There are so many avenues open to the artist in the 21st
century. No longer is it essential to have the serious backing
of an established gallery (although that does help). Now there
are lots of new and different ways for all artists wanting to
get their work 'out there' and seen by the world.
The proliferation of the internet and the increasingly integral
part it plays in our lives now offers artists a platform for
displaying their works to an audience far larger than that of
any generation before us.
There are a number of ways an artist can promote their work
online. The first and most obvious is to employ the skills of a
web developer and create their very own custom website. This is
probably the first thing that most people think of and its a
nice idea, and if done properly can be very effective. However
with so many artists competing having a website alone simply
isn't enough. The 'if you build it they will come' philosophy
really does not apply when it comes to websites i'm sorry to
say. Getting visitors to your site can be un upward battle as
many a frustrated webmaster will tell you. Building your own
website can also be very costly, and their are plenty of shoddy
web design companies just waiting for novices to prey on. So you
have to be smart.
Whether you opt for your own website or not, promotion is the
key, getting visitors to actually view your work and hopefully
buy it! One great way to attractive these ellusive art loving
visitors is to sign up with one of the many services out there
that offer online galleries to artists, as part of a larger
artistic community. These online artist communities give artists
the chance to display their art to a much wider audience.
Promotion on the internet is all about getting the visitors to
your website, and viewing your work. You might have the most
fantastic website in the world, with all the best features and
great artwork, but if knowbody knows where you are, there isn't
really much point. That's where online galleries really shine.
Some artists feel that by exhibiting in these online galleries
potential customers may be tempted away by other artists, but
this is a very defeatist attitude and surely just shows
insecurities in the artist if they feel their work can be
outdone by others. In reality by sharing your customers you are
exposing your work to a far greater audience, and that has to be
a good thing.
Another fantastic benefit to online galleries in the feeling of
community it can give. By it's very nature art can be very a
solitary occupation. Online galleries often include forums where
artists can share ideas and experiences, helping themselves and
others in the process.
So whether you create your own website, or use one of the many
online galleries available today, make sure you as an artist
make the most of the possibilities the internet offers the
artist of the 21st century.
About the author:
Tom Freeman is the founder of
A Picture of
Britain.com. An online artist community and gallery
website for British artists and art collectors. The site offers
British artists from many genres and fields of art their own
online gallery and a free avenue for promoting their
British art online
to a huge world wide audience.
