how to sell your art online (without selling your soul)

We often think of marketing as misleading, scammy, unethical, or manipulative, but that's marketing done WRONG. Big thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring this video: squarespace.com/kelseyrodriguez
Marketing and advertising is all around us, all the time. There are SO many people out there exaggerating the benefits of their products, using insane amounts of clickbait, and manipulating your emotions to get the sale, that the term "marketing" now leaves a bad taste in our mouth.
But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a way that you can market your products and share your work without compromising your values. By focusing on authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability, we can attract the people who need our message or our products the most. No unethical sales practices needed.
You don't need to trick people to have them like your work and want to support you. You aren't bothering people by sharing your work online. What you ARE doing is making an honest living pursuing your dream. There's no shame in that.
Chat with me one on one: 1-on-1.com/kelsey/11033
🌟 Shop prints of my artwork: www.inprnt.com/gallery/kelsey...
💬 JOIN OUR FREE DISCORD SERVER: / discord
🍿 WATCH NEXT:
How to Launch Your Art Career: • How To Launch Your Art...
Art Studio Tour: • An *honest* art studio...
How I Plan My Videos: • How I post my art on s...
💌 Join my email newsletter! theartistspress.beehiiv.com/s...
📖 RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS
✏️ New Master's Art Academy* (this is how I'm learning art online, and is an affiliate link that helps support the channel): www.nma.art/?ref=137
💌 BEST email marketing tool for artists*: www.beehiiv.com/?via=kelseyro...
📚 My art book collection: bookshop.org/lists/my-art-boo...
🎨 How I plan my paintings: milanote.com/kelseyrodriguez
⚙️ GEAR & FURNITURE ⚙️ referral / affiliate links
○ Desk & Chair From Fully: bit.ly/3U8xJXt
○ My monitor stand and fave desk accessories: bit.ly/3fr5e8A
○ Main Camera - Sony FX30: amzn.to/3ZxxKYH
○ My lens filter: www.moment.8ocm68.net/RyZ9P9
○ Where I get my music from: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Email for business inquiries ONLY: [e-mail]
* Referral or affiliate links in this description allow me to gain a small commission off of any purchases you make through the link, at no extra cost to you. It's a great way to support the channel :)

[@sierrarmcclain]

My problem is I get physically exhausted from constantly posting and marketing and thinking about content creation. 🙈

[@GemmaSampsonArt]

I feel this! We need the energy to actually create the art 😂

[@ShainaCilimberg]

I get exhausted or discouraged as well @@GemmaSampsonArt

[@aquarius2284]

It’s obviously easier to consume content than creating content…as a creator you have to be ten steps ahead of your own game, thinking about taxes, copyright, accounting, shipping etc it’s honestly really hard to be a one man show.

[@simplyevelynco]

Yes!!! I get so worn out! Pinterest is pretty good but haven’t gotten sales from it tho :(

[@22suprstar22]

100% feel this. Sort of miss the days when artists didn't have to rely so heavily on content creation to get their stuff out there. Obviously it's a great result of the internet, but still feels extremely draining at times.

[@NoiseDay]

I really like the idea of treating narketing like a conversation with a specific person. It takes the mystery away of, "will they like it? What do they even like??" Seems off-topic, but this reminds me of coming out to my parents. I would think "people" will be mad and "people" won't like me. But when I think of my dad, I know that he's open-minded and we agree on a lot of political issues. I remember when I dyed my hair black for the first time and he made fun of me not because I was being edgy, but because I chose a natural color instead of "something fun like green." That's not a person who's going to overreact when I tell him I have something important to say. All the anxiety goes away when I remember that the "people" whose opinions I'm worried about are real individuals and not some vague amalgamation of all of my insecurities.

[@MintyMido]

This is beautifully insightful & I needed to hear this, especially that last sentence. Thank you

[@byonty886]

I feel so shy and embarassed talking about my art, idk why, I know that my skills are not bad, it's just the feeling of sharing it makes me loose my motivation, idk why 😔

[@eugeniosabater8449]

I use to be shy but working out helped me a bit! You can do it you need to improove how you talk to people, practice in the mirror how you could expose your art! What is your type of art where did you got the inspiration from, and how you get the process of making it!

