Selling Your Art Part 1 - In Person
How to sell your art online or in person is what nearly all artists ask about at some point. There are artists that want to make a living or to earn extra money. And some artists that are of the attitude "if it sells, it sells". And there are artists that perhaps are more private about their artworks - holding on to their works and barely showing what they do. Let's lean more in the direction with this post of putting what you create out on a shingle.
This is a three-part series on Selling Your Art that will be published on Mondays, January 12, 19, and 26, 2026. Please follow this blog so you don't miss any art tips!
Prince William Art Society at Arts Alive 2021, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas, Virginia - Photo by Donna Liguria
Where and How to Sell Your Art
Doesn't it all begin with research and discovering what may work for you, your budget, your goals, and how much work you may want to put into your art career? We could probably also include the title "How to Sell More Art" as there may be ideas that haven't been implemented in our repertoire too.
- You can sell in person.
- You can sell in a gallery.
- You can sell online.
OK, but that's just the beginning of the research you need to do. And tell you what, you are not going to walk up to any gallery space, artwork in hand, and thinking your art is going up right then and there. (You name it, we've seen it.)- You will need to have the art inventory to substantiate what and where you can have your art hung.
- You will need great quality photographs of all your artworks - to show your body of work and to submit art to shows.
- You need to have your art reasonably priced (for the level of career you are at) so that it can sell.
- You will need to have shipping materials on hand if you are going nationally or internationally with your sales - to get it to them.
If you are just getting off the ground, you have a lot to learn, but the point is - begin.
Selling Art in Person
Artists can sell as an individual artist on their own and/or they might sell their artwork being a member of an art group. And no one says to only join one art group.
- Art can sell at craft and art fairs, festivals, vendor shows, farmers' markets, exhibitions, fundraisers for churches or community fairs.
- Art may sell via an open studio - hosting your own art event.
- Artists might partner with an interior designer, a hotel, a hospital to show art.
- Sell art at a gallery, an artist-run gallery (Co-Op), non-profit gallery/exhibition space. See Art Shows, Art Galleries - Showing Your Art.
- Some libraries, wineries, restaurants, coffee shops, gift shops, area businesses allow for local art to hang for a period of time. Be aware of spaces where your art is more
free decor for them than promotion for you.
- Sign up to volunteer to help at the art space as a docent, artist-on-duty.
Actually, THIS is one great way to sell to the art show or gallery
visitors. Well, let's say, 'sell without pushing the sale'. Once you identify yourself as one of the artists showing, they always ask "where is your art?"
- Enter Calls for Art, Calls for Artists. See Call for Art
- Engage in local community business meetings, local community groups for opportunities. Networking with other people/artists around you has potential for collaboration or brilliant ideas!
- Cold Callings - Email Targets - Find who your direct contact person is for your proposed art show. Find ways to get people excited about your upcoming projects and present them with ideas - to benefit them as well as you.
There are options and decisions to make for selling your artwork, but many of your best options will not be free. There are entry fees to enter art shows, join art festivals or fairs, and commission fees when artwork does sell, as an individual artist or as part of an art group.
Art Festival Fees - vendor booth space can vary greatly for the typical 10x10 foot space.
- Local small fairs can be $0 - $100 for a spot (a table) or space
- Community Shows $25 - $300 for a weekend space
- Mid-Range Art Events can run $2,000 - $8,000
- Major City Art Fairs $10,000 and UP
Art Call Entry Fees to submit artwork can be $10 -$20 per piece, or $25 - $50 for 3-5 artworks. Every show is different and it is imperative to follow each show's requirement directions or themes.
Research the internet for "Calls for Art near me". Search for and follow various Facebook art groups, galleries, etc to find the local art events in your area and get on their email notifications.
Bookmark sites like:
Art Groups charge a fee to join, even if they are non-profit art groups. Prices vary and some may allow you to check them out in person at their meetings before you commit to joining. See about Art Groups.
Art groups go by various names and the most typical keywords to look for are:
- art society
- art league
- artists alliance
- art club
- art group
- art guild
- arts council
- photo club
- art network
- women artists
- watercolorists
Commission Fees are often 30-35% but can range up to 60% at an exclusive gallery. Commissions are charged when your art sells and is deducted from the price of your art before you get the remaining amount. So if your art is $1000 and the exhibit charges 35% commission, your check for the artwork sold is $650.
