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Promoting art vs being an Introvert or HSP
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Message
Posted
I'm asking this forum is there any here who is also an Artist and an Introvert, or a Highly Sensitive Person, HSP?
How are you finding it selling and promote your work?
How do you find a network of peers to support you?
It isn't easy to promote our art because of this sensitivity or introversion. We all know we are the best people to sell our art, but that can involve a lot of talking. Such a practice is exhausting to me.
What are your ways to deal with the energy-draining practice of selling your art?
Stay only on social media, therapy, exercise, getting stoned?? ;)
I'm trying to promote my art more, but it's running up against my need for quiet time, alone, and limited time.
I'd like to hear from other introverts, HSPs and start make more connections.
Edited
by Richard Collison
Posted
Is there anyone who could work on this on your behalf, Richard. I’ve never promoted my own art and friends have jokingly said they’d be my agent! There are fewer and fewer opportunities it seems to show art, a club exhibition perhaps or POL but this is for those who aren’t setting out to have art as a career - mine has only ever been something I really enjoy, although it is hugely important to me, not just a hobby.
Looking at your gallery I see some very interesting work, I like it very much. I see, too, that you attended some courses….would it be possible for you to contact the tutors for advice?
Edited
by Marjorie Firth
Posted
It depends on if you 'need' to sell your art, or want to sell your art, or just enjoy creating your art.
I made the switch from the 9 to 5 regular office work, to painting (and gardening) a couple of years ago. I've never been a career chaser or big money-earner anyway, so 'not having much' (££), doesn't bother me. It was much more to save my mental health than anything else.
I don't actively try to sell my art, and I really don't like talking (about myself or my art) either! I have a facebook page and a website, but I'm not into 'posting content' constantly. In fact I hate technology, but hey ho. Unfortunately the world spins on it these days.
My point is this. If you 'need' to sell your art, will you enjoy creating it? I don't rely on my paintings to pay the bills, because it would take the enjoyment out of it.
It doesn't have to be energy draining. You can go at whatever pace is comfortable for you. But it does take time - if, like me, actively promoting it is too daunting a task. I'll admit that my 'promotion' has largely been done by other people... family, friends, friends of friends, their friends, word of mouth and so on, very gradually over a long period of time.
I quite like it that way. I would feel under pressure if I felt that I should be posting something daily on social media, or painting things in a commercial way, that really I don't like.
Posted
I’m more of an extrovert so these problems don’t occur for me.
However, I sell my art and rarely do I have the need to confront anyone face to face these days… there’s no need - but pre internet that was almost always the case.
Trawling around the various galleries with an A1 portfolio full of paintings, believe me that was no fun!
So, I’m not really seeing the issue here… just sell or promote your work on the many outlets that are out there.
Saatchi Online and Artfinder are two excellent platforms, although acceptance isn’t automatic, you will have to submit a selection of your work. There’s dozens of others out there as you’ll be aware, not all of them are as good as these two.
Art isn’t easy to sell these days, keep that in mind! The chances of making a good living from selling your work is remote at best! Blunt but true… the romantic notion of an artist living off his painting sales is a pipe dream for the majority of us.
I don’t sell art to survive, never have, that’s far too unpredictable and only a very few succeed.
I do have old college friends that make a good living this way, but it takes time and you’ll need a presence in the provincial and even London galleries, and believe me that’s not easy! This will also require personal meetings etc.
My advice would be to carry on enjoying painting as you obviously do, any online sales that may come along are a bonus!
Posted
Hi Richard, a difficult question, but somehow I know where you’re coming from.
I’ve got a website, a Facebook account and I’m also on Instagram. I’ve also done art/craft fairs. The very first one I did, where I sold a painting, I was so shocked I almost forgot to take the customer’s money! But, Covid put paid to doing those. I also belong to, and a exhibiting member of an art society….The Nottingham Society of Artists, which is the oldest art society in the country (so I’ve learned). They put on regular exhibitions, and I show my work. We also have to do a days stewarding, which means talking to people, which at first I found really daunting, but you do get used to it.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is, it takes time. Ask yourself, do you have a desire to sell your work? Or just get it seen. Perhaps social media may be a good starting point to get it seen. In the meantime just enjoy painting, you will know when to take it further.
Posted
Thanks for all the replies.
My idea is to start selling my work, but I have a job, so it's less pressure to sell.
I asked because I suffer from social anxiety, it can be hard to make connections. I was curious about such artists promoted their work, especially the introverts.
I also wondered how people use sites like Patreon and gaining supporters. It's another way to earn a small income.
A part of me wants to be more outgoing, even if it does drain me. Connection to others is where meaning arises. We all need a network around us. So now I'm trying now is to learn to enjoy the promoting side; it's an art in itself. Connecting to others, talking about art, ideas, life and more. I need better ways to cope with the stress.
Another is to recognise our worth; we often devalue our art and ourselves, The imposter syndrome when we start to believe we can and should make some money from our work. So self-worth issues are going in the background, something I've also suffered with.
I guess I'll focus on social media for now and work to get better at social interaction, working through the baby steps. Connect to other artists, share my work and ideas where I can.
Posted
The vast majority of people on this site (certainly on the forum) paint for fun and treat it as a hobby, albeit a serious hobby!
I know that I do, although a few of us promote our work on platforms such as I mentioned previously; you can also offer your work for sale on the gallery but that does require a small subscription.
Pricing and what we consider our work to be worth is another matter - paintings are difficult to sell, and I don’t see it getting any easier in the near future… but let’s say that you’re unlikely to get rich!
Posted
Hi Richard, I've been following this post. It must be difficult having social anxiety and be a hindrance to you. I think things we have or develop are there in our genetic makeup and sometimes they are there to stay because it's part of who we are. Acceptance is a key, if you accept that social anxiety may be a part of you, like an arm or a leg, it won't become so important anymore and will be pushed into the background. I don't say this, willy nilly, I have a brain aneurysm, no, I didn't want it and was very frightened at the time. Now, I've accepted it, like an arm or a leg, it's part of me, it doesn't bother me anymore. I can have a normal life, it was coiled and hopefully a long life. My point is, we are here once, we should strive to achieve the very things that make us happy. I don't know the first thing about selling art but reading this, I might get the courage to take mine to a boot sale some time and see if any of it sells. Good look with your sales, do it, you have it within you to do.
Posted
Hi Richard, I empathise with you over your social anxiety. I had a stroke 5 years ago and it took my speech, I didn’t want to socialise because I didn’t want people to think I’d been on the gin bottle. As I mentioned in my previous post, my first art/craft fair was after my stroke, however, I was fortunate to have my friend near me plus a lot of other stall holders who were willing to give me a helping hand, should I have needed it. I think it was one of the most difficult things I had to face. I’m happy to say I’ve made a full recovery.
Best wishes to you and good luck with any sales.