Buying Trends Selling in the Art Market

Looking at art market trends

After experiencing a health scare, I've been contemplating the trends in the art market and considering how much they should impact my work. It's undeniable that inflation has affected every market, from food and appliances to the creative art market, including wall art, furniture art, and even creative crafts. Let's explore some adjustments you and I can make if your sales market has slowed down.

Regardless of the market conditions, continue creating. Even if you need to take a job to cover your expenses, don't halt your creative pursuits. The art market and sales dynamics are evolving, making it an exciting opportunity to establish yourself if you're aiming to grow or launch your art business. Every market experiences fluctuations. Let's explore what collectors and art buyers seek and where they acquire their art.

While it's important for an artist to stay true to their personal style and creative process, it's beneficial to observe current trends and consider integrating some popular elements. A slight step beyond your usual approach might attract buyers' attention and boost your sales.

Let's explore what is drawing in buyers and collectors. They seek unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that mirror their experiences as a form of self-expression. According to design experts cited by Icanvas, the trend this year continues towards using artwork to infuse warmth, personality, and harmony into living spaces.

As an artist, it's great news if you enjoy painting with vivid colors. A current market trend is the use of vibrant hues. Infuse your paintings with energy by incorporating bold oranges, electric blues, and rich magentas. These colors bring energy and a sense of optimism to your artwork.

Delve into color drenching by incorporating layers and variations of one color. Employ bold, saturated hues to create a moody elegance and visual depth.

Some buyers and collectors are interested in nature-inspired art created through eco-friendly methods, as it aligns with their environmental principles. I haven't really thought about this approach before, so I might look into it further.

Another important consideration is incorporating calming, nature-inspired themes that use soft, earthy tones and serene settings.

For enjoyment, consider experimenting with bright and bold illustrations as an art trend you might want to integrate into your style.

It has been observed that landscapes are transforming into abstract forms as more artists aim to maintain loose and imaginative brushwork.

Mixed media, one of my favorites, is capturing the interest of buyers and collectors as artists explore surprising combinations to create tactile, dynamic, and dimensional art pieces.

More artists are creating retro-style pieces reminiscent of vintage advertising, drawing inspiration from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

The art buyer or collector

Good news for buyers, collectors and the artist. Their appears to be a shift i buying demographics.

Based on my research, Millennials and Gen Z seem to be major purchasers of art.

Individuals are attracted to art that aligns with their experiences and values. Art has evolved beyond being merely decorative; it now serves as a reflection of personal identity. Abstract art continues to captivate buyers. If abstract art is your creative style, you can enhance it with an organic touch by incorporating natural elements and textures.

Consider exploring one or two of these trends to determine if they impact your sales.

Promises of future markets

Remember that the art market seems to have a bright future. For those exploring digital art, there are emerging opportunities for revenue, and it is anticipated to become more mainstream over time.

Another factor to consider is art licensing, which is progressing and shifting towards eco-friendly products.

More buyers are turning to online platforms to purchase artwork.

Besides online shopping, pop-up galleries are gaining popularity and could be an excellent method to promote your upcoming art series.

We need to consider the size of the artwork we are introducing to the market, as both buyers and collectors have less discretionary income. This might be an opportune moment to create smaller artworks that maintain the same quality and high standards as your larger pieces. Selling twenty smaller artworks can happen more quickly than selling one large piece, and producing smaller artworks requires significantly less time.

Art is changing

Many artists are increasingly embracing their true selves and transparency in their art business. This shift means that artists must do more to educate buyers about their creative process and the story behind their work. Most buyers are unaware of the steps involved in creating a piece of art. It begins with developing an idea for the artwork, followed by thumbnail drawings or sketches, and possibly a notan to show the values. If working from a photograph, the artist may spend time cropping the image, removing elements that don't work, or adding elements to enhance the piece. Next, the artist selects a color palette, which may involve creating small paintings to determine their preference. The artist then decides on the canvas size and sketches the painting, possibly retracing the sketch with paint to preserve it when additional layers are applied. The process includes multiple layers, starting with an underpainting and adding more layers to create depth. Finally, after drying, a sealing coat is applied. The artwork may then be framed, have dust covers added, and be wired or fitted with a picture hanger so it is ready to display.

In the current landscape, expanding your business growth nearly necessitates having an online presence, whether through your own website or an art platform. Buyers and collectors are increasingly purchasing artwork online, with galleries also transitioning to digital spaces. Additionally, Artsy reports a trend of buyers and collectors acquiring more pieces from emerging artists.

