How to get your art out there: from a struggling artist

By Kadence Morris

Photo of Shelley Collins’ Logo taken by Shelley Collins

If you're an artist like myself, you understand the struggles of recognition. Getting your art out there is difficult in itself, but receiving recognition is a whole other story. There are multiple ways to share your art, but here are some of the simplest ways. 

CREATE A PLATFORM

You need to set up a platform for yourself. There are a few different ways you could start building your name, but the easiest is to start social media accounts. Social media like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., will work, but you will want to use a singular username on all platforms to ensure people know how to reach you no matter where they go. Choose something creative and relative to you or your art, and make sure that it’s unique.

DESIGN A LOGO

Another way to define your platform would be to create a logo. Design something relevant to your style and the art you produce, as well as something you can incorporate with your username. Creating a logo will further boost the professionalism of your work and make you more recognizable. If you have a business and are trying to sell your art, a logo is vital to put on business cards, posters and the top of your future studio.

TAKE THE RISKS, TAKE THE CRITICISM

You can’t make a name for yourself if you don’t put yourself out there. Becoming an artist means taking risks as well as taking criticism. You have to take the chance, post your work and hope that the audience you’ve rallied likes it— if they don’t, they’ll tell you. Getting feedback on your work is important and necessary to grow as an artist. You need to keep hold of your creative voice while also learning what people want to see from you. Take advice from other artists on what to create and how to please people, but also take advice from me, and don’t lose your true sense of style in the process. The uniqueness and passion in what you create are what make you stand out from every other artist.

BE CONSISTENT

In order to sustain your name, consistency is key. You need to post your art regularly, post to the same platforms under the same accounts, and you need to have a flowing sense of style. Don’t do the same thing over and over, but understand that people will be more attracted to your art if it connects. Have a theme or a message or a certain style that you keep throughout your pieces; it helps to become recognizable for not only your name but also your style. 

STAY PASSIONATE
Possibly the biggest turn-off from being an artist is the ability to burn out easily. Every artist experiences it; you feel as if you have nothing new or exciting to offer, you feel as if you don’t have the time to produce what you want and you feel as if you are losing your passion. It’s a more abstract thing to grasp than just creating a logo, but it’s a very real part of becoming an artist. Losing your passion can come from anything, but regaining your passion only derives from one thing: love. Do you love what you’re creating? Are you having fun while making it? If you aren’t, then you need to create something meaningful to you, or maybe just something fun. You have to enjoy your work and like the outcomes in order to regain and sustain your passion. Without passion, your art isn’t as strong— you can tell when someone cares about the work they’ve done. 

POST THE PROCESS
Most artists would advise against posting things you’re not proud of, but the reality is that you are also a human. You will forever make mistakes in what you create, you will forever dislike some of what you produce and you will always have bad ideas. Share this with the world! Whether you create a separate account for “art fails” or you embrace the beauty of continuing on after a mistake and post it to your main account, sharing with people that you are also flawed makes you more relatable as an artist and a person. Sharing that even when you make a mistake, you still create something of value, which is important as a lot of people refuse to embrace their flaws: doing this will make you and your art stand out. 

COLLABORATION

A great way to get exposure is to talk to people who are one step ahead of you. Reach out to local artists or take a step further and reach out to the “big shots” and ask for tips or maybe even a collaboration. Most people are understanding since they were once in your shoes too; they understand how difficult it is to get out there, let alone work up the courage to ask for help. Getting to collaborate with another artist is good for popularity, promotion and for expanding your creative mind. Meeting and talking to other artists can give you insight into work that you may have never thought of.

SELLING YOUR ART

Selling your art doesn’t always work out, but it really is as simple as choosing a price and slapping it onto the canvas. Once you’ve completed all the steps above, you can take your art and set a fair price. The way I do it is I set a number per hour that I work on it and add the price of materials used on top, like $10hr x 6 hrs of work + $50 of supplies = $110 for the price of the piece. This is the easiest and least stressful way of selling art that I know, and it cuts down on confusion for customers if you clearly state your prices. 

Becoming an artist is difficult, especially now, but don’t let that discourage you from following your dreams. The most important thing is to stay unique and stay consistent with your work. Don’t lose sight of what is most important and why you started creating in the first place, and remember that making a name for yourself won't happen over time. You’ll need to follow the steps above and hold onto your originality: you’ll get there sooner or later.