Today’s technology makes it possible for artists to create, promote, and monetize their work in ways like never before. Thanks to the internet and various online platforms, artists have access to a variety of tools and applications designed to support their creative process, streamline their business, and expand their reach.
If you’re an artist who hasn’t yet taken steps to build your brand and create fans, here are some ideas to get started.
- Get those digital accessories
If you’re a traditional artist who loves to draw or paint, consider using a tablet to draw with a digital app, like Photoshop or Procreate. Both have pros and cons, and Photoshop has a much larger learning curve, but you can create amazing art in either app.
The best way to do it is to get a high-quality digital pencil. Don’t go cheap on your drawing pencil because they don’t work right. You’ll also need a durable case for your tablet, but keep in mind that pencils don’t work well over screen protectors. However, you can easily cut the plastic off with a hobby knife and your tablet will still be protected against everything except for spills.
- Research what sells best
The biggest issue many artists face when attempting to sell their art is not getting enough interest to really make significant sales. You’ll get better results if you do some research into what sells in your particular category and follow suit. You don’t have to copy other artists, but you’ll get ideas for how to incorporate popular aspects into your own creations. The best places to search for best-selling art are Etsy, eBay, and Amazon. You can narrow down sold art by type, keywords, and ratings to find out what people are actually buying.
The truth is, no matter how talented you are, art is subjective, and there will always be certain things and styles that sell more than others. While it is possible to build a successful, profitable business selling only the art you want to make, without regard for what people want, that’s rare. Usually, people only see success in this way when they turn themselves into the brand and market their personality or personal story.
- Use print on demand (POD)
Print on demand has been around for decades, but it’s never been easier for artists to use than right now. With POD, you can put your beautiful art on a wide selection of items, including shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, blankets, shoes, wall canvases, and even tapestries.
Previously, the only options were to send customers to the printer’s website to buy your art. Today, the best POD companies have integrations for self-hosted websites through WooCommerce, and hosted ecommerce sites like Shopify.
If you don’t have your own website, you still have the option (in most cases) to set up a pop-up shop where the company will give you a custom URL and display all of your products neatly for customers to purchase. This is actually an ideal option if you don’t have the funds to cover purchases through your own website. POD companies don’t typically take money from your customers.
When a customer buys an item, the order is initiated and the POD company charges your payment method on file. At the same time, the customer’s payment goes directly to you, but that payment can sometimes be held for a period of time, depending on the platform and payment processor. For example, Etsy, eBay, and PayPal are all known to hold payments for weeks.
- Use AI to get ideas
Most artists seem to be against generative AI, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage. Instead of viewing apps like Midjourney as destroying art, consider it a resource for ideas. With millions of available images, you can browse through existing generations to get inspired to create your own art.
- You can create a community
People love online communities because they get to connect with other people who will validate them over whatever they’re coming together for. In your case, when you create a community around your art, you can establish it based on more than just yourself. For instance, you may want to integrate support for a particular cause or movement into your group, like positivity or self-transformation. If you keep it light, you’ll attract and retain more people.
Let technology be your digital canvas
Technology is not just for corporations – it’s for artists, too, and the right tools will help you expand your reach and start profiting from your work, all while staying true to your artistic vision.