Consider adjusting your creative process by incorporating one or two of these new trends to determine if they boost your sales. If you haven't ventured into online sales yet, now is the time to research and evaluate if it's a suitable option for you.

Freebie

A traceable for some relaxing entertainment as we head into the hot days of summer.

Tips/Books

Your skills are quite impressive, and you use an appealing color palette, but you might feel something is slightly off at the end of your painting without knowing exactly what it is. The solution could be incorporating a bit more planning before your brush meets the canvas. Many of us do minimal or no planning before beginning a painting, but by following these tips, you can address many issues that arise during the painting process.

Initially, you should select your subject, aiming for balance and harmony. If you're using a photo, you can crop it, exclude an object, or add one to enhance its visual composition. Next, create a thumbnail or sketch to evaluate how effectively your idea translates.

One of the crucial steps in planning your painting is organizing your composition. For beginners, using the rule of thirds is an excellent method to ensure a successful painting. If you're more advanced and wish to enhance your composition, consider using the Golden Ratio to achieve harmonious balance. This principle was employed by many of the old masters and is evident in nature. Instead of explaining it myself, I recommend watching Andrew Tischler's YouTube video, "Golden Ratio Composition Secrets." It's straightforward and doesn't involve complex math. His explanation is thorough and accessible, making it easier to master. Watching this video can significantly improve your composition skills. Here's the link to Andrew's video. I encourage you to check it out—you won't regret it!

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/wntIMD9wbR0?si=HZCskmFuFRzwekuF

Once you are satisfied with your composition, select your color palette. Some artists often create a few small paintings using different color palettes to determine which one best suits their creative vision.

When you're satisfied with your selections, select the canvas size that best suits your vision for the painting. Then, sketch your design onto the canvas with chalk. Use acrylic paint with an inky consistency and a round brush to paint over your sketch. If you are confident in your drawing skills, you can sketch directly with an acrylic marker.

Starting with an underpainting can be advantageous before adding your initial paint layer. An underpainting consists of a wash of acrylic paint or a transparent paint color, and you can select any color you prefer. Many artists favor umber, nickel azo yellow, or pyrrole red, though any color that appeals to you is suitable. Some artists choose black for their underpainting, but remember that you'll need to sketch over the dark shade. Experiment to find what suits you best. The underpainting enhances depth, letting subtle glimpses of this color emerge through your layers.

Now you're ready to apply your base coat painting in the large shapes. Then, add as many layers as necessary to realize your vision. Once you're satisfied, add your shadows and highlights.

After completing the process and applying the rules of composition, you will be glad you took the time to work through all the steps for achieving great composition.

What I'm working on

You truly realize the value of life only when you experience a health crisis and discover the extent of your faith in God. In last month's blog, I shared the incident with you: the infected kidney stone, the septic shock that led my body to begin shutting down, and the immense stress on my heart that resulted in a heart attack.

Having never experienced a major health issue before, it felt almost unreal at my age. I'm fortunate to be here. It's been two months, and my recovery is progressing well. Recently, I underwent a procedure on my left kidney to remove a large stone and replace the stent. In a few weeks, we'll do the same procedure on my right kidney due to another large stone. Interestingly, I've never had kidney stones before.

Afterward, I will visit the cardiologist to discuss any heart procedures. I should have fully recovered my strength following the septic shock. I'm almost back to normal, though I can't paint for as long as I used to, but my strength will return. I'm still adjusting to my new routine, which involves attending cardiac physical therapy three times a week.

Determining my current life priorities has taken some time, but I've decided to significantly reduce my use of social media and most of my business activities for now. I genuinely want to focus on enhancing my art and having a peaceful summer spent with friends and family, reading, and enjoying the warm Texas weather.

My front porch is nearly finished and becomes a shady spot in the afternoon, with a south breeze blowing in from the coast. It's a pleasant place to escape to for drawing. The back breezeway between my studio and house is still a work in progress, but it provides a cozy spot to sit and read with my morning tea or coffee. The first large bed of wildflowers is beginning to bloom, and I hope to work on the front flower beds in the fall, depending on how I feel. Once I complete the small patio area between the art studio and the storage building, my little art retreat will be complete. Eventually, I'll have several spots around the yard to paint, outside of the studio. It would be great to have everything done now, but as you know, projects take time. My backyard is so spacious that I'll probably add a few more flower beds to ensure I always have fresh flowers in the house.

I hadn't noticed how much time had passed since I last took a break to simply relax, daydream, and read. I hope you also find some time this summer to step away from the busyness and savor some peaceful moments.

Inspirational Quote

---

---