It’s time to get very real
There you are, unpacking boxes. You are setting up your display. Driving stakes into hard ground and watching the local weather reports. You are pre-occupied with “tasks”.
The next time you are getting ready for a day of sharing your art work, at an outdoor art show , in your own studio, (or perhaps with phone in hand returning a call from a prospect!) I want you to stop, take a breath, and ask yourself:
WHY DO I CREATE? WHY DO I DISPLAY MY SOUL TO STRANGERS?
Whatever your answer is, I want you to ask why again and then again.
Here’s what happens when I asked myself why I write these blog posts:
Why am I creating these E’s of Selling Art articles and putting my ideas (and feelings) out on display?
Because I want to share my years of selling knowledge and the principles of the “E’s of Selling Art” with the artist community,
Why do I want to share my knowledge?
Because I know the “E’s” system works and it can help artists sell more art.
Why do I want to help artists sell more art?
Because art ownership is capable of profoundly affecting the soul of every person it touches for their entire life and I want that experience for as many people as possible. I want it for artists and for collectors.
There you have it! With tears in my eyes, I say to you: ask yourself why.
Then ask why again and again. Dig DEEP.
Your authentic self and core desires (or fears!) will be revealed. I promise you: this really works.
Understand the reasons for your art. Understand the reasons for sharing your art. Understand the core love you have for your collectors. There is no downside.
Don’t start “selling” at your next art show without being totally immersed in your authentic and artistic self.
Even a day without a single sale will be a day of filled with love, grace, and mutual respect when your authentic self and core purpose is present and accountable to every person you encounter.
It’s the Power of WHY: Find YOUR answers and consider writing them down and reviewing them throughout the day. Add them to your review of the flashcard set and departure list in the guidebook.
Bonus: The Power of Why is that you can ask why anytime about anything. Click To Tweet
Why am I not selling well? Why am I working with this medium? Why can’t I finish this piece? Why didn’t I ask for that sale? Why do I still think I need to leave my business cards out? (Did you miss that article?) Why am I avoiding my studio? Why am I avoiding my email marketing? Why am I charging so little for my work? Why haven’t I bought Mckenna’s “E’s of Selling Art System”? (Ha! Just had to throw that in! Use Code BLOG. Get 15% off and start 2017 with a whole new attitude about finding homes for you art.)
Please share
Please use the comments to share the “whys” that YOU think might matter in our artist community. OR, if you are feeling very generous, let us know your whys and share your answers! And share this with your art community.
The Why of making my portrait art is because it is the only occupation I can remain faithful to, that is authentic, of my true self and that I am highly skilled at. Reaching out and selling directly to people is one of the many things I love, but constant attention to Social Media is very distracting. Art works must be appealing ‘products’ first to become salable. This happens with time consuming trial and error experiments that led me finally to working on an easy on the eye collection of portraits in oil on canvas, as yet unpublished, for which I need to find clients.
Thanks for sharing.
So a question you might ask yourself is: why am I so easily distracted by Social Media? OR: Why haven’t I found clients? There are ways to get to the truth of your truths, Greta. Only you need to answer to yourself.
Out of all the blogs I’ve read of yours I think that this is not only the best, but the most important. Great writing McKenna.
I find it tremendously hard to go out there and sell my work, so much so I feel physically sick when I do. Maybe like you say I should be totally immersed in my artistic self and then the almost paralysing fear I experience when meeting people will be relieved somewhat. I shall try it.
Thanks for your kind words, Samantha!
Ask yourself, WHY am I so filled with fear? Whatever the answer is, ask why it that the answer? You may need to ask several whys in order to get to what is at your core fear – a fear that is “almost paralyzing”!
Samantha your work is amazing! You should never be afraid to talk to people about your work. Maybe there is something else going on. I’m sure people would be interested in the person (artist) behind the work. A lot of artists don’t like to personally sell their work. Myself included, but I have had so many heartfelt conversations with people that I have met about my work or theirs that you shouldn’t deny yourself that experience. I usually ask them if they paint and then you are off and running, sharing your love for art.
That’s it, Phil! LOVE! If you love your art and you know people love your art, then you complete that circle by loving them enough to want to share “good things” – your art. Art that they can love on their walls forever.
I don’t think you own the E’s of Selling Art System, but the first card in the flashcards is “What’s love got to do with it”. I usually answer: Love is all there is…
I encourage you to purchase this today. It will change you forever and you will fulfill your true calling: find homes for more art.
Thank you for your encouragement Phil, I appreciate what you’ve said.