Short Summary

If you have ever wondered how to present yourself properly as an artist or art seller on art24, what you should pay attention to in your artist profile and what the prospective buyer expects from you, then you have come to the right place. Here are 7 tips to keep in mind.

For the basic purchase of a work of art, a "connection" with the artist needs to be established. A feeling, a relationship to the work is needed. If the work does not inspire anything in us, it will not be bought. Particularly in the online business, it is very important to establish this connection through the personal story behind the artworks and the artists.

What does the buyer expect from the artist's profile?

1. An honest, authentic profile. 

An authentic profile is the basis for trust - especially in the online art trade. Art buyers don't just want to buy a beautiful painting, they also want to be able to connect with the person behind it.

Who are you as an artist? What are you moved by? How did you get into art? What inspires you? Perhaps there are formative experiences, special influences or personal stories that make you and your work unique.

It's not about perfect CVs or great successes - on the contrary: it's often the small, human stories and honest insights that touch people and stay in their memories. Show yourself as you are - undisguised, approachable and genuine.

A personal, authentic profile makes your art more tangible, creates sympathy and forms the basis for an emotional connection between you, your work and potential buyers.

2. A personal description of the intentions.

What do you as an artist want to express with your work? What do you want to communicate to the viewer with the work? What exciting background story is there to the work? What makes it so special? By adding a personal note of the artist, so much can be conveyed to the prospective buyer in the description of the work. This is not meant to be talk, but is based on experience. 

As an art restorer I have had the opportunity to hold many works in my hands. Some of them seemed "quite nice" at first glance, but I did not engage more closely with the work than the first impression of the picture. Only when I researched about the artist, got information about the circumstance or the origin of the work, did I understand the value of the work. Or discovered the beauty of the painting when I "examined" it more closely, when I "got closer" to it, when I cleaned the dirt off it and admired the brushstroke. 

A good description of the work with meaningful keywords also makes it easier for visitors to find it. For example, if the word "nude" does not even appear in the title or description of a nude painting, how will our visitor find it by search term?

3. Qualitative photos of the artwork. Detailed photos that hat show the art piece closer from the front, in profile and from the back.

art24 reserves the right not to publish photos of works that do not meet the platform's quality standards.

This means:

• Only the artwork should be visible - no background, no easel, no wall.
• The artwork should be well and evenly lit to show details and colours to their best advantage. If the work is framed behind glass, care should be taken to ensure that there are no distracting reflections - ideally, the light should be positioned so that it does not hit the glass surface directly.
• Detailed photographs (style, signature, materiality) and photographs of the reverse are desirable, also in good quality.

Furthermore: Detail photos are important! A purely frontal image often only gives viewers a limited sense of the actual nature of the work. As an artist, do you pay attention to a strong, thick application of colour and dominant brush strokes? Display this through photos. Are there metallic, golden or silvery elements in the painting? Photograph it from different angles to make these details shine. Are there valuable stamps or labels on the back? Show them!

It's an effort that is definitely worth it. Good photo quality, optimal exposure and appropriate cropping are essential.

4. Correct measurements. 

Detailed information on technology, materials and dimensions is an important part of a professional description of the work. They provide buyers with certainty and clarity about what exactly they are buying.

Especially when buying art online, where the work cannot be physically viewed, it is crucial to describe the artwork as precisely as possible, how it was created and what materials it is made of. 

Please always state the dimensions of the work in centimetres (width x height x depth):

• Example: 80 x 100 x 2 cm

If it is an object, a sculpture or a work with a special shape, the orientation or method of presentation (hanging, standing, lying down) can also be specified.

This information is essential for buyers to visualise the work spatially and to check whether it is suitable for the intended location. Precise information on technique and material also provides information about the quality and value of the work - and strengthens confidence in you as an artist.

5. Correct technique and art style specifications.

Of course, a good description of the work and great photos will not help the prospective buyer if the information about the work is not correct. Pay attention to the correctness of the information: to the correct choice of art style and art technique. If, for example, a contemporary erotic image is suddenly (wrongly!) classified as a painting of the Romantic period, it will not only end up with the wrong interested parties, but will not even show up at all if someone consciously filters for contemporary works because it was categorised as a work of the Romantic period. 

The art team at art24 will be happy to advise you if you are unsure and help you make the right choice. Are you missing a certain technique or a specific style? Let us know and we will be happy to add it to our selection options.

6. Direct establishment of contact - possibility of viewing. 

Especially in the case of high-priced works of art or individual unique pieces, many buyers wish to see the work in person before buying. Therefore, indicate whether and where your work can be viewed.

This could for example be in your studio, in a gallery, in a current exhibition or even at your home. A reference to museums, galleries or other exhibition venues where your work is or has been on display will also boost confidence in your work.

If a viewing is not possible, good photos and detailed shots are all the more important.

You should also briefly describe how shipping or collecting your artwork will be organised:

• Will the work be packed professionally and securely?
• Is there a certificate of authenticity?
• Where are you shipping to? (only national / also international)
• Who will cover the shipping costs?

Such information gives buyers security and also indicates that you, as an artist, have thought about professional handling.

7. Justified price.

Furthermore: Even if it is not suitable for every artist: Offer the possibility of viewings. This does not always have to happen physically but can also happen virtually through video calls. Such contact helps the viewer to get close to the work. At the same time, they get to know you as an artist or seller and may be inspired to make further purchases. 

Last but not least, the right selling price for the work is crucial. It is perhaps easy to say that the work should not be too expensive, but also not too cheap. If the selling price is too low, the prospective buyer will probably question the authenticity of the seller. A price that is too high could possibly initiate a price negotiation or scare off the prospective buyer straight away. 

What determines the right selling price?

We measure it, among other things, by the level of experience of the artist. Has the artist received artistic training? Have they been represented in exhibitions? How long have they been working as an artist? Apart from the value of the artist, the most important factor is, of course, the work of art itself, which is measured in terms of artistic style, artistic technique, dimensions, etc. What is the quality of the artwork? Was it painted in oil, in watercolour, in acrylic? Was it executed on paper, on wood, on textile? Is the sculpture made of stone, wood, plastic? Is it a collage, a photograph, a graphic print? 

An oil painting, for example, is generally estimated to be more expensive than a watercolour painting, because the painting medium naturally costs much more on the market.

With a historical work, there are additional aspects: What is the condition of the work? Is it in need of major restoration? What damage is there? Has it already undergone numerous revisions or restoration measures? How well has the provenance of the work been established? Is there a certificate of authenticity? There are many questions that determine the price of the work. 

Here too, the art24 art team is happy to advise the seller.

As a self-employed artist, you have to be good at promoting yourself these days. Social media are dominant and will remain important. Through our marketing team we can support our artists. We draw attention to your profile and your art through our social media. Do you have exhibitions, openings or exciting projects coming up? Are you looking for artists for a project? We share your concerns with our community. 

Mutual motivation, networking, sharing and your own commitment remain necessary in order to manifest yourself as a serious artist.

In order to be versatile and to be able to show yourself, at art24 you also have the opportunity to write a blog article. Take a look into our blogs, there are different formats. If you write stories, poems etc. in addition to your works, or if you are a scientist or a professional, possibly even belonging to a completely different discipline, write about it! 

The more diverse, the more you will be seen on art24.

You want to buy a piece of art online, but are too hesitant to do so? Read our blog on "Inhibitions in Buying Art Online".