The process, the vision

Artists in the modern world are staring down the barrel of the gun that threatens their livelihood on the daily — it’s called overconsumption under capitalism. Slashed prices and cheap knock offs have destroyed the value of true art, and if you’re an artist in the thick of it you might incorrectly assume that the only way to keep yourself in the game is to slash your prices as well.

But what would you do if I told you the secret to success wasn’t to undercharge? That the magic potion you’re looking for is something you already have?

My dear artists, your artistic vision is an integral part of the art. All you have to do put your process as the star of your marketing, not the art itself.

Your process is the what makes your art valuable. The vision in your mind, your hands that mold the medium, the hours you pour into drafting every minute detail in your art.

There are millions of t-shirt sellers on Etsy, but why does your flower-blocking technique and inspiration make you outshine the others? How does your art connect more with your customers than anyone else’s? How have your life experiences sculped the way you create your work?

The answers to those questions are what people want to hear. Put it on your social media, your website, a portfolio, your business cards, whatever platform you want to use.

Romanticize the process, be strategic with your marketing, and price your art as if it’ll become a treasured heirloom — only then will your ideal art appreciator come sprinting towards you without ever crying, “Why is this priced so high? I can make it at home!”