Don't give your work away!

[Karin Wells]

If you ever expect to be a pro and sell your work, DON'T GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE!

I am always surprised when I hear that artists do this and I think that it is a really dumb marketing ploy...

Think about it from your potential client's viewpoint...why should he/she be silly enough to pay big (probably hard-earned) bucks for a painting by you when other people get them for nothing?

If you don't value your own work, can you really expect someone else to see value in it?

I have seen artists who ask someone to model for them and then in "gratitude," actually give them the painting. Maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to pay the sitter, take 'em to lunch, and/or send them a note with a photo of the work enclosed?

Giving your work away for free not only harms your reputation as a serious artist, but sets a low standard for those artists who are trying to make a living by selling their work!

[Patt Legg]

You know, this thing of attempting to be your own "agent" is terrifying, frustrating, time consuming and extremely hard work. Like all marketing and suggestions of how to see one's work out there, a person then tries various techniques. Tools for marketing comes in various forms and like artists, suggestions are varied and there are all kinds of them. Some are not good suggestions and others are great. I am open to all kinds of suggestions of how to get your name out as it appears that many people out there will purchase art simply because they hear the artists name often and ASSUME that it is good and that the artist is well known.

As only one idea, I was told to consider a "gratis" as one of those attempts. (and from a prominient artist)My plan was to paint local business people (3) and display them hoping to get that "ah, so she does portraiture also" attitude because locally they know my artwork and name as for selling art and being connected to many functions. But, as the town receives newcomers as residents then I hope to capture their attention.
PS--------I know word gets around but I guess I hope the recipients of these "freebies" will enjoy their portraits enough that they will kindly send others to me. FAITH

[Karin Wells]

You could display those three handsome portraits of your town's "big shots" by giving them "on loan" to your library or town hall to show for a while. That would guarantee that they would be hung in a public place for all to see. If you did something like that, you could have a press release published in your local newspaper.

I still say DON'T GIVE THEM AWAY but keep them as samples of your work...if they like 'em let 'em buy 'em!

Frankly I have never known a freebie to generate any paying business....just more expectations of another freebie...

If you already promised to give your paintings away, you're stuck...but I'd eventually love some feedback on this because if they do indeed generate any business for you, I'll cheerfully change my opinion and try it myself sometime....