How to Sell Art for a Living

In The Real World

I know how tough it feels when you want to make a living from your art, I’ve been there, standing in the same shoes and wondering if it’s really possible.

When I first tried selling, I was untrained, had very little money, and had no idea what I was doing. Then one weekend I put a few prints out on a market stall and I made more money in that one day than I’d ever earned in a week.

Obviously, I kept at it, and for the next 20 years I made my living that way. This stuff works, and it gave me the freedom to travel ev ery winter and draw wildlife for a living.

Why Selling From a Market Stall Makes Sense

The truth is, you don’t need to be represented by an art gallery, you certainly don’t need an agent, and you don’t need social media either. You just need a practical way to meet buyers face-to-face, show them your work, and make sales you can rely on.

The truth is, people will buy your art if you put it in front of them the right way. You don’t need permission from gatekeepers or have thousands of followers. You just need a simple setup, a good display, and the confidence to ask for the sale.

Listen up, when you rely on search engines and social media, you’re a hostage to their algorithms. Platforms can, and do, change the rules without notice. They can, and do, limit your reach, and they are happy to wipe your business out overnight. I know that’s true, because it happened to me.

My website crashed from 45000 visitors a month, to 1500 when Google killed off niche websites in the search engines. It was an entire industry killed off overnight.

That’s why it makes more sense for normal folks, like you and me, to sell our artwork in fairs and markets. It’s more predictable.

If I could do it with no training and very little money, you can do it too.

This is What I do

I sell my wildlife art from a summer market stall. While I’m there I draw in public, and that pulls people in. They stop, watch, chat, and buy. It’s the best way I’ve found to connect with buyers. The soft sell.

I trade through the season, make my income, and then take the winter off. That’s when I travel overseas to find more wildlife and get fresh subjects to draw for the following year. All tax deductable!

It’s a simple cycle, but it works. I earn enough in a few months to fund the life I want. Could I earn more? You bet, I don’t take commissions and I don’t even stay for the Christmas trade. Most people think that’s crazy, but you know what? Working too much is crazy too.

There’s More to This Than You Think

From the outside, it looks easy. Set up a table, hang a few prints, and start selling. But once you do it, you realise there’s more to it.

You have to think about where people walk, what catches their eye, and how to make your display look inviting. If your stall looks cluttered or dull, they’ll walk straight past. It’s not just about having good art, it’s about presenting it right.

You also need to read people. Some buyers want to chat, some want space, and some need a little nudge. If you can spot which is which, you’ll make far more sales. It’s a skill that comes with time, but you can learn it faster if you know what to look for.

Pricing matters too. If you guess or price by emotion, you’ll lose sales. You’ve got to find the point that feels fair to both sides. When you get it right, people buy without hesitation.

None of this is complicated, but it’s not obvious either. These small details are what turn a quiet day into a good one. And once you understand how it all fits together, selling art starts to feel easy.

Learning to Sell

There’s an art to selling art. It might look simple from the outside, but the subtlties all matter more than you can imagine. It’s not about delivering a brilliant sales pitch, that will backfire if you go down that route, no one buys from pushy sellers.

Selling art is about communication and presenting yourself in the most engaging and personable way.

The good news is, you can learn it. Small things make the difference between someone walking past your artwork and someone stopping to look. To the untrained eye, or inexperienced seller, they may sound trivial, but believe me these things are super important.

These are just a taster:

Build a Genuine Bargain

Sell sets of prints. Price singles fairly, then offer “Any 2 for £X” or “Any 3 for £Y” so the discount is built in. Make ready-made pairs and trios by theme, and put the signs at eye level.

Create Real Scarcity

If people think they can buy later, they usually don’t return – fact. Tell them when you’re down to the last few, point out the risk. Force a decision. Keep it real and honest but don’t sabotage your sale by guaranteeing they can get your print anytime. NEVER advertise your website.

Limit Choice

Too many options confuse people. Show a few of your best sellers and group similar prints together. The easier it is to choose, the faster people buy. Hold your full selection back and only invite the potential buyer to see more if they are about to leave.

