Why is it critical to have physical samples of my work in different media types rather than just showing images online?

Art is a high-friction product—buyers have many questions before purchasing: Will the size work? Will colors match my wall? What’s the difference between media types? Showing only flat 2D images is not enough. People are not visual in the way you think—they need to see, touch, and understand the actual product. Think of yourself as a knife salesman going door-to-door: you’d bring the knives, not just a catalog. The same applies to art. Having physical samples lets you show texture, thickness, finish, and quality in person, on video calls, at live events, and in your marketing content. Without samples, you’re not in the game.

---

Asked by general teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan and Nick · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-09-08