Star Noble: Art Advice Columnist for Fine Art Registry®

Are You Connected?

Star advises artists to connect with your clients on some level (other than your work) and cultivate it.

If you're an artist and have collectors of your work then congratulations, you have a market for your work... a fan base if you will. And with a little luck, determination and continued hard work, may you enjoy the successes of so many artists that came before you. I don't know about you, but for me the inner child surfaces when doing business with someone who really appreciates what I've created. It's not like bringing your art work home from school and having your mother gush over it and proudly displaying the masterpiece on the refrigerator for all to see... but it's close. The fact that people love it enough to plunk down some cold hard cash to own a piece of what you create is rather gratifying no matter who you are or how successful you've become thus far. I say thus far because until you die... you have time to make it. Don't let ANYBODY ever convince you otherwise. I always tell my husband "I don't ever plan to retire." Why would an artist ever want to? We do what we love and are darn lucky to be able to make a living by doing something we're so passionate about. It brings to mind how passionate Renoir (b.1841 d.1919) was about painting. He lived to the age of 78 and spent 50+ years as an active artist. It is believed that he created approximately 6,000 works of art. In 1904 when he was 63 years old, Renoir was dealing with some serious health issues. He weighed 105 pounds and was barely able to sit. By 1910 he couldn't even walk without crutches and became confined to a wheelchair. His hands were completely deformed but that didn't stop him. He had a paint brush wedged between his fingers so he could continue to paint. I guess my point is he never quit or retired and worked with a major infliction pretty much until he died. Now that's passion... but I digress.

When I receive emails or meet someone face-to-face who in-turn, reach in their pocket (or Paypal) to buy a work that I've created, it feels pretty darn good. When they go one step further by expressing how much they "Love" my work, I'm not going to lie... it's bliss. I don't think an artist can ever tire from hearing how wonderful their work is. It's an ego stroke that just so happens to help keep one motivated to create more. Not that I wouldn't paint if my work didn't sell, I'm just sayin'.

I think that sometimes we get so use to hearing the accolades that we forget to really understand and appreciate the scope of what a client is conveying. I was recently taken aback after reading an email from a new client who purchased several paintings from me. It was more than just a... "I love your work" email. She went into great detail about how and why the paintings touched and spoke to her. I was speechless. It was so incredibly heartfelt and then it hit me. She was able to articulate what some aren't able to or just don't have the time to do. They are words I will always treasure.

Now I'm sure that most of you have received the same type of praise about your work but I encourage you to just stop... and take a moment to really let those words of adoration sink in when you receive them. I mean that really is the good stuff. It's food for the artistic soul.

Let me leave you with one important aspect of doing business. MAKE IT MATTER. Connect with your clients on some level (other than your work) and cultivate it. Let them into your world and show a sincere interest in theirs. It's unrealistic to think you'll have regular dialog with everybody who buys your work, but there are those who will appreciate the effort. Just think if you would have had an opportunity to exchange letters with Picasso when you were collecting his work back in the day. As a collector, believe me it's important and means a lot to be able to connect with the artist whose work we collect and enjoy. So just do it.

- Star Noble

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