Earn Money: Be An Art Broker
Make more money by selling art. I had a brief stint selling a painting several years ago. It was like a whole new world was open to me. I have met interesting people. Met a professional poker dealer (yes from the Bicycle Club), Hare Krisna devouts , antique dealers etc. all because I was selling a piece of art they were interested in buying. I had a first hand experience that there is a lot money to be made in selling art.
Owning a piece of art thrills people. But not everyone can afford a masterpiece. What we are talking about here is the kind of art that is not "mass produced". The kind that is saleable, but of good quality. Specially made by your local artists and painters. This less expensive art is in the form of lithographs, original etchings, woodcuts, sketches and of course paintings.
The first that you should do is round up local artists whose works are, you think is worth representing. How do you do this? Attend art shows and art classes, join art clubs and distribute business cards as well as collect them. Or you could run a small ad in the newspaper asking local artist who likes to have someone represents them to call you. You will be busy talking on the phone for a week when a slew of interested artists will call. Have them sign an agreement that states you are authorize to sell their works at a specified time and the standard commission of the art broker is one half or one third of the selling price.
Do not rent a commercial space just yet, instead improvise a gallery right in your own home and display your collection of "merchandise" artistically after all art is your business. As far as insurance coverage is concern it is usually the artist’s responsibility for insuring his own work.
Now to promote your art products you can offer to put on free art shows at your local library, school or church group. Develop a story about the artist and his work in your local newspaper, do this for every artist you represent. Get to know and hobnob with your local interior decorators, architects, buyers in department stores and furniture stores and don’t forget your local picture framers. Associate yourself with very good local framers. This is where your public relations skills are tested.
Your opportunities for growth will come in two ways , adding more artists in your string and therefore more products to sell and increasing your prices if some artist will gain more reputation and following. So why don’t you sell someone’s art and earn money being an art broker?
Owning a piece of art thrills people. But not everyone can afford a masterpiece. What we are talking about here is the kind of art that is not "mass produced". The kind that is saleable, but of good quality. Specially made by your local artists and painters. This less expensive art is in the form of lithographs, original etchings, woodcuts, sketches and of course paintings.
The first that you should do is round up local artists whose works are, you think is worth representing. How do you do this? Attend art shows and art classes, join art clubs and distribute business cards as well as collect them. Or you could run a small ad in the newspaper asking local artist who likes to have someone represents them to call you. You will be busy talking on the phone for a week when a slew of interested artists will call. Have them sign an agreement that states you are authorize to sell their works at a specified time and the standard commission of the art broker is one half or one third of the selling price.
Do not rent a commercial space just yet, instead improvise a gallery right in your own home and display your collection of "merchandise" artistically after all art is your business. As far as insurance coverage is concern it is usually the artist’s responsibility for insuring his own work.
Now to promote your art products you can offer to put on free art shows at your local library, school or church group. Develop a story about the artist and his work in your local newspaper, do this for every artist you represent. Get to know and hobnob with your local interior decorators, architects, buyers in department stores and furniture stores and don’t forget your local picture framers. Associate yourself with very good local framers. This is where your public relations skills are tested.
Your opportunities for growth will come in two ways , adding more artists in your string and therefore more products to sell and increasing your prices if some artist will gain more reputation and following. So why don’t you sell someone’s art and earn money being an art broker?
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