As you can see, the price you charge for your artwork, is greatly effected by not only the cost of creating your art, but where and how you are selling it. See Art Pricing.
There must be a side note here: Submitting art to an art show does not always mean that you are accepted and granted the opportunity to show, whether you paid a fee or not. Read about Art Show Judge and Jury here. And I must include the link to Artwork Rejection.
For individual artists entering art fairs and displaying their art, that artist will need to have the right equipment for the particular event to show your art and to make sales. See How to Art Show.
- Tent, display walls, tables, a chair.
- Point of Sale system (POS)
A
person can do plenty on their own to sell their artwork, but I would recommend researching your local art groups or organizations near you and
find an active and lively group of artists you like, then join and become a participating member. Joining an art group gives you opportunities that as an individual you might not have had. Your participation could allow your entry to a gallery or show, or give a less expensive entry point to be a part of the art event, as well as access to the necessary art equipment. That doesn't include the potential learning experience offered by your fellow artists in the group.
The main thing is to show your artwork so that it will sell, and that starts with:
Step 1: Build your art inventory. You will need a body of work to show (online and offline). This is on top of any art development artworks created while developing your style.
Step 2: Build a web presence. This can include an artist website (a shop window), your social media, an art group showcase or art gallery listing on the art group's website.
Step 3: Plan how you will have people find and know about your Step 1 and 2. This is marketing and promoting. Sharing your work, defining your target audience, having realistic goals, building a strong online presence, exploring platforms - are all a part of the puzzle pieces.
Step 4: Jump in - after you've learned more about what you are specifically jumping into.
Selling Art Prints
Selling prints of your original artworks is often the bread and butter in art sales. Don't overlook this selling point! Not everyone can afford a $500 or a $1000 artwork, so a $25-$50 art print of your artwork still gives the Buyer a way to support you. See Prints and Framing
What's Your Story?
An engaging story about your artwork is interesting to the people that you want to sell to. They want to know why you created it, the story behind the canvas. What was your art process, what are your values, what were you feeling, thinking, and more. Potential clients want to get to know you and you'll need to build their trust so that they will want to buy from you.
And the story is a major part of the content, the keywords to help you be found on the internet. Artwork title, size, medium, framed or not, price, are all well and good but it is not enough. Build your art story and post it. And be ready to tell it.
From Prince William Art Society Member Zee Berrios on Selling Art
Advice to help sell art work
- There are many ways to price artwork. The one I use is hours invested X amount of price per hour + materials.
-
For most of us, painting is a pleasure, a therapy, a healing
process, a way to relax, a hobby, something we like (or love) to do...
it is not a burden, it is not a "got to do", but rather a "get to do".
For others it is a need, a way to survive, (they might
want or have to do). This also may affect the way you price your work.
-
Some people even price their work by size, (height X length). And,
even some suggest to sell for how much would it take to divorce yourself
from the piece you have just created.
-
Only in one exception did I sell something for "How much would it
take to divorce me from a piece." (It is a piece I would actually like
to buy back).
-
Photographing your art and publicity lets the world know it is
available. Getting into as many shows possible is a must, but it
requires to loose profit or add the commission payment to the exhibit
venue.
-
When working on commissioned art, ask for half of what you think the
final cost of the art piece will be. (many of us have been burned by
not doing this). If the buyer bails, out you won't loose your
investment.
-
Keep the unsold work packed and ready to deliver if there is interest in buying the piece afterwards.
From Zee Berrios
Titled Ilukunya. ("jump" in Maasai), it is part of the "Dance" series.
Its price is $1,350.00. It is 20" X 24", acrylic on canvas.
Things I see artist do that I would advise they should not do
- The number 1, for me, would be .. don't frame your work if it is
work on canvas. Many times, the buyer will throw away the frame because
it doesn't match their furniture or decor. Your investment is lost.
- The second would be to commit to a commissioned painting without getting a 50% down payment of your estimated cost.
For Further Important Reading:
Volunteering - about art groups, volunteering and gallery worker training
Display - learn how artwork is expected to be prepared for hanging
Art Inventory and Tips - keep track of your art inventory
Did you like this post? Learn something new? What tips do you have to share on selling your art? Drop a comment below.
Follow this blog and watch for Part 2 of Selling Your Art Online on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
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