Some artists think their art appeals to everyone because family and friends are always enthusiastic. This “captive audience” then encourages you to sell your work in galleries. You trust them, so you tend to agree. Who wouldn’t? It’s a good feeling. You make the leap that these opinions are universal, so you assume your artwork will get a great response from others.

Art World Reality #6: Your Artwork Must Be Good Enough to Appeal to An Audience

You start with a solid body of signature work as the focal point for your art career, but that is only the beginning. It’s rare that your immediate circle will buy all the art you make. You don’t need everyone to like your art. You just need individuals who resonate with your aesthetic, and have the money and willingness to buy. You must attract enough of them to create a steady income to your art business.

Artist Real Job #6: You Must Find, Attract and Nurture Your Audience
You may have the best art in the world, but relying only on advice from family and friends won’t build a successful business. There is an art and a science to developing a following for your art. You find people who might like it, attract them to exhibits, and nurture the right audience for your work. Then you keep on connecting with that audience. The more that you learn about them, the more you can find others like them.

Other artists and art professionals who have had a broad range of experience in the art world can help you learn to recognize and locate the right audience for your work. Then all you have to do is take the right actions to nurture your audience.

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Next Month: Artist Myth #7: One Big Break Will Make Your Career

In case you missed any of Aletta's series, catch up here.
Aletta de Wal, Artist Advisor for Artist Career Training, inspires fine artists to make a better living making art in any economy.