[@reneenoriega4524]

Thank you Kelsey for another amazing video. As an administrative marketing student, i can confirm people normally wouldn't care a lot for your products (in this case, your art) unless you market it *constantly*. As long as you're not invasive or insensitive, most people wouldn't mind you promoting your work ❤ note: i can't speak for the marketing curriculum in usa universities, but where I'm from (🇻🇪) ethics in marketing is a heavily debated topic, especially because no one can really agree in which practices are inherently unethical. Lying to your audience *should* be a big no-no from the get go. In a debate i participate last year the general consensus was that if you find it difficult to be truthful in a campaign then maybe the marketing is not the problem, is the inherent condition of the product. sorry for the long rant, i love this topic

[@iMakeThat]

The people that say you’re a sellout are 1. Not artists lol 2. Jelly that you are making money doing what you love ❤

[@KelseyRodriguez]

This hasn't happened to me as much lately but I see it happening to other artists all the time and it's super frustrating!

[@MonicaMolinar]

Hmmm… Jim Henson? Charles Schultz? Two names that instantly come to mind, as professional artists whose light shines brightly even today, years after both have left. Am I upset that they fed themselves from my enjoyment of their work? Not at all.

[@vmno6300]

A sign of maturity as an artist is monetizing your creativity. It’s difficult but it requires dedication.

[@I_am_Lauren]

SO true, often artists are conditioned that it's improper to make money off of art. It's a service just like anything else if you choose to make it. It's a tough mind game to take the leap from "hobby" to "making money"

[@fuzzydragons]

def the hardest thing i have a problem with when I have to market work is i feel like i m bugging people sometimes, even if I know they like what i do I cant get over that feeling so often dont push my work as hard as I should 😑

[@tj8864]

Hello. I knew the feeling. Perhaps shifting your mindset to “bugging or selling to people”, you could also think like: how can I help people to reach their goal.

[@alexcampbellstudio]

oh my goodness, you've done it! the perspective you've put out for your ideal customer is SO refreshing. I knew that talking to my followers and the camera is like talking to your friend on the phone but i've been slowly getting somewhere with my ideal customer but to talk about my art and market it like I'm talking just to my ideal customer is a way I've never looked at it before. Thank you!!

[@art_krisis]

Ty Kelsey, these are all rly great tips, especially that last tip on talking about ur work!! Also, watching u sketch and seeing u shade in those shapes is sooo relaxing and satisfying haha

[@helluemi]

thanks to your channel I've finally started to take seriously my art biz dreams kelsey

[@thedavidboland]

Nice one Kelsey! I just launched my first digital product (meditations/soundbath) and did my non salesy but still a sales newsletter today. It felt weird but it needs to be done in order to share it with people!

[@phoenixdikaia]

Marketing is hard. It always feels like you put in work and still only few people see it.

[@TheBusinessHandyMan]

I love how you emphasize selling without selling your soul.

[@maryshank7825]

Ok...6 minutes in and no information

[@tac0170]

No fr😭🤣

[@actuallykawaii]

Really am glad I watched this video & will take all this advice. I have made social media pages that are dedicated for art & really just wanting to get it out there for others to enjoy. Yes, I want to turn it into a profession because art is my way of expressing & it means a lot to me.

[@gijis02]

Thinking up a person, and just talking to them… yes. Thank you. Definitely using that

[@theartisteddy]

Thank you for this video! I really appreciate the idea of being authentic when marketing

[@ChantelleArts]

this is fantastic, so many wonderful tips for someone getting into the industry, thank you ❤❤

[@alex.gogoliev]

This is good advice and it resonated with me. I think it is possible to "market" your artwork without being fake. I even put word "market" in quotes because if it is done authentically it does not really feel like marketing. It just feels like sharing my journey with all ups and downs. I started to do it just recently, but so far it was easy to come up with something interesting to share.

[@hilodraws]

Thank you Kelsey, When I need some motivation to keep going I just watch your videos.

[@hannahcrumley3103]

Beautiful! I love your koi & your beautiful work space!

[@basedanetto]

Honestly I'm more motivated to be more creative and put more quality into my work if I have the goal of monetizing it and competing in the space

[@jeanniekessler6671]

I love your channel so encouraging and helpful

[@I_am_Lauren]

ohhhh I love this topic and it resonates with me so much!

[@tincoronelarnaprints]

Injust started last month and joined skill share but i still question myself if my creativity will monetize or im sure i need to learn more😭 because im a single mom an ausome mom so my end game is using art aside from loving art lately and at the same time i do t know how and where to start

[@chasegoates5897]

I learned so much from this short sweet video thank you!

[@KelseyRodriguez]

asdfhkaa aaa I'm so glad!

[@KisDraga]

is social media still effective though? I found unless you start with a solid community that supports your work (i.e friends and family and the grapevine from that) then it's nearly impossible to market yourself and grow and be seen in any regard.. galleries don't care, social media won't budge... etc. I have no idea how share my work when I literally have zero support system for that initial boost to get the ball rolling.

[@jennaashley05]

This is such an interesting video! Well done!

