making a decent living

[cullmanlaurasart]

I live in a large town, small city. I teach art classes here and do ok. I would love to sell my art more and hope Etsy is the key to that goal. I have been working to get my shop going well on Etsy, but my sales are just trickling in. I would love to hear advice from artists who are making a decent living from their Etsy sales. How do you promote? How do you bring in the sales? What do you see I need to change on my Etsy shop? Help!

[Former_Member]

I hope this discussion gets rolling! I have thoughts on this....none of which I've applied to my own shop!

I'll start by saying I am NOT someone who could make a living here. I've sold one painting to an on-line acquaintance. I've more or less given up actual hope of selling from my shop as it is now, but I keep it as a cheap on-line gallery. I'd be thrilled to get a sale, don't get me wrong, but I've stopped expecting one.

I think there needs to be a distinction between being an artist....and being a shop owner trying to make sales. An artist can and should paint whatever is inspiring to him/her and love doing it for the sake of creating. A shop owner has to decide which of those creations will be most likely to sell and create a "brand" for their shop based on that. A shop owner needs to edit.

Second,, I think you have to find a niche for your shop. You need to look like an expert at one style or type of painting and it needs to be something people want for their walls. I think it would be good to know current trends in decorating (ie color schemes, etc).

Finally, I think that prints sell better than originals on etsy. Somewhere there is a place where you can go see who the top etsy sellers are. And of the few who sell art...it's all prints. There are a couple of very talented artists who have found their niche selling prints here (look for an artist named amber Alexander. She has amazing animal watercolor prints and huge sales numbers). people seem more willing to buy a $30 print than to spend a couple hundred dollars on artwork they haven't seen in person.

Also when it comes to pricing. It's a tricky thing - if you price your originals too low then people assume your work doesn't have value or quality. People assume they "get what they pay for" so having really low prices for originals is not necessarily a good thing....but neither is going too high.

Anyway. These are just my observations and thoughts. I haven't tried them, but always have them in the back of my mind as something I could/should do if I wanted to get serious about making money here. The problem is I fear I will stop loving painting and it will feel like a "job" if I do it.

Good luck to you!

[Former_Member]

I just want to clarify - that the above thoughts are general ideas I've had about selling paintings here in general...I don't mean any of them to be specific critiques to your shop our your art!!

They are more what MY plan would be if I was motivated to do it...and if I KNEW what my own niche would be!!

[MaggiePainting]

I have had a shop here for a little over a year. I found if I have some very small, lower priced paintings, middle and high range, I do enough business to pay for my art habit. Selling art on etsy is difficult, it never seems to be promoted here. Prints, illustrations seem to be more popular for this market. I was told it takes time to build a customer base, not much art sells over $100.00, not enough to make a living, if you want to make serious money, keep this shop, but look at other options and lots of promotion. Good luck, nice shop!

[Former_Member]

i agree. the art market in general these days is very depressed in most places. I think it is among the top things to be nixed from a budget when times are hard.

You make an interesting point between an artist and a seller. I have a girlfriend who is very artistic and creative. She started an art class and did one painting before deciding she didn't need instruction. she works for a very large int design shop in a very wealthy shore community in south jersey. the painting sold in her shop for $450. now all she paints are ocean scenes and as much as I love her, they are not nearly as good as the one she did under an instructor. She has almost created a brand.

I paint whatever moves me AND I am not so anxious to sell them that I will underprice them. I never hoped to make a living selling paintings but it would be nice to sell a few to pay for my wedding!

[cullmanlaurasart]

Great advice! Thanks so much. It is good to know that maybe it is the forum. I am new on Etsy (newish this year) and don't know what can be expected from here. Perhaps I should focus more on my less expensive art and making prints. Also I have a lot of items that are dirt cheap. They are older paintings and I was looking at them as just a way to have art out there and a bonus if they sale. I love painting but am also making my living doing this. I do a lot of custom ordered portraits of people, pets, and homes in my town. The paintings I offer on Etsy are mostly what I do out of joy of art. The simpler ones I offer are paintings I do step by step with parties and students at my shop. I will check out the successful art shops. Thanks so much for the help!

