Visit local neighborhood art galleries. Build a rapport with local gallery owners. Ask if they are willing to promote you as an emerging artist in the area. Relationship building is essential in making contacts with buyers and individuals willing to represent you as an emerging artist.
Submit art to online art markets. Art markets are rapidly becoming a popular means of selling art as buyers and representatives frequent these online markets. Art markets such as artmo.com redbubble.com and imagekind.com will attract individuals specifically looking for fresh and original art.
Contribute to art communities online such as foundmyself.com or x1.com. Art communities give invaluable information on who to approach and where to market yourself, and offer encouragement from other artists. Many art communities online allow you to sell artwork on their sites. Buyers and curators frequent these sites to discover new art.
Enter art walks to build relationships by greeting curators and art representatives. Promote yourself by handing out 4-by-6 postcard prints with your contact information. Keep your portfolio with you while you are scouting. Art walks are generally held once a month in major cities and can attract hundreds of art lovers and buyers.
Contribute to art magazines and newsletters. Speak with the editors about how you would like to be published in their magazine. Smaller magazines are always looking for fresh content. Participate in interviews, and submit your artwork to get noticed in art publications. Buyers will contact you when you have been published.
Enter artwork into juried competitions. Local and national competitions are a favored way to become noticed while seizing a chance to have artwork sold by professional art galleries. If your work wins in the competition, it may be sold by auction at the competition, or visiting buyers may purchase your work at the price you specified at the time of entry. If any artwork is sold, the gallery may keep a percentage of the price and commission fee.