You know your artwork is original and special, your friends know it, your mum knows it! But who else?

Promotion is an essential skill to learn if you want to sell your work and become known as an artist. It’s an intensely competitive business, and it’s not enough just to produce good artwork – you need to build a presence.

So – read our tips on promotion for artists and take your first steps on the rocky road to success!

1. Love your art – self promote

We know you love your artwork, but is that the way it comes across?

Talk about your art and don’t be afraid to be passionate. Use accessible language: most people don’t know much about art, so don’t use obscure references which only art insiders would understand. Don’t be pretentious or pompous – that impresses nobody! Tell people stories about how pieces were created, what drives you, how you started out.

Don’t be shy about being an artist – it’s a gift!

2. Get your art seen

Hang your art in your home and studio, give your smaller works as gifts to people who have helped you out, or friends who love your work. Think of it as free promotion.

If you haven’t exhibited yet, now is the time. Don’t fall into the trap of putting it off until you have ‘enough’ work to show – many smaller galleries and cafes will hang single paintings, often on a commission-only basis. Bars, restaurants and clubs are also good places to try.

Exhibiting is not only a way to sell your art – it’s a way to build your presence. So make sure your name is clearly visible next to your work, and choose a gallery which gives you a say in how and where your work is displayed, and one with a good network of contacts in the art world. Check out our gallery space here.

3. Understand the art scene – become part of the local art community

It’s vital to get to know other artists and art lovers in your area. It’s a way of finding out what’s going on as well as getting yourself known. Join local organisations or clubs, get yourself on mailing lists, go to as many private views as you can. Visit our community section to find out what’s going on in the art world in South-East London.

4. The internet is great gallery space – invest in a good website

If you don’t have the first clue about how to build a website, don’t attempt it yourself, find someone who knows what they’re doing. A poor website is not only a poor advert for your work, but it won’t do well in Google and other search engines.

Remember that your website is your shop window! The Gallery London will create a website for you and promote it as part of one of our promotional packages

5. Use online social media to spread the word

Facebook and Twitter are great ways to create a buzz around what you do. You can keep your growing body of fans posted on the work you’re producing at the moment, and it will help you to promote your website. If you don’t know much about social media, we can help you – contact us for a no-obligation chat.

6. Make and build your list of contacts

Whenever you meet an art lover or collector, be sure to get their email address. Follow the meeting up with a friendly note inviting them to follow you on Facebook and Twitter, and add them to your mailing list.

Be open-minded about contacts – every lead is important, even those that don’t initially seem promising. At an early point in your career, you never know which relationships will turn out to be the most fruitful. And with this in mind, exercise your social intelligence and be nice to people – it’s good karma!