[cullmanlaurasart]

Amy Caltry, I so love your watercolors!

[Former_Member]

Amy,

By the way your paintings are amazing! Im surprised that you've only had one sale so far!

[Former_Member]

Aw...thanks ladies, you're very kind!

[Laurenirelandart]

I have discovered that painters are a rare breed on Etsy. There are a lot more people who create small crafts and it's easier to sell a $12 dollar item than it is to sell a $200 painting. I agree with Amy, I too have had trickling sales and I think it might be due to people wanting to see a painting up close and personal. I always try to take accurate photos with good lighting but people still just do a lot of looking, not buying. I don't believe that the whole 'economy' issue is to blame. I worked at Pandora jewelry for a couple months and people are dropping hundreds of dollars like it's nothing on pre-fab charms, why can't they purchase a painting that will have more value and appreciation in the long run. Recession, my ass. I sold $11,000 worth of those charms alone during Christmas and that's not including the other 5 employees at the store. The people who have money to spend, are definitely spending it, just not on our paintings. I do still have hope of selling which is why I haven't pulled my shop but cheap prints and crafts are fast and easy unless the buyer has a real eye for what they love in a painting and aren't afraid to make a purchase without physically being in front of it. It's sad that people with money are losing appreciation for fine art but there is still a select group out there that will throw down the dough. Good luck painters, the money is out there, don't believe the 'economy' hype, keep painting and doing what you love.

[cullmanlaurasart]

I'm thinking maybe I'll pursue galleries in larger cities for my fine art and use Etsy as more of an online gallery, like Amy Caltry said. Then also it is a good place for my less expensive art that I do with students at my shop. I hope... Lauren Ireland, I feel frustrated also at times. I know money is being spent on football games and clothes but have not found a way to find more homes for my paintings. I'm not quitting yet, though. Oh well, at least I love painting them!

[pamelam]

I've been selling paintings on etsy since '06. It takes time to develop a client base and more sales equals more sales. If I was starting out, I would offer paintings priced lower in order to build up your numbers.

I work a full time job besides painting but if I had a different lifestyle I could support myself on my etsy income. Of course I'd have to move to a different house, pay off my car, my credit cards, stop going on trips and buying new clothes, drinking so much wine, etc etc.....but what fun is that?

My best advice is to offer a range....small pieces and large pieces. That way you reach more buyers.

[cullmanlaurasart]

Thanks for the guidance, Pamela. I'll be sure to check out your shop and take notes. Here's the thing, though, how do you initially bring in sales? I understand that people feel safer if they see a shop has sold a lot and has high satisfaction rates. But how do you get them to trust you at the beginning?

[TurtleLoverGifts]

I am on etsy sice last years June and I haven't sold a painting but small things like greeting cards that I made from my paintings and calendars.
I worked a lot to have small things to offer to bring some sales into my store. But commission work for a pet I did get from a local person not through etsy. But she than bought some calendars from me on etsy. So I think you have to work in your local and one etsy. I like that I can send people to my etsy shop to see what I have and do but I also realized that I have to work the area with art shows etc..
I wish I would sell a painting on etsy, this would be the day!
Good luck,
Irmi

[pamelam]

Here's the thing, though, how do you initially bring in sales?
________________________________________________

Maybe have a friend or family member buy some things and get them to leave positive, wordy feedback, just to get the ball rolling, so to speak.

[cullmanlaurasart]

Ah, good ideas. I have a few sales so far, maybe 10. About half of those left feedback, all positive. One was a friend of mine, but I didn't have to tell on the feedback... I'll just keep on trying! Thanks so much for the help everybody.

