The words you choose to speak and write about yourself and your art can be powerful tools to attract art buyers, quicker sales, generate publicity, and increase many more career opportunities. It is true: Your words have the power to sell more art. You can arouse a positive response in the reader or listener, propel them to make a decision, and take action.
In this article you’ll discover how to take some simple steps to significantly enhance word power, your art career and financial success. The good news is you don’t have to be a professional writer to exercise the power of words to attract more art buyers.
When an artist asks me to write their artist’s biography, art review, or an introduction to their art book, I take this responsibility very seriously. The same is true when a gallery hires me to write an essay for an exhibition catalogue. I perceive every word and phrase I choose as a wise investment in the artist’s future. I strongly recommend you apply that perspective. Always strive to add value to your art whenever you write about it.
Try this exercise to enhance your writing projects.
Step #1: Read your Artist’s Statement and your Biography.
Step #2: Highlight and enlarge every adjective so you can see them individually.
What is an adjective?
It is a sensory element that describes the noun (your art). In artistic terms, every adjective colors and adds dimension to the noun.
Every adjective leads the reader on a journey to feel or know something about you and your art. It can be compared to how you use color, form, texture and composition to stimulate a feeling, inform, and/or heighten an awareness and enlighten the viewer.
Step #3: Evaluate every adjective. You may want to read the words aloud while you ask yourself the following questions:
* Is the word active, colorful, accurate, inspirational, empowered and potent or is it weak, lifeless, bland and ineffective?
* Does the word convey a positive attribute about my art and my intentions?
* Do my words reflect those of a skilled professional artist or an amateur?
Your objective is to engage the reader/potential buyer and encourage them to learn more about you and the artwork. You want to enlighten them about the benefits your art will bring to their lives.
Use Positive Words to Describe Your Art’s Best Features
When describing your art choose adjectives that catches the reader’s attention, arouses their interest and helps them to identify the best features of your art. Here are a few of my favorites: distinctive, stimulating, energized, organic, earthy, intense, saturated, symbolic, tactile, emotive, palpable, contrasting, poetic, strong, vibrant, clear, compatible, emotional, healing, harmonious, multi-dimensional, mysterious…
Positive adjectives within your reach are unlimited!
Avoid Communicating Negativity
If you’re not careful, the words you choose may have dire consequences. They may lead the potential art buyer away from your art. The wrong words can cause them to question whether you are truly a professional artist and if your art is worth the price you are charging. Your goal is to avoid provoking apprehension and doubt.
My advice is: When describing yourself as an artist and writing about your art avoid using words that may signal that you are self-critical, indecisive, insecure, egotistical, apathetic, unfocused and unprofessional.
More Tips
* Avoid repetition and the use of cliché words and phrases.
* Describe the most appealing aspects of your art.
* Write only when you are at a peak level of confidence.
* Erase all thoughts of confusion, doubts and insecurities when writing about your art.
* Read about art to become a better writer. Visit online galleries, museum websites, and subscribe to art publications.
* Take one step at a time. You may only need to do a little tweaking and replace a few words to make a dramatic impact.
Final Word about Self-Talk: Avoid self destructive thoughts. Get into a habit of being aware of how to speak to yourself about your art and talent.
Thank you Renee. You’ve done it again. This article is packed with your wisdom and knowledge and simple step-by-step advice for us to achieve more success. I love your straightforward approach to mentoring us artists. This is helpful to me now as I am building a new website.
Thank you Michael, I try my best. 🙂 Best wishes with your new website! Here’s an article on that topic here: “How to Get Started With Your New Art Website”
Thank you for the wonderful article – The trilogy of great art descriptors – seek to engage, encourage and enlighten the viewers on the value of having more art in their lives.
Thank you Peter for reading the article and your comment. Wow! What a great title that would have been: “The Trilogy of Great Art Descriptors”.