[@vicki6210]

People create all sorts of things with creativity that can be considered an art form - furniture, food, pottery and more, they absolutely should be able to make money doing the things they love

[@_Mozzy_]

I'm so grateful I saw this video before I was about to sell my soul😊

[@laracraft82]

Thank you for this video enjoyed 😊 I agree with everything you said ❤

[@sierrarmcclain]

I’d love to see more marketing tips from you please!

[@oliviawoodworth8687]

Hi Kelsey. I really love creating and I want to share it with the world but I dont know that I necessarily want to sell it. I just want people to see it and feel joy from seeing it. I dont know if this changes things but I struggle with my insecurity in my art and I just dont know how to move forward. I really wanna quit but I also dont.

[@mesasavage]

My original art mostly isn't for sale. Instead, I'm planning on publishing to make money, but keeping the originals that are published. The only originals sold are customizations done on published works. Like a hand drawn modification of a poster or art book, for example.

[@MintyMido]

This was a beautiful video, thank you Kelsey!!

[@wahidaayu9300]

Anyone knows how to sell online ? Like what Kind of app

[@dogpaproductions7609]

Ironically, another read for you. It's about how Jim Henson did Sesame Street and The Muppets to get money for his passion projects like Labyrinth and Dark Crystal Make Art Make Money: Lessons from Jim Henson on Fueling Your Creative Career - by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens

[@PhillipDrumz]

How can I build mystique as an unknown artist? Branding without face etc

[@onceuponarevenant9409]

I just want to sell art. Selling my soul is optional

[@WedgyBlue]

Man, marketing is good but to practice art commission, for me choosing Instagram is a start. When I begin researching if Instagram is safe, not so, it was full of scammers. Idk what media platform should I use for commission , I'm scared!

[@soarpurpose]

Does it make a difference if an artist speaks on video or not? I get very drained speaking on video.

[@KelseyRodriguez]

nope!

[@VisMed_artist]

Hey umm. I have been trying to grow myself online now for almost a year but I haven't really gained any followers on places like Instagram and deviant art. I think I have gained like 4 followers... if that. Its killing me off. I have started editing a video to put up on here after watching most of your videos in hopes that youtube will be a better platform for me but I do wonder if you had similar low numbers on places like Instagram before you started making videos on here?

[@abyfuller]

For me it's about reach... Actually getting it in front of people's eyeballs! Thanks for the video, awesome

[@lisaia7877]

I want authentic marketing and value sharing with mine but at the same time that first one terrifies me cuz I know it includes socializing or talking at all- but I really stink at socializing w people in general 😢I type better than I talk outloud 😅

[@ovidiu.solcan]

Great video. Thank for all your videos 🙏

[@riot.9]

yeaahhh... I don't know. I can't paint freely if I know that piece is for sell. Pressure is too big. It's the intuitive work that I can't do this way. But non intuitive - that I can do, because those are just technical skills of which u r sure of.

[@CameronAndHisFish]

❤

[@reepieces]

Oh goodness that pen looks fabulous, where can I get one?

[@reepieces]

(the first one :P)

[@KelseyRodriguez]

I'm not sure which pen you're talking about but I mostly use the Muji 0.5 black pen or the Pilot Bravo! pens! To cover all bases -- my mechanical pencil is a GraphGear 500 0.7 from Pentel

[@reepieces]

@@KelseyRodriguez The Pilot Bravo was the pen I was interested in, I've been looking for that specific genre of pen for a little while now thank you so much :)

[@BurnQueenLIVE]

I love your video’s

[@michiro_art]

you are getting prettier and prettier anyway❤

[@bestieboots]

I love marketing the way I imagine WWI enthusiasts love tanks. They love tanks, right?

[@MiakarteProjects]

What do you think about my artwork

[@delshadayin1547]

marketing shoudtn be about scamming, but it is. sadly

[@rikadehombreux4573]

💖🙏💖😊

[@scottgust9709]

you basically said nothing

[@thinkaboutit6832]

i only paint to make money..........its not a hobby! Why should it be any other way.

[@Welcome-e9r]

H

[@brainbomb.]

They act like artists owe everything to the world.

[@psalmsurfer1]

Stop worrying about what other people think and do you

[@84singularity]

This video was absolutely useless! And I'm tired of videos like this just increasing you self confidence as an artist! I know that I'm great artist and most likely my paintings will cost billions of dollars one day! But I need to benefit from my skills while I'm still alive and where are these videos about explaining where to find platforms in which you can sell your unseen art for real money but not the freaking NFT's?!

[@scienticus]

Can you please come closer to the camera? I cant see you so good.