[Former_Member]

I love that everyone is discussing this. Sometimes it's really helpful to bounce things off other artists.

I have moments when I feel motivated to really make this work but then I just get discouraged. I have started a "line" of very small paintings which i think are kind of unique. But I'd like to have a larger group of them before I list them so they look as if they belong, not like an afterthought. I got sidetracked with Christmas and never picked them back up. Maybe I'll put them to the top of my to-do list and crank a few more out!

My goal is not really to earn a living, but I would love to feel like "an artist" not just someone who loves to paint. I would be happy if I sold enough to buy supplies and maybe pay for some workshops now and then. I would like it if my art was self-sufficient.

[Former_Member]

I have just joined this team as an etsy newbie painter. I joined etsy because I admire what it stands for and because it has a worldwide market place. ( I live in a remote part of Ireland ). I found this discussion thread really interesting because it is the kernal of where I find myself now. I think I relate most to what you said Pamela about offering a range of lower priced items to start with. I think this is where my shop suffers in relation to others. I would really love some feed back from fellow painters if you have any time and I will check your work out too (negative and positive - let me have it!) Btw I love your paintings Pamela and have included them in my Treasuries!

[cullmanlaurasart]

Beautiful work, Deborah Watkins! It looks like you and I are trying to figure out the same things. Can we sell our fine art on Etsy or should we be making prints and offering smaller less expensive paintings?

[Former_Member]

Thanx everyone, for starting n keeping dis thread alive,
my problem is dat i really don't feel like making commercial art, and i beleive in making real ART PIECEs, which are then pricey also.
Are there other places, where i can place dat pricey work??

[Former_Member]

Hi Mehr, ,

I've been reluctant to make prints as well. But I have a feeling that as a new artist, Internet sales of fine art at high prices is going to be tough. I think it will be important to create a following of people who know your work in person and will return to your on-line shop for more. Maybe enter shows and contests, find locations that will hang your pieces (coffee shops, libraries, etc.). Have business cards with your shop address to give out and be comfortable telling people about it. Maybe donate a piece as a fund-raiser at a silent auction, or for a prize for something. Look for small galleries that are willing to hang and sell some of your work.

There are other on-line places, but the ones that I'm familiar with are print on demand sites that make prints and ship them for you and then retain a portion of the sale price. I haven't tried them, but I've read comments there that are similar to here....it still involves much outside self promotion.

I'm sure it's possible to sell on-line, but I think it takes more work than just uploading and waiting. I think the on-line store has to be just one part of the sales strategy.

Again - these are all just my opinions based on things I've read at various artist sites. I haven't actively tried all of these things or put full effort into making sales!! I do enter juried shows, and I have made sales that way. But only a few and I've only won small cash prizes. And I did have a solo show for a month at a local coffee shop. I received many compliments, but no sales. So I don't mean to say I'm an expert in selling in ANY way!

[Former_Member]

It's a tough one Laura. I aspire to making a living with my work, nothing amazing just one or two sales a week would be great. I actually believe that there are enough people out there to make this possible, it is just a question of reaching them. There are just so many people trying to do the same thing, so I think it is a matter of making oneself visible somehow. How do we do this and how long will it take? These are my burning questions!!

[Former_Member]

Thanx Amy C, your post is very insightful, you are right in that I should look for galleries n contests to get recognition. I will work on it, thanx once again.

[Former_Member]

Apologies to Mehr and Amy, I didn't mean to skip over the thread there. Good to read your thoughts too.

[cullmanlaurasart]

Well, I ordered 10 prints each of 2 of my most popular fine art paintings. So, I'll be offering them up soon and (hopefully) seeing some results. Here's the thing, I do love painting, but it is not a hobby for me. It is my profession, my passion. I am running a gallery/studio in my town making 9/10 of my income from teaching. I so want to be able to teach less and paint more!!! This thread has been really helpful for me to know which directions to go. Thank you all so much for sharing your questions, experience and suggestions.