What does it mean that 'art sales are 50/50'?

Art sales are 50% based on the quality of the art itself—the colors, subject matter, composition, and everything that goes into creating the work. The other 50% is the artist themselves—who you are, what makes you tick, your interests, and how the circumstances of your life formed your creative vision. This explains why artists with completely different or even contradictory subject matters can build successful businesses, and why some artists struggle until they share more of themselves. When buyers purchase art, they’re not just buying the artwork; they’re buying into a relationship with the artist and connecting with their story.

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Asked by synthesized from teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2023-11-02