults. This way, you can sell with a clear conscience knowing that they won’t be unpleasantly surprised when they receive the art. Make sure to point out key features, too, so they can get excited about them. Get into the details.

Maybe this strategy sounds like it would make you feel worse, but I promise it’s reassuring when you’re self-conscious about your art. People will still want your art, even when they know all the details.

Even with imperfections, your art is worth money. And someone will be willing to make a fair trade for it.

SELLING ART ONLINE ISN’T BOTHERING ANYONE

Exchanging money brings up a lot of gross feelings in artists at the beginning of their career, but before you even get to that point, it can be hard to even share it online.

But marketing is a big part of selling. And you’ve got to show your work if that’s your goal.

People can just scroll right past if they don’t want it. You probably scroll past 100 videos a day and don’t feel a burning irritation toward all of those people. Right? You just don’t care enough to watch for more than 2 seconds. That’s the worst-case scenario here. It’s not that bothersome.

I had someone leave this comment on a video I posted, and it brings up this exact concern.

Truthfully this person is simply afraid of rejection – a totally common fear – and it’s showing. But I post on social media about my artwork every single day and I’ve never gotten a comment about someone thinking I’m annoying or pushy or forcing them into buying. The fear is not a valid fear.

I made a response video here that might help you switch your mindset around posting on socials.

Their fear of getting returns is basically a fear of people not thinking their artwork is valuable (and then rejecting it). Their fear of being pushy or “pushing people to buy” is a fear of being judged or perceived as annoying (and socially being rejected for that). There’s also some resistance around new forms of marketing (because doing new things means you’re exiting “the pack” and may get ostracized for that).

Rejection is not something to be afraid of. It happens every day, but typically in very passive ways like people simply ignoring you. And as an artist who wants to sell artwork full time, you will get used to people not liking your art. But to find the people who love it, you’ve got to show it.

You should blow up the internet with photos of your art and yell from the rooftops that it’s for sale.

Besides, people love being sold to.

I sign up to newsletters specifically to hear about sales, deals, coupons, and new products from companies I love. I want to hear about what’s for sale.

I go to the store simply to look around even when I don’t need anything.

Everyone loves a little retail therapy! You can be that for someone. It’s a service, not a nuisance.

YOU’RE NOT A SCAMMER

You’re not asking for something and giving nothing. You’re not screwing people out of their money. You’re not asking them for a favor by making them look at it. Looking at your artwork is not a burden to others. It’s okay, you’re just selling art.

If you feel like you’re not providing value, that’s often a root of feeling gross in sales. When you KNOW you provide value you stop feeling bad for sharing offers.

Usually it’s not a problem with the art itself, but your confidence in it.

Here’s what a lack of confidence in your art’s value sounds like:

Which by the way, the photos attached to this email showed AMAZING work. Nothing to be ashamed of and definitely worth charging a pretty penny for!!

(Which goes to show even the best art doesn’t sell itself. You have to sell it.)

You only feel gross selling when you feel unworthy of the money. There’s a lot of mindset work to be done around self worth when you sell anything you created with your own mind.

There are a few questions you can ask to reassure yourself you’re on the right track.

So ask yourself: Am I doing my absolute best with my quality of art? With my quality of shipping materials and the timeframe I deliver? Am I doing everything I said I would? If the answer is yes, then you have nothing to worry about.

You don’t have to be perfectly talented and have everything figured out like a well-oiled machine before you can consider your art valuable either.

Be honest. Work as best as you can, as quickly as you can. Follow the golden rule (do unto others as you would have done unto you) and you’ll be golden.

Your art will get better quality over time with practice. Your shipping process will get easier after a few sales. Your customer communication skills will grow. And as that happens, you can start to charge a higher price.

The fact that you’re even worried about being perceived as a scammer and letting people down means you’ve got good intentions.

MAKE IT ABOUT THEM

You’re not selling art to brag, either.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, you might feel like you’re bragging. Like you’re rubbing it in that your art is SO GOOD you can make a living with it. You may feel like you’re getting on your high horse and saying, “look at me.”

I promise no one is reading it that way.

It’s not bragging when I talk about the Michigan Parks and Places Series, where I donate twenty percent of that revenue to state parks. It’s a good samaritan deed, but it’s not about me.

Customers are reminded that THEIR money is going to the DNR. I only donate when they buy. It’s them that do the donating, I’m simply the conduit.

Focus on what THEY’RE doing not what you’re doing.

How they’re impacting the cause. How their purchase helps. How their home will be transformed after hanging a new painting up. How their wardrobe will be elevated with a one-of-a-kind outfit from your latest release. How they will feel after buying.

Make it about them.

It is about them.

Once you realize that, your worries of not being worth it or bragging or looking stupid for selling art will go away.

PEOPLE JUDGE LESS THAN YOU THINK

In fact, people think about you a lot less than you would expect in general. Everyone is busy maintaining their own lives.

When I was in high school, we had a speech writing assignment. And we had to give the speech in front of the whole class. I was NOT comfortable with that. We performed the speeches in volunteer order, and I waited ’til at least half the class had gone first. Then I realized — I had spent the whole time sitting at my desk, memorizing my notes, sweating, stressing about my own speech — and hadn’t listened to a word anyone else said. It took the pressure off immediately. No one is scrutinizing your speech like you are. I got up on the podium with only a bit of nervousness. I got an A.

It’s the same with getting on social media and selling art. Just get up there and talk about it, and no one is even going to notice you unless the topic perks their interest.

Take the pressure off.

START SELLING ART ONLINE BY…

With all this in mind, here’s exactly what you’re going to do:

1. Take photos/videos of your art against a plain or neutral background. Basically make sure your art is the most interesting thing in the shot (besides for maybe you)
2. Post these photos and videos to multiple social accounts. If you have TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, post at least one on each platform.
3. Caption it with “I made this painting called “______” and I love it because it reminds me of _____. DM to buy it for $99. Thanks for looking!” or anything similar.
4. Text your friends and tell them to like the posts. Cringe, but, blame the algorithm. We do what we have to do.
5. Repeat until you start to get DMs about buying.

As long as you have a way to accept money when someone messages you, like CashApp or Venmo, that’s great.

After you get the hang of sharing your art and letting people know it’s for sale, then we can move onto the advanced things.

Selling art online in an advanced way would involve a website with product listings, better captions, high quality lighting in your videos with backdrops and etc., but you really don’t need to start with that.

Start simple, then get fancy later.

Go make your post right now!!!

Right now.

And do another one tomorrow. Flex that muscle until it’s strong enough to lift some weight.

Then comment and let me know how it went.