What's the reality of passive income from selling art online?

The dream of passive income from online art sales is largely a myth in the beginning and middle stages of an art career. While having an online presence is essential, art is extremely difficult to sell purely online because it’s hard to establish value proposition through a screen. People need to see the actual size, texture, and presence of artwork in person to truly appreciate it. The most successful approach is combining online and in-person sales—using your website to support relationships built face-to-face at shows, events, and through physical displays. Online works best as a 24/7 sales tool that serves existing relationships and provides convenience for customers who’ve already seen your work in person. Early in your career, expect to do the hard physical work of shows and events. This builds the email list, collector base, and relationships that eventually create more passive income streams later. Art careers are long—the suffering and grinding you do when you’re young and energetic builds the foundation that sustains you when you’re older.

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Asked by artists expecting online passive income · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-12-14