How can I shift the mindset of friends and family from just seeing me as 'someone who makes art' to realizing they can actually buy from me?

The shift happens through how you present yourself and your business. It’s not enough for people to know you’re an artist—they need to understand you’re running a business and that buying from you is a real option. This means consistently showing your work, talking about it as available for purchase, using business language, and creating a professional presence online. One artist saw this dramatically: a grad school friend who’d known about their art for 25 years suddenly commissioned a painting only after the artist started presenting themselves professionally online. Friends and family often need permission or a clear signal that you’re open for business. Give them that signal through consistent, professional presentation.

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Asked by an artist discussing early sales experiences · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-06-28