#3 How to get started selling your art

Chances are, if you like your art, and your friends like it, others will buy it. One of the first things you can do to find out how well it will go over, is to do a local art or craft show.
Be prepared with some nice business cards with pertinent information on them (so people can contact you for repeat business).
Have all the equipment you need to set up a nice display. You might want to set it up in your house before-hand to see how it all looks. Keep in mind, that the attractiveness of your set-up will draw people into your space.
Be ready for sales with bags, any special packaging material, and a receipt book. Don't forget your calculator and plenty of change. Have a notebook ready to record your sales. And a sales tax chart if needed in your area.

On the day of the show, allow yourself plenty of time to set up your art.
During the show, relax, and greet the customers with a friendly smile. Don't try to push your art. Sometimes it can drive people away!
It really helps to have a friend along, so you can take breaks.

Above all, keep your spirits up. All artists must suffer a few disappointments. Believe in your art, and your confidence will attract people to you!
Good luck!

Feel free to post comments about your show experiences!

#2 How I got started selling my art.

As you may have read in my other blog, I have always dabbled in different forms of art. Back in the early 80's I was a stay-at-home Mom with 4 young children. I often made little doll quilts and stuffed animals for my daughters. One day one of my daughters took a stuffed bunny I had made to school for show-and-tell. The teacher liked it, and inquired if I would make one for her to buy. Pretty soon, several of the teachers at the school were buying many of my little items.
I decided to try to participate in a local fall craft show. It went pretty well for a first timer! I was thrilled that others were actually interested in paying for my items. That started many years of doing local craft shows.
During that time, I also created my own mail-order catalog with many of my items. At that time, I had the cute little country crafts (mostly stuffed animals and dolls), plus, I had a collection of Southwest items, for which I created a separate mail-order catalog.
Those early catalogs were simple and basic. My investment was small (after all, I was just starting out!).
I mailed catalogs to shops I found listed in magazines or anyplace else I could find them. I also went to some shops to see if I could do some wholesale business. I will get into more details about those topics in later blogs.
As time progressed, I learned a lot (trial and error)...about how to market my art, which shows were the best, and how best to sell my art.

Eventually, I was making a pretty good living with my art, and expanded to out of state shows, more high quality shows and galleries.

Now, I would like to hear about how you got started! Please send your stories!