Build Rapport

Be friendly, not pushy. Listen, chat, and find a connection. Find common ground. People buy more readily when they like the person behind the stall. This should probably be the number one rule of selling anything.

Use Gentle Persuasion

Help buyers see value by pointing out details they might miss, the time, the skill, or the story behind the picture. It’s not about pressure, it’s about helping them justify the buy. It’s persuation, not coercion – big difference.

Know When to Stop Talking

Don’t fill the silence or talk them out of the sale. Confidence closes more deals than chatter. Ask questions and listen to the answers. Put your ego to one side and remember that your art is in fact about them. It’s not about you. That’s hard to grasp for most artists.

There are so many things to learn and most sellers give up in dispair well before they realise where they went wrong. If you bumble along as I did at the beginning, expect to lose sales and make some daft mistakes.

What To Do Next

If you want to start selling your art, get clear on what you do best. Pick a subject and media you care about and stick with it. Mine’s wildlife, but the point is to choose something that keeps you interested and motivated. Having said that don’t be too niche, it has to have popular appeal.

Pull together a small set of your strongest work and build from there. Don’t wait until you have a huge collection, a dozen good pieces is enough to make a start.

Next, get out and see what’s going on near you. Visit local markets and art events, talk to other artists without being too nosey. Traders recognise researchers a mile off and they won’t be happy if they think you want their trade. Be discreet and watch how they sell.

Note what are they selling, how are they selling, what are the prices? is it working or not? Look at the displays. What type of people are visiting? Are they spending? You’ll get a feel for the business. If you can, visit a few markets, they are not all created equal. You’ll make a killing in one, and flop in another. Bear that in mind.

When you’re ready to sell, think about art prints. That is where the money is. Giclée prints are great for testing ideas in small runs, but they cost more per piece. Litho prints are cheaper in bulk but need a bigger upfront spend. Both work, it just depends on how fast you can sell through and your price point.

You can find loads of advice on my website if you want to figure things out at your own pace. But if you want the whole process laid out clearly, step by step, my book will save you a lot of trial and error.

What You’ll Learn

This isn’t theory. It’s everything I’ve learned from years of selling art prints face to face. Every tip comes from real experience at a real stall.

How To Set Up A Stall That Sells

You’ll see how I lay out my display so people stop, browse, and buy. It’s simple, quick to set up, and doesn’t cost much to do right.

How To Price For Profit

I explain how to use price points that make sense and how to build value with multibuy deals. You’ll learn how to make more per sale without scaring people off. You’ll even learn how to haggle.

How To Talk To Buyers Naturally

You’ll find out what to say, how to say it, and when to say nothing at all. Selling works best when it feels like a normal chat, not a pitch.

How To Handle Awkward Moments

Some people waste your time and suck your energy. I show you how to recognise false interest, stay calm, and turn their ‘interest’ into a sales devise for attracting others.

How To Choose What To Sell

You’ll learn what sells fast, what never moves, and how to spot the difference early. Once you know what works, you can build your business around it.

Rain, slow days, and bad pitches happen. I’ll show you how to stay positive, stay ready, and keep the cash coming in even when it’s quiet. You’ll learn that consistency and a good work ethic pays off.

There is SOOOO much to learn, check out these book chapters:

Who’s This For?

• You are new to selling and do not know where to start
  If you have never sold anything before, this guide will show you how to begin with confidence and avoid common mistakes.
• You have tried selling art before and got nowhere
  Maybe you gave it a go and came home disappointed. I will show you how to fix what went wrong and turn things around.
• You want to earn a living without chasing social media followers
  You do not need to go viral or build a brand. I show you how to earn a decent living from real people in the real world.
• You want real practical advice from someone who has done it
  This is not theory. This is the method I use to earn my living, and I still use it today.

This is not about chasing fame or passive income. It is about earning money from your artwork in a way that gives you freedom and independence. It can be the springboard to bigger things, but is also a lucrative and viable business model by itself.

If that appeals to you, this guide will help.

All you have to do is copy the Idea
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Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy