Wondering how to sell your art locally? With so much emphasis on selling online, it’s no wonder many of you have
overlooked the advantages of selling your art locally.
But selling your art locally can be really fun. And profitable. Fun and profit are my two favorite things!
Whether you exhibit in a local gallery, art festival, or even a restaurant, selling your art locally can be a rewarding experience. When I worked as an arts dealer, I primarily sold work nationally. But I still made sure to show it locally. And it wasn’t just for the money. Though that helped!
Selling your art locally can help you to form real connections, find true support and develop your reputation within your local art community.
That’s why today I wanted to share this guide with the sexy title … ‘How To Sell Your Art Locally’. Keep reading if you’d like ideas and inspiration for places to sell your art locally. And I’m also going to share some of my tips for making the process successful.
Portfolio, Preparation, Approach
Having confidence when entering the local market is crucial.
The initial step involves creating a robust portfolio that highlights your style artistic expression and technique.
This provides potential customers with a better understanding of your artwork but also aids in establishing your identity as an artist. Regardless of being new to the industry, you can still showcase yourself as a professional as you start to make a name for yourself. Be prepared with a short introduction of your creative work.
Create a solid business strategy, utilize eye-catching business materials like cards and stickers, and offer special discounts to attract customers. Connect with local communities and key influencers to establish strong relationships. Show your support by donating to community events or causes in exchange for exposure or a share of profits.
Personal network
Your own network is full of potential customers waiting to be tapped into. You have a much larger local market right at your fingertips than you may think.
Get started by creating a list of all the connections you have, starting with friends, family, and acquaintances.
Don’t forget to include any clubs or groups that you or your family are a part of. Whether it’s gym buddies, church members, or parents from your kids’ extracurricular activities, every connection counts. Remember to include places you frequent, like coffee shops or restaurants where you’re a regular. Your neighborhood association can also be a valuable source of potential customers.
Don’t overlook any of these connections, no matter how distant they may seem. Start reaching out and watch your network grow!
Local traditions, communities, festivals and businesses
Every area has its own unique qualities and specialties that set it apart. From majestic mountains and renowned wineries to vibrant festivals.
These distinct features, attractions, and local traditions are what instill a sense of pride and love for one’s community. As an artist, take inspiration from these elements and create art that celebrates and represents your region. Embrace the unique essence of your home and showcase it through your creative work.
Stay consistent
Building local relationships requires time and effort, so stay engaged once you’ve formed a connection.
Consistent dedication to nurturing relationships showcases your reliability and commitment to your craft and is key to selling art locally. Many businesses would be thrilled to showcase your artwork on their walls and visual artists have the key advantage and privilege of creating vibes, setting tones and drawing looks.
Art doesn’t end at the tip your hands. Share high-quality photos on social media and approach business owners directly with your portfolio.
Where to sell your art locally
Here are some ideas to get your inspiration flowing. There are plenty of places to sell your art locally when you start to look around your community.
Local Cafes and Coffee Shops
No, I’m not talking about your local Starbucks – think the quirky, independently run coffee shops where other artists might hang out. Be prepared to get to know the owner and see if the business is open to displaying work from artists. If they are, have a portfolio of completed works ready.
Your artwork should be priced and ready to sell so you can show the owner or manager that you’re prepared and professional.
Local art fairs, shows and exhibits
If your community has an art society this is a great place to start if you want to sell your art locally. Art societies often organize local art fairs and shows, where you can rent a space to sell your work.
Joining an art society or club is also a great way to meet other artists and make new connections.
But how do you find out if your area has a local art society? There are some online platforms you can search such as the National Endowment for the Arts (if you’re based in the United States) or simply google ‘Art Society in your area’ and see what comes up.
Often local art supply stores, libraries, and galleries will also display information about art societies and clubs in your local area.
And if your community doesn’t have any local clubs you can join, why not start your own? I did that when I first moved to England and it was an amazing experience.
Local Art Galleries
Be sure to do your homework before approaching a local gallery – there’s no point in wasting your time or the gallery’s time if your style and aesthetic is completely different to the gallery’s aesthetic. Visit the gallery in person if you can or have a look at their social media to get an idea of who they are and what they’re about.
If you’ve done your research and you feel that your art will complement the other artists they represent, there’s no harm in asking. Galleries can be intimidating places, but once you open up a dialogue more often than not you’ll find that the managers and owners are very nice people.
For more information on how art galleries work, check out this article.
Selling your art at local markets
Farmers’ markets, flea markets, neighborhood festivals – these can all be great places to sell your art locally.
Some local markets will charge you to rent a space, so it’s worthwhile checking out the market first to see whether the people that visit the market are likely to be art lovers. If you know any other artists that have had booths at the local market you’re considering, ask them if they had good results or not.
Be sure to register well in advance as many markets have waiting lists for vendors. Most markets won’t allow you to just show up on the day so it pays to be prepared.
Retail Shops and Boutiques
Just like coffee shops, retail shops and boutiques can also be great places to sell your art locally. Again, you’ll want to go for the smaller independently run boutiques over chain retail stores.
It’s worth noting that you may not have as much luck hanging your art in a retail store, as owners are less likely to be open to it (unless they already sell work from other artists).
At the end of the day though, shop owners want to make sales, and if your art looks good on their shelves you may find that they’re interested. Don’t rule this route out until you’ve given it a go.
Art Parties
Who doesn’t love an art party? It’s a place to hang out, hob nob with other art folk and look at art.
If you’re interested in hosting an art party, you might want to approach it as a social event with food, drinks and entertainment, and use the space to sell your artwork.
The other option is to host an art party where your guests come and create their own art. If you decide to go for this option, there’s no reason why you can’t have your work still displayed prominently and for sale.
The most successful art parties focus more on the party aspect than on the art itself. Of course, the real point of the soiree is to sell your artwork, but if your guests are having fun and enjoying themselves, they’ll be happier and more receptive to purchasing your work – plus they’ll be more likely to come back for future parties and recommend them to their friends.
Go online, get seen by the local audience
Even if you’re looking to sell you art locally, the number of online searches increases as people adopt smartphones. Even if you’re in a small city most people don’t know you, so try to highlight your business by boosting your presence in the local market by engaging with and forming connections on social media with galleries, shops, fellow artists, art enthusiasts, local media, and influencers. Stay updated on trending hashtags like #yourtowncreatives #yourtownart, etc.
Don’t forget to geotag your artwork, especially if you’re featuring local landmarks or painting in public spots around town. Participate in local social media groups, engage with others, and establish yourself as a recognizable artist.
For instance, if you’re part of a local hiking or music group on Facebook, showcase your creations that relate to those topics. Utilize online local marketplaces and community boards to connect with individuals in your area seeking to support artists in the community.
Another option If you have a studio, is to create a Google My Business location registered to your studio, so that whenever someone needs a visual artist to paint a mural or create something custom your brand and contact number will be among the results without paying for it.
Local businesses and voices
Local office buildings – Many offices are in need of unique and vibrant decorations for their lobbies and waiting areas. By sharing your work, you can add a touch of color and personality to the space. Plus, they may even be open to displaying your pieces with your artist name and information attached.
It’s a great way to get your work seen and recognized by a wider audience!
Depending on the business type, offer to display your paintings in their space, and consider giving them a finder’s fee for every sale made through their establishment.
Showing your art online is important but their physical presence, message, and appeal is crucial and the personal impact sells.
Local reporters, community newsletters, and radio stations enjoy highlighting profiles of unique individuals from the area. Being an artist automatically makes you stand out, so why not try to get some publicity for your artwork?
When you have a new exhibition, win a contest, or finish an interesting project, write a brief press release and share it with your local media contacts. If you don’t have any contacts yet, it’s time to start building some.
Reach out to radio stations, newspapers, and other publications via email or letters to inquire about who to contact regarding editorial features. Introduce yourself as a local artist with an upcoming exhibition and offer free tickets to the opening.
Consider hosting an open studio event and inviting the press to attend. Additionally, you can send out a press kit to local media outlets. Local reporters, community newsletters, and radio stations are always on the lookout for interesting stories about unique individuals in the area.
Stage your art
Encouraging potential buyers to visualize your art in their space is a strategy to promote your art and increase sales.
Many art enthusiasts devote significant time and effort imagining how a piece will fit into their home, considering factors such as color, style, dimensions, framing, and how it will harmonize with their existing decor.
I like the online ArtPlacer collection which includes a wide range of room settings such as art booths, bedrooms, dining rooms, galleries, kid rooms, kitchens, living rooms, lobbies, bathrooms, restaurants, and workplaces, as well as various framing choices and lighting scenarios.
Artists can easily upload an image of their art, choose from a variety of room options or upload their own, input dimensions, and receive a preview that reflects the artwork’s true proportions. With ArtPlacer, you can showcase your art in a way that gets the attention of buyers and helps them envision your pieces in their own space.
In summary
I hope this guide has given you plenty of ideas for how to sell your art locally. Many artists find more success selling their work in person over online, so this may be a path you wish to explore further.
With determination, charm to build connections, and by utilizing both physical and digital platforms, you have the power to sell and showcase your artwork to your community. It all starts with creating art that people want to buy.
Of course, there are advantages to selling your art online too – so don’t rule anything out until you’ve tested multiple selling methods. But for now, get out in your neighborhood and start selling your art locally!
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