Getting Started | The Pursuit of Art

How to Create a Professional Artist Website

So, you have been pursuing your art for a long time now. Or, maybe you have just started. Either way, you have a passion for creating. And now the world needs to see it!

Here are a few simple steps to get you started with creating a professional artist website and selling your artwork.

Buy a unique domain name. Go to https://www.godaddy.com/domains/domain-name-search and search to see if your preferred domain is available. You could search for your first and last name or combine your name with the type of art that you create.
Build your site. There are plenty of free ways to build a site with no coding skills. The one that I recommend is wix.com. If you agree to display the Wix logo, Google hosts your site for free. Another good resource is squarespace.com, but that does have a monthly fee. Or, build your site in WordPress.org if you have some coding skills.
Create an “About” page. This is a place to talk about your passion for art and describe your journey. Keep it professional.
Add a “Blog” page. Here is a great opportunity to talk about your process and find followers. Create an option for followers to pin your art to Pinterest to help expand your following.
Post testimonials. Already sold some work? Ask those collectors if they are willing to give you a quote that you can add as a testimonial to your website. It is important to build and maintain your reputation.
Sell your art. Add several art pieces that you have available for sale. There are a variety of methods for selling your art, but a few that come to mind are: eBay, Etsy, FineArtAmerica.com, Artfire, and Amazon. Do you have more to add to the list? Comment below and let us know! And, don’t forget you can always sell art directly from your site itself.
Promote yourself. Remember that promoting your art and getting it seen by your target audience is important. Create business cards that include your new domain name. Develop your 5 minute elevator pitch. And take advantage of the network that you already have established. You would be surprised how word of mouth advertising can help you when collectors are pleased with the art and service they receive from you.

Creating your artist website, building an email list, sending out a newsletter, blogging, and regularly posting to social media will not only help your business prosper, but will also get you additional sales on third-party sites as well. Have any other tips or tricks to share about building an art following and getting art sales? Let us knowin the comments below.

How to Let Loose and Create

photo_467_20051111 Before you begin, be sure to wear comfortable clothing that is non-constricting — items that you don’t care about getting dirty (I have a few designated outfits just for my art). You’ll also want to have all your supplies set up ahead of time. Trust me, once your creative flow is in motion, you won’t want to stop to find that paintbrush you just purchased last week.

Once you’re feeling physically prepared to create, you’ll need to get yourself mentally prepared. Here’s how:

Clear your mind. Yes, you might very well be thinking about all the things you need to get done at some point today, tomorrow or this week (that pile of laundry won’t wash itself after all) but you really need to clear your mental slate to make room for creative inspiration and risk taking.
Stay in the moment. Avoid the temptation to give up if you just aren’t feeling it or if your favorite Netflix show seems to be calling your name. Try regulating your breath, and listening to music that isn’t distracting, but supports your creative focus. Stress-reducing techniques such as these (and other suggestions you can check out here) can really help your focus.

Now you’re ready to just create. Don’t think, just do. Freely approach your creative piece without preconceived notions. Be free to experiment. Try one new technique that you never imagined doing before.

When you feel ready to wrap up your creative session (this decision could even be based on a pre-determined length of time), try not to judge what you just worked on. Put it aside and see what you think in a couple of days, or a couple of weeks. And when you feel comfortable, share your work with others.

Remember, the act of creating is a reward in itself.

5 Ways to be Successful as an Artist

Doesn’t it drive you crazy that you’ve read hundreds of blog posts and books on painting and creativity, and yet you’re still not making the progress you expected to make by now? I can remember a time when I was not successful at art, mostly because I was not doing it. At that time I decided that I wanted to make a change.

The first thing that I did was join an art class! I knew that showing up once a week to create would be just the start I needed to get back into my work. And, it was! I met amazing people who were on a similar journey. We connected, shared resources, and learned from each other.

From these experiences, I became successful and you can, too! To get you started, here is a short list of ways to become successful as an artist.

1. Create art everyday.
Set time aside whether it is 15 minutes or an hour to have fun, create, and most importantly not judge your work.

keepcalm 2. Be social.
Attend local art meetups or art classes. Share what you are working on with others and ask to see their work. Inspire each other to be kind to both yourself and others. We are all in this together and art heals the soul.

3. Take risks.
Mess up your work and fix it again. Transform your piece. Kill it and give it new life again. Photograph the process.

4. Set goals.
Create a list of objectives for yourself. Ask yourself where do you want to be in a month, 1 year, and 5 years? Set small and large goals.

5. Forgive and forget.
Not everything you touch will be a winner and that is okay. It is important to stay focused and keep creating. Besides, how can you be an artist if you aren’t creating?

If you want to create authentically, you’ll come to a point of making a decision. Do I want to tell my story, convey my journey, and paint/draw/sculpt my vision? My suggestion: create away. That’s what artists do. Your journey will be messy, surprising, and fun. You may learn new things about yourself in the process. I sure have!

I’d love to hear about your journey as an artist and your practices. Share your story.