How did knocking on doors work for selling art, and how can I overcome fear of direct outreach?

One very successful artist shared that knocking on doors was his most effective sales method for 30 years. People were relieved he wasn’t selling something unwanted like double glazing or insurance. His approach came from early sales training where the philosophy was: ‘You’ve got nothing now, so when you knock on someone’s door, you’ve got nothing to lose.’ He offered commissioned buyers a small discount. While this direct approach might cause anxiety for many artists, the principle of having nothing to lose can be liberating. The key is recognizing that overcoming shyness and building confidence in outreach (whether door-to-door, in-person events, or online) is often driven by necessity—like needing to pay a mortgage—and starts with the mindset that you’re starting from zero anyway.

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Asked by an experienced UK-based artist · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-06-19