First, what I sell most of right now are commissions. Of those commissions, lately a lot of them are portraits, like the one pictured below. But I'm still thinking of and planning for the day when the commissions slow down.
I can tell you that I sell more landscapes than anything. I also see more landscapes being bought at events like gallery receptions or art fairs.
Many artists I know focus on local, popular, recognizable landmarks, like the Marquette Lighthouse. That kind of art seems to talk to the tourists. I have quite a bit of it in my own portfolio, and I've done fairly well with it.
I've found that sometimes a subject which is not specific, yet still familiar works better than a specific and recognizable 'postcard' subject. A deep forest scene, a small waterfall, or a remote Lake Superior scene may speak more to someone than a well known lighthouse. People often fall in love with the atmosphere of a place. I've sold more than a few paintings of unknown places. A vague stream in the woods might connect more directly and intimately than a well known 'postcard' scene.
Maybe that's why the painting above is still for sale while the one below sold almost immediately when I showed it.
I've noticed that people like to buy art that has a not-so-obvious meaning, something that they can personally relate too that makes a connection to them, and something they can talk about. Like the painting below, which I detailed HERE.
I like to paint fantasy type art as well, and I've gotten some sales with that genre too, though not nearly as many. There seems to be only an 80% to 20% landscape to 'other' ratio. Again, I sell more fantasy art if it has some 'hidden' meaning to it. Of course I have to explain the hidden meaning, but that's what I call 'selling'! Just like I sold the painting below after the admirer got connected by my explanation!
Much like symphonies have to balance pops with more cultural classics, so must I balance my fun, fantasy art with more marketable landscapes and commissions. Not that I don't love the commissions or landscapes! Thankfully, my area is loaded with so many beautiful and moving scenes. Painting a landscape in this area is like painting a fantasy!
The most intriguing idea I've seen in awhile came to me through this discussion. A gentleman named Ron said "most of the great artists in history invented new genera's [sic] and styles. Then the public came to them, not the other way around." Fascinating!!
More on that later!
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