![\"Selling](\"https:\/\/www.artsyshark.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Selling-Cringe.jpg\")
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Perhaps you start to feel a sense of dread when you think about closing a sale. It’s probably one of the most difficult things for many artist entrepreneurs to do. When you get to that part of a conversation, do you freeze up? Feel icky? Wonder if you are being compared to a used car salesman? Or just say nothing, allowing the potential customer to walk away?\u00a0Check out our YouTube video<\/a> on this subject, with tips on how to make selling less weird.<\/p>\n It’s very common for artists (and others) to feel uncomfortable talking about money. Not necessarily because they lack confidence in their artwork, but because they’ve internalized negative beliefs about sales in general. The old adage is true that “people love to buy, but they don’t like to be sold.” Selling is often seen as manipulative or greedy, and that can cause resistance. This perception can dictate your behavior when speaking with other people about your art.<\/p>\n Changing your mindset as a seller can turn your belief that interactions feel fake or transactional into an authentic conversation with an interested party about the passion that fuels your creativity. In reality, selling art isn\u2019t about persuasion or performance. It\u2019s about helping others see the value and meaning in what you’ve created.<\/p>\n Embrace that frame of mind, and pursue engagement with prospective buyers understanding that they love and appreciate art and are not put off by meeting and hearing from you as the creator of the work. Instead, tell your story, ask questions, and listen to their opinions and desires. It very well may be that your work of art is the next wonderful acquisition that your collector will love and cherish.<\/p>\n Reject the “car salesman” idea and instead, just be yourself. It’s natural for artists to embrace a generous and clear approach to sales. People love buying directly from artists; it gives them a deeper, more personal connection. Your personal attention and input are an added bonus to the buying experience that won’t be forgotten.<\/p>\n So go positive when you meet interested people who are viewing your art. Don’t avoid the subject of prices or downplay your ability. That behavior only makes it harder for them to say yes. Instead, be specific, be clear, and practice how you talk about your art. By shifting the mindset around sales\u2014from something cringey to something empowering\u2014you can stay true to yourself while making sales and building your reputation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nFlip the Script<\/h4>\n
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